Universal Wisdom & Light Vedic Mantra
Rigveda 1.89.1: may good thoughts come to us from every side. A verse of the same hymn as Bhadram Karnebhih. Text and meaning in simple English.
Sanskrit
आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतोऽदब्धासो अपरीतास उद्भिदः ।
देवा नो यथा सदमिद्वृधे असन्नप्रायुवो रक्षितारो दिवेदिवे ॥
The Rigveda is traditionally chanted with pitch marks. The text here is given without them. “Kratu” means a thought, a purpose or a power of the mind to act.
Transliteration (IAST)
ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvato ’dabdhāso aparītāsa udbhidaḥ |
devā no yathā sadam id vṛdhe asann aprāyuvo rakṣitāro dive-dive ||
Meaning
May good thoughts come to us from every side: thoughts that cannot be harmed, that nothing can stop, that spring up fresh. May the gods always be with us for our growth, our protectors every day, never slack.
Source / Textual Reference
Rigveda 1.89.1 (Mandala 1, Sukta 89, verse 1)
Text compared with Sanskrit Wikisource and Wisdomlib (accent marks removed). The hymn is attributed to the seer Gotama Rahugana and addressed to the Vishvedevas, as listed on Wisdomlib.
Traditional Significance
This is the first verse of the Rigveda hymn to the Vishvedevas (“all the gods”) that also holds Bhadram Karnebhih (verse 8). Its opening line is one of the most quoted lines of the Veda: a wish to be open to good thoughts from every direction.
It is a prayer. The verse itself makes no promise about what will happen.
Traditional Practice
The first line is often quoted in talks and at the start of gatherings. There is no fixed time or number of repetitions.
Related Content
- Bhadram Karnebhih Shrunuyama, verse 8 of the same hymn
- Yaj Jagrato Duram Udaiti, a prayer for a good mind