Nirvana Shatkam
Adi Shankaracharya recorded his own intimate experience  of the Bliss of Self-realization in mellifluous six verses  entitled Nirvana Shatakam. While the verses represent Shankara’s  direct and close experience in his deep meditative state, they are of much  spiritual profit for all seekers. Following is a free English translation of  these verses with some explanations..

1. I am not the mind, intellect, ego, or memory; nor the  ear or tongue; nor the nose nor eye; nor the space, earth, fire, or air (and water), I am of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss-Absolute, I am Shiva, I am  (verily) Shiva. Notes: Mind (manah), intellect (buddhih), ego  (ahamkara),and memory (chittani) together are referred to by the technical term antah karana or internal instrument. Ear, tongue,  nose, eyes, and skin together are the five jnana indriyas. Space, earth, fire, air, and water are the five elements  (pancha bhutas).

2. I am not indicated by prana, nor the five-fold vital airs nor the seven elements (sapta dhatuh) of the body, nor the five sheaths; nor the organs of  speech, nor hand, nor leg; and not generative or excretory organs, I am  of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss Absolute, I am Shiva, I am (verily)  Shiva. Notes: Five vital airs are: Prana (controls respiratory system), Apana (controls excretory system), Vyana (controls circulatory system); Samana (controls digestive system), and Udana (controls ejection of the prana from the physical body). Seven basic elements (sapta dhatuh) consist of: skin, flesh, fat, bone, blood, bone marrow,  and semen. Five sheaths (pancha kosha) are believed to veil our  understanding of the atman. They are in the order from gross (outer most) to  the subtle (inner most): annamaya kosha (food  sheath); pranamaya kosha (vital air sheath); manomaya kosha (mind sheath); vijnanamaya kosha (intellectual  sheath); and anandamaya kosha (bliss sheath).

3. I have neither aversion nor attachment, neither greed  nor delusion; I have neither arrogance nor jealousy; I have no duty (to perform)  nor any wealth (to acquire); neither desire nor liberation; I am of the  nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss Absolute, I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva. Notes: Greed, delusion, pride and jealousy together with lust and  anger constitute shad ripu (also called ari shad varga), the six-fold internal enemies  of a human being. Dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation)  are together known as purusharthas, the four objectives of a human being.

4. Neither virtue (punyam) nor  sin (papam) nor happiness nor sorrow; nor a holy chant nor a holy  place of pilgrimage nor Veda nor sacrifice; I am neither enjoyment, nor enjoyable  object, nor the enjoyer; I am of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss Absolute,  I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva.

5. I have no apprehension of death; neither do I have any  distinction of caste (or creed); I have neither father, nor mother, nor (even)  birth; neither friend nor kith and kin; neither teacher (guru) nor disciple; I am of the nature of Pure  Consciousness-Bliss-Absolute, I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva.

6. I have neither dualities nor shape or form; I am  present everywhere (omnipresent) and pervade all the senses; I am always equanimous;  I am neither liberation nor bondage; I am of the nature of Pure Consciousness-Bliss-Absolute,  I am Shiva, I am (verily) Shiva.