Adhi Shankara's Anathma sri vigarhana Prakaranam

Anathma Sri vigarhana Prakaranam
(Censure of the one who has not realized his self)
by
Adhi Shankaracharya,
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(In this simple, powerful , easily understandable and mellifluous verses, the Acharya emphasizes the need for understanding the self)

Labdha Vidhya rajamanya , Thatha kim,
Praptha sampath prabhavadayam Thatha kim,
Buktha Nari sundarangi, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 1

What if he has got education which is honored by kings?
What if he has got wealth and great honour?
What if he has enjoyed a woman with pretty form?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Keyuradhyair bhooshitho va , Thatha kim,
Kauseyadhyai aavrutho va, Thatha kim,
Thruptho mrushtanna dheena va, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 2

What if he wears ornaments like the golden bangles?
What if he has got dressed himself in silken cloths?
What if he was satisfied by well prepared feast?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.


Drushta nana charu desasthatha kim,
Pushtascheshta bandhu vargha sthatha kim,
Nashtam daridryadhi dukhaam sthatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 3

What if he has visited several pretty countries?
What if he has many well nourished relatives?
What if he has lost the sorrow of poverty?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Snathastheertha jahnu jadhou sthatha kim,
Dhanam datham dravya ashtashta asankhyam sthatha kim,
Japtha manthraa koteeso vaasthatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 4

What if he has taken bath in sacred waters like Ganga?
What if he has given gifts of 16 kinds several times?
What if he has chanted billions of times the sacred chants?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Gothram samyakh bhooshitham va sthatha kim,
Gathram basmaschaditham va strhatha kim,
Rudrakshadhi sadhatho va sthatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 5

What if all his clan members are well ornamented?
What if his body has been fully applied with ash?
What if he wears sacred beads like Rudraksha?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Annair viprastharpitha va sthatha kim,
Yagnair deva sthoshitho va sthatha kim,
Keerthya vyaptha sarvalokaisthatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 6

What if he has satisfied with food learned Brahmins?
What if he has made devas happy by Yagnas?
What if his fame has spread all over the world,
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Kaya klishta schoupavasai sthatha kim,
Labdha puthra sweeyapathnyasthatha kim,
Pranayama sadhitho va sthatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 7

What if he practiced starvation punishing his body?
What if he got a son through his own sweet wife?
What if he has mastered the technique of Pranayama?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Yudhe shathru nirjitho va Thatha kim,
Bhooyo mithrair pooritho va Thatha kim,
Yogi praptha sidhayo va Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 8

What if he won over all his enemies in battle,
What if he has added his strength through new friends?
What if he has attained occult powers through Yoga?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Aabdhi padhbhyam lankitho va, Thatha kim,
Vayu kumbhe sthapitha va sthatha kim,
Meru pana vrudhatho va sthatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 9

What if he has crossed the ocean by foot?
What if he has able to retain his breath ?
What if he holds the Mount Meru in his hand?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Kshwela peetho dugdha vadha , Thatha kim,
Vahnirjagdho laja vadha , Thatha kim,
Prapthaschara pakshi vathkhe, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 10

What if he has drunk poison , just like milk?
What if he has eaten fire like popped rice?
What if he moves in the sky similar to a bird?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Badha samyak pavakaadhyasthatha, Thatha kim,
Sakshadhidha loha varyas , Thatha kim,
Labdho nikshepo anjanadhyous, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 11

What if he ties and keeps fire under control?
What if he is able to pierce hard metals?
What if he is able to locate treasures using collyrium?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Bhoopendrasthwam praptha murvya, Thatha kim,
Devendrathwam sambrutho vaa, Thatha kim,
Mundeendrathwam chopa labdham, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 12

What if he secures the kingship of the world?
What if he gets the lordship over all devas?
What if he becomes the chief among the sages?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Manthrai sarva sthambhitho va, Thatha kim,
Banair lakshya bedhitho va, Thatha kim,
Kala gnanam cha aapi labdham, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 13

What if he is able to control everything through chants?
What if he is able to hit accurately his aim?
What if he is able to know , past, present and future?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Kamathanga ganditho va, Thatha kim,
Kopavesa kunditho va, Thatha kim,
Lobha slesha varjitho va, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 14

What if he is able to cut passion and worries?
What if he is able to blunt his anger?
What if he is able to keep away the embrace of avarice?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Moha dwantha poshitho va, Thatha kim,
Jathou bhoomou nirmadho va, Thatha kim,
Mathsaryadhir meelitho va, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 15

What if he is able to crush the gloom of delusion?
What if he is able to be completely devoid of all his pride?
What if he is not affected by jealousy?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Dhathur loka sadhitho va, Thatha kim,
Vishnur loko veekshitho va, Thatha kim,
Shambhor loka sasitho va, Thatha kim,
Yena swamathma naiva sakshathkrutho abhooth. 16

What if he is acquired the world of Brahma?
What if he has seen the world of Vishnu?
What if he ruled over the world of Shiva?
If he is not aware of the knowledge of his own self.

Yasyedham hrudhaye samyaghanathma Sri vigarhanam,
SAdho dhethi swatha sakshathkarasya bhajanam. 17

Any one whose heart always thinks,
About the realization of the self.
Is the only one fit for realization of the self,

Anye thu mayika jagath branthivya moha mohitha,
Na thesham jayathe kwapi swathma sakshath kruthir bhuvi. 18


For others are in a stupor of desire ,
And do not realize this world,
And to them the thought of ,
Self realization never occurs.