Universal
Purnamadah — the fullness verse
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते । पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
Oṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate
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
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.
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)