Dashashloki (Nirvana Dashakam)
दशश्लोकी (निर्वाण दशकम्)
Origin & Story
Ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · Classical
The Dashashloki (Nirvana Dashakam) is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya. Adi Shankaracharya’s ten verses of the highest non-dual truth — "I am not earth nor water, fire nor air nor space… I am Shiva alone, the one auspicious Reality, pure consciousness and bliss."
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that to recite the Dashashloki (Nirvana Dashakam) with a sincere and devoted heart is to draw near to the grace of the divine, which never forsakes those who lovingly call upon it.
The Mantra
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ॐ तत् सत्। भुजङ्गप्रयात । ॥ अथ दशश्लोकी ॥ न भूमिर्न तोयं न तेजो न वायुः न खं नेन्द्रियं वा न तेषां समूहः । अनेकान्तिकत्वात् सुषुप्त्येकसिद्धः (अनैकान्तिकत्वात्) तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम् ॥ १॥ न माता पिता वा न देवा न लोका न वेदा न यज्ञा न तीर्थं ब्रुवन्ति । सुषुप्तौ निरस्तातिशून्यात्मकत्वात् तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम् ॥ ३॥ न चोर्ध्वं न चाधो न चान्तर्न बाह्यं न मध्यं न तिर्यङ् न पूर्वाऽपरा दिक् । वियद्व्यापकत्वादखण्डैकरूपः तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम् ॥ ५॥ न शास्ता न शास्त्रं न शिष्यो न शिक्षा न च त्वं न चाहं न चायं प्रपञ्चः । स्वरूपावबोधो विकल्पासहिष्णुः तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम् ॥ ७॥ अपि व्यापकत्वात् हितत्त्वप्रयोगात् (व्यापकत्वाद्धितत्त्व) स्वतः सिद्धभावादनन्याश्रयत्वात् । जगत् तुच्छमेतत् समस्तं तदन्यत् तदेकोऽवशिष्टः शिवः केवलोऽहम् ॥ ९॥ ॥ इति श्रीमद् शंकराचार्यविरचितं दशश्लोकी अथवा निर्वाणदशकस्तोत्रं समाप्तं ॥
oṃ tat sat| bhujaṅgaprayāta | || atha daśaślokī || na bhūmirna toyaṃ na tejo na vāyuḥ na khaṃ nendriyaṃ vā na teṣāṃ samūhaḥ | anekāntikatvāt suṣuptyekasiddhaḥ (anaikāntikatvāt) tadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham || 1|| na mātā pitā vā na devā na lokā na vedā na yajñā na tīrthaṃ bruvanti | suṣuptau nirastātiśūnyātmakatvāt tadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham || 3|| na cordhvaṃ na cādho na cāntarna bāhyaṃ na madhyaṃ na tiryaṅ na pūrvā'parā dik | viyadvyāpakatvādakhaṇḍaikarūpaḥ tadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham || 5|| na śāstā na śāstraṃ na śiṣyo na śikṣā na ca tvaṃ na cāhaṃ na cāyaṃ prapañcaḥ | svarūpāvabodho vikalpāsahiṣṇuḥ tadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham || 7|| api vyāpakatvāt hitattvaprayogāt (vyāpakatvāddhitattva) svataḥ siddhabhāvādananyāśrayatvāt | jagat tucchametat samastaṃ tadanyat tadeko'vaśiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham || 9|| || iti śrīmad śaṃkarācāryaviracitaṃ daśaślokī athavā nirvāṇadaśakastotraṃ samāptaṃ ||
Meaning:Adi Shankaracharya’s ten verses of the highest non-dual truth — "I am not earth nor water, fire nor air nor space… I am Shiva alone, the one auspicious Reality, pure consciousness and bliss."
Benefits of Chanting Dashashloki (Nirvana Dashakam)
Recitation of the Dashashloki (Nirvana Dashakam) is held to bring the grace, blessings and protection of the deity.
Cultivates devotion, calms the mind and steadies the heart in the Lord’s remembrance.
Most auspicious on Mondays, and during Maha Shivaratri and Shravan.
A treasured Sanskrit hymn, suitable for daily recitation with faith.
How to Chant Dashashloki (Nirvana Dashakam)
Bathe and sit facing east or north before an image of the deity. Light a lamp and recite the Dashashloki (Nirvana Dashakam) slowly and with devotion. It may be chanted daily, or especially on Mondays and during Maha Shivaratri and Shravan.
Frequently Asked Questions
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