Exhibit (B)(2)
                                CERTIFICATIONS


         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                AS ADOPTED PURUSANT TO SECTION 906
                 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Jimmy D. Gambill, Chief Executive Officer of the FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST
(the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

1.      The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period ended
        08/31/04 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of
        Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.      The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
        material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
        the Registrant.

Dated:  October 21, 2004

                                /s/JIMMY D. GAMBILL
                                   Chief Executive Officer - Finance and
                                   Administration


A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, OR OTHER
DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATING, ACKNOWLEDGING, OR OTHERWISE ADOPTING THE SIGNATURE THAT
APPEARS IN TYPED FORM WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT
REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO REGISTRANT AND WILL BE RETAINED BY
REGISTRANT AND FURNISHED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF
UPON REQUEST.









         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                AS ADOPTED PURUSANT TO SECTION 906
                 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Galen G. Vetter, Chief Financial Officer of the FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST (the
"Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

1.      The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period ended
        08/31/04 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of
        Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.      The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
        material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
        the Registrant.

Dated:  October 21, 2004

                     /s/GALEN G. VETTER
                        Chief Financial Officer

A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, OR OTHER
DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATING, ACKNOWLEDGING, OR OTHERWISE ADOPTING THE SIGNATURE THAT
APPEARS IN TYPED FORM WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT
REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO REGISTRANT AND WILL BE RETAINED BY
REGISTRANT AND FURNISHED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF
UPON REQUEST.