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Bhavani Bhujangam Meaning — Line by Line

भवानीभुजङ्गम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Bhavani Bhujangam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. ṣaḍādhārapaṅkeruhāntarvirājat
  2. Verse 2. jvalatkoṭibālārkabhāsāruṇāṅgīṃ
  3. Verse 3. kvaṇatkiṅkiṇīnūpurodbhāsiratna-
  4. Verse 4. suśoṇāmbarābaddhanīvīvirājan-
  5. Verse 5. lasadvṛttagambhīranābhīsarojaṃ
  6. Verse 6. kucau kuṅkumāgāragarbhapravālau
  7. Verse 7. lalāṭaśriyaṃ vallabhaikānubhāvāṃ
  8. Verse 8. bhaje vaktramabjaprabhājālalolaṃ
  9. Verse 9. suphullāravindāyatākṣīṃ suvakṣo-
  10. Verse 10. sunāsāpuṭaṃ sundarabhrūlalāṭaṃ
  11. Verse 11. parāśaktirājñīsamākrāntaviśvāṃ
  12. Verse 12. śrutīnāṃ muhurbhūṣaṇaṃ tarkagamyaṃ
  13. Verse 13. mahāyogapīṭhe paribhrājamāne
  14. Verse 14. idaṃ yastu nityaṃ samādhāya cittaṃ
  15. Verse 15. kavitvaṃ ca vāgmitvamedhādikaṃ ca
  16. Verse 16. bhavāni tvadīyāṅghrisevānuraktān
  17. Verse 17. bhavāni tvadīyaṃ padāmbhojapotaṃ
Verse 1#

ṣaḍādhārapaṅkeruhāntarvirājat

षडाधारपङ्केरुहान्तर्विराजत् सुषुम्नान्तरालेऽतितेजोल्लसन्तीम् सुधामण्डलं द्रावयन्तीं पिबन्तीं सुधामूर्तिमीडे चिदानन्दरूपाम् १॥

ṣaḍādhārapaṅkeruhāntarvirājat suṣumnāntarāle'titejollasantīm | sudhāmaṇḍalaṃ drāvayantīṃ pibantīṃ sudhāmūrtimīḍe cidānandarūpām || 1||

Meaning1. I praise her whose form is nectar, the very nature of Consciousness and Bliss — who shines within the lotuses of the six chakras, blazing with surpassing radiance in the channel of the Sushumna, melting and drinking the orb of immortal nectar.

Verse 2#

jvalatkoṭibālārkabhāsāruṇāṅgīṃ

ज्वलत्कोटिबालार्कभासारुणाङ्गीं सुलावण्यशृङ्गारशोभाभिरामाम् महापद्मकिञ्जल्कमध्ये विराजत्- त्रिकोणे निषण्णां भजे श्रीभवानीम् २॥

jvalatkoṭibālārkabhāsāruṇāṅgīṃ sulāvaṇyaśṛṅgāraśobhābhirāmām | mahāpadmakiñjalkamadhye virājat- trikoṇe niṣaṇṇāṃ bhaje śrībhavānīm || 2||

Meaning2. I worship Sri Bhavani, whose limbs are crimson like the light of a crore of rising young suns, charming with the beauty of perfect grace and loveliness, seated upon the triangle that shines in the heart of the great lotus's filaments.

Verse 3#

kvaṇatkiṅkiṇīnūpurodbhāsiratna-

क्वणत्किङ्किणीनूपुरोद्भासिरत्न- प्रभालीढलाक्षार्द्रपादाब्जयुग्माम् अजेशाच्युताद्यैः सुरैः सेव्यमानां महात्रिपुरां श्रीशिवां भावयामि ३॥

kvaṇatkiṅkiṇīnūpurodbhāsiratna- prabhālīḍhalākṣārdrapādābjayugmām | ajeśācyutādyaiḥ suraiḥ sevyamānāṃ mahātripurāṃ śrīśivāṃ bhāvayāmi || 3||

Meaning3. I meditate on Maha Tripura, the auspicious Shiva-Shakti, whose pair of lotus feet — moist with red lac and lit by the gleam of gems on her jingling, belled anklets — are served by Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and the other gods.

Verse 4#

suśoṇāmbarābaddhanīvīvirājan-

सुशोणाम्बराबद्धनीवीविराजन्- महारत्नकाञ्चीकलापं नितम्बम् स्फुरद्दक्षिणावर्तनाभिं तस्या भजे वल्लरीवद्विशालं त्रिवल्लीम् ४॥

suśoṇāmbarābaddhanīvīvirājan- mahāratnakāñcīkalāpaṃ nitambam | sphuraddakṣiṇāvartanābhiṃ ca tasyā bhaje vallarīvadviśālaṃ trivallīm || 4||

Meaning4. I worship her hips, radiant with a knot of fine red silk and a girdle of great gems, her navel curling to the right, and her three folds of the waist, broad and graceful as a flowering creeper.

Verse 5#

lasadvṛttagambhīranābhīsarojaṃ

लसद्वृत्तगम्भीरनाभीसरोजं निजाङ्गोद्भवस्थूलरोमावलीभिः भ्रमद्भ्रमराडम्बरं सुन्दराख्यं भजे तत्तटित्कोटिकान्तं भवान्याः ५॥

lasadvṛttagambhīranābhīsarojaṃ nijāṅgodbhavasthūlaromāvalībhiḥ | bhramadbhramarāḍambaraṃ sundarākhyaṃ bhaje tattaṭitkoṭikāntaṃ bhavānyāḥ || 5||

Meaning5. I worship that navel-lotus of Bhavani — round, deep and beautiful, surrounded by the fine line of hair rising from her body like a swarm of humming bees — lovely as a crore of lightnings.

Verse 6#

kucau kuṅkumāgāragarbhapravālau

कुचौ कुङ्कुमागारगर्भप्रवालौ पराभीतिमुद्राकरस्योपकण्ठौ रमामन्दिरौ चामरारातिकुम्भौ भजे चन्दनालिप्तकौ भव्यरूपौ ६॥

kucau kuṅkumāgāragarbhapravālau parābhītimudrākarasyopakaṇṭhau | ramāmandirau cāmarārātikumbhau bhaje candanāliptakau bhavyarūpau || 6||

Meaning6. I worship her two breasts, coral-red like a chamber stored with saffron, near her hand that shows the gestures of boon-giving and fearlessness — the temples of Lakshmi, like the frontal globes of an elephant, beautiful in form and anointed with sandal.

Verse 7#

lalāṭaśriyaṃ vallabhaikānubhāvāṃ

ललाटश्रियं वल्लभैकानुभावां भुजामूलविन्यस्तचूताग्रकोटिम् कलङ्काधिवासं हसच्चन्द्रबिम्बं श्रिये नौमि कस्तूरिकातिप्रसन्नम् ७॥

lalāṭaśriyaṃ vallabhaikānubhāvāṃ bhujāmūlavinyastacūtāgrakoṭim | kalaṅkādhivāsaṃ hasaccandrabimbaṃ śriye naumi kastūrikātiprasannam || 7||

Meaning7. For prosperity I bow to the glory of her forehead — its single splendour beloved (of Shiva), with the tip of a mango-leaf placed at the root of her arm, the smiling orb of the moon that is the dwelling-place of its mark (the crescent), made most pleasing by musk.

Verse 8#

bhaje vaktramabjaprabhājālalolaṃ

भजे वक्त्रमब्जप्रभाजाललोलं लसद्वारिजाक्षीयुगं विभ्रमाक्षम् ललाटान्तरालम्बिमाणिक्यभूषं वहन्तीं चलत्कुण्डलोद्योतगण्डम् ८॥

bhaje vaktramabjaprabhājālalolaṃ lasadvārijākṣīyugaṃ vibhramākṣam | lalāṭāntarālambimāṇikyabhūṣaṃ vahantīṃ calatkuṇḍalodyotagaṇḍam || 8||

Meaning8. I worship her face, restless with the radiant net of lotus-light, bearing a pair of bright lotus-eyes full of playful glances, adorned with a ruby pendant hanging at the forehead, her cheeks lit by swinging earrings.

Verse 9#

suphullāravindāyatākṣīṃ suvakṣo-

सुफुल्लारविन्दायताक्षीं सुवक्षो- रुहां चारुहासां सुकर्णावतंसाम् सुमध्यां सुवृत्तस्तनीं सुस्मितास्यां भजे श्रीमहेशीं भवानीं भवानीम् ९॥

suphullāravindāyatākṣīṃ suvakṣo- ruhāṃ cāruhāsāṃ sukarṇāvataṃsām | sumadhyāṃ suvṛttastanīṃ susmitāsyāṃ bhaje śrīmaheśīṃ bhavānīṃ bhavānīm || 9||

Meaning9. I worship Sri Maheshi, Bhavani, Bhavani — with eyes long as full-blown lotuses, a fair bosom, a lovely smile, beautiful ear-ornaments, a slender waist, well-rounded breasts and a sweetly smiling face.

Verse 10#

sunāsāpuṭaṃ sundarabhrūlalāṭaṃ

सुनासापुटं सुन्दरभ्रूललाटं तरङ्गायताक्षं सुधाधौतगण्डम् सुबिम्बाधरं कुन्ददन्तप्रभाढ्यं भजे चन्द्रचूडालसत्केशपाशम् १०॥

sunāsāpuṭaṃ sundarabhrūlalāṭaṃ taraṅgāyatākṣaṃ sudhādhautagaṇḍam | subimbādharaṃ kundadantaprabhāḍhyaṃ bhaje candracūḍālasatkeśapāśam || 10||

Meaning10. I worship her with shapely nostrils, lovely brows and forehead, eyes long as waves, cheeks washed as if with nectar, lips red as the bimba fruit, teeth bright as jasmine — and a mass of hair shining with the crescent moon as its crest.

Verse 11#

parāśaktirājñīsamākrāntaviśvāṃ

पराशक्तिराज्ञीसमाक्रान्तविश्वां परां भोगमोक्षप्रदां शाम्भवीं ताम् पराकारकामेश्वरीं कामकोटिं भजे चित्स्वरूपां जगन्मातरं श्रीम् ११॥

parāśaktirājñīsamākrāntaviśvāṃ parāṃ bhogamokṣapradāṃ śāmbhavīṃ tām | parākārakāmeśvarīṃ kāmakoṭiṃ bhaje citsvarūpāṃ jaganmātaraṃ śrīm || 11||

Meaning11. I worship Shri, the Mother of the universe, whose form is pure Consciousness — the supreme Para-Shakti, the sovereign Queen who pervades all the worlds, the auspicious Shambhavi who grants both enjoyment and liberation, the transcendent Kameshwari, the Goddess of Kamakoti.

Verse 12#

śrutīnāṃ muhurbhūṣaṇaṃ tarkagamyaṃ

श्रुतीनां मुहुर्भूषणं तर्कगम्यं मनोवाक्पथातीतमत्यन्तदूरम् निजानन्दबीजं सदा बुद्धिनिष्ठं निराकारमोङ्कारगम्यं भजेऽहम् १२॥

śrutīnāṃ muhurbhūṣaṇaṃ tarkagamyaṃ manovākpathātītamatyantadūram | nijānandabījaṃ sadā buddhiniṣṭhaṃ nirākāramoṅkāragamyaṃ bhaje'ham || 12||

Meaning12. I worship that which is ever the ornament of the Vedas, attainable through right reasoning yet beyond the path of mind and speech and utterly far, the seed of one's own bliss, ever-established in the awakened intellect, formless, to be reached through Om.

Verse 13#

mahāyogapīṭhe paribhrājamāne

महायोगपीठे परिभ्राजमाने निषण्णं शिवेनापि साम्यं वहन्तीम् सहस्रारपद्मे सदा भावयामि प्रबुद्धां परां चिच्छरीरां भवानीम् १३॥

mahāyogapīṭhe paribhrājamāne niṣaṇṇaṃ śivenāpi sāmyaṃ vahantīm | sahasrārapadme sadā bhāvayāmi prabuddhāṃ parāṃ cicchharīrāṃ bhavānīm || 13||

Meaning13. I ever meditate, in the thousand-petalled lotus blazing as the great seat of yoga, upon Bhavani — the awakened Supreme One whose very body is Consciousness, seated there bearing equality even with Shiva.

Verse 14#

idaṃ yastu nityaṃ samādhāya cittaṃ

इदं यस्तु नित्यं समाधाय चित्तं पठेद्भक्तियुक्तो भवानीभुजङ्गम् मृत्युं विजित्यापि मेधां श्रियं समासाद्य देहान्तरे मुक्तिमेति १४॥

idaṃ yastu nityaṃ samādhāya cittaṃ paṭhedbhaktiyukto bhavānībhujaṅgam | sa mṛtyuṃ vijityāpi medhāṃ śriyaṃ ca samāsādya dehāntare muktimeti || 14||

Meaning14. Whoever, with a composed and devoted mind, daily recites this Bhavani Bhujangam, conquers even death, attains wisdom and prosperity, and in another body wins liberation.

Verse 15#

kavitvaṃ ca vāgmitvamedhādikaṃ ca

कवित्वं वाग्मित्वमेधादिकं प्रसन्ना भवानी ददात्येव तस्मै इदं स्तोत्रराजं पठन्ति प्रकामं नरा ये नितान्तं प्रसीदेन्महेशी १५॥

kavitvaṃ ca vāgmitvamedhādikaṃ ca prasannā bhavānī dadātyeva tasmai | idaṃ stotrarājaṃ paṭhanti prakāmaṃ narā ye nitāntaṃ prasīdenmaheśī || 15||

Meaning15. Pleased, Bhavani indeed grants him poetic gift, eloquence, intelligence and the rest. May the great Goddess Maheshi be ever wholly gracious to those who recite this king of hymns to their heart's content.

Verse 16#

bhavāni tvadīyāṅghrisevānuraktān

भवानि त्वदीयाङ्घ्रिसेवानुरक्तान् जनान्पाहि कारुण्यपूर्णैः कटाक्षैः जगन्मातरस्मादृशां पामराणां गतिस्त्वं विना नैव लोके मदम्ब १६॥

bhavāni tvadīyāṅghrisevānuraktān janānpāhi kāruṇyapūrṇaiḥ kaṭākṣaiḥ | jaganmātarasmādṛśāṃ pāmarāṇāṃ gatistvaṃ vinā naiva loke madamba || 16||

Meaning16. O Bhavani, protect with your compassion-filled side-glances the people devoted to the service of your feet. O Mother of the universe, for lowly ones like us there is no other refuge in the world but you, O my Mother.

Verse 17#

bhavāni tvadīyaṃ padāmbhojapotaṃ

भवानि त्वदीयं पदाम्भोजपोतं प्रपन्नाय याच्छम्भवे देहि मातः भवाम्भोधिमग्नं समुद्धर्तुमीशे भवानि त्वमेका गतिर्मे भवानि १७॥

bhavāni tvadīyaṃ padāmbhojapotaṃ prapannāya yācchambhave dehi mātaḥ | bhavāmbhodhimagnaṃ samuddhartumīśe bhavāni tvamekā gatirme bhavāni || 17||

Meaning17. O Bhavani, to me who have taken refuge, grant the boat of your lotus feet, O Mother, that leads to Shiva. You are able to lift up one drowning in the ocean of worldly existence. O Bhavani, you alone are my refuge, O Bhavani.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

षडाधारपङ्केरुहान्तर्विराजत्
ṣaḍ-ādhāra-paṅkeruha-antar-virājat
shining within the lotuses of the six support-centres (the six chakras)
सुषुम्नान्तराले
suṣumnā-antarāle
in the interior of the Sushumna (central channel)
सुधामण्डलं द्रावयन्तीं पिबन्तीम्
sudhā-maṇḍalaṃ drāvayantīṃ pibantīm
she who melts and drinks the orb of nectar (the moon/amrita)
सुधामूर्तिम् ईडे चिदानन्दरूपाम्
sudhā-mūrtim īḍe cidānanda-rūpām
I praise her, the embodiment of nectar, whose form is Consciousness-Bliss
ज्वलत्कोटिबालार्कभासारुणाङ्गीम्
jvalat-koṭi-bālārka-bhāsā-aruṇa-aṅgīm
whose body glows red like the splendour of a crore of rising young suns
त्रिकोणे निषण्णां भजे श्रीभवानीम्
trikoṇe niṣaṇṇāṃ bhaje śrī-bhavānīm
I worship Sri Bhavani, seated in the triangle (at the heart of the great lotus)
क्वणत्किङ्किणीनूपुर
kvaṇat-kiṅkiṇī-nūpura
with tinkling anklets set with little bells
अजेशाच्युताद्यैः सुरैः सेव्यमानाम्
aja-īśa-acyuta-ādyaiḥ suraiḥ sevyamānām
served by Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and the other gods
महात्रिपुरां श्रीशिवां भावयामि
mahā-tripurāṃ śrī-śivāṃ bhāvayāmi
I meditate on Maha Tripura, the auspicious Shiva (Shakti)
महारत्नकाञ्चीकलापं नितम्बम्
mahā-ratna-kāñcī-kalāpaṃ nitambam
her hips girded with a girdle (kanchi) of great gems
कुचौ कुङ्कुमागारगर्भप्रवालौ
kucau kuṅkuma-āgāra-garbha-pravālau
her bosom, red as coral, like a treasury filled with saffron
रमामन्दिरौ
ramā-mandirau
the very abode of Lakshmi (prosperity)
हसच्चन्द्रबिम्बम्
hasat-candra-bimbam
(her forehead) like the smiling orb of the moon
कस्तूरिकातिप्रसन्नम्
kastūrikā-ati-prasannam
very pleasing with a mark of musk (kasturi tilaka)
सुफुल्लारविन्दायताक्षीम्
suphulla-aravinda-āyata-akṣīm
with long eyes like fully-blossomed lotuses
भजे श्रीमहेशीं भवानीं भवानीम्
bhaje śrī-maheśīṃ bhavānīṃ bhavānīm
I worship Bhavani, Bhavani, the great sovereign Goddess Maheshi
चन्द्रचूडालसत्केशपाशम्
candra-cūḍā-lasat-keśa-pāśam
whose mass of hair shines with the crescent moon as its crest
परां भोगमोक्षप्रदां शाम्भवीम्
parāṃ bhoga-mokṣa-pradāṃ śāmbhavīm
the supreme Shambhavi, granter of both enjoyment (bhoga) and liberation (moksha)
मनोवाक्पथातीतम् अत्यन्तदूरम्
mano-vāk-patha-atītam atyanta-dūram
beyond the path of mind and speech, utterly far (transcendent)
सहस्रारपद्मे सदा भावयामि
sahasrāra-padme sadā bhāvayāmi
I ever meditate upon her in the thousand-petalled lotus (Sahasrara)
भवानि त्वमेका गतिर्मे भवानि
bhavāni tvam-ekā gatir-me bhavāni
O Bhavani, you alone are my refuge, O Bhavani

Origin & History

Source: Devotional hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (Sri Vidya / Shakta tradition)

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: c. 8th century CE (traditional attribution)

The Bhavani Bhujangam belongs to Adi Shankaracharya's celebrated 'Bhujangam' hymns, composed in the serpentine Bhujanga-prayata metre. Like the Soundarya Lahari, it fuses tender devotion with the esoteric science of Sri Vidya and Kundalini yoga: the poet traces the Goddess's presence from the root chakra up the Sushumna to the crown, praising her at once as the beautiful Mother and as the Para-Shakti beyond mind and speech. It closes with one of the most moving surrenders in Shakta literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Bhujangam' mean in Bhavani Bhujangam?
'Bhujanga' means serpent, and 'Bhujanga-prayata' ('the gliding of a serpent') is the name of the Sanskrit metre in which the hymn is composed — a flowing four-foot metre. So 'Bhavani Bhujangam' means the hymn to Bhavani set in the Bhujanga-prayata metre, the same metre used in Shankaracharya's Subramanya Bhujangam.
Who composed the Bhavani Bhujangam?
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, who composed several 'Bhujangam' hymns. It praises Goddess Bhavani (Parvati) with intricate Sri Vidya and Kundalini imagery, describing her presence in the chakras.
What is special about the imagery of this hymn?
The Bhavani Bhujangam follows the rise of the Goddess as Kundalini-Shakti — beginning in the six chakras and the Sushumna and culminating in the thousand-petalled Sahasrara lotus, where she is one with Shiva. It blends a head-to-foot devotional description with deep yogic and Sri Vidya symbolism.
What is the famous closing line of the Bhavani Bhujangam?
The last verse ends with 'Bhavani tvam eka gatir me Bhavani' — 'O Bhavani, you alone are my refuge, O Bhavani' — one of the best-loved expressions of total surrender to the Divine Mother.

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