Ashtanga Closing Mantra

This mantra is traditionally chanted at the end of a practice before Śavāsana. I have seen it referred to as Mangalya Prarthana—Universal Prayer to well being—however, the origin of the mantra has evaded my query for quite some time now. Many claim that is is from the Rig Veda but my search has proven this incorrect. Regardless, it is a beautiful sentiment.

Mantra

ॐ स्वस्तिप्रजाभ्यः परिपालयन्तां न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः । गोब्राह्मणेभ्यः शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

Oṃ svasti prajābhyaḥ paripālayantāṁ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ । gobrāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubhamastu nityaṁ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu ॥ Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

Om May all be well with mankind, may the leaders of the earth protect in every way by keeping to the right path. May there be goodness for those who know the earth to be sacred, may all the worlds be happy. Om peace peace peace

Transliteration

• svasti स्वस्ति - auspiciousness, well-being, blessings
• prajā प्रजा - living beings, a creature, animal, mankind, subjects (of a king)
• abhya अभ्य - to overcome (derivative: abhaya (अभय), “absence of fear”)
• pari परि - further, towards, successively
• pāla पाल - (a) that supports, protects (b) a protector, guardian, keeper
• yantā यंता - that restrains, controls
• pālayan पालयन् - protecting, ruling, maintaining
• paripālayan परिपालयन् - accepting the request
• nyāya न्याय - justice, principle, rule
• yena येन - wherefore, so that
• mārga मार्ग - path, by way of
• mārge मार्गे - on the street, on the
• mārgeṇa एण - by (following) the path
• mahī मही - the Earth
• śāḥ शाः - he, that person, the king