Nirvana Shatkam (Atma Shatkam)
निर्वाणषट्कम् (आत्मषट्कम्)
Six immortal verses of Advaita Vedanta expounding the non-dual truth of the Self: denying identification with mind, senses, body, karma, and prana, culminating in the realization "I am Shiva, pure consciousness and bliss."
Composed by Adi Shankara at age eight when asked "Who are you?" by his guru Govinda Bhagavatpada on the banks of the Narmada river. Serves as the ultimate meditation on neti-neti (not this, not this) and Advaitic self-realization.
चौपाई (The Verses)
मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे। न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥
Mano-buddhy-ahaṅkāra-cittāni nāhaṁ na ca śrotra-jihve na ca ghrāṇa-netre | Na ca vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuś cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुर्न वा सप्तधातुर्न वा पञ्चकोशः। न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायू चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥
Na ca prāṇa-saṁjño na vai pañca-vāyur na vā sapta-dhātur na vā pañca-kośaḥ | Na vāk-pāṇi-pādaṁ na copastha-pāyū cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः। न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥
Na me dveṣa-rāgau na me lobha-mohau mado naiva me naiva mātsarya-bhāvaḥ | Na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokṣaś cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||
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॥
Na puṇyaṁ na pāpaṁ na saukhyaṁ na duḥkhaṁ na mantro na tīrthaṁ na vedā na yajñāḥ | Ahaṁ bhojanaṁ naiva bhojyaṁ na bhoktā cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||
न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म। न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥
Na mṛtyur na śaṅkā na me jāti-bhedaḥ pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janma | Na bandhur na mitraṁ gurur naiva śiṣyaś cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो विभुर्व्याप्य सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम्। सदा मे समत्वं न मुक्तिर्न बन्धश्चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥
Ahaṁ nirvikalpo nirākāra-rūpo vibhur vyāpya sarvatra sarvendriyāṇām | Sadā me samatvaṁ na muktir na bandhaś cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed Nirvana Shatkam and what does it mean?
Nirvana Shatkam (also known as Atma Shatkam) was composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. It consists of six stanzas using the neti-neti method to systematically de-identify from the physical and mental apparatus, declaring the true self as pure blissful awareness (Shivoham).
What is the significance of the phrase "Shivoham Shivoham"?
In Advaita Vedanta, "Shiva" here does not merely denote a personal deity, but the transcendental auspicious reality, absolute consciousness, and unconditioned Brahman. "Shivoham" means "I am Shiva / I am that Pure Consciousness."