Nirvana Shatakam
निर्वाण षटकम्
Type
Stotra
Date
8th century CE
Author
Adi Shankaracharya
Structure
6 verses (shlokas) in the Shardulavikridita meter
Language
Sanskrit
Core Teaching
The Nirvana Shatakam systematically negates all limited identifications — body, mind, senses, intellect, ego, and even the subtle impressions of past actions — to reveal the true nature of the Self as pure Consciousness-Bliss. Each verse follows a consistent pattern of negation (neti neti), declaring what the Self is not, before culminating in the supreme affirmation: 'Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham' — I am of the nature of Consciousness-Bliss, I am Shiva. The text embodies the essence of Advaita Vedanta, teaching that the individual self (Atman) is identical with the absolute reality (Brahman). It demonstrates that liberation (moksha) is not something to be attained but is our ever-present nature, obscured only by false identification with limiting adjuncts (upadhis). By stripping away every layer of mistaken identity, the stotra leads the seeker directly to the recognition of their infinite, formless, and blissful essence.
Key Verses
मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे। न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
mano-buddhyahaṅkāra cittāni nāhaṃ na ca śrotra-jihve na ca ghrāṇa-netre | na ca vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuḥ cidānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham ||
I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or memory. I am not the ears, tongue, nose, or eyes. I am not space, earth, fire, or air. I am of the nature of Consciousness-Bliss; I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
The opening verse immediately establishes the method of negation (neti neti). Shankaracharya negates identification with the four aspects of the inner instrument (antahkarana) — mind, intellect, ego, and memory — as well as the five sense organs and five great elements. What remains after all these negations is the pure witness-consciousness, declared as Shiva — the auspicious, infinite Self.
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः। न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
na me dveṣa-rāgau na me lobha-mohau mado naiva me naiva mātsarya-bhāvaḥ | na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokṣaḥ cidānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham ||
I have neither aversion nor attachment, neither greed nor delusion. I have no pride, nor any feeling of envy. I have no duty, no wealth, no desire, nor even liberation. I am of the nature of Consciousness-Bliss; I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
This verse is remarkable for negating not only the six enemies of the mind (shadripus — desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride, envy) but also the four traditional goals of human life (purusharthas — dharma, artha, kama, moksha). Even the pursuit of liberation is transcended, because the Self was never bound. This radical negation points to a state beyond all seeking and striving.
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम्। न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्॥
ahaṃ nirvikalpo nirākāra-rūpo vibhutvācca sarvatra sarvendriyāṇām | na cāsaṅgataṃ naiva muktir na meyaḥ cidānanda-rūpaḥ śivo'haṃ śivo'ham ||
I am devoid of all modifications, I am formless. I pervade all the senses, yet I am beyond them. I am neither attached nor liberated, nor can I be measured. I am of the nature of Consciousness-Bliss; I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
The closing verse shifts from negation to a positive description of the Self's nature. The Self is nirvikalpa (beyond all mental constructs), formless, and all-pervading. It cannot be measured or objectified because it is the very subject — the eternal witness. This verse captures the culmination of Advaita realization: the Self is infinite, unconditioned, and ever-free.
Why It Matters
The Nirvana Shatakam holds an extraordinary place in Hindu spiritual literature as perhaps the most concise and powerful expression of Advaita Vedanta's central insight — that our true identity is not the limited body-mind complex but infinite, undivided Consciousness itself. Traditionally said to have been composed by the young Shankara when his future guru Govindapada asked him 'Who are you?', the poem transforms a simple question into a profound vehicle for self-inquiry. Its six verses have served as a daily meditation and chanting practice for countless seekers across centuries, making the most abstract metaphysical truths accessible through rhythmic, memorable poetry. In today's world of pervasive anxiety, identity crises, and existential searching, the Nirvana Shatakam offers a radical reorientation: every source of suffering arises from mistaken identification, and liberation is simply the recognition of what we already are. The systematic negation method it employs has influenced modern teachers from Ramana Maharshi to Nisargadatta Maharaj, making it a living bridge between classical Vedanta and contemporary spirituality. For students of Hinduism, this text provides the essential key to understanding how the tradition approaches the ultimate question of selfhood. Its brevity makes it approachable, yet its depth rewards a lifetime of contemplation, making it an ideal entry point into the vast ocean of Vedantic philosophy.
Recommended Level
Level 2
Est. reading: 5-10 minutes for recitation; hours for contemplation
Recommended Translation
Swami Chinmayananda's commentary in 'Atma Bodha and Nirvana Shatakam' provides an accessible yet philosophically rigorous English rendering with detailed Advaitic explanations for each verse