The ''Dasha Shloki'' () is a
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominalization, nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cul ...
hymn by the
Hindu philosopher
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...
. Comprising ten verses, the ''Dasha Shloki'' explores the
Brahman-Atman relationship and the author's interpretation of the nature of the self.
Etymology
''Dasha Shloki'' is Sanskrit for "ten
verses".
Description
According to legend, Adi Shankara chanted this hymn in response to his disciples's final request for him, which was to explain the essence of the teachings of
Vedanta
''Vedanta'' (; sa, वेदान्त, ), also ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six (''āstika'') schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, ...
. He is believed to have first sung the hymn when he met his ''
guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...
'',
Govindapada.
In the hymn, Adi Shankara states that the nature of the self is identical to Brahman, which is not identical to the finite and unreal not-self. He also describes the self as that which is one, auspicious, free of attributes and assimilation, and eternal.
Hymn
The first stanza of the hymn describes the author's interpretation of his self as identical to Brahman:
{{Blockquote, text=Neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor air, nor ether, nor sense-organ, nor their aggregate (am I) because they are inconstant. That which is the one established in sleep, that one which remains (after the sublation of all else) - that auspicious absolute (Self) I am., source=Verse 1, title=''Dasha Shloki''
See also
* ''
Chatuh Shloki
The ''Chatuh Shloki'' () is a Sanskrit hymn by the Hindu philosopher Yamunacharya
Yamunacharya (IAST: Yamunāchārya), also known as Alavandar and Yamunaithuraivan, was a Vishistadvaita philosopher based in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India. ...
''
* ''
Hari Stuti''
*
''Ashtalakshmi Stotra''
References
Medieval literature
Hindu literature