The Aparokshanubhuti (Sanskrit: अपरोक्षानुभूतिः) is a work attributed to Adi Shankara, though his authorship is doubtful.[1][2] It is a popular introductory work (prakarana grantha) that expounds Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
Aparokṣānubhūti is a compound consisting of aparokṣa ("perceptible") and anubhūti (अनुभूति)("knowledge"), meaning "direct cognition"[web 1][web 2] or "direct experience of the Absolute."[web 3] Swami Vimuktananda renders it as "Self-realization."[3]
The oldest extant commentary on this work is a Sanskrit commentary (Dipika or 'Elucidation') by Sri Vidyaranya (14th century). This work has been repeatedly translated and commented upon in other languages.