Bhavani Ashtakam - In Sanskrit And English

Bhavani Ashtakam

Adi Shankaracharya was an Indian philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. Adi Shankaracharya unified and established the main currents of thought in Hinduism. Adi Shankaracharya's works in Sanskrit discuss the unity of the Ātman and Nirguna Brahman, that is Brahman without attributes.

Bhavani Ashtakam is not just his philosophy about life, it also lays bare his honesty and his relationship with Bhavani, his mother.

न तातो न माता न बन्धुर्न दाता

न पुत्रो न पुत्री न भृत्यो न भर्ता ।

न जाया न विद्या न वृत्तिर्ममैव

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥१॥

Na Taato Na Maataa Na Bandhur-Na Daataa

Na Putro Na Putrii Na Bhrtyo Na Bhartaa |

Na Jaayaa Na Vidyaa Na Vrttir-Mama-Iva

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||1||

He says that:

Neither the Father, nor the Mother; Neither the Relation and Friend, nor the Donor,

Neither the Son, nor the Daughter; Neither the Servant, nor the Husband,

Neither the Wife, nor the (worldly) Knowledge; Neither my Profession,

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Nobody except Bhavani can come to my rescue.

भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरु

पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः ।

कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥२॥

Bhavaabdhaav-Apaare Mahaa-Duhkha-Bhiiru

Papaata Prakaamii Pralobhii Pramattah |

Ku-Samsaara-Paasha-Prabaddhah Sada-[A]ham

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||2||

The gist of life is portrayed vividly in what he calls the Ocean of Worldly Existence which is Endless.

In this Ocean of Worldly Existence which is Endless, I am full of Sorrow and Very much Afraid,

have Fallen with Excessive Desires and Greed, Drunken and Intoxicated,

Always Tied in the Bondage of this miserable Samsara (worldly existence),

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Nobody except Bhavani can come to my rescue.

न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं

न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् ।

न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगं

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥३॥

Na Jaanaami Daanam Na Ca Dhyaana-Yogam

Na Jaanaami Tantram Na Ca Stotra-Mantram |

Na Jaanaami Puujaam Na Ca Nyaasa-Yogam

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||3||

Neither do I know Charity, nor Meditation and Yoga,

Neither do I know the practice of Tantra, nor Hymns and Prayers,

Neither do I know Worship, nor dedication to Yoga,

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Nobody except Bhavani can come to my rescue, not Hymns and Prayers.

न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थ

न जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित् ।

न जानामि भक्तिं व्रतं वापि मातर्गतिस्त्वं

गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥४॥

Na Jaanaami Punnyam Na Jaanaami Tiirtha

Na Jaanaami Muktim Layam Vaa Kadaacit |

Na Jaanaami Bhaktim Vratam Vaapi Maatar-Gatis-Tvam

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||4||

Neither do I Know Virtuous Deeds, nor Pilgrimage,

I do not know the way to Liberation, and with little Concentration and Absorption,

I know neither Devotion, nor Religious Vows; Nevertheless Oh Mother,

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

The Karma of Virtuous Deeds and visiting places Pilgrimage are futile.

कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः

कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः ।

कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहं

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥५॥

Ku-Karmii Ku-Sanggii Ku-Buddhih Kudaasah

Kula-[Aa]caara-Hiinah Kadaacaara-Liinah |

Ku-Drssttih Ku-Vaakya-Prabandhah Sada-[A]ham

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||5||

I performed Bad Deeds, associated with Bad Company, cherished Bad Thoughts, have been a Bad Servant,

I did not perform my Traditional Duties, deeply engaged in Bad Conduct,

My eyes Saw with Bad Intentions, tongue always Spoke Bad Words,

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Bad Conduct, Bad Intention, and Bad Words is what I am always immersed in.

प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं

दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित् ।

न जानामि चान्यत् सदाहं शरण्ये

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥६॥

Praje[a-Is]sham Rame[a-Is]sham Mahe[a-Is]sham Sure[a-Is]sham

Dine[a-Is]sham Nishiithe[a-I]shvaram Vaa Kadaacit |

Na Jaanaami Caanyat Sada-[A]ham Sharannye

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||6||

Little do I know about The Lord of Creation (Brahma), The Lord of Ramaa (Goddess Lakshmi) (Vishnu), The Great Lord (Shiva), The Lord of the Devas (Indra),

The Lord of the Day (Surya) or The Lord of the Night (Chandra),

I do not know about other gods, but always seeking Your Refuge,

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

I don't understand the various attributes of various Gods.

विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे

जले चानले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये ।

अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥७॥

Vivaade Vissaade Pramaade Pravaase

Jale Ca-[A]nale Parvate Shatru-Madhye |

Arannye Sharannye Sadaa Maam Prapaahi

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||7||

During Dispute and Quarrel, during Despair and Dejection, during Intoxication and Insanity, in Foreign Land,

In Water, and Fire, in Mountains and Hills, amidst Enemies,

In Forest, please Protect me,

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Despair and Dejection engulf me always.

अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तो

महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः ।

विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रनष्टः सदाहं

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥८॥

Anaatho Daridro Jaraa-Roga-Yukto

Mahaa-Kssiinna-Diinah Sadaa Jaaddya-Vaktrah |

Vipattau Pravissttah Pranassttah Sadaaham

Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||8||

I am Helpless, Poor, Afflicted by Old Age and Disease,

Very Weak and Miserable, always with a Pale Countenance,

Fallen Asunder, Always surrounded by and Lost in Troubles and Miseries,

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

In my old age I am surrounded by and Lost in Troubles and Miseries.