GarbhShiksha

हिंदी में पढ़ें 

12 shlokas · Birth onwards

Shlokas to welcome your newborn baby

When a baby arrives, Indian families have long greeted the newborn with words of blessing. This page begins with the Jatakarma verse, the traditional first blessing whispered to a newborn: you come from my heart, live a hundred autumns. The old word 'putra' can mean son or child; like many families, we read it as 'child', so say it for a daughter or a son. You will also find Kausalya's wonder from Bhae Pragat Kripala, Rama's naming from the Ramcharitmanas, and Madhurashtakam to sing as a lullaby.

These verses are for birth onwards: your first quiet moments together, the naming day (Namkaran), and bedtime in the weeks that follow. Whisper a line as you hold your baby, or sing it softly. Grandparents and the whole family can join in. If you sang a verse often during pregnancy, you may like to keep singing it. Your baby may find it familiar.

These verses are blessings and a way to bond. They are not baby care advice. For feeding, sleep and anything about your baby's health or your own, follow your doctor and nurses. Read our disclaimer

How to practise these verses

For every verse below, unless it says otherwise.

Best time
At birth, on the naming day, at bedtime
How to practise
Whisper or sing softly
Who can chant
Parents and grandparents
Best weeks
Birth onwards

Honest noteA blessing and bonding ritual. Babies may find sounds they heard often before birth familiar.

First blessing to the newborn

You Are Born from My Heart (Jatakarma)

अङ्गादङ्गात्सम्भवसि हृदयादधिजायसे ।आत्मा वै पुत्रनामासि स जीव शरदः शतम् ॥

angad angat sambhavasi hridayad adhijayase, atma vai putra-namasi sa jiva sharadah shatam

Kaushitaki Upanishad 2.11; Ashvalayana Grihya Sutra 1.15

Meaning

You are born from every part of me. You come from my heart. You are my own self in the form of a child. Live a hundred autumns.

Why we suggest this

The traditional first blessing whispered over a newborn. 'Putra' can mean son or child; we read it as 'child', so say it for daughters and sons alike.

What you can expect

One of the most touching moments of all. Whisper it during skin-to-skin contact.

Best time
Right after birth

Blessing for strength

Be Strong as Stone, Bright as Gold

अश्मा भव परशुर्भव हिरण्यमस्रुतं भव ।वेदो वै पुत्रनामासि स जीव शरदः शतम् ॥

ashma bhava parashur bhava hiranyam asrutam bhava, vedo vai putra-namasi sa jiva sharadah shatam

Ashvalayana Grihya Sutra 1.15; Paraskara Grihya Sutra 1.16

Meaning

Be firm as a stone. Be sharp as an axe. Be pure, lasting gold. You are knowledge in the form of a child. Live a hundred autumns.

Why we suggest this

The old birth-rite blessing for strength and lasting worth.

What you can expect

A proud, joyful blessing for your baby's first days.

Long, healthy life

May We See a Hundred Autumns

पश्येम शरदः शतं जीवेम शरदः शतं शृणुयाम शरदः शतं प्रब्रवाम शरदः शतमदीनाः स्याम शरदः शतं भूयश्च शरदः शतात् ॥

pashyema sharadah shatam jivema sharadah shatam shrinuyama sharadah shatam prabravama sharadah shatam adinah syama sharadah shatam bhuyash cha sharadah shatat

Shukla Yajurveda 36.24

Meaning

May we see, live, hear and speak for a hundred autumns, never weak, and even beyond a hundred.

Why we suggest this

A blessing for a long, healthy life for your baby and your family.

What you can expect

A joyful family chant for the naming ceremony.

Who can chant
Whole family

A mother's wonder

Bhae Pragat – He Lived in My Womb

ब्रह्मांड निकाया निर्मित माया रोम रोम प्रति बेद कहै ।मम उर सो बासी यह उपहासी सुनत धीर पति थिर न रहै ॥उपजा जब ग्याना प्रभु मुसुकाना चरित बहुत बिधि कीन्ह चहै ।कहि कथा सुहाई मातु बुझाई जेहि प्रकार सुत प्रेम लहै ॥

brahmanda nikaya nirmita maya roma roma prati beda kahai, mama ura so basi yaha upahasi sunata dhira pati thira na rahai; upaja jaba gyana prabhu musukana charita bahuta bidhi kinha chahai, kahi katha suhai matu bujhai jehi prakara suta prema lahai

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (chhand, stanza 3) · Awadhi

Meaning

Kausalya says: the Vedas say whole universes are in each hair of your body, yet you lived in my womb. The Lord smiled and told her a sweet story, so that she would love him as her child.

Why we suggest this

Here a mother marvels that the divine lived inside her. Every mother feels this wonder.

What you can expect

Deep emotion and gratitude after birth.

See also: Ramayan chaupai for pregnancy: Bhaye Pragat Kripala and Rama's birth

The first cry

Bhae Pragat – Play Like a Little Baby

माता पुनि बोली सो मति डोली तजहु तात यह रूपा ।कीजै सिसुलीला अति प्रियसीला यह सुख परम अनूपा ॥सुनि बचन सुजाना रोदन ठाना होइ बालक सुरभूपा ।यह चरित जे गावहिं हरिपद पावहिं ते न परहिं भवकूपा ॥

mata puni boli so mati doli tajahu tata yaha rupa, kijai sisulila ati priyasila yaha sukha parama anupa; suni bachana sujana rodana thana hoi balaka surabhupa, yaha charita je gavahi haripada pavahi te na parahi bhavakupa

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (chhand, stanza 4) · Awadhi

Meaning

The mother said: 'Leave this grand form, dear one. Play like a little baby; that is the greatest joy.' Hearing her, the Lord became a baby and began to cry.

Why we suggest this

One of the most tender birth moments in Indian poetry. The first cry is the gift a mother asks for.

What you can expect

Tears of joy. A perfect lullaby in the newborn weeks.

See also: Ramayan chaupai for pregnancy: Bhaye Pragat Kripala and Rama's birth

Gratitude

Bhae Pragat – How Can I Praise You

कह दुइ कर जोरी अस्तुति तोरी केहि बिधि करौं अनंता ।माया गुन ग्यानातीत अमाना बेद पुरान भनंता ॥करुना सुख सागर सब गुन आगर जेहि गावहिं श्रुति संता ।सो मम हित लागी जन अनुरागी भयउ प्रगट श्रीकंता ॥

kaha dui kara jori astuti tori kehi bidhi karau ananta, maya guna gyanatita amana beda purana bhananta; karuna sukha sagara saba guna agara jehi gavahi shruti santa, so mama hita lagi jana anuragi bhayau pragata shrikanta

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (chhand, stanza 2) · Awadhi

Meaning

With folded hands Kausalya says: how can I praise you, endless one? You, ocean of kindness and joy, have appeared for my sake.

Why we suggest this

A mother's gratitude, in Tulsidas's words.

What you can expect

A feeling of thankfulness.

See also: Ramayan chaupai for pregnancy: Bhaye Pragat Kripala and Rama's birth

Naming day

Ocean of Joy – His Name Is Rama

जो आनंद सिंधु सुखरासी ।सीकर तें त्रैलोक सुपासी ॥सो सुखधाम राम अस नामा ।अखिल लोक दायक बिश्रामा ॥

jo ananda sindhu sukharasi, sikara te trailoka supasi; so sukhadhama rama asa nama, akhila loka dayaka bisrama

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 197 (naming by sage Vasishtha) · Awadhi

Meaning

He who is an ocean of joy, a single drop of whom refreshes the three worlds: that home of happiness is named Rama, giver of rest to all.

Why we suggest this

It is the naming moment in the Ramayana, perfect for your Namkaran.

What you can expect

A beautiful reading for the naming day.

Best time
Naming ceremony (Namkaran)

See also: Ramayan chaupai for pregnancy: Bhaye Pragat Kripala and Rama's birth

A gentle birth picture

Krishna Is Born Like the Full Moon

देवक्यां देवरूपिण्यां विष्णुः सर्वगुहाशयः ।आविरासीद्यथा प्राच्यां दिशीन्दुरिव पुष्कलः ॥

devakyam deva-rupinyam vishnuh sarva-guhashayah, avirasid yatha prachyam dishindur iva pushkalah

Bhagavata Purana 10.3.8

Meaning

Vishnu, who lives in every heart, appeared from the divine Devaki, like the full moon rising in the eastern sky.

Why we suggest this

The mother is called 'deva-rupini', divine in form. The birth is gentle, like moonrise.

What you can expect

A peaceful, beautiful image for the birth and the first days.

Lullaby continuity

Madhurashtakam – Verse 2

वचनं मधुरं चरितं मधुरं वसनं मधुरं वलितं मधुरम् ।चलितं मधुरं भ्रमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ॥

vachanam madhuram charitam madhuram vasanam madhuram valitam madhuram, chalitam madhuram bhramitam madhuram madhuradhipater akhilam madhuram

Madhurashtakam, verse 2

Meaning

His words, deeds, clothes and movements are sweet. Everything about him is sweet.

Why we suggest this

If you sang Madhurashtakam in pregnancy, keep singing it. Your baby may find the tune familiar.

What you can expect

A soothing lullaby routine.

How to practise
Sing softly at bedtime

See also: Madhurashtakam in pregnancy: all eight verses

Blessing for all

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥

sarve bhavantu sukhinah sarve santu niramayah, sarve bhadrani pashyantu ma kashchid duhkha-bhag bhavet

Traditional peace prayer

Meaning

May all be happy. May all be free from illness. May all see goodness. May no one suffer.

Why we suggest this

A closing prayer for your baby, your family and all mothers giving birth today.

What you can expect

A warm, generous heart in the first days.

Who can chant
Whole family

Welcoming good fortune

The Goddess as Good Fortune

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता ।नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

ya devi sarva-bhuteshu lakshmi-rupena samsthita, namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namah

Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), chapter 5

Meaning

To the Goddess who lives in all beings as good fortune: I bow to her again and again.

Why we suggest this

Many families welcome a newborn as Lakshmi coming home. This line honours good fortune as divine.

What you can expect

A joyful, thankful mood at home.

See also: Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu: 11 lines for pregnancy

Why the Lord took birth

Bipra Dhenu Sur Sant Hit

बिप्र धेनु सुर संत हित लीन्ह मनुज अवतार ।निज इच्छा निर्मित तनु माया गुन गो पार ॥

bipra dhenu sura santa hita linha manuja avatara, nija ichchha nirmita tanu maya guna go para

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (doha after Bhae Pragat) · Awadhi

Meaning

For the good of the wise, the cows, the gods and the saints, the Lord took human birth, in a body made by his own wish, beyond all limits.

Why we suggest this

It closes the Bhae Pragat birth hymn. Every birth brings goodness into the world.

What you can expect

A sense of purpose and celebration.

See also: Ramayan chaupai for pregnancy: Bhaye Pragat Kripala and Rama's birth

Sources

We mention only what each study actually found. Most studies are small, and none of them replaces your doctor's advice. Read the disclaimer

  • Learning sounds heard often before birth

    What it found
    Babies who heard a made-up word many times in the last three months of pregnancy showed stronger brain responses to its sounds after birth, so babies can learn and remember sounds they hear often late in pregnancy.
    What it doesn't show
    It shows memory for sounds, not understanding of meaning, and does not show any effect on intelligence, language skills or later development; the authors also caution that noise may harm the developing hearing system.

    Partanen et al. (2013). Learning-induced neural plasticity of speech processing before birth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110(37):15145-15150.

    Read the summary on PubMedRead the full study (free)