Un Rangoon Ki Udaan! (The Flight of Those Colours) Podcast - 2026-3-29

Opening Track : Nirvana Shatkam - Context, Lyrics and Translation

The Nirvana Shatakam (or Atma Shatakam) is a six-verse Sanskrit hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya who was a philosopher and theologian. According to tradition, Adi Shankaracharya was only 8 years old when he composed the Nirvana Shatakam (also known as Atma Shatakam). He composed these six verses upon meeting his guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada, near the River Narmada, responding to the question "Who are you?" with a profound assertion of his identity as pure consciousness and Shiva. Nirvana Shatakam declares one's true nature as pure, formless consciousness (Shiva) rather than the body, mind, or ego. It is a powerful non-dualistic (Advaita) chant, often used for meditation to dismantle self-limiting identities, reduce attachments, and experience deep inner silence and peace.

Shivoham Shivoham

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं

न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।

न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥

Mano-Buddhy-Ahangkaara Cittaani Naaham

Na Ca Shrotra-Jihve Na Ca Ghraanna-Netre |

Na Ca Vyoma Bhuumir-Na Tejo Na Vaayuh

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||1||

Meaning:

1.1: Neither am I the Mind, nor the Intelligence or Ego,

1.2: Neither am I the organs of Hearing (Ears), nor that of Tasting (Tongue), Smelling (Nose) or Seeing (Eyes),

1.3: Neither am I the Sky, nor the Earth, Neither the Fire nor the Air,

1.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,

The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

Shivoham

न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः

न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।

न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥

Na Ca Praanna-Samjnyo Na Vai Pan.ca-Vaayuh

Na Vaa Sapta-Dhaatuh Na Vaa Pan.ca-Koshah |

Na Vaak-Paanni-Paadam Na Copastha-Paayu

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||2||

Meaning:

2.1: Neither am I the Vital Breath, nor the Five Vital Airs,

2.2: Neither am I the Seven Ingredients (of the Body), nor the Five Sheaths (of the Body),

2.3: Neither am I the organ of Speech, nor the organs for Holding ( Hand ), Movement ( Feet ) or Excretion,

2.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,

The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

Shivoham

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 Dvessa-Raagau Na Me Lobha-Mohau

Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya-Bhaavah |

Na Dharmo Na Ca-Artho Na Kaamo Na Mokssah

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||3||

Meaning:

3.1: Neither do I have Hatred, nor Attachment, Neither Greed nor Infatuation,

3.2: Neither do I have Pride, nor Feelings of Envy and Jealousy,

3.3 I am Not within the bounds of Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desire) and Moksha (Liberation) (the four Purusarthas of life),

3.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,

The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

Shivoham

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 Punnyam Na Paapam Na Saukhyam Na Duhkham

Na Mantro Na Tiirtham Na Vedaa Na Yajnyaah |

Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhoktaa

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||4||

Meaning:

4.1: Neither am I bound by Merits nor Sins, neither by Worldly Joys nor by Sorrows,

4.2: Neither am I bound by Sacred Hymns nor by Sacred Places, neither by Sacred Scriptures nor by Sacrifies,

4.3: I am Neither Enjoyment (Experience), nor an object to be Enjoyed (Experienced), nor the Enjoyer (Experiencer),

4.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,

The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

Shivoham

न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः

पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।

न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥

Na Mrtyur-Na Shangkaa Na Me Jaati-Bhedah

Pitaa Naiva Me Naiva Maataa Na Janmah |

Na Bandhurna Mitram Gurur-Na-Iva Shissyam

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||5||

Meaning:

5.1: Neither am I bound by Death and its Fear, nor by the rules of Caste and its Distinctions,

5.2: Neither do I have Father and Mother, nor do I have Birth,

5.3: Neither do I have Relations nor Friends, neither Spiritual Teacher nor Disciple,

5.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,

The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.

Shivoham

अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो

विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।

न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥

Aham Nirvikalpo Niraakaara-Ruupo

Vibhu-Tvaacca Sarvatra Sarve[a-I]ndriyaannaam |

Na Caa-Sanggatam Naiva Muktirna Meyah

Cid-aananda-ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||6||

Meaning:

6.1: I am Without any Variation, and Without any Form,

6.2: I am Present Everywhere as the underlying Substratum of everything, and behind all Sense Organs,

6.3: Neither do I get Attached to anything, nor get Freed from anything,

6.4: I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,

The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.