Author: Adi Shankaracharya
Dasa Shloki (Sanskrit: दशश्लोकी) is a 10-verse Sanskrit hymn composed by Adi Shankara. It serves as a concise summary of the core principles of Advaita Vedanta philosophy, specifically exploring the nature of the true Self (Atma) as pure, attributeless consciousness.
The Legend of Its Origin:
According to tradition, the text was composed spontaneously when Adi Shankara was seeking to become the disciple of Sage Govindapada. When the sage asked the young boy, "Who are you?", Shankara replied with these ten verses.
Core Themes
The verses methodically deconstruct the ego and the physical world using the ancient logic of neti-neti (meaning "not this, not this"):
Rejection of the unreal: It asserts that the Self is not the physical body, the senses, the elements, or any worldly designations.
Beyond states of consciousness:
It explains that the true Self is completely untouched by the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states.
The Non-Dual Truth:
It concludes that the Atma is eternally pure, formless, and identical to the ultimate supreme reality (Brahman)
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Verse #1
दशश्लोकी |
न भूमिर्न तोयं न तेजो न वायु |
र्न खं नेन्द्रियं वा न तेषां समूहः। |
अनेकान्तिकत्वात्सुषुप्त्येकसिद्ध |
स्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।1।। ||
Daśaślokī | na bhūmirna toyaṃ na tejo na vāyuḥ | na khaṃ nendriyaṃ vā na teṣāṃ samūhaḥ . | anekāntikatvāt suṣuptyekasiddhaḥ | tadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham .. 1.. ||
Dasasloki | na bhumirna toya na tejo na vayu | na kha nendriya va na tesa samuha . | anekantikatvat susuptyekasiddha | tadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham .. 1.. ||
I am not earth, I am not water.
I am not light, I am not wind,
I am not ether, I am not sense organs,
Nor am I a combination of these,
Because they don’t always exist.
I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
I am not light, I am not wind,
I am not ether, I am not sense organs,
Nor am I a combination of these,
Because they don’t always exist.
I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #2
न वर्णा न वर्णाश्रमाचारधर्मा |
न मे धारणाध्यानयोगादयोऽपि। |
अनात्माश्रयाहं ममाध्यासहाना |
त्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।2।। ||
Na varṇā na varṇāśramācāradharmā | Na me dhāraṇādhyānayogādayo'pi. | Anātmāśrayāhaṃ mamādhyāsahānā | Ttadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..2.. ||
Na varna na varnasramacaradharma | Na me dharanadhyanayogadayo'pi. | Anatmasrayaha mamadhyasahana | Ttadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..2.. ||
I am not the caste, I am not the caste rules,
I am not stages of life,
I am not rules , I am not the just conduct,
I am not meditation, I am not yogic practice,
For the concept of I and me destroy all these.
I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
I am not stages of life,
I am not rules , I am not the just conduct,
I am not meditation, I am not yogic practice,
For the concept of I and me destroy all these.
I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #3
न माता पिता वा न देवा न लोका |
न वेदा न यज्ञा न तीर्थं ब्रुवन्ति। |
सुषुप्तौ निरस्तातिशून्यात्मकत्वा |
त्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।3।। ||
Na mātā pitā vā na devā na lokā | Na vedā na yajñā na tīrthaṃ bruvanti. | Suṣuptau nirastātiśūnyātmakatvā | Ttadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..3.. ||
Na mata pita va na deva na loka | Na veda na yajna na tirtha bruvanti. | Susuptau nirastatisunyatmakatva | Ttadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..3.. ||
Neither the mother nor the father.
Neither the celestial gods nor the earth,
Neither the Vedas ,nor the fire sacrifice,
Nor the holy waters, they say, exist in sleep.
But there is no void in sleep, either.
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Neither the celestial gods nor the earth,
Neither the Vedas ,nor the fire sacrifice,
Nor the holy waters, they say, exist in sleep.
But there is no void in sleep, either.
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #4
न सांख्यं न शैवं न तत्पाञ्चरात्रं |
न जैनं न मीमांसकादेर्मतं वा। |
विशिष्टानुभूत्या विशुद्धात्मकत्वा |
त्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।4।। ||
Na sāṃkhyaṃ na śaivaṃ na tatpāñcarātraṃ | Na jainaṃ na mīmāṃsakādermataṃ vā. | Viśiṣṭānubhūtyā viśuddhātmakatvā | Ttadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..4.. ||
Na sakhya na saiva na tatpancaratra | Na jaina na mimasakadermata va. | Visistanubhutya visuddhatmakatva | Ttadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..4.. ||
Neither the Sankhya principle,
Nor the doctrine of Shaiva,
Not the principle of pancha rathra,
Nor the doctrine of Jainas,
Nor the principle of Meemasa,
Are Unique experiences,
For the soul is the purest known truth.,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Nor the doctrine of Shaiva,
Not the principle of pancha rathra,
Nor the doctrine of Jainas,
Nor the principle of Meemasa,
Are Unique experiences,
For the soul is the purest known truth.,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #5
न चोर्ध्वं न चाधो न चान्तर्न बाह्यं |
न मध्यं न तिर्यङ् न पूर्वापरा दिक्। |
वियद्व्यापकत्वादखण्डैकरूप |
स्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।5।। ||
Na cordhvaṃ na cādho na cāntarna bāhyaṃ | Na madhyaṃ na tiryaṅ na pūrvāparā dik. | Viyadvyāpakat vādakhaṇḍaikarūpa | Stadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..5.. ||
Na cordhva na cadho na cantarna bahya | Na madhya na tiryan na purvapara dik. | Viyadvyapakat vadakhanaikarupa | Stadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..5.. ||
Neither above, nor below,
Neither inside nor outside,
Neither the middle, nor the across,
Neither the east nor the west am I,
For like the all pervading ether,
I am spread everywhere,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Neither inside nor outside,
Neither the middle, nor the across,
Neither the east nor the west am I,
For like the all pervading ether,
I am spread everywhere,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #6
न शुक्लं न कृष्णं न रक्तं न पीतं |
न कुब्जं न पीनं न ह्रस्वं न दीर्घम्। |
अरूपं तथा ज्योतिराकारकत्वा |
त्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।6।। ||
Na śuklaṃ na kṛṣṇaṃ na raktaṃ na pītaṃ | Na kubjaṃ na pīnaṃ na hrasvaṃ na dīrgham. | Arūpaṃ tathā jyotirākārakatvā | Ttadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..6.. ||
Na sukla na ksna na rakta na pita | Na kubja na pina na hrasva na dirgham. | Arupa tatha jyotirakarakatva | Ttadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..6.. ||
Neither white nor black,
Neither red nor yellow,
Neither large nor thin,
Neither short , nor tall,
And neither with a form is the soul,
For this soul is the form of the light,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Neither red nor yellow,
Neither large nor thin,
Neither short , nor tall,
And neither with a form is the soul,
For this soul is the form of the light,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #7
न शास्ता न शास्त्रं न शिष्यो न शिक्षा |
न च त्वं न चाहं न चायं प्रपञ्चः। |
स्वरूपावबोधो विकल्पासहिष्णु |
स्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।7।। ||
Na śāstā na śāstraṃ na śiṣyo na śikṣā | Na ca tvaṃ na cāhaṃ na cāyaṃ prapañcaḥ. | Svarūpāvabodho vikalpāsahiṣṇu | Stadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..7.. ||
Na sasta na sastra na sisyo na siksa | Na ca tva na caha na caya prapanca. | Svarupavabodho vikalpasahisnu | Stadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..7.. ||
Neither the origin of knowledge,
Nor the books of knowledge,
Neither he disciple nor the teacher,
Neither you, nor me and nor this world am I,
For this is not tolerated by innate realization,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Nor the books of knowledge,
Neither he disciple nor the teacher,
Neither you, nor me and nor this world am I,
For this is not tolerated by innate realization,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #8
न जाग्रन्न मे स्वप्नको वा सुषुप्ति |
र्न विश्वो न वा तैजसः प्राज्ञको वा। |
अविद्यात्मकत्वात्त्रयाणां तुरीय |
स्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।8।। ||
Na jāgranna me svapnako vā suṣupti | Rna viśvo na vā taijasaḥ prājñako vā. | Avidyātmakatvāttrayāṇāṃ turīya | Stadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..8.. ||
Na jagranna me svapnako va susupti | Rna visvo na va taijasa prajnako va. | Avidyatmakatvattrayana turiya | Stadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..8.. ||
Neither the state of waking,
Nor the state of dream,
Nor the state of deep sleep is for me,
Neither the earthy feelings,
Nor the glorified feelings of dreams,
Nor the feeling of wakefulness in sleep am I,
For these are the souls of avidya,
And I am the fourth , the thureeya, which is beyond these,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Nor the state of dream,
Nor the state of deep sleep is for me,
Neither the earthy feelings,
Nor the glorified feelings of dreams,
Nor the feeling of wakefulness in sleep am I,
For these are the souls of avidya,
And I am the fourth , the thureeya, which is beyond these,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #9
अपि व्यापकत्वाद्धि तत्त्वप्रयोगा |
त्स्वतः सिद्धभावादनन्याश्रयत्वात्। |
जगत्तुच्छमेतत्समस्तं तदन्य |
त्तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम्।।9।। ||
Api vyāpakatvāddhi tattvaprayogā | Tsvataḥ siddhabhāvādananyāśrayatvāt. | Jagattucchametatsamastaṃ tadanya | Ttadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham..9.. ||
Api vyapakatvaddhi tattvaprayoga | Tsvata siddhabhavadananyasrayatvat. | Jagattucchametatsamasta tadanya | Ttadeko'vasista siva kevalo'ham..9.. ||
Being all pervasive and goal oriented,
Being dependent on its own nature,
Than depending on any out side thing,
This world is trivial as it is different from self.
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Being dependent on its own nature,
Than depending on any out side thing,
This world is trivial as it is different from self.
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Verse #10
न चैकं तदन्यद्द्वितीयं कुतः स्या |
न्न वा केवलत्वं न चाकेवलत्वम्। |
न शून्यं न चाशून्यमद्वैतकत्वा |
त्कथं सर्ववेदान्तसिद्धं ब्रवीमि।।10।। ||
Na caikaṃ tadanyaddvitīyaṃ kutaḥ syā | Nna vā kevalatvaṃ na cākevalatvam. | Na śūnyaṃ na cāśūnyamadvaitakatvā | Tkathaṃ sarvavedāntasiddhaṃ bravīmi..10.. ||
Na caika tadanyaddvitiya kuta sya | Nna va kevalatva na cakevalatvam. | Na sunya na casunyamadvaitakatva | Tkatha sarvavedantasiddha bravimi..10.. ||
It is not even one and how can it be two,
Neither is it unique and nor not unique,
Neither is it a vacuum nor something different from it,
For it is the essence of non dual reality
So how can I tell about what is established by all philosophy?
Neither is it unique and nor not unique,
Neither is it a vacuum nor something different from it,
For it is the essence of non dual reality
So how can I tell about what is established by all philosophy?
Verse #11
इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्द |
भगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः कृतौ |
दशश्लोकी समाप्ता।। ||
Iti śrīmatparamahaṃsaparivrājakācāryasya śrīgovinda | Bhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṃkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau | Daśaślokī samāptā.. ||
Iti srimatparamahasaparivrajakacaryasya srigovinda | Bhagavatpujyapadasisyasya srimacchakarabhagavata ktau | Dasasloki samapta.. ||
Iti śrīmatparamahaṃsaparivrājakācāryasya śrīgovinda
Bhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṃkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau
Daśaślokī samāptā..
Bhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṃkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau
Daśaślokī samāptā..