Atma Shatakam
The Atma shatkam is also known as Nirvana Shatkam [1], and by other variations of these names. It is a shloka in six stanzas written by Adi Sankara summarising the basic teachings of Advaita Vedanta, or the Hindu teachings of non-dualism.
The speaker of the poem is nominally Shiva, but it is generally seen as a statement by a knowing person of identity with Shiva or brahman. The speaker lists in the earlier verses what he (or brahman) is not. He is not body or mind, nor the things that attach them to each other and to the world, including the intellect, the senses, the practices of life, the occurrences of life such as birth and death. In the last verse he says that he permeates through the universe, and that he is consciousness, bliss and the soul, and by implication, the atman and brahman. [2][3]
Sanskrit
Transliteration in IAST format.
- manobuddhyahaṃkāra cittāni nāhaṃ
- na ca śrotrajihve na ca ghrāṇanetre
- na ca vioma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuḥ
- cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham
- na ca praṇasajño na vai paṃcavāyuḥ
- na vā saptadhātur na vā paṃcakośaḥ
- na vākpāṇipādaṃ na copasthapāyu
- cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham
- na me dveşarāgau na me lobhamohau
- mado naiva me naiva mātsaryabhāvaḥ
- na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokşaḥ
- cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham
- na puṇyaṃ na pāpaṃ na saukhyaṃ na dukhyaṃ
- na mantro na tīrthaṃ na vedā na yajña
- ahaṃ bhojanaṃ naiva bhojyaṃ na bhoktā
- cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham
- na me mṛtyuśaṃkā na me jātibhedaḥ
- pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janmaḥ
- na bandhur na mitraṃ gurunaiva śişyaḥ
- cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham
- ahaṃ nirvikalpo nirākāra rūpo
- vibhutvāca sarvatra sarveṃdriyāṇaṃ
- na cāsangata naiva muktir na meyaḥ
- cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham
This text has been transliterated from the sources at [1], [2], with some corrections made.
References
- Iyengar, B. K. S. (1966, 1976). Light on Yoga (or the Yoga Dipika). Thorsons: An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, Hammersmith, London. ISBN 1-85538-166-4
External links