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Kaupeena Panchakam

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Kaupina Panchakam (also known as Kaupeena Panchakam) is a short, five-stanza Sanskrit hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya. It glorifies the spiritual state of a Jivanmukta, a person who is spiritually liberated while still living in a physical body.Key

The term Kaupina (or Kovanam) refers to a simple, traditional loincloth worn by Hindu monks and ascetics as a symbol of total renunciation and detachment from material possessions.

The Truly Blessed: Each stanza of the poem describes the liberated person and concludes with the famous refrain: Kaupeenavantham Khalu Bhagyavantha ("The person who wears just a loincloth is indeed the lucky/blessed one").

True Wealth: Rather than seeing their life as one of poverty, the poem celebrates the renunciate as the ultimate fortunate being because they are free from material anxieties and ego.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Verse #1
वेदान्तवाक्येषु सदा रमन्तो |
भिक्षान्नमात्रेण तुष्टिमन्तः |
विशोकमन्तःकरणे चरन्तः |
कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः १॥ ||
vedāntavākyeṣu sadā ramanto |
bhikṣānnamātreṇa ca tuṣṭimantaḥ |
viśokamantaḥkaraṇe carantaḥ |
kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ 1.. ||
vedantavakyesu sada ramanto |
bhiksannamatrena ca tustimanta |
visokamantakarane caranta |
kaupinavanta khalu bhagyavanta 1.. ||
Roaming ever in the insights of Vedanta,
Ever pleased with his beggar's morsel,
Wandering onward, his heart free from sorrow,
Blest indeed is the wearer of the loin-cloth . (1)
Verse #2
मूलं तरोः केवलमाश्रयन्तः |
पाणिद्वयं भोक्तुममन्त्रयन्तः |
कन्थामिव श्रीमपि कुत्सयन्तः |
कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः २॥ ||
mūlaṃ taroḥ kevalamāśrayantaḥ |
pāṇidvayaṃ bhoktumamantrayantaḥ |
kanthāmiva śrīmapi kutsayantaḥ |
kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ 2.. ||
mula taro kevalamasrayanta |
panidvaya bhoktumamantrayanta |
kanthamiva srimapi kutsayanta |
kaupinavanta khalu bhagyavanta 2.. ||
Sitting at the foot of a tree for shelter,
Eating from his hands his meagre portion,
Spurning wealth like a torn piece of cloth,
Blest indeed is the wearer of the loin-cloth . (2)
Verse #3
स्वानन्दभावे परितुष्टिमन्तः |
सुशान्तसर्वेन्द्रियवृत्तिमन्तः |
अहर्निशं ब्रह्मसुखे रमन्तः |
कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ३॥ ||
svānandabhāve parituṣṭimantaḥ |
suśāntasarvendriyavṛttimantaḥ |
aharniśaṃ brahmasukhe ramantaḥ |
kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ 3.. ||
svanandabhave paritustimanta |
susantasarvendriyavttimanta |
aharnisa brahmasukhe ramanta |
kaupinavanta khalu bhagyavanta 3.. ||
Satisfied fully by the Bliss within him,
Curbing wholly the cravings of his senses,
Delighting day and night in the bliss of Brahman,
Blest indeed is the wearer of the loin-cloth . (3)
Verse #4
देहादिभावं परिवर्तयन्तः |
स्वात्मानमात्मन्यवलोकयन्तः |
नान्तं मध्यं बहिः स्मरन्तः |
कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ४॥ ||
dehādibhāvaṃ parivartayantaḥ |
svātmānamātmanyavalokayantaḥ |
nāntaṃ na madhyaṃ na bahiḥ smarantaḥ |
kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ 4.. ||
dehadibhava parivartayanta |
svatmanamatmanyavalokayanta |
nanta na madhya na bahi smaranta |
kaupinavanta khalu bhagyavanta 4.. ||
Witnessing the changes of mind and body,
Naught but the Self within him beholding,
Heedless of outer, of inner, of middle,
Blest indeed is the wearer of the loin-cloth . (4)
Verse #5
ब्रह्माक्षरं पावनमुच्चरन्तो |
ब्रह्माहमस्मीति विभावयन्तः |
भिक्षाशिनो दिक्षु परिभ्रमन्तः |
कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ५॥ ||
brahmākṣaraṃ pāvanamuccaranto |
brahmāhamasmīti vibhāvayantaḥ |
bhikṣāśino dikṣu paribhramantaḥ |
kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ 5.. ||
brahmaksara pavanamuccaranto |
brahmahamasmiti vibhavayanta |
bhiksasino diksu paribhramanta |
kaupinavanta khalu bhagyavanta 5.. ||
Chanting Brahman, the word of redemption,
Meditating only on `I am Brahman',
Living on alms and wandering freely,
Blest indeed is the wearer of the loin-cloth . (5)