Nirvana Shatakam

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Ah! You’re referring to the “Nirvana Shatakam” (also called Atma Shatakam) — a famous Sanskrit composition by Adi Shankaracharya. It’s a concise and profound work consisting of six verses (hence “Shatakam”), each describing the nature of the Self (Atman) and the state of liberation (Nirvana). The text is considered a direct guide to self-realization.

Here’s a summary and the essence of each verse:

Verse 1

“I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or the senses. I am pure consciousness.”

• Emphasizes that the true Self is beyond the physical and mental faculties.

Verse 2

“I am not the body, nor the prana (life force), nor the worldly elements. I am eternal bliss.”

• Liberation is not identification with the body or its functions.

Verse 3

“I am the pure, non-dual consciousness; untouched by worldly sorrow or pleasure.”

• The Self is ever free from dualities like pain and pleasure.

Verse 4

“I am formless, eternal, without birth or death; the witness of all.”

• True Self transcends birth, death, and the limitations of form.

Verse 5

“I am beyond all names and forms; I am Brahman.”

• Realization: One’s identity is not the body, mind, or name, but the universal consciousness.

Verse 6

“I am bliss, peace, and liberation; I am Shiva, eternal and infinite.”

• The culmination: recognizing oneself as pure, absolute bliss, identical with the infinite.

Core Message

The Nirvana Shatakam teaches self-inquiry:

• Ask, “Who am I?”
• Strip away identification with body, mind, ego, and world.
• Realize your true nature as pure, infinite consciousness, which is eternal bliss and freedom.

If you want, I can also provide the full original Sanskrit text with transliteration and word-by-word meaning, so you can study it deeply.

Do you want me to do that?