Also known as pavamāna abhyāroha is an ancient Sanskrit mantra mentioned in
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad
असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय ॥
asato mā sadgamaya,'
tamaso mā jyotirgamaya,
mṛtyormā'mṛtaṃ gamaya.
Translation: From unreal lead me to the real,
From darkness lead me to the light,
From death to lead me to immortality. Commentary:
A prayer where the seeker admits the sense that everything is infinite and there's surrender with a heartfelt cry for assistance for transcendence.
It isn't a supplication for worldly needs and desires call it for nourishment, shield, wellbeing, glory, wealth, victory, popularity or even heaven as one has understood that such things are void and even in abundance will forever leave him wanting.
The essence of the mantra is to ask for assistance to free oneself from sundry errors and misunderstandings about oneself and to be blessed by true knowledge (knowing oneself).