Dasa Shloki

This composition in ten verses – dasha shloka – is similar to the Nirvana Shatakam, and like it, a summation, in typically Shankara’s way, of the unyielding non-dual vision of Advaita. Here too, Shankara’s attempt is to deny everything else only to unequivocally assert the sole reality of Brahman. Each verse lists the number of things that have no worth, and each verse ends with the assertion, ‘Shiva kevaloh ham’ (Only Shiva am I). Given the similarities between the Nirvana Shatakam and Dashashloki, some scholars believe that it was the latter that Shankara recited when asked by Govindapada: ‘Who are you?’ This debate need not, however, detain us, for it is certain that whatever Shankara’s reply was to his guru’s question, it was sufficiently impressive for him to be immediately accepted as a disciple.