The Shikshapatri (Gujarati: શિક્ષાપત્રી, Devanagari: शिक्षापत्री) is a religious text consisting of 212 verses, written in Sanskrit by Swaminarayan in 1826. It is one of the primary scriptures of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and provides a framework for moral, social, and spiritual integration of society. The Shikshapatri contains instructions on various aspects of life, including devotion to God, righteous living, health, hygiene, etiquette, and religious duties for devotees of all stages and walks of life.
Completed on February 11, 1826 (Maha sud 5, Samvat year 1882) at Vadtal, the Shikshapatri was presented by Swaminarayan to Sir John Malcolm, Governor of Bombay, during a meeting on February 26, 1830. This historic copy, scribed by Nilkanthanand Muni in 1830, is currently preserved in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. This manuscript contains additional material, including hymns by Dinanath, Shatanand, and Muktanand Muni, making it one of the oldest and most significant copies of the text.[1] The Shikshapatri has been translated into 29 languages, including various Indian languages and international ones such as English, French, and Chinese. The first English translation was published by Professor Monier-Williams, Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University.