Nirvana Shatakam | Shivoham

Nirvana Shatkam is a set of six verses, composed by the great Indian philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya. These shlokas are a step-by-step negation of what we are not, ultimately helping us discover our true selves. This valuable wisdom guide helps us detach from false identities and associate with God.

my Nachiketa presents the Shlokas of the Nirvana Shatkam with simple meanings and messages for each.

Let's immerse ourselves in the ocean of this divine wisdom and gather the pearls of truth and self-awareness.

Shloka 1

मनो बुद्ध्यहंकार चित्तानि नाहम्, न च श्रोत्र जिह्वे न च घ्राण नेत्रे।

न च व्योम भूमिर् न तेजो न वायुः, चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥ १॥

Mano buddhyahankara chittani naham Na cha shrotra jihve na cha ghrana netre 

Na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vayuh Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham

Meaning

I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or memory, 

Nor am I the ears, tongue, nose, or eyes. 

I am not the sky, earth, fire, air, or space; 

I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss—I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

Message

This shloka encourages us to know our true selves and to go beyond the body.

Shloka 2

न च प्राण संज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः, न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः। 

न वाक् पाणि पादौ न चोपस्थ पायुः, चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥ २॥

Na cha prana sangno na vai pancha vayuh Na va sapta dhatuh na va pancha koshah 

Na vak pani padau na chopastha payuh Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham

Meaning 

I am not the breath, the five vital airs, 

Nor am I the seven bodily elements or the five sheaths. 

I am not speech, hands, feet, or any other organs; 

I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss—I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

Message We are not the part of the body, not the elements with which our body is made, we are pure and divine consciousness.

Shloka 3

न मे द्वेष रागौ न मे लोभ मोहौ, मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्य भावः। 

न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः, चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥ ३॥

Na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau Mado naiva me naiva matsarya bhavah 

Na dharmo na chartho na kamo na mokshah Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham

Meaning

I have no hatred, attachment, greed, or delusion, 

Nor do I have pride or jealousy within me. 

I am beyond duty, wealth, desires, or liberation; 

I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss—I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

Message This shloka highlights the importance of being free from all kinds of desires and reaching your true form.

Shloka 4

न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखम्,न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः।

अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता,चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥ ४॥

Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na duhkham Na mantro na tirtham na veda na yajnah 

Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham

Meaning

I am neither virtue nor sin, neither pleasure nor pain. 

I am not mantra, pilgrimage, scriptures, or rituals. 

I am not the experience, not the object of experience, not even the one who experiences; 

I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss—I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

Message

This shloka conveys that all our emotions and experiences are temporary and our true self is above our experiences.

Shloka 5

न मे मृत्यु शंका न मे जाति भेदः, पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म:। 

न बन्धुर् न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः, चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥ ५॥

Na me mrityu shanka na me jati bhedah Pita naiva me naiva mata na janma 

Na bandhur na mitram gururnaiva shishyah Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham

Meaning 

I have no fear of death, nor any distinction of caste. 

I have no father, no mother, I was never born. 

I have no relations, no friends, no guru or disciple; 

I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss—I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

Message We should respect our relationships with others but should not be identified with them, as we are more than these relations.

Shloka 6

अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकार रूपः, विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम्। 

न चासंगतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः, चिदानन्द रूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्॥ ६॥

Aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupah Vibhut vachcha sarvatra sarvendriyanam 

Na chasangatam naiva muktirna meyah Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham

Meaning 

I am formless and beyond all doubts. 

I exist everywhere and I am present in all the senses. 

I am neither attached to anything nor free from it; 

I am the form of pure consciousness and bliss—I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

Message Just like Bhagwan Shiv, we are pure and free consciousness. With true knowledge and dedication, we can realize our true selves.

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