Nirvana Shatakam

Nirvana Shatakam is a composition by Sri Adi Sankara. The back story is remarkable. When Sankara was 8 years, he set out to find a guru. At the banks of the Narmada river he met Guadapada how asked Sankara “Who are you”? Sankara responded with the six stanzas that make up Nirvana Shatakam. Guadapada accepted Sankara as his disciple.

Sri Adi Sankara is accepted by all to be a realized soul. So the answer to the question “who are you”, is the answer to the question “who or what is Atma”? Nirvana Shatakam expands on the definition of Atma given in the seventh verse of the Mandukya Upanishad. In similar style to that in Mandukya Upanishad, atma is defined by using negation. The verses state what Atma is not, but each verse concludes with a positive assertion of what Atma is. The composition is written in first person as if Atma is responding to the question “who am I”.

Verse 1: Who am I?
manobuddhyahaṅkāra cittāni nāhaṃ
na ca śrotrajihve na ca ghrāṇanetre
na ca vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuḥ
cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’ham śivo’ham

I (Atma) am not the mind, intelligence, memory, or ego. I is also not the five sense organs of hearing, tasting, smelling, seeing, and touching. I am neither the five elements; sky, earth, fire, air, and water.
I am ever pure blissful consciousness!

Verse 2: Am I the body?
na ca prāṇasaṅjño na vai pañcavāyuḥ
na vā saptadhātur na vā pañcakośaḥ
na vākpāṇipādaṃ na copasthapāyu
cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’ham śivo’ham

I am not bodily systems like circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory… I am not the bodily components like plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone… I am not the bodily types like gross, subtle, perpetual, conscious, and transcendental. I am not the bodily organs like hand, feet…
I am ever pure blissful consciousness!

Verse 3: What are my qualities and can I be achieved?
na me dveşarāgau na me lobhamohau
mado naiva me naiva mātsaryabhāvaḥ
na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokşaḥ
cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’ham śivo’ham

I have no hatred, attachment, greed or infatuation. I have no pride, envy, or jealousy. I cannot be achieved by the four goals of life; righteousness, wealth, desire, and liberation.
I am ever pure blissful consciousness!

Verse 4: What are my actions?
na puṇyaṃ na pāpaṃ na saukhyaṃ na duhkhaṃ
na mantro na tīrthaṃ na vedā na yajña
ahaṃ bhojanaṃ naiva bhojyaṃ na bhoktā
cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’ham śivo’ham

I do not perform actions that create merits, sins, joy, or sorrow. I do not chant hymns, visit sacred places, read scriptures, or make sacrifices. I am not the enjoyer, enjoyed, or the experience of enjoyment.
I am ever pure blissful consciousness!

Verse 5: What is my state or relationship in society?
na me mṛtyuśaṅkā na me jātibhedaḥ
pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janmaḥ
na bandhur na mitraṃ gurunaiva śişyaḥ
cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’ham śivo’ham

I am neither born nor dead. I do not have a caste or any other distinctions. I am not a father or mother. I have no relations or friends. I am no one’s teacher and I have no disciples.
I am ever pure blissful consciousness!

Verse 6: How can I be described?
ahaṃ nirvikalpo nirākāra rūpo
vibhutvā ca sarvatra sarvendriyāṇaṃ
na cāsangata naiva muktir na meyaḥ
cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’ham śivo’ham

I have no form. I am changeless and have no variations. I am present everywhere and I the substratum of everything and am behind all sense organs. I am neither attached to anything nor am I free from anything
I am ever pure blissful consciousness!