Universal
Purnamadah — the fullness verse
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
Simple reading
Om poor-nam a-dah poor-nam i-dam, poor-naat poor-nam u-dach-ya-te, poor-nas-ya poor-nam aa-daa-ya, poor-nam e-vaa-va-shish-ya-te
Oṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate
About this mantra
The shanti mantra of the Isha Upanishad: a meditation on the fullness of the absolute, which remains full however much fullness arises from it.
Meaning
That is full; this is full. From fullness, fullness arises. Taking fullness from fullness, fullness alone remains. It is arithmetic only the infinite passes: subtract the whole from the whole, and the whole remains. Chanted before the Isha Upanishad, it removes in advance the fear all study carries: that reality might run out, or that the knower could diminish it by taking a share.
Learn it by heart
Say the first line until it comes without reading, then add the next line and say both, until the whole mantra comes on its own.
Line 1 of 2
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
Oṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate
0not said yet
Aim for eleven before the next line. Move on when the line comes without reading.
Progress stays on this device.
When to recite it
Opens and closes Upanishad study; recited before teaching, at the start of retreats, and whenever scarcity-fear needs the older arithmetic.
Word by word
- पूर्णमदःpūrṇam adaḥ
- that (the unseen absolute) is full
- पूर्णमिदंpūrṇam idaṁ
- this (the visible world) is full
- पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यतेpūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate
- from fullness, fullness arises
- पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादायpūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya
- taking fullness from fullness
- पूर्णमेवावशिष्यतेpūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate
- fullness alone remains
Source: Īśāvāsya Upaniṣad, śānti-pāṭha (also Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 5.1.1)