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निर्वाणषट्कम् / आत्मषट्कम्
Vedānta · stotra · 6 verses
Adi Shankaracharya
Madhaviya Shankaravijaya; Adi Shankaracharya — Nirvana Shatakam
The Nirvana Shatakam — also called the Atma Shatakam — is a six-verse hymn by Adi Shankaracharya composed in the method of systematic negation (neti neti). Each verse peels away one layer of false identification — body, senses, emotions, social relations, caste — and asserts the refrain: 'cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham' (I am of the nature of consciousness-bliss; I am Shiva, I am Shiva). It is one of the most compact and powerful expositions of Advaita Vedanta in existence.
Composed when the young Shankara first met his Guru Govindapada on the banks of the Narmada. When asked 'Who are you?', Shankara spontaneously replied with these six verses.
मनोबुद्ध्यहंकारचित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे।
न च व्योमभूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
mano-buddhyahaṅkāra-cittāni nāhaṃ na ca śrotra-jihve na ca ghrāṇa-netre।
na ca vyoma-bhūmir-na tejo na vāyuḥ cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham॥
I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or memory; nor the ears or tongue, nor the nose or eyes; nor space, earth, fire, or air. I am of the nature of consciousness-bliss — I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः न वा सप्तधातुर्न वा पञ्चकोशः।
न वाक्पाणिपादौ न चोपस्थपायू चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
na ca prāṇa-sañjño na vai pañca-vāyuḥ na vā sapta-dhātur-na vā pañca-kośaḥ।
na vāk-pāṇi-pādau na copastha-pāyū cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham॥
I am not the prana, nor the five vital airs; not the seven dhatus, nor the five sheaths; nor the organs of speech, hand, foot, generation, or excretion. I am of the nature of consciousness-bliss — I am Shiva.
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
na me dveṣa-rāgau na me lobha-mohau mado naiva me naiva mātsarya-bhāvaḥ।
na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokṣaḥ cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham॥
I have no aversion or attachment, no greed or delusion, no pride, no envy. I am beyond dharma, artha, kama, or moksha. I am of the nature of consciousness-bliss — I am Shiva.
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
na puṇyaṃ na pāpaṃ na saukhyaṃ na duḥkhaṃ na mantro na tīrthaṃ na vedā na yajñāḥ।
ahaṃ bhojanaṃ naiva bhojyaṃ na bhoktā cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham॥
I have no merit or demerit, no pleasure or pain; no mantra, no tirtha, no Vedas, no yajnas. I am not the eaten, the eating, or the eater. I am of the nature of consciousness-bliss — I am Shiva.
न मे मृत्युशङ्का न मे जातिभेदः पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
na me mṛtyu-śaṅkā na me jāti-bhedaḥ pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janma।
na bandhur-na mitraṃ gurur-naiva śiṣyaḥ cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham॥
I have no fear of death, no caste-difference; no father, no mother, no birth; no relative, no friend, no guru, no disciple. I am of the nature of consciousness-bliss — I am Shiva.
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपः विभुर्व्याप्य सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम्।
सदा मे समत्वं न मुक्तिर्न बन्धः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
ahaṃ nirvikalpo nirākāra-rūpaḥ vibhur-vyāpya sarvatra sarvendriyāṇām।
sadā me samatvaṃ na muktir-na bandhaḥ cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham॥
I am beyond mental fluctuations, formless, all-pervading, indweller of all senses. Always equal, neither liberation nor bondage applies to me. I am of the nature of consciousness-bliss — I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
Sources: Madhaviya Shankaravijaya; Adi Shankaracharya — Nirvana Shatakam. Awaiting scholar verification.