Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Meaning in English: The Prayer for Everyone's Well-Being
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, the traditional Sanskrit peace prayer, with transliteration, word-by-word meaning, simple English translation and easy ways to use its spirit of kindness in daily life.
"May all be happy." Few lines are as short and as wide-hearted as this old prayer. Many people know it from temples, school assemblies, yoga classes and family prayers. It does not ask for something for me alone. It asks for everyone.
Here is the prayer with a simple English meaning and some ideas for living it every day.
The prayer
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥
sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarve santu nirāmayāḥ |
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścid duḥkha-bhāg bhavet ||
May all be happy. May all be free from illness. May all see what is good. May no one suffer.
This is a traditional peace prayer, often recited at the end of prayers and ceremonies, and it is commonly sung or chanted in many parts of India.
Word-by-word meaning
- sarve: all, everyone
- bhavantu: may they be
- sukhinaḥ: happy
- santu: may they be
- nirāmayāḥ: free from illness, healthy
- bhadrāṇi: good things, auspicious things
- paśyantu: may they see
- mā: not
- kaścit: anyone
- duḥkha-bhāk: one who shares in suffering
- bhavet: may become, may be
The idea behind the prayer
The prayer has four short wishes, one in each line:
- Happiness for all: not just for my family, my town or my country.
- Health for all: nirāmaya means without illness, with a mind and body at ease.
- Seeing the good: bhadra means auspicious or good. To "see" good is to notice kindness and chances for goodness around us.
- No one in sorrow: it ends with the wish that no one should have to bear suffering.
Notice that every line begins with "all" or "no one". There is no "me" and no "us versus them".
Common misunderstandings
- "It is only a ritual chant." It can be that, but its words are also a plan for how to look at others. Reciting it is a good beginning, and living it is the real prayer.
- "Wishing is enough." A prayer for others becomes strong when it is joined to small actions: helping someone, speaking kindly, sharing what we have.
- "It means ignoring my own needs." The word sarve, everyone, includes you too. Taking care of your own health and peace is part of the wish.
- "It asks us to ignore wrongdoing." The prayer wishes good for all, but it does not tell us to accept harm. We can wish a person well and still say no to what is wrong.
How to use it in daily life
- In the morning: say the four lines slowly once, and think of one person who is having a hard time.
- Before a meal: pause for a moment and remember everyone who has no food today. Then eat with gratitude.
- When you are angry with someone: say the lines silently. They will not fix the problem, but they can soften your voice before you speak.
- With children: teach them the prayer along with its meaning. Ask, "How can we help someone be happy today?" and let them pick a small action.
- In a hard season: when your own worries feel heavy, wishing health and peace for others can remind you that you are not alone.
A simple practice for the evening: before sleep, take three slow breaths, repeat the prayer, and name one kind thing you did or saw that day.
Read more in simple English
The spirit of this prayer, caring for all and seeing good in the world, runs through the Gita and many other texts. If you would like to read them in plain language, the Satvik Setu English bundle has 14 books plus 2 bonus items, written in simple English, with Sanskrit shlokas and their English meanings, and all 700 shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita. You can read a free sample first: Gita Chapter 12 free sample (PDF).
In short
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah wishes happiness, health, goodness and freedom from sorrow for everyone. It is a short prayer that teaches a wide and kind way of looking at the world, and it becomes most meaningful when we add small acts of kindness to the words.