Stotra · Shiva as the Self

Nirvana Shatakam (Atma Shatakam)

Nirvana Shatakam — “six verses on liberation” — is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. In each verse the seeker negates what the Self is not — mind, senses, elements, emotions, rituals and relationships — and concludes, “I am Shiva, of the form of consciousness and bliss.” It is a concise expression of Advaita Vedanta.

When to recite: Recited or sung in meditation and satsang, and widely on Maha Shivaratri.

Verses

1. मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कारचित्तानि नाहं
   न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
   न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
   चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥

   manobuddhyahaṅkāracittāni nāhaṃ
   na ca śrotrajihve na ca ghrāṇanetre |
   na ca vyoma bhūmirna tejo na vāyuḥ
   cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’haṃ śivo’ham || 1 ||

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

2. न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः
   न वा सप्तधातुर्न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
   न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायू
   चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥

   na ca prāṇasaṃjño na vai pañcavāyuḥ
   na vā saptadhāturna vā pañcakośaḥ |
   na vākpāṇipādaṃ na copasthapāyū
   cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’haṃ śivo’ham || 2 ||

   I am not the life-breath nor the five vital airs; not the seven bodily tissues nor the five sheaths; not speech, hands or feet, nor the organs of procreation and excretion. I am Shiva — consciousness and bliss.

3. न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
   मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
   न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
   चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥

   na me dveṣarāgau na me lobhamohau
   mado naiva me naiva mātsaryabhāvaḥ |
   na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokṣaḥ
   cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’haṃ śivo’ham || 3 ||

   I have no aversion or attachment, no greed or delusion, no pride or envy. I am beyond duty, wealth, desire and even liberation. I am Shiva — consciousness and bliss.

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’haṃ śivo’ham || 4 ||

   I am neither merit nor sin, pleasure nor pain; not mantra, pilgrimage, scripture or sacrifice. I am not the act of eating, the food, or the eater. I am Shiva — consciousness and bliss.

5. न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः
   पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म ।
   न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः
   चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥

   na mṛtyurna śaṅkā na me jātibhedaḥ
   pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janma |
   na bandhurna mitraṃ gururnaiva śiṣyaḥ
   cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’haṃ śivo’ham || 5 ||

   I have no death and no fear, no distinctions of birth; no father, no mother, for I was never born; no relative, friend, teacher or disciple. I am Shiva — consciousness and bliss.

6. अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो
   विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
   सदा मे समत्वं न मुक्तिर्न बन्धः
   चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥

   ahaṃ nirvikalpo nirākārarūpo
   vibhutvācca sarvatra sarvendriyāṇām |
   sadā me samatvaṃ na muktirna bandhaḥ
   cidānandarūpaḥ śivo’haṃ śivo’ham || 6 ||

   I am free of all doubt and without form; all-pervading, I am everywhere, beyond the senses. I am ever the same — neither liberated nor bound. I am Shiva — consciousness and bliss.