shankaracharyaadvaitavedantaself-knowledge

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌲𑍀𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌾

Brahma Jnanavali Mala in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning after bath, or during meditation and Vedantic study (svadhyaya)·📜 Prakarana grantha (independent didactic treatise) ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya

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

Origin & Story

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

The Brahma Jnanavali Mala is one of Adi Shankaracharya's prakarana works — short independent treatises that distil the teaching of Advaita Vedanta. Composed as a garland of affirmative verses in the first person, it describes the marks of the one who has realized 'I am Brahman'. Its opening verse boldly states that it is meant for the liberation of all and that Brahma-jnana can dawn upon merely hearing it once. The hymn is treasured by advanced seekers as a direct pointer to the non-dual Self, ending with the luminous declaration 'I am Shiva, the light of lights'.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that this garland of verses is so potent that 'sakrit shravana matrena' — by a single sincere hearing — the listener's heart can be turned toward the knowledge of Brahman; seekers who steep the mind in its affirmation 'I am the witness, the imperishable Self' are said to be freed, in that very recognition, from the bondage of birth and death.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌅𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃। 𑌸𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௧॥

asaṅgo'ham asaṅgo'ham asaṅgo'haṃ punaḥ punaḥ | sac-cid-ānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||1||

Meaning:Unattached am I, unattached am I, unattached am I, again and again; of the nature of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 2

𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃। 𑌭𑍂𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௨॥

nitya-śuddha-vimukto'haṃ nirākāro'ham avyayaḥ | bhūmānanda-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||2||

Meaning:Eternally pure and ever-free am I, formless and changeless; of the nature of infinite bliss am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 3

𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇। 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௩॥

nityo'haṃ niravadyo'haṃ nirākāro'ham ucyate | paramānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||3||

Meaning:Eternal am I, blameless am I, formless I am declared to be; of the nature of supreme bliss am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 4

𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌚𑍈𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌚। 𑌅𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௪॥

śuddha-caitanya-rūpo'ham ātmārāmo'ham eva ca | akhaṇḍānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||4||

Meaning:Of the nature of pure consciousness am I, ever delighting in the Self; of the nature of undivided bliss am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 5

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌚𑍈𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍇𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌃। 𑌶𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௫॥

pratyak-caitanya-rūpo'haṃ śānto'haṃ prakṛteḥ paraḥ | śāśvatānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||5||

Meaning:Of the nature of inner consciousness am I, serene am I, beyond Nature; of the nature of everlasting bliss am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 6

𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌹𑌂 𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌃 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌃। 𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌂𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௬॥

tattvātītaḥ parātmāhaṃ madhyātītaḥ paraḥ śivaḥ | māyātītaḥ paraṃ-jyotir aham evāham avyayaḥ ||6||

Meaning:Beyond all principles I am the Supreme Self; beyond the middle, I am the supreme Shiva; beyond Maya, the supreme Light am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 7

𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍀𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌃। 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௭॥

nānā-rūpa-vyatīto'haṃ cid-ākāro'ham acyutaḥ | sukha-rūpa-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||7||

Meaning:Beyond all manifold forms am I, of the form of consciousness, undecaying; of the very nature of happiness am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 8

𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌾𑌦𑌿 𑌮𑌮 𑌨𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌵 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌾। 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌾𑌶𑍈𑌕𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௮॥

māyā-tat-kārya-dehādi mama nāsty eva sarvadā | sva-prakāśaika-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||8||

Meaning:Maya and its effects — the body and the rest — never truly belong to me at all; self-luminous and one am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 9

𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍀𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌚 𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌮𑍍। 𑌅𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௯॥

guṇa-traya-vyatīto'haṃ brahmādīnāṃ ca sākṣy aham | anantānanda-rūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||9||

Meaning:Beyond the three gunas am I, the witness of Brahma and all the gods; of the nature of endless bliss am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 10

𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌕𑍂𑌟𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌗𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌮𑍍। 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௧௦॥

antaryāmi-svarūpo'haṃ kūṭasthaḥ sarvago'smy aham | paramātma-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||10||

Meaning:Of the nature of the inner ruler am I, changeless and all-pervading am I; of the nature of the Supreme Self am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 11

𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌕𑌲𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌸𑌨𑌾𑌤𑌨𑌃। 𑌅𑌪𑌰𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௧௧॥

niṣkalo'haṃ niṣkriyo'haṃ sarvātmādyaḥ sanātanaḥ | aparokṣa-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||11||

Meaning:Partless am I, actionless am I, the Self of all, first and eternal; of the nature of immediate (direct) experience am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 12

𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌚𑌲𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌸𑌨𑌾𑌤𑌨𑌃। 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௧௨॥

dvandvādi-sākṣi-rūpo'ham acalo'haṃ sanātanaḥ | sarva-sākṣi-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||12||

Meaning:The witness of the pairs of opposites am I, unmoving and eternal; of the nature of the witness of all am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 13

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌘𑌨 𑌏𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌘𑌨 𑌏𑌵 𑌚। 𑌅𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌭𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௧௩॥

prajñāna-ghana evāhaṃ vijñāna-ghana eva ca | akartāham abhoktāham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||13||

Meaning:A mass of pure cognition am I indeed, a mass of pure knowledge too; the non-doer and the non-enjoyer am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 14

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌧𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌚। 𑌆𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௧௪॥

nirādhāra-svarūpo'haṃ sarvādhāro'ham eva ca | āpta-kāma-svarūpo'ham aham evāham avyayaḥ ||14||

Meaning:Without any support am I, yet the support of all am I; ever-content, with every desire fulfilled, am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 15

𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌃। 𑌅𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌚𑌾𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃॥௧௫॥

tāpa-traya-vinirmukto deha-traya-vilakṣaṇaḥ | avasthā-traya-sākṣy asmi cāham evāham avyayaḥ ||15||

Meaning:Free from the three afflictions, distinct from the three bodies, the witness of the three states am I, I alone am I, the imperishable.

Verse 16

𑌦𑍃𑌗𑍍𑌦𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌯𑍗 𑌦𑍍𑌵𑍗 𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑍗 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑍗। 𑌦𑍃𑌗𑍍𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌦𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌮𑌾𑌯𑍇𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌡𑌿𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌮𑌃॥௧௬॥

dṛg-dṛśyau dvau padārthau staḥ paraspara-vilakṣaṇau | dṛg-brahma dṛśyaṃ māyeti sarva-vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||16||

Meaning:Seer and seen are two categories, mutually distinct; the seer is Brahman, the seen is Maya — such is the drumbeat (proclamation) of all Vedanta.

Verse 17

𑌅𑌹𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌤𑌿 𑌯𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃। 𑌸 𑌏𑌵 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌡𑌿𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌮𑌃॥௧௭॥

ahaṃ sākṣīti yo vidyād vivicyaivaṃ punaḥ punaḥ | sa eva muktaḥ so vidvān iti vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||17||

Meaning:Whoever knows, by enquiring thus again and again, 'I am the witness', he alone is liberated, he alone is the wise one — such is the proclamation of Vedanta.

Verse 18

𑌘𑌟𑌕𑍁𑌡𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌚। 𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌜𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌡𑌿𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌮𑌃॥௧௮॥

ghaṭa-kuḍyādikaṃ sarvaṃ mṛttikā-mātram eva ca | tadvad brahma jagat sarvam iti vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||18||

Meaning:Just as pot, wall and the rest are nothing but clay, so too this entire world is nothing but Brahman — such is the proclamation of Vedanta.

Verse 19

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌥𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑍋 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑍈𑌵 𑌨𑌾𑌪𑌰𑌃। 𑌅𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌡𑌿𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌮𑌃॥௧௯॥

brahma satyaṃ jagan mithyā jīvo brahmaiva nāparaḥ | anena vedyaṃ sac-chāstram iti vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥ ||19||

Meaning:Brahman is real, the world is illusory, and the soul is Brahman itself, not other; this is to be known as the conclusion of true scripture — such is the proclamation of Vedanta.

Verse 20

𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌬𑌹𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌗𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌃। 𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌂𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌮𑍍॥௨௦॥

antar-jyotir bahir-jyotiḥ pratyag-jyotiḥ parāt-paraḥ | jyotir-jyotiḥ svayaṃ-jyotir ātma-jyotiḥ śivo'smy aham ||20||

Meaning:Inner light, outer light, the indwelling light, higher than the highest; the light of lights, self-luminous light, the light of the Self — that auspicious Self am I.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌅𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑍍🔊asaṅgo'hamI am unattached (untouched by anything)

𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃🔊punaḥ punaḥagain and again (repeated for emphasis)

𑌸𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌃🔊sac-cid-ānanda-rūpaḥof the nature of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss (sat-chit-ananda)

𑌅𑌹𑌮𑍍 𑌏𑌵 𑌅𑌹𑌮𑍍🔊aham eva ahamI alone am I (the one undivided Self)

𑌅𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌃🔊avyayaḥimperishable, immutable, undecaying

𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃🔊nitya-śuddha-vimuktaḥeternally pure and ever-free

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌃🔊nirākāraḥformless, without shape

𑌭𑍂𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌃🔊bhūmānanda-svarūpaḥof the nature of infinite, plenary bliss (bhuma)

𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌃🔊paramānanda-rūpaḥof the nature of supreme bliss

𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌚𑍈𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌃🔊śuddha-caitanya-rūpaḥof the nature of pure consciousness

𑌆𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌃🔊ātmārāmaḥever delighting in the Self

𑌅𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌃🔊akhaṇḍānanda-rūpaḥof the nature of undivided (indivisible) bliss

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌚𑍈𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌃🔊pratyak-caitanya-rūpaḥof the nature of the inner, indwelling consciousness

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍇𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌃🔊prakṛteḥ paraḥbeyond Prakriti (primordial nature/matter)

𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌃🔊tattvātītaḥtranscending all the cosmic principles (tattvas)

𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌂𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌃🔊māyātītaḥ paraṃ-jyotiḥbeyond Maya, the supreme Light

𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌃🔊guṇa-traya-vyatītaḥtranscending the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀🔊brahmādīnāṃ sākṣīthe witness of Brahma (the creator) and all the gods

𑌕𑍂𑌟𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌗𑌃🔊kūṭasthaḥ sarvagaḥthe changeless one, all-pervading

𑌅𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌅𑌹𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌭𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌅𑌹𑌮𑍍🔊akartāham abhoktāhamI am the non-doer and the non-enjoyer

𑌦𑍃𑌗𑍍𑌦𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌯𑍗🔊dṛg-dṛśyauthe seer and the seen (the two categories)

𑌦𑍃𑌗𑍍𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌦𑍃𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾🔊dṛg-brahma dṛśyaṃ māyāthe seer is Brahman, the seen is Maya

𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌡𑌿𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌮𑌃🔊vedānta-ḍiṇḍimaḥthis is the proclamation (drumbeat) of all Vedanta

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌥𑍍𑌯𑌾🔊brahma satyaṃ jagan mithyāBrahman is real, the world is illusory (unreal)

𑌜𑍀𑌵𑍋 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑍈𑌵 𑌨𑌾𑌪𑌰𑌃🔊jīvo brahmaiva nāparaḥthe individual soul is none other than Brahman itself

𑌶𑌿𑌵𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌮𑍍🔊śivo'smy ahamI am Shiva (the auspicious Self-effulgent reality)

Benefits of Chanting Brahma Jnanavali Mala

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Said to bestow the knowledge of Brahman (Brahma-jnana) even upon a single attentive hearing

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Powerfully reinforces the great Advaitic truths 'Aham Brahmasmi' and 'Brahman is real, the world illusory'

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An ideal text for nididhyasana — sustained meditation on one's true Self

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Dissolves the false identification with body, mind, gunas and the three states (waking, dream, deep sleep)

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Cultivates deep, abiding peace and freedom from the three afflictions (tapatraya)

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Frequently used for daily Vedantic study (svadhyaya) and contemplation by seekers of liberation

How to Chant Brahma Jnanavali Mala

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning after bath, or during meditation and Vedantic study (svadhyaya)

Sit quietly facing east or north in a calm, clean place. Recite the verses slowly, allowing each first-person affirmation ('I am the witness… I alone am the imperishable Self') to sink in. Reflect on the closing teaching 'Brahman is real, the world illusory, the soul is Brahman itself'. Even a single careful recitation is said to be fruitful; many recite it daily as part of contemplation and Self-enquiry.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Brahma Jnanavali Mala 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.

It means 'a garland (mala) of a series (avali) of (verses giving) the knowledge (jnana) of Brahman'. It is a string of verses, each a 'gem', affirming the seeker's identity with the infinite, imperishable Self.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the foremost teacher of Advaita Vedanta. The very first verse declares that it is meant 'for the liberation of all' and that Brahma-jnana may arise 'merely by hearing it once' (sakrit shravana matrena).

It means 'I alone am I, the imperishable'. After each description of the Self as pure, free, blissful and formless, the verse drives home that this very Self — undecaying and one without a second — is what 'I' truly am.

It is the celebrated summary of Advaita Vedanta found in this hymn: 'Brahman is real, the world is illusory, and the individual soul is none other than Brahman.' It captures the entire teaching in a single line and is called the 'drumbeat of all Vedanta'.