Avadhuta Gita (Opening Verses) Meaning — Line by Line

अवधूत गीता (प्रारम्भिक श्लोक)

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Avadhuta Gita (Opening Verses) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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Verse 1. Ishvaraanugrahaad-eva pumsaam-advaita-vaasanaa.
Verse 2. Yened-idam pooritam sarvam-aatmanaiv-aatman-aatmani.
Verse 3. Pancha-bhootaatmakam vishvam mareechi-jala-sannibham.
Verse 4. Aatmaiva kevalam sarvam bhedaabhedo na vidyate.
Verse 5. Vedaanta-saara-sarvasvam jnaanam vijnaanam-eva cha.
Verse 6. Yo vai sarvaatmakam tattvam vetti nishchayato mama.
Verse 7. Na tvam deho na te deho na bhoktaa na cha te kriyaa.

Verse 1#

ईश्वरानुग्रहादेव पुंसामद्वैतवासना। महाभयपरित्राणाद्विप्राणामुपजायते॥

Ishvaraanugrahaad-eva pumsaam-advaita-vaasanaa. Mahaa-bhaya-paritraanaad-vipraanaam-upajaayate.

MeaningOnly by the grace of God does the longing for non-duality arise in human beings, saving the wise from the great fear (of birth and death).

Verse 2#

येनेदं पूरितं सर्वमात्मनैवात्मनात्मनि। निराकारं कथं वन्दे ह्यभिन्नं शिवमव्ययम्॥

Yened-idam pooritam sarvam-aatmanaiv-aatman-aatmani. Niraakaaram katham vande hy-abhinnam shivam-avyayam.

MeaningBy whom all this is pervaded — the Self, by the Self, within the Self — how shall I bow to that formless one, the undivided, auspicious, imperishable Shiva?

Verse 3#

पञ्चभूतात्मकं विश्वं मरीचिजलसन्निभम्। कस्याप्यहो नमस्कुर्यामहमेको निरञ्जनः॥

Pancha-bhootaatmakam vishvam mareechi-jala-sannibham. Kasyaapy-aho namaskuryaam-aham-eko niranjanah.

MeaningThe universe made of the five elements is like the water of a mirage; ah, to whom then shall I bow, I who am the One, the stainless?

Verse 4#

आत्मैव केवलं सर्वं भेदाभेदो न विद्यते। अस्ति नास्ति कथं ब्रूयां विस्मयः प्रतिभाति मे॥

Aatmaiva kevalam sarvam bhedaabhedo na vidyate. Asti naasti katham brooyaam vismayah pratibhaati me.

MeaningThe Self alone is everything; neither division nor non-division exists. How then can I say 'it is' or 'it is not'? A great wonder shines forth in me.

Verse 5#

वेदान्तसारसर्वस्वं ज्ञानं विज्ञानमेव च। अहमात्मा निराकारः सर्वव्यापी स्वभावतः॥

Vedaanta-saara-sarvasvam jnaanam vijnaanam-eva cha. Aham-aatmaa niraakaarah sarva-vyaapee svabhaavatah.

MeaningThis is the whole essence and treasure of Vedanta, both knowledge and realisation: I am the Self, formless, all-pervading by my very nature.

Verse 6#

यो वै सर्वात्मकं तत्त्वं वेत्ति निश्चयतो मम। निर्ममो निर्विकल्पोऽसौ शुद्धचैतन्यविग्रहः॥

Yo vai sarvaatmakam tattvam vetti nishchayato mama. Nirmamo nirvikalpo'sau shuddha-chaitanya-vigrahah.

MeaningHe who knows for certain that supreme Truth, which is the Self of all, is mine indeed — free of 'mine', free of all wavering, the very embodiment of pure consciousness.

Verse 7#

न त्वं देहो न ते देहो न भोक्ता न च ते क्रिया। चिद्रूपोऽसि सदा साक्षी निरपेक्षः सुखं चर॥

Na tvam deho na te deho na bhoktaa na cha te kriyaa. Chid-roopo'si sadaa saakshee nirapekshah sukham chara.

MeaningYou are not the body, nor is the body yours; you are not the enjoyer, nor is action yours. You are pure consciousness, the eternal witness, free of all wants — so move about happily, in bliss.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

ईश्वरानुग्रहादेव

Ishvaraanugrahaad-eva

Only by the grace of God (Ishvara)

अद्वैतवासना

Advaita-vaasanaa

The inclination toward non-duality (the longing for oneness)

महाभयपरित्राणात्

Mahaa-bhaya-paritraanaat

For deliverance from the great fear (of birth and death, samsara)

उपजायते

Upajaayate

Arises (in human beings)

येनेदं पूरितं सर्वम्

Yened-idam pooritam sarvam

By whom all this is filled/pervaded

आत्मनैवात्मनात्मनि

Aatmanaiv-aatman-aatmani

By the Self, as the Self, within the Self alone

निराकारं कथं वन्दे

Niraakaaram katham vande

How shall I bow to the formless one

अभिन्नं शिवमव्ययम्

Abhinnam shivam-avyayam

The undivided, auspicious (Shiva), imperishable One

मरीचिजलसन्निभम्

Mareechi-jala-sannibham

Resembling the water of a mirage (the world is unreal as a mirage)

अहमेको निरञ्जनः

Aham-eko niranjanah

I am the One, the stainless (untainted) one

आत्मैव केवलं सर्वम्

Aatmaiva kevalam sarvam

The Self alone is all that exists

भेदाभेदो न विद्यते

Bhedaabhedo na vidyate

There is no division nor non-division (no duality at all)

विस्मयः प्रतिभाति मे

Vismayah pratibhaati me

A great wonder shines forth in me

वेदान्तसारसर्वस्वम्

Vedaanta-saara-sarvasvam

The whole essence and treasure of Vedanta

अहमात्मा निराकारः

Aham-aatmaa niraakaarah

I am the Self, formless

सर्वव्यापी स्वभावतः

Sarva-vyaapee svabhaavatah

All-pervading by my very nature

शुद्धचैतन्यविग्रहः

Shuddha-chaitanya-vigrahah

The very embodiment of pure consciousness

न त्वं देहो न ते देहः

Na tvam deho na te dehah

You are not the body, nor is the body yours

न भोक्ता न च ते क्रिया

Na bhoktaa na cha te kriyaa

You are not the enjoyer, nor is action yours

चिद्रूपोऽसि सदा साक्षी

Chid-roopo'si sadaa saakshee

You are of the nature of consciousness, the ever-present witness

निरपेक्षः सुखं चर

Nirapekshah sukham chara

Free of all wants, move about happily (live in bliss)

Origin & History

Source: Avadhuta Gita — traditionally the utterance of Lord Dattatreya (recorded by his disciples Swami and Kartika)

Author: Lord Dattatreya (the supreme Avadhuta)

Period: Ancient (classical Advaita Vedanta literature)

The Avadhuta Gita is held to be the spontaneous song of Lord Dattatreya — the avadhuta union of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and the Adi Guru — pouring forth his direct realisation of the non-dual Self. Free of all ritual and convention, it speaks from the standpoint of one who has fully awakened, declaring again and again that the Self alone is real and that bondage and liberation are equally illusory. Cherished by Vedantins and renunciates alike, its verses have inspired seekers of Self-knowledge for centuries as a fearless map of the truth of oneness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Avadhuta Gita?▼

The Avadhuta Gita is a celebrated Sanskrit scripture of Advaita Vedanta, traditionally regarded as the spontaneous utterance of Lord Dattatreya, the supreme avadhuta. In about 289 verses it expresses, in the boldest terms, the realisation that the individual Self is one with the infinite, formless Brahman.

Who is an 'avadhuta'?▼

An avadhuta is a liberated being who has 'shaken off' (ava-dhuta) all worldly bonds, conventions and identifications, abiding naturally in the bliss of the Self. Lord Dattatreya is honoured as the supreme avadhuta, and the Gita is his song of that state.

What is the central teaching of these verses?▼

The central teaching is pure non-duality: the Self alone is everything, the world is no more real than a mirage, and one's true nature is formless, all-pervading consciousness — the eternal witness that is never the body, the doer or the enjoyer. Knowing this, one lives free and fearless.

How should the Avadhuta Gita be used?▼

It is meant for reflection and meditation rather than ritual chanting. Reading these verses slowly, contemplating their meaning, and then resting silently in the witness-consciousness they describe is the traditional way to let their wisdom take root.

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