Adi Shankaracharya's Nirvana Satakam - Verses Discussing God's Form and Nature

Chidananda roopam sivOham, sivOham... You are the embodiment of Consciousness and Happiness, O Lord Shiva!

Nirvana Shatakam is composed by Jagad Guru Shankaracharya explaining the form and nature of God.

Nirvana or Nirvanam is a transcendental state where the self experiences neither joy nor sorrow. It is a state of enlightenment where there is perfect peace and happiness.

There is a vast difference in pronouncing the word "shatakam" or "satakam". But both are written as 'shatakam' by most people.

The word 'shatakam' is to be pronounced as if you are pronouncing the letter 's' in "shut" + 'akam' (six + verse). It means six verses. 

Shankaracharya describes the nature and form of the Supreme Brahman by negating all qualities and attributes to understand His real essence or Truth in six poetical verses.

True Nature and Form of God

manO buddhi ahankaara chittaani naaham

na cha shrOtrav-jihvE na cha ghraaNa nEtrE

na cha vyOma bhoomir na tEjo na vaayuhu

chidaananda roopah sivOham sivOham || (1)


Meaning:

I am not any of the mental aspects like the mind, the intellect, the ego, or the consciousness;

nor the sensory organs of hearing, taste, smell, or the eyes;

I am not the space, nor earth, nor fire, nor the wind;

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva... 


na cha praaNa sangyO na vai pancha vaayuhu

na va sapta dhaatur na va pancha kOsah

na vak paaNi-paadam na chOpastha-paayu

chidaananda roopah sivOham sivOham || (2)


Meaning:

I am not the vital energy, nor the five elements of air,

I am not the seven elements of matter in body, nor the five layers of consciousness,

Nor am I the speech, the hands, the feet, the presence, or the time;

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva...


na mE dvEsha raagau na mE lObha mOhau

na mE vai madO naiva maatsarya bhaavau

na dharmO na cha arthO na kaamO na mOkshaha

chidaananda roopah sivOham sivOham || (3)


Meaning:

There is no grudge or passion in me, no greed, nor delusion;

I have no pride or the feeling of jealousy,

There is no obligation, nor desire for wealth, no lust nor liberation;

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva...


na puNyam na paapam na saukhyam na duhkham

na mantrO na tiirtham na vEdaa na yajnah

aham bhOjanam naiva bhOjyam na bhOkta

chidaananda roopah sivOham sivOham || (4)

Meaning:

I am neither virtue nor vice nor pleasure or pain,

I need no sacred utterances nor pilgrimages, no scriptures nor rituals,

I am the experience, not the experienced, nor one who experiences;

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva...


na mE mrityu shankaa na mE jaati bhEdaha

pitaa naiva mE naiva maataa na janmaha

na bandhur na mitra, gurur naiva shishyaha

chidaananda roopah sivOham sivOham || (5)


Meaning:

I have no fear of death, no caste or creed,

I have neither father nor mother, for I was never born,

I am not a relative, a friend, a teacher or a student,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva...


aham nirvikalpO niraakaara rupO

vibhootva-acha sarvatra sarvEndriyaaNaam

nachaa sangatham naiva muktir na mayaha

chidaananda roopah sivOham sivOham || (6)


Meaning:

I am devoid of duality, am formless,

I exit within, everywhere, and beyond all senses,

I am neither attached, nor free, nor captive;

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva...