🧠 “Tell Me About Yourself…” — A Mind-Bending interview from 1,200 Years Ago!

The Nirvana Shatakam by Adi Shankaracharya – An Eternal Introduction

Imagine this.

You’re in a job interview or a college orientation, and they throw at you that age-old icebreaker:

“So, tell me about yourself?”

You scramble:

“Uh… I’m a data analyst, I love hiking, I recently started yoga, and—wait—should I talk about my cat too?”

Now imagine this instead.You smile serenely, close your eyes, and say:

Mano buddhyaḥ ahaṅkāra cittāni nāham

Na ca śrotra jihve na ca ghrāṇa netre

Na ca vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuḥ

Chidānanda rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham

Translation:"I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or memory. I am not the ears, the tongue, the nose or the eyes. I am not space, earth, fire or air. I am the form of consciousness and bliss – I am Shiva, I am Shiva."

Boom. Mic drop. Your interviewer either faints or asks you to lead the next mindfulness retreat.

A Cosmic Resume from an 8-Year-Old

This isn’t hypothetical. Over 1,200 years ago, Sri Adi Shankaracharya, then just eight years old, met his would-be guru, Govindapada. When asked, “Who are you?”, little Shankara didn’t say “Shankara from Kaladi, aspiring monk.”He responded with this dazzling declaration of identity — six verses now known as the Nirvana Shatakam.

Beyond Name, Age, or Occupation

The modern world says, “Define yourself! Create your brand! Know your MBTI type!”

But Shankara flips the whole thing inside out.

Let’s walk through his mind-bending verses:

Verse 1: I Am Not This Body or Mind

Mano buddhyaḥ ahaṅkāra cittāni nāham

Na ca śrotra jihve na ca ghrāṇa netre

Na ca vyoma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuḥ

Chidānanda rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham

Translation: "I am not the mind, intellect, ego or memory. I am not the senses — hearing, tasting, smelling or seeing. I am not the elements — space, earth, fire, or air. I am pure consciousness and bliss — I am Shiva."

Translation for Zoomers: "I'm not my thoughts, not my phone, not even my five senses. I’m not from Earth or space. I’m that which watches it all — I’m vibes only."

Verse 2: I Am Not Life Itself

Na ca praṇa sañjño na vai pañca vāyuḥ

Na vā sapta dhātuḥ na vā pañca kośaḥ

Na vāk pāṇi pādam na copastha pāyu

Chidānanda rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham"

Translation:"I am not the life force (prana), nor the five vital airs.I am not the bodily fluids or the five sheaths.I am not speech, hands, feet, or organs of action.I am pure consciousness and bliss — I am Shiva."

💡 Translation for Today:"I'm not just a living body or energy system. I’m not defined by biology, anatomy, or movement. I’m the one beyond it all."

Verse 3: I Am Beyond Emotions and Attachments

Na me dveṣa rāga na me lobha moha

Mado naiva me naiva mātsarya bhāvaḥ

Na dharmo na cārtho na kāmo na mokṣaḥ

Chidānanda rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham

Translation:"I have no hatred or craving, no greed or delusion.I am not pride, jealousy, or envy.I am not bound by duties, wealth, desires or even liberation.I am pure consciousness and bliss — I am Shiva."

🎭 Modern Reflection: "I’m not my feelings, my moods, my goals, or my drama. I’m not even the game of chasing success or enlightenment. I just am."

Verse 4: I Am Beyond All Relationships

Na puṇyaṃ na pāpaṃ na saukhyaṃ na duḥkhaṃ

Na mantro na tīrthaṃ na vedā na yajñaḥ

Ahaṃ bhojanaṃ naiva bhojyaṃ na bhoktā

Chidānanda rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham"

Translation: "I am neither virtue nor sin, neither pleasure nor pain. I am not mantras, pilgrimages, scriptures, or rituals. I am not food, the act of eating, or the eater. I am pure consciousness and bliss — I am Shiva."

🥗 Today's Take:"I'm not what I do or consume. Not my karma, not my practices. I’m not the doer — I’m the silent witness."

Verse 5: I Am Beyond Birth and Death

Na me mṛtyuśaṅkā na me jātibhedaḥ

Pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janmaḥ Na bandhur na mitraṃ guru naiva śiṣyaḥ

Chidānanda rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham

Translation:"I have no fear of death, no distinction of caste. I have no father or mother, no birth. No relatives, friends, teacher or disciple. I am pure consciousness and bliss — I am Shiva."

🎂 Translation for the Existential Thinker: "I'm not defined by where I was born or who raised me. No fear of endings, no beginnings. Just timeless awareness."

Verse 6: I Am the Unchanging Eternal Self

Aham nirvikalpo nirākāra rūpo

Vibhutvā ca sarvatra sarvendriyaṇām

Na ca saṅgataṃ naiva muktir na meyaḥ

Chidānanda rūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham

Translation:"I am without variation, without form. I pervade all senses, all space, everywhere. I am beyond attachment and freedom. I am pure consciousness and bliss — I am Shiva."

🌌 Mic-Drop Moment: "I'm formless, limitless, everywhere, and beyond even the idea of being 'free'. I’m the original WiFi — always connected."

💫 The Eternal Truth It Teaches

The Nirvana Shatakam isn’t just poetry — it’s spiritual dynamite.It shatters every label we cling to — name, job, religion, relationships, success — and reveals the unchanging truth beneath it all:

You are not the wave or the water drop. You are the ocean itself.

The eternal “I” is not the story in your head.It is the witness behind the story — silent, blissful, indestructible.

🧘 TL;DR – Your Real Resume

So next time someone asks, “Tell me about yourself?”, pause and consider:

• You’re not just your résumé or your role.

• You’re not just your zodiac sign, your playlists, or your spiritual to-do list.

• You are Chidānanda Rūpaḥ — the very form of consciousness and bliss.

Whether you say it aloud or smile quietly inside, know that in that moment…you’ve just echoed a truth spoken by an 8-year-old sage… and by infinity itself.

🕉️ Shivoham. Shivoham.