Exhibit 12(b)


                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 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 8/31/2008 (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: 10/28/2008


                            S\ GALEN G. VETTER

                            Galen G. Vetter
                            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, Laura F. Fergerson, 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 8/31/2008 (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: 10/28/2008


                            S\ LAURA F. FERGERSON

                            Laura F. Fergerson
                            Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer