Nirvaana Shatkam

12/07/09

Last week the great ancient Sage Patanjali's  Ashtaanga Yoga, and a few of his Sootra-s were briefly dealt with. Today it is proposed to give the English translation of the renowned 'Nirvaana Shatkam', the outpourings of a Realized Soul, the great Adi Sankara of eighth century AD, the mighty exponent of Advaita Vedanta, the priceless treasure of Upanishads, the invaluable heritage of Bharat.  The greatest philosopher that ever trod upon this earth, who by the incredible tender age of sixteen, completed writing all Bhashya-s (commentaries), Prabhanda-Grandha-s, and Stotra-s, and, in the next sixteen years not only trod on foot the length and breadth of Bharat, spreading Advaita philosophy, but also established monasteries far and wide, in north, south, east and west, and at the age of just thirty two, the Immortal Spirit left Its mortal remains in the Himalayas. 

      Now listen to what Swami Vivekananda exclaims: "He  who declared 'I will come whenever virtue subsides', came again, and this time the manifestation was in the South, and up rose that young brahmin of whom it has been declared that at the age of sixteen, he had completed all his writings, the marvellous boy Sankarcharya arose". 

      Now the Nirvaana Shatkam (six quartets, the fourth line of which repeats itself in all):

  " Manoe budhyahankaara chittadi naaham  -   Nacha srotra jihveh nacha ghraana naytray
   Nacha vyoama bhoomir na tejo na vaayu    -  Chidaananda roopa Sivoaham  Sivoaham

   Nacha praana sangyo   navai pancha vaayur -  Nava sapta dhaatur navaa pancha koasaha
   Na vaakpaani paadou   nachoe  sapta paayu -  Chidaananda roopa  Sivoaham Sivoaham

   Nameh dvesha raagou   nameh loabha moahou -  Madoanyva maynyva maatsyarya bhaavaha
   Na dharmo na chaardho na kaamo na moakshaha - Chidaananda roopa Sivoaham Sivoaham 

  Na punyam na paapam  na sowkhyam na dukham - Na mantram na teerdham na veda na
yagnyaha 
Aham bhoajanam nyva bhoajyam na bhoakta  -  Chidaananda roopa Sivoaham  Sivoaham

  Na mrutyur na sankaa  nameh jaati bhedaa  -  Pitaa nyva maynyva maataa na janma
  Na bandhur na mitram   gurur nyva sishya   -  Chidaananda roopa Sivoaham  Sivoaham

  Aham nirvikalpoe  niraakaara roopoe   -   Vibhootvaacha sarvatra saarvendriyaanaam
  Nachaa sangatam nyva muktir nameya  -  Chidaananda roopa  Sivoaham  Sivoaham.

  Meaning:   I am neither the mind, intelligence, ego nor chitta (seat of memory); neither the ears 
nor the tongue, nor the senses of smell and sight; neither  air, nor fire, nor water nor earth.

I am eternal bliss and awareness  --  I am Siva. I am Siva.
I am neither the praana (vital force), nor the five vital breaths,  neither the seven elements of the body, nor its five sheaths, nor hands nor feet, nor tongue, nor other organs of action. I am eternal bliss and awareness  ---  I am Siva.  I am Siva.

Neither greed nor delusion, nor loathing nor liking, have I; nothing of pride or ego, neither of dharma or object, nor of desire or liberation. I am eternal bliss and awareness. I am Siva. I am Siva. 

Nothing of pleasure or pain, or virtue or vice do I know, of mantra or sacred place, of Vedas or sacrifice; neither am I the eater, nor the food, nor act of eating. I am eternal bliss and awareness I am Siva.  I am Siva.

Death or fear have I none, nor any distinction of caste; neither father nor mother; nor even a birth have I; neither friend nor comrade, neither disciple nor Guru. I am eternal bliss and awareness. I am Siva.  I am Siva. 

I have no form or fancy, the all-pervading am I; everywhere I exist, and yet am beyond the senses. neither salvation am I, nor anything to be known. I am eternal bliss and awareness. I am Siva. I am Siva. 

Well, these are the  words of nectar of the great Adi Sankaracharya. For enlightenment and peace.