Dashashloki of Adishankara

The Dasashloki  consists of ten profound verses where Adi Shankaracharya defines the nature of the Atman by negating everything that is not the Self. Every verse concludes with the refrain: "Tadekovashishtah Shivah Kevalo'ham" (That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute, the alone—that Self am I).  

The Ten Verses

1. On Elements

Na bhūmirna toyam na tejo na vāyuḥ, na khaṃ nendriyaṃ vā na teṣāṃ samūhaḥ |Anekaikantatvāt suṣuptaikasiddhaḥ, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(I am not the earth, water, fire, air, or ether; neither am I the organs, nor their aggregate. Because of the variability of these, the Self is established only in the state of deep sleep. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

2. On Social Identity

Na varṇā na varṇāśramācāra-dharmāḥ, na me dhāraṇā-dhyānayogādayo'pi |Anātmāśrayāhaṃmamādhyāsa-hānāt, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(I am not of any caste, nor do the rules of the stages of life (ashramas) apply to me. Concentration, meditation, and Yoga do not pertain to me, for the superimposition of "I" and "mine" on the non-Self has been abandoned. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

3. On Relationships & Scripture

Na mātā na pitā na devā na lokāḥ, na vedā na yajñā na tīrthaṃ bravīti |Suṣuptau nirastātishūnyātmakatvāt, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(I have no mother, father, gods, or worlds; no Vedas, sacrifices, or holy places. In deep sleep, there is no total void; I exist as the one auspicious Self. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

4. On Doctrines

Na sāṅkhyaṃ na śaivaṃ na pāñcarātraṃ, na jainaṃ na mīmāṃsakāder-mataṃ vā |Vishuddhātmatattvāt-pari-bhūta-svarūpaḥ, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(Neither the Sankhya, Saiva, Pancharatra, Jaina, nor Mimamsaka views are valid; for by unique experience, the Self is realized as extremely pure. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

5. On Space & Direction

Na cārdhvaṃ na cādhastanna cāntar-bahiḥ-svaṃ, na madhyaṃ na tiryaṅna pūrvāparā-dik |Viyadvyāpaka-tvādakhaṇḍaikarūpaḥ, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(I have no above, below, inside, outside, middle, or direction (east/west). Since I am all-pervading like space, I am impartite by nature. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

6. On Form & Color

Na śuklaṃ na kṛṣṇaṃ na raktaṃ na pītaṃ, na kubjaṃ na pīnaṃ na hrasvaṃ na dīrgham |Arūpaṃ svadṛśvā-tathā jñāna-śaktiḥ, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(I am not white, black, red, or yellow; neither short nor long, neither tiny nor large. I am formless and of the nature of light. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

7. On Duality

Na śāstram na śāstraṃ na śiṣyo na śikṣā, na ca tvaṃ na cāhaṃ na cāyaṃ prapañcaḥ |Svarūpāvabodhād-vikalpo vinaṣṭaḥ, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(There is neither teacher nor scripture, neither pupil nor instruction; neither you nor I, nor this universe. Awareness of my real nature does not admit of alternatives. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

8. On States of Consciousness

Na jāgrad-na svapnaṃ na me jāgrad-an-yā, na suṣuptir-na viśvo na vā taijaso'pi |Aparyāyatvāt-tadaivāham-ekam, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(I do not experience waking, dream, or deep sleep. I am not the Visva, Taijasa, or Prajna states; these are products of ignorance. I am the Fourth (Turiya). That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

9. On Universality

Api vyāpakatvāt-thitaṃ tvat-kathañcit, na cānyat-kathañcin-na cānanyatāpi |Na caitat-kathañcid-amṛtaṃ vāsthitam, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(The Atman is all-pervading, the true goal, and self-established; the universe is different and unreal. That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

10. On The Absolute

Na caikaṃ tadanyat-kathaṃ syād-advitīyam, na cāpīkṣitaṃ kiñcid-anyat-kathaṃ syāt |Sthitaṃ śuddham-etadvad-ānanda-rūpaṃ, tadekovashiṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kevalo'ham ||

(It is not even "one," for how can there be a second? It is neither absolute nor non-absolute; neither void nor non-void, for it is non-dual. How can I describe that which is the essence of all Vedanta? That one which remains, the auspicious, the absolute—that Self am I.)  

To hear a traditional rendition of these verses by Guruji Rishiputra Balayogi Dr Anandaji please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPMdlwfMlYo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPMdlwfMlYo