DR SUSHILA RANI PATEL (1918-2014)
It's been 10 years since my Guru passed on. One of the Sanskrit verses I learnt from her was the NIRVANA SHATKAM, which I offer as my tribute to her cherished memory🌺

A young boy of 8 years wandering in the Himalayas seeking a ‘Guru’  met Seer Gaudapada who asked him ‘WHO ARE YOU?’ Adi Shankara answered with the NIRVANA SHATKAM, delving into the essence of ‘Advaita’, non-duality. Hearing it, Seer Gaudapada accepted him as his disciple. This was around 800 CE. 

NIRVANA is complete equanimity, SHATKAM is six stanzas, these verses speak of the unattached, infinite soul.

"Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham...."
I am bliss Supreme, not born to die
I am Shiva, the Lord of Eternal joy.

Composed in Raga Pilu by my Guru Dr Sushila Rani Patel.

LYRICS & TRANSLATION
मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥

Neither the mind nor the intellect am I,
Unconscious of self, beyond life’s what and why.
I am not the ear nor the tongue’s little cry,
Nor the nose that smells, not the sight of the eye.
Land I am not nor the blue vault of the sky,
Neither light nor even the blowing wind am I.
For I am bliss supreme and not born to die,
I am Shiva, the Lord of Eternal Joy and Sigh


न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥

Neither the breath of life nor the five vital airs am I,
The seven elements and five sheaths do not me signify.
I am neither sound nor speech nor even a cry,
Nor am I hand or feet or anything nigh,
For I am bliss supreme and not born to die,
I am Shiva, the Lord of Eternal Joy and Sigh

न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥

Neither love nor hatred can live in my eye,
Nor can greed or temptation make me vie,
Pride and jealousy I have learnt to decry,
And riches and religion I have sought to deny.
Desire does not tempt me as honey does the fly,
Salvation has no charm to soul without a sigh.
For I am bliss supreme and not born to die,
I am Shiva, the Lord of Eternal Joy and Sigh

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॥


To merit and demerit I do not testify,
Pain and pleasure leave me cold and dry.
Neither prayer nor pilgrimage I need to purify,
I chant not the Veda or with sacrifice gratify.
I am not the food which home and altar sanctify,
Nor do I have any hunger left now to satisfy.
For I am bliss supreme and not born to die,
I am Shiva, the Lord of Eternal Joy and Sigh


न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥


Death has no dread nor doubts my mind terrify,
Distinctions that separate man from man within me die.
Neither father have I nor for a mother do I cry,
Nor even for another birth do I care to vie.
Brother and friend I have none left to deny,
Neither teacher nor pupil have I to identify.
For I am bliss supreme and not born to die,
I am Shiva, the Lord of Eternal Joy and Sigh


अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो
विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥

Neither mind nor thought now casts a die,
The fetters of forms leave me free to fly.
I am the master of the senses which often lie,
They fail to tempt me whenever they care to try.
Shedding all attachment there is nothing left to cry,
Or to vie for salvation to become an angel in the sky.
For I am bliss supreme and not born to die,
I am Shiva, the Lord of Eternal Joy and Sigh

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