Nirvana Shatakam — The Six Stanzas on Absolute Freedom
Composed by 8-year-old Adi Shankaracharya when asked 'Who are you?' by his Guru Govinda Bhagavatpada on the banks of the Narmada. This sublime Advaitic masterpiece negates all false identifications with body, mind, and senses, declaring 'Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham' (I am Consciousness and Pure Bliss, I am Shiva!).
निर्वाणषट्कम् — Nirvana Shatakam (शिवोऽहम्)
Composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
The Supreme Declaration of Identity
When the young Shankara walked across ancient India seeking his Guru, he arrived at the cave of Sage Govinda Bhagavatpada. The master asked from within: “Who are you?”
Instead of stating his name, caste, or birth city, Shankara spontaneously sang these six stanzas, identifying directly with the non-dual, timeless consciousness — Shivoham (I am Shiva).
Verse 1 — Negation of Mind & Senses
मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ १ ॥Transliteration:
Mano-buddhy-ahaṅkāra-cittāni nāhaṁ
Na ca śrotra-jihve na ca ghrāṇa-netre |
Na ca vyoma bhūmir-na tejo na vāyuḥ
Cid-ānanda-rūpaḥ śivo’ham śivo’ham || 1 ||
Meaning:
I am not the mind, nor the intellect, nor the ego, nor the reflective consciousness (Chitta). I am neither the ears, nor the tongue, nor the nose, nor the eyes. I am neither space, nor earth, nor fire, nor air. I am the embodiment of Pure Consciousness and Bliss — I am Shiva, I am Shiva!
Verse 2 — Negation of Vital Breaths & Bodies
न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः
न वा सप्तधातुर्-न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायू
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ २ ॥Meaning:
I am not the vital life breath (Prana), nor the five physiological airs. I am neither the seven bodily tissues nor the five sheaths of ignorance (Koshas). I am not the organs of action — speech, hands, feet, reproduction, or excretion. I am the form of Pure Consciousness and Bliss — I am Shiva, I am Shiva!
Verse 3 — Negation of Emotional Attachments & Goals
न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ ३ ॥Meaning:
I have neither hatred nor attraction; neither greed nor delusion. Pride has no place in me, nor feelings of jealousy. I am beyond duty (Dharma), wealth (Artha), desire (Kama), and even liberation (Moksha) — for I am already inherently free. I am Consciousness and Bliss — I am Shiva, I am Shiva!
Verse 4 — Negation of Merit, Sin & Rituals
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 ॥ ४ ॥Meaning:
I am untouched by virtue or sin, joy or sorrow. I need no mantras, holy pilgrimages, Vedic scriptures, or sacrificial rites. I am neither the food, nor the act of eating, nor the experiencer who eats. I am Consciousness and Bliss — I am Shiva, I am Shiva!
Verse 5 — Negation of Death, Caste & Kinship
न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ ५ ॥Meaning:
I have no death, no fear or doubts, no distinctions of caste or creed. I have no father, no mother, and no physical birth. I have no relatives, no friends, no teacher, and no disciple. I am Consciousness and Bliss — I am Shiva, I am Shiva!
Verse 6 — The Positive Affirmation of Infinity
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो
विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ ६ ॥Meaning:
I am free from all conceptual changes (Nirvikalpa), formless and boundless (Nirakara). Because of my omnipresence, I permeate all senses everywhere simultaneously. I am neither bonded nor liberated, beyond all mental measurement. I am Consciousness and Bliss Absolute — I am Shiva, I am Shiva!