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Dasha Shloki

The Dasha Shloki () is a Sanskrit hymn by the Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara. Comprising ten verses, the Dasha Shloki explores the Brahman-Atman relationship and the author's interpretation of the nature of the self.

Etymology

The word Dashashloki is a sanskrit compound formed from dasha (दश, ten) and shloka (श्लोकः, verse), yielding the compound dashashloka (दशश्लोक, ten verses). The possessive suffix -in (इन्) is added to form the adjectival stem dashashlokin (दशश्लोकिन्), 'meaning possessing ten verses' or 'consisting of ten verses'. This stem is declined in the masculine gender to agree with an implied masculine noun such as grantha (ग्रन्थः), resulting in the nominative singular form Dashashloki (दशश्लोकी) which literally denotes 'that (grantha) which consists of 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. He is believed to have first sung the hymn when he met his guru, 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.

Metre

The Dashashloki by Shankaracharya is composed in the Bhujangaprayata (भुजङ्गप्रयातम्) metre/chhand.The metre's name evokes the sinuous, gliding movement of a serpent (bhujanga), and it belongs to the Varna-vritta (syllable-counting) class, characterized by a fixed rhythmic pattern of four ya gaṇas (short-long-long also called as laghu-guru-guru) per quarter-verse, resulting in twelve syllables per line. Shankaracharya employed this same metre in several of his other compositions as well, including the Subrahmanya Bhujangam, Shiva bhujanga prayata stotra, and Vishnu bhujanga prayata stotra, demonstrating his preference for this particular rhythmic structure in hymns requiring a flowing , lyrical quality. The rhythm of this metre beautifully mirrors the content of the Dashashloki, where Shankaracharya articulates the nature of the Self through a series of negations that glide smoothly from one philosophical point to the next.

Hymn

Every stanza of the hymn presents the author's interpretation of his self as being identical to Brahman.

Vedanta Dasha Shloki by Nimbarkacharya

The Vedanta Kamadhenu Dashashloki ()is a Sanskrit hymn composed by the Hindu philosopher Nimbarkacharya, the founder of the Nimbarka Sampradaya. The work presents a concise summary of his philosophy of Svabhavika Bhedabheda, which describes the relationship between the individual soul and Brahman as one of natural difference and non-difference. The text is also notable for its early theological emphasis on the divine couple Radha and Krishna as the supreme objects of worship.

See also

References