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गीता ध्यानम् Meaning — Line by Line

गीता ध्यानम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of गीता ध्यानम् with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Om Parthaya Pratibodhitam Bhagavata Narayanena Svayam
  2. Verse 2. Namostu Te Vyasa Vishala-Buddhe Phullaravinda-Yatapatra-Netra
  3. Verse 3. Prapanna-Parijataya Totra-Vetraika-Panaye
  4. Verse 4. Sarvopanishado Gavo Dogdha Gopala-Nandanah
  5. Verse 5. Vasudeva-Sutam Devam Kamsa-Chanura-Mardanam
  6. Verse 6. Bhishma-Drona-Tata Jayadratha-Jala Gandhara-Nilotpala
  7. Verse 7. Parasharya-Vachah Sarojam Amalam Gitartha-Gandhotkatam
  8. Verse 8. Mukam Karoti Vachalam Pangum Langhayate Girim
  9. Verse 9. Yam Brahma Varunendra-Rudra-Marutah Stunvanti Divyaih Stavaih
Verse 1#

Om Parthaya Pratibodhitam Bhagavata Narayanena Svayam

पार्थाय प्रतिबोधितां भगवता नारायणेन स्वयं व्यासेन ग्रथितां पुराणमुनिना मध्ये महाभारतम्। अद्वैतामृतवर्षिणीं भगवतीमष्टादशाध्यायिनीम् अम्ब त्वामनुसन्दधामि भगवद्गीते भवद्वेषिणीम्॥

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

MeaningO 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

नमोऽस्तु ते व्यास विशालबुद्धे फुल्लारविन्दायतपत्रनेत्र। येन त्वया भारततैलपूर्णः प्रज्वालितो ज्ञानमयः प्रदीपः॥

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

MeaningSalutations 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

प्रपन्नपारिजाताय तोत्रवेत्रैकपाणये। ज्ञानमुद्राय कृष्णाय गीतामृतदुहे नमः॥

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

MeaningSalutations 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

सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः। पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्॥

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

MeaningAll 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

वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम्। देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्॥

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

MeaningI 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

भीष्मद्रोणतटा जयद्रथजला गान्धारनीलोत्पला शल्यग्राहवती कृपेण वहनी कर्णेन वेलाकुला। अश्वत्थामविकर्णघोरमकरा दुर्योधनावर्तिनी सोत्तीर्णा खलु पाण्डवै रणनदी कैवर्तकः केशवः॥

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

MeaningThe 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

पाराशर्यवचः सरोजममलं गीतार्थगन्धोत्कटं नानाख्यानककेसरं हरिकथासंबोधनाबोधितम्। लोके सज्जनषट्पदैरहरहः पेपीयमानं मुदा भूयाद्भारतपङ्कजं कलिमलप्रध्वंसि नः श्रेयसे॥

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

MeaningMay 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

मूकं करोति वाचालं पङ्गुं लङ्घयते गिरिम्। यत्कृपा तमहं वन्दे परमानन्दमाधवम्॥

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

MeaningI 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

यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्ररुद्रमरुतः स्तुन्वन्ति दिव्यैः स्तवैः वेदैः साङ्गपदक्रमोपनिषदैर्गायन्ति यं सामगाः। ध्यानावस्थिततद्गतेन मनसा पश्यन्ति यं योगिनो यस्यान्तं विदुः सुरासुरगणा देवाय तस्मै नमः॥

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

MeaningSalutations 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 Breakdown

भगवद्गीते अम्ब त्वाम् अनुसन्दधामि
Bhagavad-Gite Amba Tvam Anusandadhami
O Mother Bhagavad Gita, I meditate upon you
अद्वैतामृतवर्षिणीम्
Advaitamrita-Varshinim
Showering the nectar of non-duality (Advaita)
नमोऽस्तु ते व्यास विशालबुद्धे
Namostu Te Vyasa Vishala-Buddhe
Salutations to you, Vyasa of vast intellect
सर्वोपनिषदो गावः
Sarvopanishado Gavah
All the Upanishads are the cows
दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्
Dugdham Gitamritam Mahat
The milk is the great nectar of the Gita
वसुदेवसुतं देवं
Vasudeva-Sutam Devam
The divine son of Vasudeva (Krishna)
कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्
Krishnam Vande Jagad-Gurum
I bow to Krishna, the teacher of the world
मूकं करोति वाचालं
Mukam Karoti Vachalam
Makes the mute eloquent
पङ्गुं लङ्घयते गिरिम्
Pangum Langhayate Girim
Makes the lame cross mountains — such is His grace

Origin & History

Source: Gita Dhyanam — traditional invocation prefacing the Bhagavad Gita (attributed to Madhusudana Saraswati)

Author: Attributed to Madhusudana Saraswati

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gita Dhyanam?
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.
What does 'Sarvopanishado Gavo' mean?
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.
When should Gita Dhyanam be chanted?
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.

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