Stuti · Sanskrit
भवान्यष्टकम्
Bhavani Ashtakam
The profound Sanskrit surrender hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya, declaring that in worldly helplessness, Mother Bhavani alone is the eternal refuge.
Read & reflect
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 ॥
भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरुः पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः । कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ २ ॥
न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् । न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ३ ॥
न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थं न जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित् । न जानामि भक्तिं व्रतं वापि मात- र्गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ४ ॥
कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः । कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ५ ॥
Roman reading aid
Na Tato Na Mata Na Bandhur Na Data Na Putro Na Putri Na Bhrityo Na Bharta | Na Jaya Na Vidya Na Vrittir Mamaiva Gatis-twam Gatis-twam Twam-eka Bhavani || 1 || Bhavabdhau Aapare Mahadukhabheeruh Papata Prakamee Pralobhee Pramattah | Kusamsarapashaprabaddhah Sadaham Gatis-twam Gatis-twam Twam-eka Bhavani || 2 || Na Janami Danam Na Cha Dhyanayogam Na Janami Tantram Na Cha Stotramantram | Na Janami Poojam Na Cha Nyasayogam Gatis-twam Gatis-twam Twam-eka Bhavani || 3 || Na Janami Punyam Na Janami Teertham Na Janami Muktim Layam Va Kadachit | Na Janami Bhaktim Vratam Vapi Maatar Gatis-twam Gatis-twam Twam-eka Bhavani || 4 || Kukarmee Kusangee Kubuddhih Kudaasah Kulacharaheenah Kadacharaleenah | Kudrishtih Kuvakyaprabandhah Sadaham Gatis-twam Gatis-twam Twam-eka Bhavani || 5 ||
English meaning
English Translation: Neither father, nor mother, nor relative, nor donor; Neither son, nor daughter, nor servant, nor master; Neither wife, nor worldly learning, nor profession belong truly to me — You alone are my refuge, You alone are my refuge, O Mother Bhavani! || 1 || In this boundless ocean of worldly existence, terrified of severe suffering, I have fallen, full of desire, greed, and intoxication, Entangled forever in the shackles of worldly illusion — You alone are my refuge, You alone are my refuge, O Mother Bhavani! || 2 || I know neither charitable giving, nor contemplative meditation; I know neither esoteric rituals, nor sacred hymns and mantras; I know neither ritual worship, nor yogic disciplines — You alone are my refuge, You alone are my refuge, O Mother Bhavani! || 3 || I know neither ritual merit, nor sacred pilgrimages; I know neither ultimate liberation, nor dissolution into the Absolute; I know neither pure devotion, nor religious vows, O Mother — You alone are my refuge, You alone are my refuge, O Mother Bhavani! || 4 || Full of unworthy deeds, keeping poor company, of faulty intellect, an unworthy servant, Lacking noble conduct, fallen into bad habits, Of flawed vision, speaking unworthy words — Yet You alone are my refuge, You alone are my refuge, O Mother Bhavani! || 5 || Devotional Significance: Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, Bhavani Ashtakam represents the zenith of Shakta surrender (Sharanagati), stripping away all worldly pride to acknowledge the Divine Mother as the soul's ultimate sanctuary.