Nirvana Shatakam

The great Adi Shankara (first Shankaracharya) of the eighth century summarized the entirety of Advaita Vedanta (non-dualistic philosophy) in six stanzas. When a young boy of eight, while wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his guru, he encountered a sage who asked him, "Who are you?" The boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as "Nirvana Shatakam" or "Atma Shatakam." "Nirvana" is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. "Atma" is the True Self. The sage the boy was talking to was Swami Govindapada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking for.

Mano-budhy-ahankara cittani naham
na ca srotra-jihve na ca ghrana netre
Na ca vyoma bhumim na tejo na vayuh
Cidananda rupah sivoham sivoham

Na ca prana samnjo na vai pancavayur
na va sapta-dhatur na va panca-kosah
Na vak-pani-padam na copastha-payu
Cidananda rupah sivoham sivoham

Na me dvesa ragau na me lobha mohau
mado naiva me naiva matsaryabhavah
Na dharmo na cartho na kamo na moksah
Cidananda rupah sivoham sivoham

Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na dukham
na mantro na tirtham na veda na yajna
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta
Cidananda rupah sivoham sivoham

Na mrtyur na sanka na me jati bhedah
pita naiva me naiva mata na janma
Na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva sisya
Cidananda rupah sivoham sivoham

Aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo
vibhutvacca sarvatra sarvendriyanam
Na ca sangatam naiva muktir na meya
Cidananda rupah sivoham sivoham

I am neither the mind,nor the intellect,nor the ego,nor the mind stuff.I am neither the body,nor the changes of the body.I am neither the senses of hearing,taste,smell or sight.Nor am i ether,the earth,the fire,the air.I am existence absolute,knowledge absolute bliss absolute.I am He,I am He.

I am neither the Prana,nor the five vital airs.I am neither the materials of the body,nor the five sheaths.Neither am I the organs of action nor objects of the senses. I am existence absolute,knowledge absolute bliss absolute.I am He,I am He.

I have neither aversion nor attachment,neither greed nor delusion,neither egotism nor envy.neither Dharma nor Moksha.I have neither desire nor object of desire.I am existence absolute,knowledge absolute,bliss absolute.I am He,I am He.

I am neither sin nor virtue,neither pleasure nor pain,nor temple,nor worship,nor pilgrimage,nor scriptures.And I am neither the act of enjoying,the enjoyable nor the enjoyer.I am existence absolute,knowledge absolute,bliss absolute.I am He,I am He.

I have neither death,nor fear of death,nor caste nor was I ever born,nor had i parents,friends and relations.I have neither Guru nor disciple.I am existence absolute,knowledge absolute,bliss absolute.I am He,I am He.

I am untouched by the senses.I am neither Mukti nor knowable,I am without form,without limit,beyond space,beyond time.I am in everything,I am the basis of the universe,everywhere am I.I am existence absolute,knowledge absolute,bliss absolute.I am He,I am He.

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[Elektra2070]

I agree with you, the future generation needs to realize that the stories in hinduism (ramayana, gita, ect) is NOT mythology like the rest of the world wants them to believe, but history of true events like the bridge to Lanka. I hope my comments did not offend anyone. Namaste

[julianrnoel]

aaaaaah thank you, agreat gift. Truly amongst the best words ever written, when truth emerges who really cares from which religion it emerges? The divine love within the human heart transcends religious boundaries.

[hrishikeshr1]

Adi Shankara's marvelous creation which takes one in to unlimited bliss . with only energy vibes of bliss exist where neither me or the world exist as a separate entity . It is the ultimate reality one experience when ignorance of division, desires ,attachment , detachment , created by Maya(illusion)ceases and when universal love elevate us to nothing as dual stage

! yes it is the real ananda thandava

[DavidEberhardt]

Thank you. This is most beautiful! This must be closely how Shankara must have sounded. To memorize Nirvana Shatakam -निर्वाण षटकम् - written and sung in Sanskrit and English is one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2012. Shankaracharya has been inspirational to me for over 30 years.

[guruc00l]

@niranjanprabhu I agree.British race is uncivilized and failed to understand Hindus understanding of this world, self and glorious itihasa.Their first step was to destroy our education system which was highly advanced at that time, without which it was impossible for them to influence our people. They themselves didn't have proper schools at that time.They have looted all our material riches and our discoveries.I definitely want to offend Britishers for derailing the greatest race -Hinduism,

[niranjanprabhu]

@Elektra2070 When the British came to India, their understanding of this earth was that it was a 5000 year old creation as mentioned in the Bible which was the only book they had probably read and believed to be 100% true. According to the Vedas the earth is billions of years old. So when we told them that Rama lived 7000 years ago or Krishna lived 5000 years ago, they called it "MYTH" which means false. Within Hinduism Mahabharata and Ramayana are called as "ITIHASA" of "as it happened"

[pragnayadav]

@krishmetalz that may be ignorance of video maker...but I think to criticize for these things are our ignorance..

[Magnifect]

@2011pns Do you know Buddha? do you think the great Adi Sanakara would be mad for buddha being in his famous music video? how do you know this is buddha? he looks like a great Indian saint, a beautiful siddhi, or even a swami, sitting for his sadhana. These things take away from the quality of the beautiful mantra, these discriminations. Buddha was the avtar of his time, he came before the great 8th century master, and we should pay homage to him, rather than cast him aside.

[Emecepola]

this is overwhelming beautiful.....

[krishmetalz]

I simply do not understand why a picture of Buddha is present in an audio track for Adi Shankara?