shankaracharyaadvaitavedantasannyasa

𑌕𑍗𑌪𑍀𑌨𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌕𑌮𑍍

Kaupina Panchakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 5× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma muhurta) after bath, or during meditation and svadhyaya (self-study)·📜 Prakarana (independent didactic hymn) ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Prakarana (independent didactic hymn) ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · Classical (traditionally 8th century CE)

The Kaupina Panchakam, also known as Yati Panchakam, is one of Adi Shankaracharya's short devotional-philosophical hymns extolling the path of renunciation (sannyasa). In just five verses it paints the portrait of the ideal monk who possesses nothing but a kaupina (loincloth), yet is the most fortunate of all beings because he ever abides in the bliss of Brahman. The hymn became a beloved expression of the Advaitic ideal of vairagya (dispassion) and inner fulfillment, recited especially within the Dashanami monastic order founded by Shankara.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held that one who contemplates these verses with sincerity loses the fever of craving for wealth and possessions, discovering instead an unshakable contentment; the 'poverty' of the kaupina-clad sage is celebrated as the greatest fortune, for he has gained the imperishable wealth of the Self that no king can claim.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌭𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣 𑌚 𑌤𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃। 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃𑌕𑌰𑌣𑍇 𑌚𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍗𑌪𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃॥௧॥

vedānta-vākyeṣu sadā ramanto bhikṣānna-mātreṇa ca tuṣṭimantaḥ | viśokam antaḥkaraṇe carantaḥ kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ ||1||

Meaning:Ever revelling in the truths of Vedanta, content with the little food received as alms, wandering with a heart free of all sorrow — blessed indeed is the wearer of the loincloth.

Verse 2

𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌂 𑌤𑌰𑍋𑌃 𑌕𑍇𑌵𑌲𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌂 𑌭𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌮𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃। 𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌵 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍗𑌪𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃॥௨॥

mūlaṃ taroḥ kevalam āśrayantaḥ pāṇidvayaṃ bhoktum amantrayantaḥ | kanthām iva śrīm api kutsayantaḥ kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ ||2||

Meaning:Taking shelter merely at the foot of a tree, using his two hands alone as his eating-bowl, scorning even great wealth as though it were a tattered rag — blessed indeed is the wearer of the loincloth.

Verse 3

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌭𑌾𑌵𑍇 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌤𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌵𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃। 𑌅𑌹𑌰𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌶𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌖𑍇 𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍗𑌪𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃॥௩॥

svānanda-bhāve parituṣṭimantaḥ suśānta-sarvendriya-vṛttimantaḥ | aharniśaṃ brahmasukhe ramantaḥ kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ ||3||

Meaning:Wholly satisfied in the bliss of his own Self, with all the activities of his senses perfectly stilled, revelling day and night in the bliss of Brahman — blessed indeed is the wearer of the loincloth.

Verse 4

𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃। 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌨 𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨 𑌬𑌹𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍗𑌪𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃॥௪॥

dehādi-bhāvaṃ parivartayantaḥ svātmānam ātmany avalokayantaḥ | nāntaṃ na madhyaṃ na bahiḥ smarantaḥ kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ ||4||

Meaning:Going beyond all identification with the body and the like, seeing his own Self within the Self, mindful of neither beginning, middle, nor outside — blessed indeed is the wearer of the loincloth.

Verse 5

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃। 𑌭𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑍋 𑌦𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍗𑌪𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃॥௫॥

brahmākṣaraṃ pāvanam uccaranto brahmāham asmīti vibhāvayantaḥ | bhikṣāśino dikṣu paribhramantaḥ kaupīnavantaḥ khalu bhāgyavantaḥ ||5||

Meaning:Uttering the sacred, purifying imperishable Om, contemplating 'I am Brahman', subsisting on alms and roaming free in every direction — blessed indeed is the wearer of the loincloth.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌷𑍁🔊vedānta-vākyeṣuin the great sayings (mahavakyas) of Vedanta

𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊sadā ramantaḥalways delighting, ever revelling

𑌭𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣🔊bhikṣānna-mātreṇawith only food obtained as alms

𑌤𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊tuṣṭimantaḥfully content, satisfied

𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌮𑍍🔊viśokamfree from sorrow

𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃𑌕𑌰𑌣𑍇🔊antaḥkaraṇein the inner instrument, the heart-mind

𑌚𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊carantaḥmoving about, wandering

𑌕𑍗𑌪𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊kaupīnavantaḥthose who possess only a loincloth (kaupina)

𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊khalu bhāgyavantaḥare indeed the truly fortunate / blessed ones

𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌂 𑌤𑌰𑍋𑌃🔊mūlaṃ taroḥthe foot (root) of a tree

𑌕𑍇𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊kevalam āśrayantaḥtaking shelter under that alone

𑌪𑌾𑌣𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊pāṇidvayamthe two hands (used as a begging bowl/plate)

𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌮𑍍 𑌇𑌵 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌪𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊kanthām iva śrīm api kutsayantaḥscorning even wealth (Lakshmi) as if it were a tattered rag

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌭𑌾𑌵𑍇🔊svānanda-bhāvein the state of one's own (innate) bliss

𑌸𑍁𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌵𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊suśānta-sarvendriya-vṛttimantaḥwith all sense-activities perfectly stilled

𑌅𑌹𑌰𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌶𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌖𑍇 𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊aharniśaṃ brahmasukhe ramantaḥdelighting day and night in the bliss of Brahman

𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊dehādi-bhāvaṃ parivartayantaḥtranscending (turning away from) identification with the body and the like

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑌿 𑌅𑌵𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊svātmānam ātmani avalokayantaḥbeholding one's own Self within the Self

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌮𑍍 𑌉𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊brahmākṣaraṃ pāvanam uccarantaḥuttering the sacred, purifying syllable of Brahman (Om)

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌹𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊brahmāham asmīti vibhāvayantaḥcontemplating 'I am Brahman' (aham brahmasmi)

𑌭𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌃 𑌦𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊bhikṣāśino dikṣu paribhramantaḥliving on alms, wandering freely in all directions

Benefits of Chanting Kaupina Panchakam

✦

Inspires the spirit of vairagya (dispassion) and contentment, loosening attachment to wealth and possessions

✦

Strengthens the conviction 'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am Brahman), the heart of Advaita Vedanta

✦

Calms the mind by directing it to the bliss of the Self rather than outward objects

✦

A cherished daily recitation for sannyasis, brahmacharis and serious seekers of Self-knowledge

✦

Cultivates inner peace (vishoka) and freedom from grief and anxiety

✦

Encourages simple, sattvic living and reverence for the renunciate ideal

How to Chant Kaupina Panchakam

Repetitions5times

Best TimeEarly morning (Brahma muhurta) after bath, or during meditation and svadhyaya (self-study)

Sit in a clean, quiet place facing east or north. Recite all five verses slowly, dwelling on the meaning of each line and the recurring refrain 'kaupinavantah khalu bhagyavantah'. Reflect on the truth 'Aham Brahmasmi' as you chant. It is ideally recited as part of daily Vedantic study or contemplation; a count of five (one per verse) or in multiples is customary.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Kaupina Panchakam written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Kaupina means a simple loincloth, the only garment of a renunciate; panchakam means 'a set of five (verses)'. So Kaupina Panchakam is a hymn of five verses praising the loincloth-clad ascetic who has renounced everything for Self-knowledge.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century teacher of Advaita Vedanta. It is sometimes also called 'Yati Panchakam', 'yati' meaning an ascetic or monk.

It means 'the one who possesses (only) a loincloth is truly the fortunate, blessed one'. The verse declares that the ascetic who owns nothing yet rests in the bliss of Brahman is far more blessed than any wealthy person.

No. While it glorifies the monastic ideal, anyone seeking inner contentment, dispassion and Self-knowledge can recite and contemplate it. Its purpose is to turn the mind inward, away from craving for possessions, toward the lasting joy of the Self.