Asato Mā Sad Gamaya: Source, Translation and Use
Written and reviewed by The Kriya Yogi · Updated 19 September 2026
asato mā sad gamaya / tamaso mā jyotir gamaya / mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya
From the unreal lead me to the real; from darkness lead me to light; from death lead me to the deathless.
- Source
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28
- Tradition
- Upanishadic
- Traditional use
- A closing or opening prayer; widely used at the end of practice.
- Repetition
- Usually recited once or three times, not counted on beads.
In short
- The source is Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28 — one of the oldest Upanishads.
- Each line has the same grammar: from X lead me to Y, where Y is the truer of the pair.
- It is a prayer, not a technique: there is no count, posture or breath attached to it.
- It is commonly used to close a practice, and needs no lineage or initiation.
Where it comes from
These three lines sit in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28, in a passage about the chanting priest. They are among the most quoted lines in Indian literature and appear in a great many school assemblies, concerts and yoga classes, usually without attribution.
Line by line
Asato mā sad gamaya — from the unreal (or untrue) to the real. Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya — from darkness to light. Mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya — from death to the deathless. The construction repeats exactly; only the pair changes, moving from what is false, to what is dim, to what ends.
The verb is gamaya: cause me to go. It is asking to be led, not resolving to arrive.
How it is used
Most often once or three times, spoken rather than counted, at the end of a sitting or a class. Many traditions append oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ. It carries no restriction and no technique — which is why it travels so easily.
Questions & answers
+ Where is 'lead me from darkness to light' from?
+ Is this a mantra or a prayer?
Mantra recitation is a contemplative practice, not a treatment for any condition. Nothing here should be read as medical advice.