Author: Adi Shankaracharya
Sadhana Panchakam is a foundational Vedantic text composed by the philosopher-saint Adi Shankaracharya. It outlines the entire spiritual journey toward self-realization and liberation (Moksha). The name translates to "five verses on spiritual practice," as it contains exactly five stanzas.
Each verse contains eight actionable instructions, totaling 40 practical steps that guide a seeker from disciplined daily living to the ultimate realization of the non-dual Self
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Verse #1
वेदो नित्यमधीयतां तदुदितं कर्म स्वनुष्ठीयतां |
तेनेशस्य विधीयतामपचितिः काम्ये मतिस्त्यज्यताम् |
पापौघः परिधूयतां भवसुखे दोषोऽनुसन्धीयता- |
मात्मेच्छा व्यवसीयतां निजगृहात्तूर्णं विनिर्गम्यताम् १॥ ||
vedo nityamadhīyatāṃ taduditaṃ karma svanuṣṭhīyatāṃ | teneśasya vidhīyatāmapacitiḥ kāmye matistyajyatām | pāpaughaḥ paridhūyatāṃ bhavasukhe doṣo'nusandhīyatā- | mātmecchā vyavasīyatāṃ nijagṛhāttūrṇaṃ vinirgamyatām 1.. ||
vedo nityamadhiyata tadudita karma svanusthiyata | tenesasya vidhiyatamapaciti kamye matistyajyatam | papaugha paridhuyata bhavasukhe doso'nusandhiyata- | matmeccha vyavasiyata nijaghatturna vinirgamyatam 1.. ||
Study the Vedas daily.
Perform diligently the duties (karmas) ordained by them.
Dedicate all those actions (karmas) as worship unto the Lord.
Renounce all desires in the mind.
Wash away the hoards of sins in the bosom.
Recognise that the pleasures of sense-objects (samsar) are riddled with pain.
Seek the Self with consistent endeavour.
Escape from the bondage of 'home'.
Perform diligently the duties (karmas) ordained by them.
Dedicate all those actions (karmas) as worship unto the Lord.
Renounce all desires in the mind.
Wash away the hoards of sins in the bosom.
Recognise that the pleasures of sense-objects (samsar) are riddled with pain.
Seek the Self with consistent endeavour.
Escape from the bondage of 'home'.
Verse #2
सङ्गः सत्सु विधीयतां भगवतो भक्तिर्दृढाऽऽधीयतां |
शान्त्यादिः परिचीयतां दृढतरं कर्माशु सन्त्यज्यताम् |
सद्विद्वानुपसृप्यतां प्रतिदिनं तत्पादुका सेव्यतां |
ब्रह्मैकाक्षरमर्थ्यतां श्रुतिशिरोवाक्यं समाकर्ण्यताम् २॥ ||
saṅgaḥ satsu vidhīyatāṃ bhagavato bhaktirdṛḍhā''dhīyatāṃ | śāntyādiḥ paricīyatāṃ dṛḍhataraṃ karmāśu santyajyatām | sadvidvānupasṛpyatāṃ pratidinaṃ tatpādukā sevyatāṃ | brahmaikākṣaramarthyatāṃ śrutiśirovākyaṃ samākarṇyatām 2.. ||
sanga satsu vidhiyata bhagavato bhaktirdha''dhiyata | santyadi pariciyata dhatara karmasu santyajyatam | sadvidvanupaspyata pratidina tatpaduka sevyata | brahmaikaksaramarthyata srutisirovakya samakarnyatam 2.. ||
Seek companionship with Men of Wisdom.
Be established in firm devotion to the Lord.
Cultivate the virtues such as Shanti etc.,
Eschew all desire-ridden actions.
Take shelter at a Perfect Master (Sat-Guru).
Everyday serve His Lotus feet.
Worship "Om" the Immutable.
Listen in depth, the Upanishadic declarations.
Be established in firm devotion to the Lord.
Cultivate the virtues such as Shanti etc.,
Eschew all desire-ridden actions.
Take shelter at a Perfect Master (Sat-Guru).
Everyday serve His Lotus feet.
Worship "Om" the Immutable.
Listen in depth, the Upanishadic declarations.
Verse #3
वाक्यार्थश्च विचार्यतां श्रुतिशिरःपक्षः समाश्रीयतां |
दुस्तर्कात्सुविरम्यतां श्रुतिमतस्तर्कोऽनुसन्धीयताम् |
ब्रह्मास्मीति विभाव्यतामहरहर्गर्वः परित्यज्यतां |
देहेऽहम्मतिरुज्झ्यतां बुधजनैर्वादः परित्यज्यताम् ३॥ ||
vākyārthaśca vicāryatāṃ śrutiśiraḥpakṣaḥ samāśrīyatāṃ | dustarkātsuviramyatāṃ śrutimatastarko'nusandhīyatām | brahmāsmīti vibhāvyatāmaharahargarvaḥ parityajyatāṃ | dehe'hammatirujjhyatāṃ budhajanairvādaḥ parityajyatām 3.. ||
vakyarthasca vicaryata srutisirapaksa samasriyata | dustarkatsuviramyata srutimatastarko'nusandhiyatam | brahmasmiti vibhavyatamaharahargarva parityajyata | dehe'hammatirujjhyata budhajanairvada parityajyatam 3.. ||
Reflect ever upon the meaning of the Upanishadic commandments, and take refuge in the Truth of Brahman.
Avoid perverse arguments but follow the discriminative rationale of the Sruti (Upanishads).
Always be absorbed in the attitude (bhav) - "I am Brahman".
Renounce pride.
Give up the delusory misconception - "I am the body".
Give up totally the tendency to argue with wise men.
Avoid perverse arguments but follow the discriminative rationale of the Sruti (Upanishads).
Always be absorbed in the attitude (bhav) - "I am Brahman".
Renounce pride.
Give up the delusory misconception - "I am the body".
Give up totally the tendency to argue with wise men.
Verse #4
क्षुद्व्याधिश्च चिकित्स्यतां प्रतिदिनं भिक्षौषधं भुज्यतां |
स्वाद्वन्नं न तु याच्यतां विधिवशात् प्राप्तेन सन्तुष्यताम् |
शीतोष्णादि विषह्यतां न तु वृथा वाक्यं समुच्चार्यता- |
मौदासीन्यमभीप्स्यतां जनकृपानैष्ठुर्यमुत्सृज्यताम् ४ ||
kṣudvyādhiśca cikitsyatāṃ pratidinaṃ bhikṣauṣadhaṃ bhujyatāṃ | svādvannaṃ na tu yācyatāṃ vidhivaśāt prāptena santuṣyatām | śītoṣṇādi viṣahyatāṃ na tu vṛthā vākyaṃ samuccāryatā- | maudāsīnyamabhīpsyatāṃ janakṛpānaiṣṭhuryamutsṛjyatām 4 ||
ksudvyadhisca cikitsyata pratidina bhiksausadha bhujyata | svadvanna na tu yacyata vidhivasat praptena santusyatam | sitosnadi visahyata na tu vtha vakya samuccaryata- | maudasinyamabhipsyata janakpanaisthuryamutsjyatam 4 ||
In hunger diseases get treated.
Daily take the medicine of Bhiksha-food.
Beg no delicious food.
Live contentedly upon whatever comes to your lot as ordained by Him.
Endure all the pairs of opposites: heat and cold, and the like.
Avoid wasteful talks.
Be indifferent.
Save yourself from the meshes of other peoples' kindness.
Daily take the medicine of Bhiksha-food.
Beg no delicious food.
Live contentedly upon whatever comes to your lot as ordained by Him.
Endure all the pairs of opposites: heat and cold, and the like.
Avoid wasteful talks.
Be indifferent.
Save yourself from the meshes of other peoples' kindness.
Verse #5
एकान्ते सुखमास्यतां परतरे चेतः समाधीयतां |
पूर्णात्मा सुसमीक्ष्यतां जगदिदं तद्बाधितं दृश्यताम् |
प्राक्कर्म प्रविलाप्यतां चितिबलान्नाप्युत्तरैः श्लिष्यतां |
प्रारब्धं त्विह भुज्यतामथ परब्रह्मात्मना स्थीयताम् ५॥ ||
ekānte sukhamāsyatāṃ paratare cetaḥ samādhīyatāṃ | pūrṇātmā susamīkṣyatāṃ jagadidaṃ tadbādhitaṃ dṛśyatām | prākkarma pravilāpyatāṃ citibalānnāpyuttaraiḥ śliṣyatāṃ | prārabdhaṃ tviha bhujyatāmatha parabrahmātmanā sthīyatām 5.. ||
ekante sukhamasyata paratare ceta samadhiyata | purnatma susamiksyata jagadida tadbadhita dsyatam | prakkarma pravilapyata citibalannapyuttarai slisyata | prarabdha tviha bhujyatamatha parabrahmatmana sthiyatam 5.. ||
In solitude live joyously.
Quieten your mind in the Supreme Lord.
Realise and see the All-pervading Self every where.
Recognise that the finite Universe is a projection of the Self.
Conquer the effects of the deeds done in earlier lives by the present right action.
Through wisdom become detached from future actions (Agami).
Experience and exhaust "Prarabdha" the fruits of past actions.
Thereafter, live absorbed in the bhav - "I am Brahman" !
Quieten your mind in the Supreme Lord.
Realise and see the All-pervading Self every where.
Recognise that the finite Universe is a projection of the Self.
Conquer the effects of the deeds done in earlier lives by the present right action.
Through wisdom become detached from future actions (Agami).
Experience and exhaust "Prarabdha" the fruits of past actions.
Thereafter, live absorbed in the bhav - "I am Brahman" !