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 08/31/06 (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 26, 2006


                            /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 08/31/06 (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 26, 2006


                                    /S/GALEN G. VETTER
                                    Galen G. Vetter
                                    Chief Financial Officer