As an eight-year-old boy on a quest to find his guru, he journeyed through the Himalayas and encountered a sage who asked him who he was.

The young boy responded with six Shlokas, which are now called the ‘NirvaaNa Shatakam’. It is also known as the ‘Atma Shatakam.’ ‘Atma’ means the true Self’ and ‘NirvaaNa’ signifies ultimate bliss through complete freedom and absolute peace. 

The sage was highly pleased with the young Adi Shankaracharya and accepted him as his disciple. That sage was none other than Shri Govindapada Acharya, whose Guru was Shri Gaupadacharya. 

These six Shlokas not only negate all meaningless rites and rituals that people usually perform with the intention of ‘pleasing deities’ but also destroy all kinds of descriptions and attributes that people associate with the ultimate Truth.

These six Shlokas; which are not particularly useful to ritualists, followers of pseudo gurus such as babas and swamies, and other such ‘religious’ people; can greatly help a TRUE seeker who is not willing to settle for anything other than attaining Self-Realisation through the Supreme Truth. 

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥
mano buddhyahankaara chittaani naaham
na cha shrotra-jihve na cha ghraaNa-netre
na cha vyoma bhumir-na tejo na vaayuh
chidaananda-ruupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or memory,
Nor the senses that perceive for me,
Nor the elements that make up all,
Nor space, earth, fire, water, or wind’s call.
I am blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥
na cha praaNa-sangnyo na vai pancha vaayuhu
na vaa saptadhaatuh na vaa pancha koshah
na vaak-paaNi-paadam na chopastha-paayu
chidaananda ruupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
I am not the breath, nor the elements five,
Nor matter nor the five sheaths that thrive,
Neither speech, hands, nor the feet,
I am blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥
na me dvesha-raagau na me lobha-mohau
mado naiva me naiva maatsarya-bhaavaha
na dharmo na chaartho na kaamo na mokshaha
chidaananda ruupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
In me, there is no like or dislike,
Nor is there in me greed or delusion
Nor do I have pride or jealousy,
I have no duty, and neither desire for wealth, lust, nor release,,
I am blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

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॥
na puNyam na paapam na saukhyam na duhkham
na mantro na tiirtham na vedaa na yajnaah
aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktaa
chidaananda ruupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
Beyond virtue and vice, pleasure or pain,
Mantras, pilgrimage, scriptures, or rituals in vain,
Neither the experiencer, nor the experience I am,
I am blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥
na mrtyurna shankaa na me jaati-bhedaha
pitaa naiva me naiva maataa na janmaha
na bandhurna mitram gurur-naiva shishyam
chidaananda ruupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
Death holds no fear for me, nor caste or creed,
No father or mother, for I was never conceived,
Nor am I a relative, friend, teacher, or student,
I am blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva

अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो
विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥
aham nirvikalpo niraakara-rupo
vibhut-vaaccha sarvatra sarvendriyaaNaam
na chaa-sangatham naiva muktir na meyaha
chidaananda ruupah shivo’ham shivo’ham
Devoid of duality, I am changeless and formless,
I am the all-pervading existence beyond the senses
Neither am I attached, nor free, nor to be freed in any way,
I am blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva