Exhibit (b)

                                CERTIFICATIONS


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT 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 8/31/05 (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, 2005

                       /s/Jimmy D. Gambill
                       -------------------
                       Jimmy D. Gambill
                       Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration






                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT 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 8/31/05 (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, 2005

                                    /s/GALEN G. VETTER
                                    ------------------
                                    Galen G. Vetter
                                    Chief Financial Officer