Bhavani Ashtakam: Devanagari Text, Meaning and How It Is Recited

Verse 1

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 ॥

Na tato na mata na bandhurna data na putro na putri na bhrityo na bharta
Na jaya na vidya na vrittirmamaiva gatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningI have no father, no mother, no kin, no giver, no son, no daughter, no servant, no husband, no wife, no learning and no livelihood. You are my refuge, you are my refuge, you alone, Bhavani.

Verse 2

भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरु पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः।
कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥

Bhavabdhavapare mahaduhkhabhiru papata prakami pralobhi pramattah
Kusamsarapashaprabaddhah sadaham gatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningI have fallen into the boundless ocean of worldly life, afraid of great sorrow, full of desire, greedy and careless, tied by the bonds of a bad life in the world. You alone are my refuge, Bhavani.

Verse 3

न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम्।
न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगम् गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥

Na janami danam na cha dhyanayogam na janami tantram na cha stotramantram
Na janami pujam na cha nyasayogam gatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningI do not know how to give, nor the yoga of meditation. I do not know tantra, nor hymns and mantras, nor worship, nor the placing of mantras on the body. You alone are my refuge, Bhavani.

Verse 4

न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थं न जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित्।
न जानामि भक्तिं व्रतं वापि मातर्गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥

Na janami punyam na janami tirtham na janami muktim layam va kadachit
Na janami bhaktim vratam vapi matargatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningI do not know merit, nor pilgrimage, nor liberation, nor absorption in the divine. I do not know devotion, nor a vow, Mother. You alone are my refuge, Bhavani.

Verse 5

कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः।
कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहम् गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥

Kukarmi kusangi kubuddhih kudasah kulacharahinah kadacharalinah
Kudrishtih kuvakyaprabandhah sadaham gatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningI am of bad deeds, bad company, bad mind, a bad servant, without the conduct of a good family, sunk in wrong conduct, of poor vision and a maker of bad words, always. You alone are my refuge, Bhavani.

Verse 6

प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित्।
न जानामि चान्यत् सदाहं शरण्ये गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥

Prajesham ramesham mahesham suresham dinesham nishitheshvaram va kadachit
Na janami chanyat sadaham sharanye gatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningThe lord of creatures (Brahma), the lord of Lakshmi (Vishnu), the great lord (Shiva), the lord of the gods (Indra), the lord of the day (the sun) and the lord of the night (the moon): I never know any other than you, giver of refuge. You alone are my refuge, Bhavani.

Verse 7

विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे जले चानले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये।
अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥

Vivade vishade pramade pravase jale chanale parvate shatrumadhye
Aranye sharanye sada mam prapahi gatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningIn quarrel, in despair, in carelessness, on a journey abroad, in water, in fire, on a mountain, among enemies, in the forest: protect me always, giver of refuge. You alone are my refuge, Bhavani.

Verse 8

अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तो महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः।
विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रनष्टः सदाहम् गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥

Anatho daridro jararogayukto mahakshinadinah sada jadyavaktrah
Vipattau pravishtah pranashtah sadaham gatistvam gatistvam tvameka bhavani

MeaningI am helpless, poor, burdened with age and disease, utterly weak and wretched, always dull of speech, fallen into calamity and ruined. You alone are my refuge, Bhavani.