krishnabhagavad-gitainvocationdhyana

Gita Dhyanam

Gita Dhyanam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Before reading or studying the Bhagavad Gita, on Gita Jayanti, and during Gita parayana·📜 Gita Dhyanam — traditional invocation prefacing the Bhagavad Gita (attributed to Madhusudana Saraswati)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglish

Origin & Story

Gita Dhyanam — traditional invocation prefacing the Bhagavad Gita (attributed to Madhusudana Saraswati) · Attributed to Madhusudana Saraswati · Medieval

Editions of the Bhagavad Gita open with these nine dhyana verses. They frame the Gita not merely as a text but as the Divine Mother who showers the nectar of Advaita, and they pay homage to Vyasa, who placed the dialogue in the heart of the Mahabharata, and to Krishna, who 'milked' the essence of all the Upanishads into Arjuna's hearing. Reciting them before study is a centuries-old mark of reverence to the scripture.

✦ As told in scripture

The verse 'Mukam Karoti Vachalam' — 'His grace makes the mute eloquent and the lame cross mountains' — is quoted across India whenever the seemingly impossible is achieved by divine grace. Devotees who open their Gita reading with these verses speak of the text coming alive for them, its meaning unfolding far beyond what the words alone could give.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Om Parthaya Pratibodhitam Bhagavata Narayanena Svayam Vyasena Grathitam Purana-Munina Madhye Mahabharatam Advaitamrita-Varshinim Bhagavatim Ashtadasha-Adhyayinim Amba Tvam Anusandadhami Bhagavad-Gite Bhava-Dveshinim

Meaning:O Bhagavad Gita, by which Krishna himself enlightened Arjuna, which Vyasa set in the midst of the Mahabharata, showering the nectar of non-duality in eighteen chapters — O Mother, destroyer of rebirth, I meditate upon you.

Verse 2

Namostu Te Vyasa Vishala-Buddhe Phullaravinda-Yatapatra-Netra Yena Tvaya Bharata-Taila-Purnah Prajvalito Jnanamayah Pradipah

Meaning:Salutations to Vyasa of vast intellect and lotus eyes, by whom the lamp of knowledge, filled with the oil of the Mahabharata, was kindled.

Verse 3

Prapanna-Parijataya Totra-Vetraika-Panaye Jnana-Mudraya Krishnaya Gitamrita-Duhe Namah

Meaning:Salutations to Krishna — the wish-fulfilling tree for those who surrender, holding the cane, bearing the seal of knowledge, the milker of the Gita's nectar.

Verse 4

Sarvopanishado Gavo Dogdha Gopala-Nandanah Partho Vatsah Sudhir Bhokta Dugdham Gitamritam Mahat

Meaning:All the Upanishads are the cows; Krishna the cowherd milks them; Arjuna is the calf; the wise drink the milk — the supreme nectar of the Gita.

Verse 5

Vasudeva-Sutam Devam Kamsa-Chanura-Mardanam Devaki-Paramanandam Krishnam Vande Jagad-Gurum

Meaning:I bow to Krishna, son of Vasudeva, destroyer of Kamsa and Chanura, the supreme bliss of Devaki, the teacher of the world.

Verse 6

Bhishma-Drona-Tata Jayadratha-Jala Gandhara-Nilotpala Shalya-Grahavati Kripena Vahani Karnena Velakula Ashvatthama-Vikarna-Ghora-Makara Duryodhana-Avartini Sottirna Khalu Pandavai Rana-Nadi Kaivartakah Keshavah

Meaning:The Pandavas crossed the river of battle — its banks Bhishma and Drona, its waters Jayadratha, its crocodiles Ashvatthama and Karna — with Krishna as the ferryman.

Verse 7

Parasharya-Vachah Sarojam Amalam Gitartha-Gandhotkatam Nana-Khyanaka-Kesaram Hari-Katha-Sambodhana-Abodhitam Loke Sajjana-Shatpadair Aharahah Pepiyamanam Muda Bhuyad Bharata-Pankajam Kali-Mala-Pradhvamsi Nah Shreyase

Meaning:May the lotus of the Mahabharata, born of Vyasa's words, fragrant with the meaning of the Gita, drunk daily with joy by the good, destroy the impurities of this dark age and bring us blessing.

Verse 8

Mukam Karoti Vachalam Pangum Langhayate Girim Yat-Kripa Tam Aham Vande Paramananda-Madhavam

Meaning:I bow to Madhava of supreme bliss, whose grace makes the mute eloquent and the lame cross mountains.

Verse 9

Yam Brahma Varunendra-Rudra-Marutah Stunvanti Divyaih Stavaih Vedaih Sanga-Pada-Kramopanishadair Gayanti Yam Samagah Dhyana-Avasthita-Tad-Gatena Manasa Pashyanti Yam Yogino Yasyantam Na Viduh Surasura-Gana Devaya Tasmai Namah

Meaning:Salutations to that God whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise with divine hymns, whom the singers of the Sama Veda extol, whom yogis behold in deep meditation, and whose limit neither gods nor demons know.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Bhagavad-Gite Amba Tvam Anusandadhami🔊O Mother Bhagavad Gita, I meditate upon you

Advaitamrita-Varshinim🔊Showering the nectar of non-duality (Advaita)

Namostu Te Vyasa Vishala-Buddhe🔊Salutations to you, Vyasa of vast intellect

Sarvopanishado Gavah🔊All the Upanishads are the cows

Dugdham Gitamritam Mahat🔊The milk is the great nectar of the Gita

Vasudeva-Sutam Devam🔊The divine son of Vasudeva (Krishna)

Krishnam Vande Jagad-Gurum🔊I bow to Krishna, the teacher of the world

Mukam Karoti Vachalam🔊Makes the mute eloquent

Pangum Langhayate Girim🔊Makes the lame cross mountains — such is His grace

Benefits of Chanting Gita Dhyanam

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The traditional nine 'dhyana' (meditation) verses chanted before reading the Bhagavad Gita

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Salutes the Gita itself as the Divine Mother, and honours Vyasa and Krishna

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Recited to open Gita parayana (sequential reading) and Gita study

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Contains the beloved verses 'Vasudevasutam Devam' and 'Mukam Karoti Vachalam'

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Settles and consecrates the mind before taking up the Lord's teaching

How to Chant Gita Dhyanam

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Best TimeBefore reading or studying the Bhagavad Gita, on Gita Jayanti, and during Gita parayana

Chant the nine verses slowly before beginning the Gita, as an act of reverence to the scripture, to Vyasa who recorded it, and to Krishna who spoke it. Many begin daily Gita reading with at least 'Vasudevasutam Devam' and 'Mukam Karoti Vachalam'.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Gita Dhyanam written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Gita Dhyanam is a set of nine 'meditation' (dhyana) verses traditionally chanted before reading the Bhagavad Gita. They invoke the Gita as the Divine Mother and offer salutations to Sage Vyasa and to Lord Krishna, preparing the reader to receive the teaching with reverence.

It is a famous image: all the Upanishads are cows, Krishna the cowherd milks them, Arjuna is the calf, and the wise drink the milk — which is the nectar of the Gita. It says the Gita distils the essence of all the Upanishads.

Before beginning to read or study the Bhagavad Gita, and especially before Gita parayana and on Gita Jayanti. It consecrates the reading by honouring the scripture, its recorder Vyasa, and its speaker Krishna.