A Garland of the Knowledge of Brahman
Author: Adi Shankaracharya
The Brahma Jnanavali Mala, which translates to "A Garland of the Knowledge of Brahman", is a revered Sanskrit hymn composed by the sage Adi Shankaracharya. It is a foundational text in Advaita Vedanta that acts as a meditative guide to help practitioners realize their true nature as the supreme, eternal consciousness (Brahman).
Core Teachings
The verses are written as powerful, first-person affirmations to be chanted or contemplated repeatedly. The core tenets focus on Self-Realization and include:
The Witness State:
Identifying as the unchanging witness of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.True Identity: Affirming that the self is eternal, formless, unattached, and beyond all illusions (Maya).
Ultimate Reality:
Summarized by the famous Vedantic phrase: Brahma satyam jagan-mithya, meaning Brahman is the only reality, while the phenomenal universe is temporary and illusory
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Verse #1
निराधारस्वरूपोऽहं सर्वाधारोऽहमेव च । |
आप्तकामस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १५॥ ||
nirādhārasvarūpo'haṃ sarvādhāro'hameva ca . | āptakāmasvarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 15.. ||
niradharasvarupo'ha sarvadharo'hameva ca . | aptakamasvarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 15.. ||
15. I am without any support, and I am the support of all. I have no desires to be fulfilled. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #2
सकृच्छ्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्मज्ञानं यतो भवेत् । |
ब्रह्मज्ञानावलीमाला सर्वेषां मोक्षसिद्धये ॥ १॥ ||
sakṛcchravaṇamātreṇa brahmajñānaṃ yato bhavet . | brahmajñānāvalīmālā sarveṣāṃ mokṣasiddhaye .. 1.. ||
sakcchravanamatrena brahmajnana yato bhavet . | brahmajnanavalimala sarvesa moksasiddhaye .. 1.. ||
1. The work entitled Brahma Jnānavali Māla, by hearing which just once knowledge of Brahman is attained, enables all to attain liberation.
Verse #3
असङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहमसङ्गोऽहं पुनः पुनः । |
सच्चिदानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ २॥ ||
asaṅgo'hamasaṅgo'hamasaṅgo'haṃ punaḥ punaḥ . | saccidānandarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 2.. ||
asango'hamasango'hamasango'ha puna puna . | saccidanandarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 2.. ||
2. Unattached am I, unattached am I, ever free from attachment of any kind; I am of the nature of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. I am the very Self, indestructible and ever unchanging.
Verse #4
नित्यशुद्धविमुक्तोऽहं निराकारोऽहमव्ययः । |
भूमानन्दस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ३॥ ||
nityaśuddhavimukto'haṃ nirākāro'hamavyayaḥ . | bhūmānandasvarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 3.. ||
nityasuddhavimukto'ha nirakaro'hamavyaya . | bhumanandasvarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 3.. ||
3. I am eternal, I am pure (free from the control of Maya). I am ever liberated. I am formless, indestructible and changeless. I am of the nature of infinite bliss. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #5
नित्योऽहं निरवद्योऽहं निराकारोऽहमुच्यते । |
परमानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ४॥ ||
nityo'haṃ niravadyo'haṃ nirākāro'hamucyate . | paramānandarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 4.. ||
nityo'ha niravadyo'ha nirakaro'hamucyate . | paramanandarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 4.. ||
4. I am eternal, I am free from blemish, I am formless, I am indestructible and changeless. I am of the nature of supreme bliss. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #6
शुद्धचैतन्यरूपोऽहमात्मारामोऽहमेव च । |
अखण्डानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ५॥ ||
śuddhacaitanyarūpo'hamātmārāmo'hameva ca . | akhaṇḍānandarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 5.. ||
suddhacaitanyarupo'hamatmaramo'hameva ca . | akhananandarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 5.. ||
5. I am pure consciousness, I revel in my own Self. I am of the nature of indivisible (concentrated) bliss. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #7
प्रत्यक्चैतन्यरूपोऽहं शान्तोऽहं प्रकृतेः परः । |
शाश्वतानन्दरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ६॥ ||
pratyakcaitanyarūpo'haṃ śānto'haṃ prakṛteḥ paraḥ . | śāśvatānandarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 6.. ||
pratyakcaitanyarupo'ha santo'ha prakte para . | sasvatanandarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 6.. ||
6. I am the indwelling consciousness, I am calm (free from all agitation), I am beyond prakrti (Maya), I am of the nature of eternal bliss, I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #8
तत्त्वातीतः परात्माहं मध्यातीतः परः शिवः । |
मायातीतः परंज्योतिरहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ७॥ ||
tattvātītaḥ parātmāhaṃ madhyātītaḥ paraḥ śivaḥ . | māyātītaḥ paraṃjyotirahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 7.. ||
tattvatita paratmaha madhyatita para siva . | mayatita parajyotirahamevahamavyaya .. 7.. ||
7. I am the supreme Self, beyond all the categories (such as prakrti, mahat, ahankara, etc.,), I am the supreme auspicious One, beyond all those in the middle. I am beyond maya. I am the supreme light. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #9
नानारूपव्यतीतोऽहं चिदाकारोऽहमच्युतः । |
सुखरूपस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ८॥ ||
nānārūpavyatīto'haṃ cidākāro'hamacyutaḥ . | sukharūpasvarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 8.. ||
nanarupavyatito'ha cidakaro'hamacyuta . | sukharupasvarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 8.. ||
8. I am beyond all the different forms. I am of the nature of pure consciousness. I am never subject to decline. I am of the nature of bliss. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #10
मायातत्कार्यदेहादि मम नास्त्येव सर्वदा । |
स्वप्रकाशैकरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ९॥ ||
māyātatkāryadehādi mama nāstyeva sarvadā . | svaprakāśaikarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 9.. ||
mayatatkaryadehadi mama nastyeva sarvada . | svaprakasaikarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 9.. ||
9. There is neither maya nor its effects such as the body for me. I am of the same nature and self-luminous. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #11
गुणत्रयव्यतीतोऽहं ब्रह्मादीनां च साक्ष्यहम् । |
अनन्तानन्तरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १०॥ ||
guṇatrayavyatīto'haṃ brahmādīnāṃ ca sākṣyaham . | anantānantarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 10.. ||
gunatrayavyatito'ha brahmadina ca saksyaham . | anantanantarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 10.. ||
10. I am beyond the three gunas-sattva, rajas, and tamas. I am the witness of even Brahma and others. I am of the nature of infinite bliss. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #12
अन्तर्यामिस्वरूपोऽहं कूटस्थः सर्वगोऽस्म्यहम् । |
परमात्मस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ ११॥ ||
antaryāmisvarūpo'haṃ kūṭasthaḥ sarvago'smyaham . | paramātmasvarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 11.. ||
antaryamisvarupo'ha kutastha sarvago'smyaham . | paramatmasvarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 11.. ||
11. I am the inner controller, I am immutable, I am all-pervading. I am myself the supreme Self. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #13
निष्कलोऽहं निष्क्रियोऽहं सर्वात्माद्यः सनातनः । |
अपरोक्षस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १२॥ ||
niṣkalo'haṃ niṣkriyo'haṃ sarvātmādyaḥ sanātanaḥ . | aparokṣasvarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 12.. ||
niskalo'ha niskriyo'ha sarvatmadya sanatana . | aparoksasvarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 12.. ||
12. I am devoid of parts. I am actionless. I am the self of all. I am the primordial one. I am the ancient, eternal one. I am the directly intuited self. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #14
द्वन्द्वादिसाक्षिरूपोऽहमचलोऽहं सनातनः । |
सर्वसाक्षिस्वरूपोऽहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १३॥ ||
dvandvādisākṣirūpo'hamacalo'haṃ sanātanaḥ . | sarvasākṣisvarūpo'hamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 13.. ||
dvandvadisaksirupo'hamacalo'ha sanatana . | sarvasaksisvarupo'hamahamevahamavyaya .. 13.. ||
13. I am the witness of all pairs of opposites. I am immovable. I am eternal. I am the witness of everything. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #15
प्रज्ञानघन एवाहं विज्ञानघन एव च । |
अकर्ताहमभोक्ताहमहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १४॥ ||
prajñānaghana evāhaṃ vijñānaghana eva ca . | akartāhamabhoktāhamahamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 14.. ||
prajnanaghana evaha vijnanaghana eva ca . | akartahamabhoktahamahamevahamavyaya .. 14.. ||
14. I am a mass of awareness and of consciousness. I am not a doer nor an experiencer. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #16
तापत्रयविनिर्मुक्तो देहत्रयविलक्षणः । |
अवस्थात्रयसाक्ष्यस्मि चाहमेवाहमव्ययः ॥ १६॥ ||
tāpatrayavinirmukto dehatrayavilakṣaṇaḥ . | avasthātrayasākṣyasmi cāhamevāhamavyayaḥ .. 16.. ||
tapatrayavinirmukto dehatrayavilaksana . | avasthatrayasaksyasmi cahamevahamavyaya .. 16.. ||
16. I am free from the three kinds of afflictions- those in the body, those from other beings and those caused by higher powers. I am different from the gross, subtle and causal bodies. I am the witness of the three states of waking, dream and deep sleep. I am the very Self, indestructible and changeless.
Verse #17
दृग्दृश्यौ द्वौ पदार्थौ स्तः परस्परविलक्षणौ । |
दृग्ब्रह्म दृश्यं मायेति सर्ववेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ १७॥ ||
dṛgdṛśyau dvau padārthau staḥ parasparavilakṣaṇau . | dṛgbrahma dṛśyaṃ māyeti sarvavedāntaḍiṇḍimaḥ .. 17.. ||
dgdsyau dvau padarthau sta parasparavilaksanau . | dgbrahma dsya mayeti sarvavedantainima .. 17.. ||
17. There are two things which are different from each other. They are the seer and the seen. The seer is Brahman and the seen is Maya. This is what all Vedanta proclaims.
Verse #18
अहं साक्षीति यो विद्याद्विविच्यैवं पुनः पुनः । |
स एव मुक्तः सो विद्वानिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ १८॥ ||
ahaṃ sākṣīti yo vidyādvivicyaivaṃ punaḥ punaḥ . | sa eva muktaḥ so vidvāniti vedāntaḍiṇḍimaḥ .. 18.. ||
aha saksiti yo vidyadvivicyaiva puna puna . | sa eva mukta so vidvaniti vedantainima .. 18.. ||
18. He who realizes after repeated contemplation that he is a mere witness, he alone is liberated. He is the enlightened one. This is proclaimed by Vedanta
Verse #19
घटकुड्यादिकं सर्वं मृत्तिकामात्रमेव च । |
तद्वद्ब्रह्म जगत्सर्वमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ १९॥ ||
ghaṭakuḍyādikaṃ sarvaṃ mṛttikāmātrameva ca . | tadvadbrahma jagatsarvamiti vedāntaḍiṇḍimaḥ .. 19.. ||
ghatakuyadika sarva mttikamatrameva ca . | tadvadbrahma jagatsarvamiti vedantainima .. 19.. ||
19. The pot, wall, etc., are all nothing but clay. Likewise, the entire universe is nothing but Brahman. This is proclaimed by Vedanta.
Verse #20
ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः । |
अनेन वेद्यं सच्छास्त्रमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः ॥ २०॥ ||
brahma satyaṃ jaganmithyā jīvo brahmaiva nāparaḥ . | anena vedyaṃ sacchāstramiti vedāntaḍiṇḍimaḥ .. 20.. ||
brahma satya jaganmithya jivo brahmaiva napara . | anena vedya sacchastramiti vedantainima .. 20.. ||
20. Brahman is real, the universe is mithya (it cannot be categorized as either real or unreal). The jiva is Brahman itself and not different. This should be understood as the correct Sastra. This is proclaimed by Vedanta.
Verse #21
अन्तर्ज्योतिर्बहिर्ज्योतिः प्रत्यग्ज्योतिः परात्परः । |
ज्योतिर्ज्योतिः स्वयंज्योतिरात्मज्योतिः शिवोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ २१॥ ||
antarjyotirbahirjyotiḥ pratyagjyotiḥ parātparaḥ . | jyotirjyotiḥ svayaṃjyotirātmajyotiḥ śivo'smyaham .. 21.. ||
antarjyotirbahirjyoti pratyagjyoti paratpara . | jyotirjyoti svayajyotiratmajyoti sivo'smyaham .. 21.. ||
21. I am the auspicious one, the inner light and the outer light, the indwelling light, higher than the highest, the light of all lights, self-luminous, the light that is the Self.