The sAdhana chatuShTaya is described by Shankara in the vivekachUDAmaNi as follows:

Adau nityAnityavastuvivekaH parigaNyate |
ihAmutraphalabhOgavirAgasttadanantaram ||
shamAdiShaTkasampattiH mumukShutvamiti sphuTam || – Verse 19.


1. Viveka
discrimination of Real from unreal.
Bhagawat Gita explains this in the 3th Chapter Skhetra-Skhetragnya Yoga. This is the first chapter in the third part of Gita i.e. Gnana Kand or Jnana Yoga

2. VairAgya
detachment or dispassion from sense objects .
It is also called as a state of mind in which there is absence of worldly desires (As said by Sri Ramana Maharshi in Who Am I).

3. Shat sampatti (a collective group of six behavior traits).

a. shama
shama means mind-control.

b. dama
dama means keeping the body and the senses under control.

c. uparati
Neutralise likes and dislikes

d. titikShA
Remain neutral (stay alike or tolerate) in pros and cons of life.

e. shraddhA
Unwavering faith in yourself, the sacred scriptures or shAstra, God and Guru.

f. samAdhAna
Single pointed concentration. Or in other words, be content with Surrender to the God or self or fix your mind on Brahman.

4. MumukShutva
Burning desire for liberation