The Bhavaniashtakam (Bhavāniaṣṭakam/भवानीअष्टकम्) is a sacred composition of Adi Jagadguru Shankaracharya. It is a profound invocation dedicated to the Divine Mother, Bhavani, who appears in various forms, such as Durga, Kali, Uma, and others. In Her primordial form, she is Radharani, the supreme manifestation of divine love and Hladini Shakti of Bhagwan Krishna Himself. The eight sacred verses express the devotee's deep longing for the compassionate shelter of the Mother Goddess amid life's challenges.
Each verse eloquently conveys the devotee's feelings of isolation, desperation, and helplessness, revealing a heart recognising worldly attachments' futility. Faced with despair, illness, and adversity, the devotee turns to the Divine with unwavering faith, seeking refuge in Her eternal grace. The verses resonate with poignant emotions, emphasising the power of divine love and protection. Through these verses, the devotee surrenders all burdens to the Supreme Mother, acknowledging that only She can provide solace and liberation in a tumultuous world. This invocation serves as a reminder of the ever-present support of the Divine Mother for those who seek Her with sincere devotion.
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 tāto na mātā na bandhurna dātā
na putro na putrī na bhṛityo na bhartā।
na jāyā na vidyā na vṛittirmamaiva
gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 1॥
हे भवानी! पिता, माता, भाई, दाता, पुत्र, पुत्री, सेवक, मालिक, पत्नी, विद्या और काम - इनमें से कोई भी मेरा नहीं है, हे देवी। एकमात्र तुम्हीं मेरी गति हो, तुम्हीं मेरी गति हो।
O Bhavani! Father, mother, relative, giver, son, daughter, servant, master, wife, knowledge, and occupation—none of these belong to me, O Devi. I find no solace in earthly ties. Only you are my refuge; you are my refuge.
भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरुः
पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः ।
कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं।
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ २॥
bhavābdhāva-pāre mahāduḥkhabhīruḥ
papāta prakāmī pralobhī pramattaḥ।
kusaṃsāra-pāśa-prabaddhaḥ sadāhaṃ
gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 2॥
मैं इस विशाल संसार सागर में डूबा हुआ हूँ, महान् दुःखोंसे डर रहा हूँ, काम, क्रोध, लोभ और मोह से इस निंदनीय संसार के बंधनों बँधा हुआ हूँ, हे भवानी। अब एकमात्र तुम्हीं मेरी गति हो।
O Bhavani! I find myself submerged in this vast ocean of existence, trembling before the weight of my sorrows. Bound by the chains of this wretched world, I am ensnared by the relentless forces of desire, anger, greed, and attachment. In this darkest hour, when hope seems lost, only you are my refuge; you are my refuge.
न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं
न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् ।
न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगम्।
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ३ ॥
na jānāmi dānaṃ na cha dhyāna-yogaṃ
na jānāmi tantraṃ na cha stotra-mantram।
na jānāmi pūjāṃ na cha nyāsa-yogam।
gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 3 ॥
हे देवी! मैं न तो दान देना जानता हूँ और न ही ध्यान का मार्ग मुझे पता है, तन्त्र और स्तोत्र-मन्त्रों का भी मुझे ज्ञान नहीं है। पूजा और न्यास जैसी क्रियाओंसे तो मैं एकदम कोरा हूँ अब एकमात्र तुम्हीं मेरी गति हो।
O Devi! I neither know how to give charity nor do I understand the path of meditation. I have no knowledge of tantra or the sacred hymns. I am completely ignorant of the rituals of worship and the practice of consecration. In my utter helplessness, only you are my refuge; you are my refuge.
न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थ
न जानामि मुक्ति लयं वा कदाचित्।
न जानामि भक्ति व्रतं वापि मातर्गतिस्त्वं
गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ४ ॥
na jānāmi puṇyaṃ na jānāmi tīrtha
na jānāmi mukti layaṃ vā kadāchit।
na jānāmi bhakti vrataṃ vāpi mātar-gatistvaṃ
gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 4 ॥
न तो मैं पुण्य जानता हूँ, न तीर्थों का ज्ञान है, न मुक्ति का पता है और न ध्यान का। हे माता! भक्ति और व्रत भी मुझे नहीं आते हैं, हे भवानि ! अब केवल तुम्हीं मेरा सहारा हो।
O Mata! I do not know of virtue, nor do I have knowledge of sacred places; I am unaware of the path to liberation or the practice of meditation. I am also ignorant of devotion and penance. O Bhavani! In my despair, only you are my refuge; you are my refuge.
कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः
कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः ।
कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहम्।
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ५॥
kukarmī kusaṅgī kubuddhiḥ kudāsaḥ
kulāchāra hīnaḥ kadāchāra līnaḥ।
kudṛṣṭiḥ ku-vākya-prabandhaḥ sadāham।
gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 5 ॥
मैं पापी, बुरी संगति में रहने वाला, गलत सोच रखने वाला, दुष्ट, कुल की मर्यादा से हीन, बुरे आचरण में लिप्त, बुरी नजर रखने वाला और हमेशा गलत बोलने वाला हूँ। हे भवानी! मुझ जैसे नीच का एकमात्र तुम ही सहारा हो।
O Bhavani! I am a sinner who dwells in bad company, harbouring wrong thoughts. I am wicked, devoid of family values, caught up in bad conduct, with a malicious gaze, and I constantly speak ill. For someone as lowly as I, only you are my refuge.
प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं
दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित् ।
न जानामि चान्यत् सदाहं शरण्ये ।
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ६ ॥
prajeśaṃ rameśaṃ maheśaṃ sureśaṃ
dineśaṃ niśītheśvaraṃ vā kadāchit।
na jānāmi chānyat sadāhaṃ śaraṇye।
gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 6 ॥
मैं ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, शिव, इन्द्र, सूर्य, चन्द्रमा या किसी अन्य देवता को नहीं जानता हूँ। हे शरण देनेवाली भवानि! एकमात्र तुम्हीं मेरी गति हो।
O Divine Mother! I know not Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, the Sun, the Moon, or any other deity. In my ignorance and despair, I seek your shelter alone; only you are my refuge; you are my only refuge.
विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे
जले चानले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये।
अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि ।
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥ ७॥
vivāde viṣāde pramāde pravāse
jale chānale parvate śatrumadhye।
araṇye śaraṇye sadā māṃ prapāhi।
gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 7 ॥
हे शरण्ये ! तुम विवाद, विषाद, प्रमाद, परदेश, जल, अनल, पर्वत, वन तथा शत्रुओंके मध्यमें सदा ही मेरी रक्षा करो, हे भवानि ! एकमात्र तुम्हीं मेरी गति हो॥ ७॥
हे शरण देने वाली देवी! विवाद, विषाद, प्रमाद, परदेश, जल, अग्नि, पर्वत, वन और अन्य शत्रुओं से सदा मेरी रक्षा करो, हे भवानि ! एकमात्र तुम्हीं मेरी गति हो।
O mother, the protector of all! I implore you to protect me from disputes, sorrow, carelessness, foreign lands, water, fire, mountains, forests, and all my enemies. O Bhavani! Only you are my refuge; you are my sole refuge.
अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तो
महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः ।
विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रणष्टः सदाहं।
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥८॥
anātho daridro jarā-roga-yukto
mahā-kṣīṇa-dīnaḥ sadā jāḍya-vaktraḥ।
vipattau praviṣṭaḥ praṇaṣṭaḥ sadāhaṃ।
gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni ॥ 8 ॥
हे भवानि ! मैं सदासे ही अनाथ, दरिद्र, जरा- जीर्ण, रोगी, अत्यन्त दुर्बल, दीन, गूँगा, विपद्मस्त और नष्ट हूँ, अब तुम्हीं एकमात्र मेरी गति हो।
O Bhavani! I am forever an orphan, burdened by poverty, aged and frail, suffering from illness, weakened beyond measure, destitute, voiceless, overwhelmed by calamities, and completely lost. In this abyss of despair, only you are my refuge; you are my sole refuge.
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