Universal
Shubham Karoti — lighting the lamp
शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसम्पदा । शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Śubhaṁ karoti kalyāṇam ārogyaṁ dhana-sampadā, śatru-buddhi-vināśāya dīpa-jyotir namo'stu te
Simple reading: Shu-bham ka-ro-ti kal-yaa-nam, aa-rog-yam dha-na sam-pa-daa, shat-ru bud-dhi vi-naa-shaa-ya, dee-pa jyo-tir na-mo-stu te
About this mantra
The verse said while lighting the evening lamp — the flame honoured as the giver of good, health, and clarity of mind.
Meaning
You bring the auspicious, wellbeing, health, and abundance; you destroy hostile intent — light of the lamp, salutations to you. The flame is credited with four gifts and one victory. Śatru-buddhi can be read two ways — the ill will of enemies, or the hostile turn of one's own mind — and the verse allows both. Lit at dusk, the lamp is asked to do indoors what the sun did all day — keep the dark honest.
When to recite it
Dusk, as the evening lamp is lit — children traditionally say it at the doorstep diya, households at the tulsi and the altar.
Word by word
- शुभं करोति कल्याणम्śubhaṁ karoti kalyāṇam
- brings the auspicious and wellbeing
- आरोग्यं धनसम्पदाārogyaṁ dhana-sampadā
- health and abundance
- शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशायśatru-buddhi-vināśāya
- for the destruction of hostile thought
- दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु तेdīpa-jyotir namo'stu te
- O light of the lamp, salutations to you
Source: Traditional dīpa-vandana verse