Nirvana Shatakam English
Nirvana = silence, soundlessness, formless Shatakam=six or consisting of six
Nirvana Shatakam is a beautiful composition by Adi Shankaracharya containing 6 verses or shlokas. It helps us to answer the question “Who am I?” This has been told by Adi Shankaracharya. It is also known as Atmashatkam.
Nirvana means salvation or liberation. Due to Maya, a person starts considering himself as this physical body. Physical expression includes not only the body but also thoughts and emotions.
The purpose of yoga (which we also know as nirvana or liberation) is to separate oneself from this false identity of the body and recognize one’s true nature. Our true nature is formless and free from bondage. There are many ways to know this form. Like Raj Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Gyan Yoga.
Nirvana Shatakam Lyrics
मनोबुद्ध्यहंकार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 1 ।।
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पंचवायुः,
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादौ न चोपस्थपायु,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 2 ।।
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ,
न मे वै मदो नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 3 ।।
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं,
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः ।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 4 ।।
न मे मृत्युशंका न मे जातिभेदः,
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरूर्नैव शिष्यः,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 5 ।।
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकार रूपो,
विभुत्वाच सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 6 ।।
Nirvana Shatakam English Meaning
मनोबुद्ध्यहंकार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 1 ।।
mano buddhi ahankara chittani naaham
na cha shrotravjihve na cha ghraana netre
na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vaayuhu
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am neither the mind, intellect, or ego. I am neither an ear, a tongue, a nose nor an eye. I am neither sky, land, fire, or air. I am only pure consciousness, I am Shiva.
Conscious power is divided into parts like mind, intellect, chitta, and ego. These four are called Anthakaran Chatushtaya. The function of the mind is to desire and imagine. Intelligence helps a person make decisions.
A person’s mind contains the sanskars of this birth and previous births. The feeling that is fixed in relation to oneself is called ego. Hearing, skin, eyes, tongue and smell are the five senses. The five karmendriyas are speech, hand, feet, payu and upastha(reproductive organ).
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पंचवायुः,
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादौ न चोपस्थपायु,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 2 ।।
na cha prana sangyo na vai pancha vayuhu
na va sapta dhatur na va pancha koshah
na vak pani-padam na chopastha payu
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am neither Vital Life Energy (Prana) nor the Five Vital Airs (manifestations of Prana),. Neither am I the seven metals of the body nor am I the Pancha Kosha(Five Sheaths ). Nor am I Vani, Paani (hands), Paad (feet), Upastha (genital organ), Payu (anus). I am only pure consciousness, I am Shiva.
These five Vayus are- Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana, and Samana. Rasa – Plasma, Rakta – Blood, Meat – Muscles, Med – Fat, Asthi – Bones, Marrow – Bone Marrow, Shukra – Reproductive Tissues. These are the seven metals.
These Panchakoshas are Annamay, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya. Vani, Paani (hands), Paad (feet), Upastha (genital organ), Payu (anus) are the five karmendriyas.
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ,
न मे वै मदो नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 3 ।।
na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau
na me vai mado naiva matsarya bhavaha
na dharmo na chartho na kamo na mokshaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am neither hatred nor attachment nor greed or attachment. I am neither drunk nor egoistic. I am neither Dharma, Artha, Kama nor Moksha. I am only pure consciousness, I am Shiva.
Lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and lust – these are considered Shadripu. Lust means having too many desires. Krodha means anger, Lobha means greed, Moha means attachment, Mad means pride, and Matsarya means jealousy, hatred, jealousy, not tolerating the prosperity and progress of others.
Four efforts have been mentioned in the Vedas for man – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. That’s why they are also called ‘Purusharth Chatushtaya’
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं,
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः ।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 4 ।।
na punyam na papam na saukhyam na duhkham
na mantro na tirtham na veda na yajnah
aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am neither virtuous nor sinful, neither happiness nor sorrow, nor mantra, pilgrimage, Veda or yagya. I am Neither Experience, nor an object to be Experienced, nor the Experiencer. I am only pure consciousness, I am Shiva.
न मे मृत्युशंका न मे जातिभेदः,
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरूर्नैव शिष्यः,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 5 ।।
na me mrtyu shanka na mejati bhedaha
pita naiva me naiva mataa na janmaha
na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva shishyaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am neither bound by death nor by its fear, nor by caste and its differences. I neither have a father nor a mother nor have I been born. Neither I have any relative nor friend nor teacher nor disciple. I am only pure consciousness, I am Shiva.
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकार रूपो,
विभुत्वाच सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः,
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ।। 6 ।।
aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo
vibhut vatcha sarvatra sarvendriyanam
na cha sangatham naiva muktir na meyaha
chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I do not doubt that I am formless. I am present everywhere and beyond all senses. I am neither attached to anything nor free from anything. I am only pure consciousness, I am Shiva.
How did Adi Shankara create Nirvana Shatakam
Regarding the creation of Nirvana Shatakam, it is said that once Adi Shankaracharya was wandering on the banks of the Narmada River in search of Guru. Then he saw the monk Swami Govind Bhagwatpad. So Shankaracharya ji asked him to make him his disciple. On this, that monk asked him Who are you?
Then he gave his answer to his Guru with 6 verses of Nirvana Shatakam. Hearing his answer, Swami Govind Bhagwatpad was very happy and he accepted Shankaracharya as his disciple.
Nirvana Shutkam has a total of six verses. Their literal meaning is beautiful and esoteric but it can’t be understood fully without experience. To understand its true meaning, the person must meditate regularly.
