அவதூத கீதை (தொடக்க ஶ்லோகங்கள்)
अवधूत गीता (प्रारम्भिक श्लोक)
Also known as: avadhuta gita · avadhoota gita · avadhut gita · dattatreya avadhuta gita · song of the avadhuta · ishvaranugrahad eva
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✦ Meaning
The Avadhuta Gita ('Song of the Avadhuta') is a sublime Advaita Vedanta text spoken by Lord Dattatreya, the supreme avadhuta and Adi Guru. Its verses are an unbroken outpouring of non-dual realisation — declaring that the Self alone is everything, the world a mere mirage, and the soul ever-free, formless, all-pervading pure consciousness. These famous opening verses, ending with the immortal counsel 'You are not the body... so move about happily', are treasured as one of the purest statements of the wisdom of oneness.
Origin & Story
Avadhuta Gita — traditionally the utterance of Lord Dattatreya (recorded by his disciples Swami and Kartika) · Lord Dattatreya (the supreme Avadhuta) · 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.
✦ As told in scripture
The Avadhuta Gita is revered less for outward miracles than for the inner one it works — sages of the Advaita tradition relate that earnest contemplation of its verses can, in a flash of recognition, dissolve the lifelong sense of being the body and reveal the ever-free witness-Self, which is the very 'great deliverance from fear' the opening verse promises.
Complete Text with Meaning
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ईश्वरानुग्रहादेव पुंसामद्वैतवासना। महाभयपरित्राणाद्विप्राणामुपजायते॥
Ishvaraanugrahaad-eva pumsaam-advaita-vaasanaa. Mahaa-bhaya-paritraanaad-vipraanaam-upajaayate.
Meaning:இறைவனின் அருளால் மட்டுமே மனிதர்களில் அத்வைத வாசனை (ஒருமையின் ஏக்கம்) எழுகிறது, இது விவேகிகளை மகாபயத்திலிருந்து (பிறப்பு-இறப்பு) காக்கிறது.
येनेदं पूरितं सर्वमात्मनैवात्मनात्मनि। निराकारं कथं वन्दे ह्यभिन्नं शिवमव्ययम्॥
Yened-idam pooritam sarvam-aatmanaiv-aatman-aatmani. Niraakaaram katham vande hy-abhinnam shivam-avyayam.
Meaning:எவரால் இவை அனைத்தும் நிறைந்துள்ளதோ — ஆத்மாவால், ஆத்மாவாக, ஆத்மாவிலேயே — அந்த நிராகாரத்தை, அபின்னத்தை, சிவத்தை (மங்கலமானதை), அழியாததை நான் எவ்வாறு வணங்குவேன்?
पञ्चभूतात्मकं विश्वं मरीचिजलसन्निभम्। कस्याप्यहो नमस्कुर्यामहमेको निरञ्जनः॥
Pancha-bhootaatmakam vishvam mareechi-jala-sannibham. Kasyaapy-aho namaskuryaam-aham-eko niranjanah.
Meaning:ஐம்பூதங்களால் ஆன இந்த உலகம் கானல்நீரைப் போன்றது; அஹோ! ஒரே நிரஞ்சனனாகிய நான் யாரை வணங்குவேன்?
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.
Meaning:ஆத்மாவே மட்டுமே அனைத்தும்; பேதமோ அபேதமோ எதுவும் இல்லை. பின் நான் 'உள்ளது' அல்லது 'இல்லை' என எவ்வாறு சொல்வேன்? என்னுள் ஒரு பெரும் வியப்பு ஒளிர்கிறது.
वेदान्तसारसर्वस्वं ज्ञानं विज्ञानमेव च। अहमात्मा निराकारः सर्वव्यापी स्वभावतः॥
Vedaanta-saara-sarvasvam jnaanam vijnaanam-eva cha. Aham-aatmaa niraakaarah sarva-vyaapee svabhaavatah.
Meaning:இதுவே வேதாந்தத்தின் முழுச் சாரம், ஞானமும் விஞ்ஞானமும்: நான் ஆத்மா, நிராகாரம், இயல்பாலேயே சர்வவியாபி.
यो वै सर्वात्मकं तत्त्वं वेत्ति निश्चयतो मम। निर्ममो निर्विकल्पोऽसौ शुद्धचैतन्यविग्रहः॥
Yo vai sarvaatmakam tattvam vetti nishchayato mama. Nirmamo nirvikalpo'sau shuddha-chaitanya-vigrahah.
Meaning:அந்த சர்வாத்மக தத்துவத்தை உறுதியாக அறிபவன் உண்மையில் என் சொரூபமே — மமதையற்றவன், நிர்விகல்பன், சுத்த சைதன்யத்தின் வடிவம்.
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.
Meaning:நீ உடல் அல்ல, உடல் உன்னுடையதும் அல்ல; நீ அனுபவிப்பவன் அல்ல, செயலும் உன்னுடையது அல்ல. நீ சித்ரூபன், எப்போதும் சாட்சி, நிரபேக்ஷன் — எனவே சுகமாக சஞ்சரி (ஆனந்தத்தில் இரு).
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting அவதூத கீதை (தொடக்க ஶ்லோகங்கள்)
Imparts the highest Advaita (non-dual) wisdom in the direct words of Lord Dattatreya
Dissolves the sense of bondage by affirming 'You are not the body... you are pure consciousness'
Cultivates fearlessness and freedom from the great fear of birth and death
Grants deep peace by revealing the world as a mirage and the Self as the only reality
A potent aid to meditation (nididhyasana) on one's true nature as the witness
Strengthens devotion to Dattatreya as the supreme Guru of Self-knowledge
Reading or hearing it with understanding is said to awaken abidance in the Self
How to Chant அவதூத கீதை (தொடக்க ஶ்லோகங்கள்)
These are verses for contemplation (manana) and meditation (nididhyasana) rather than ritual repetition. Read them slowly, ideally aloud, after settling the mind, and pause on each declaration of the Self's true nature. Many sadhakas keep the Avadhuta Gita as a daily reading to steady the conviction of non-duality. Conclude by sitting silently as the witness-consciousness the text describes — 'free of all wants, abiding happily'.