Shankaracharya Jayanti

NIRVANASHATKAM, OR 
SIX STANZAS ON NIRVANA

                (Translation by Swami Vivekananda of a poem 
                     by Sri Shankaracharya)

           

              I am neither the mind, nor the intellect, 
                        nor the ego, nor the mind - stuff;

             I am neither the body, nor the changes of the body;

             I am neither the senses of hearing, taste, smell, 
                          or sight,

             Nor am I the ether, the earth, the fire, the air;

             I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, 
                           Bliss Absolute --

            I am He, I am He. (Shivoham, Shivoham).

            I am neither the Prana, nor the five vital airs;

            I am neither the materials of the body, 
                           nor the five sheaths;

            Neither am I the organs of action, 
                          nor object of the senses;

           

            I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, 
                            Bliss Absolute --

            I am He, I am He. (Shivoham, Shivoham).

            I have neither aversion nor attachment, 
                        neither greed nor delusion;

            Neither egotism nor envy, neither 
                         Dharma nor Moksha;

            I am neither desire nor objects of desire;

             

I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, 
                Bliss Absolute --

         I am He, I am He. (Shivoham, Shivoham).

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

              Nor temple nor worship, 
              nor pilgrimage nor scriptures,

        Neither the act of enjoying, 
               the enjoyable nor the enjoyer;

I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, 
            Bliss Absolute --

        I am He, I am He. (Shivoham, Shivoham).

        I have neither death nor fear of death, nor caste;

        Nor was I ever born, nor had I parents, 
                   friends, and relations;

        I have neither Guru, nor disciple;

           

I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, 
               Bliss Absolute --

        I am He, I am He. (Shivoham, Shivoham).

        I am untouched by the senses, 
        I am neither Mukti nor knowable;

        I am without form, without limit, 
              beyond space, beyond time;

        I am in everything; I am the basis of the universe;
                 everywhere am I.

        I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, 
                   Bliss Absolute --

       I am He, I am He. (Shivoham, Shivoham).