Slokardhena Pravakshyami — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्लोकार्धेन प्रवक्ष्यामि
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
श्लोक-अर्धेन
śloka-ardhena
in half a verse, in half a sloka
प्रवक्ष्यामि
pravakṣyāmi
I shall declare, I will state
यत् उक्तम्
yat uktam
that which has been said / taught
ग्रन्थ-कोटिभिः
grantha-koṭibhiḥ
by millions (tens of millions) of books / scriptures
ब्रह्म
brahma
Brahman, the absolute Reality
सत्यम्
satyam
real, true, ever-existent
जगत्
jagat
the world, the universe
मिथ्या
mithyā
unreal, illusory, of merely apparent (dependent) existence
जीवः
jīvaḥ
the individual self, the embodied soul
ब्रह्म एव
brahma eva
Brahman alone, verily Brahman
न अपरः
na aparaḥ
not other, not different
Complete Translation
In half a verse I shall declare what has been taught in millions of scriptures: Brahman alone is real, the world is an appearance, and the individual self is none other than Brahman itself.
Origin & History
Source: Advaita Vedanta tradition; attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (also appears in Brahma Jnanavali Mala)
Author: Adi Shankaracharya (traditional)
Period: c. 8th century CE
This couplet is one of the best-loved summaries of Advaita Vedanta. Its bold opening line — 'I shall declare in half a verse what is said in millions of books' — became a byword for the conciseness and power of the non-dual teaching. The half-verse it delivers, 'Brahman is real, the world is appearance, the self is Brahman,' is regarded as the crest-jewel statement of the entire tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed this couplet?▼
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and is among the most famous summaries of Advaita Vedanta. It is widely cited in the Vedantic tradition (including the Brahma Jnanavali Mala) and is treasured as the perfect 'half-verse' encapsulation of non-dual teaching.
How can millions of scriptures be summed up in half a verse?▼
The first line makes exactly this claim, and the second delivers the summary. All the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the vast commentarial literature point to one conclusion: the reality of Brahman, the appearance-nature of the world, and the identity of the self with Brahman. The verse offers that conclusion directly.
What does 'jagan mithya' (the world is unreal) mean?▼
Mithya does not mean the world is non-existent; it means the world has only a dependent, appearance-level reality, like a reflection or a dream. It is experienced but is not absolutely, independently real the way Brahman is.
Is this verse the same as 'Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya'?▼
Its second line is the celebrated statement 'Brahma satyam jagan mithya jivo brahmaiva naparah.' This couplet frames that statement with the striking first line declaring that it sums up the teaching of millions of texts.
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