Nirvana Shaktam

Sri Adi Shankaracharya

Nirvana Shaktam is a profound philosophical text attributed to Sri Adi Shankaracharya, a revered sage and philosopher of Advaita Vedanta. This text encapsulates the essence of non-duality, emphasizing the realization of the Self as the ultimate reality, transcending all dualities and distinctions. It serves as a guide for seekers on the path to liberation, urging them to recognize their true nature as pure consciousness, free from the limitations of the physical world.

Verse 1

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कारचित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥

manobuddhyahaṅkāracittāni nāhaṃ na ca śrotrajihve na ca ghrāṇanetre |
na ca vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuś cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||1||

I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or memory; not the ears or the tongue, nor the nose or the eyes. I am not space, earth, fire, or air. I am pure consciousness and bliss—Śiva am I, Śiva am I.

Verse 2

न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुर्न वा सप्तधातुर्न वा पञ्चकोशाः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायुश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥

na ca prāṇasaṃjño na vai pañcavāyur na vā saptadhātur na vā pañcakośāḥ |
na vākpāṇipādaṃ na copasthapāyuś cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||2||

I am not the vital breath, nor the five airs; not the seven constituents of the body nor the five sheaths. I am not speech, hands, feet, nor the organs of procreation and excretion. I am pure consciousness and bliss—Śiva am I, Śiva am I.

Verse 3

न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥

na me dveṣarāgau na me lobhamohau mado naiva me naiva mātsaryabhāvaḥ |
na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokṣaś cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||3||

I have neither aversion nor attachment, neither greed nor delusion. I have no pride or envy. I am beyond dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa. I am pure consciousness and bliss—Śiva am I, Śiva am I.

Verse 4

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 ॥४॥

na puṇyaṃ na pāpaṃ na saukhyaṃ na duḥkhaṃ na mantro na tīrthaṃ na vedā na yajñāḥ |
ahaṃ bhojanaṃ naiva bhojyaṃ na bhoktā cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||4||

I am not merit nor sin, neither pleasure nor pain; not mantras, not pilgrimage, not the Vedas nor rituals. I am not food, nor the one who eats, nor the act of eating. I am pure consciousness and bliss—Śiva am I, Śiva am I.

Verse 5

न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥

na mṛtyur na śaṅkā na me jātibhedaḥ pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janma |
na bandhur na mitraṃ gurur naiva śiṣyaś cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||5||

There is no death, no fear of death, no distinction of caste for me. I have no father or mother, no birth. I have no relative, friend, teacher, or disciple. I am pure consciousness and bliss—Śiva am I, Śiva am I.

Verse 6

अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो विभुत्वाञ्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥

ahaṃ nirvikalpo nirākārarūpo vibhutvāñca sarvatra sarvendriyāṇām |
na cāsaṅgataṃ naiva muktir na meyaś cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||6||

I am beyond all alternatives, of formless nature, ever-pervading through all senses. I am neither bound nor liberated, nor am I an object to be known. I am pure consciousness and bliss—Śiva am I, Śiva am I.