I Am Shiva, Shiva Am I Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

Mind, intellect ego, nor echoes they spell,
Nor sense of hearing, speech, nor of smell,
Nor am I earth, fire, air, nor yet space,
I'm Shiva, awareness and bliss.

Nor vital Life-force, nor five breath fields,
Seven essences, nor five body shields,
No limbs of action make what me is,
I'm Shiva, awareness and bliss.

Likes nor dislikes, I've greed, nor fantasy,
Pride nor conceit, envy nor jealousy,
Nor any pursuits of life do I miss,
I'm Shiva, awareness and bliss.

Happiness nor sorrows, virtue nor vice,
Chants, pilgrimage, Vedas nor sacrifice,
Food nor fondness, nor one that relishes,
I'm Shiva, awareness and bliss.

I've Death nor doubt, nor faith in wombs of worth,
Father nor mother nor I've any birth,
Kin, friend, guru nor disciples on earth,
I'm Shiva, awareness and bliss.

One alone, shape nor size, nor form any,
Pervasive, rife everywhere, in senses,
I've freedom, nor bondage, peace, poise is me,
I'm Shiva, awareness and bliss.
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From aatma shatakam or nirvaana shatakam, six verses on atman, written by Shankaracharya of 8th century CE. Transliteration of the Sanskrit text is given here:

manah-buddhi-ahamkāra-chittāni na aham,
na cha kśhotra-jihve na cha ghrāņa-netre |
na cha vyoma bhūmih na teja vāyuh
chit-ānanada rūpah shivah aham shivah aham ||1 ||

na cha prāņa-sanjnyah na vai pancha-vāyuh,
na vā sapta-dhātuh na vā pancha-koshah |
na vāk pāņi-pādau na cha upastha-pāyū
chit-ānanada rūpah shivah aham shivah aham ||2 ||

na me dveśha-rāgau na me lobha-mohau,
madah na eva me na eva mātsarya bhāvah |
na dharmah na cha arthah na kāmah na mokśhah,
chit-ānanada rūpah shivah aham shivah aham ||3 ||

na puņyam na pāpam na saukhyam na duhkham,
na mantrah na tīrtham na vedāh na yajnyāh |
aham bhojanam na eva bhojyam na bhoktāh
chit-ānanada rūpah shivah aham shivah aham ||4 ||

na me mŗtyu-shankā na me jāti bhedah,
pitā na eva me na eva mātā na janma |
na bandhuh na mitram guruh na eva shiśhyah
chit-ānanada rūpah shivah aham shivah aham ||5 ||

aham nir-vikalpah nir-ākāra-rūpah,
vibhuh vyāpya sarvatra sarva indriyāņām |
sadā me samatvam na muktih na bandhah,
chit-ānanada rūpah shivah aham shivah aham ||6 ||

Translations |05.08.2021|