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भवान्यष्टकम् Meaning — Line by Line

भवान्यष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of भवान्यष्टकम् with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Na tato na mata na bandhurna data na putro na putri na bhrityo na bharta
  2. Verse 2. Bhavabdhavapare mahaduhkhabhiru papata prakami pralobhi pramattah
  3. Verse 3. Na janami danam na cha dhyanayogam na janami tantram na cha stotramantram
  4. Verse 4. Na janami punyam na janami tirtham na janami muktim layam va kadachit
  5. Verse 5. Kukarmi kusangi kubuddhih kudasah kulacharahinah kadacharalinah
  6. Verse 6. Prajesham ramesham mahesham suresham dinesham nishitheshvaram va kadachit
  7. Verse 7. Vivade vishade pramade pravase jale chanale parvate shatrumadhye
  8. Verse 8. Anatho daridro jararogayukto mahakshinadinah sada jadyavaktrah
Verse 1#

Na tato na mata na bandhurna data na putro na putri na bhrityo na bharta

तातो माता बन्धुर्न दाता पुत्रो पुत्री भृत्यो भर्ता जाया विद्या 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

MeaningNeither father nor mother, neither kinsman nor benefactor; neither son nor daughter, neither servant nor husband; neither wife, nor knowledge, nor livelihood is mine — you are my refuge, you are my refuge, you alone, O Bhavani.

Verse 2#

Bhavabdhavapare mahaduhkhabhiru papata prakami pralobhi pramattah

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

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

MeaningIn the shoreless ocean of worldly existence, terrified of its great sorrow, I am fallen, full of craving, greedy and deluded, ever bound by the noose of this wretched world — you are my only refuge, O Bhavani.

Verse 3#

Na janami danam na cha dhyanayogam na janami tantram na cha stotramantram

जानामि दानं ध्यानयोगं जानामि तन्त्रं स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् जानामि पूजां न्यासयोगं 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 know not charity, nor meditation and yoga; I know not the tantras, nor hymn and mantra; I know not worship, nor the yoga of nyasa — you are my only refuge, O Bhavani.

Verse 4#

Na janami punyam na janami tirtham na janami muktim layam va kadachit

जानामि पुण्यं जानामि तीर्थं जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित् 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 know not merit, I know not holy pilgrimage; I know not liberation, nor ever absorption in the Self; I know not devotion, nor any vow, O Mother — you are my only refuge, O Bhavani.

Verse 5#

Kukarmi kusangi kubuddhih kudasah kulacharahinah kadacharalinah

कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि

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

MeaningA doer of evil deeds, of evil company, of evil mind, an evil servant; bereft of good conduct, sunk in bad conduct; of evil sight, of evil and tangled speech am I ever — you are my only refuge, O Bhavani.

Verse 6#

Prajesham ramesham mahesham suresham dinesham nishitheshvaram va kadachit

प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित् 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

MeaningOf Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, the Sun, or the Lord of the night (Moon) — I have never known any other, O giver of refuge — you are my only refuge, O Bhavani.

Verse 7#

Vivade vishade pramade pravase jale chanale parvate shatrumadhye

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 dispute, in despair, in error, in foreign lands; in water and in fire, on the mountain, amid enemies; in the wild forest — O refuge, ever protect me — you are my only refuge, O Bhavani.

Verse 8#

Anatho daridro jararogayukto mahakshinadinah sada jadyavaktrah

अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तो महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रनष्टः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि

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

MeaningOrphaned, destitute, afflicted by age and disease, sorely weakened and wretched, ever dull and witless of face; fallen into calamity and utterly ruined am I — you are my only refuge, O Bhavani.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

भवानि
Bhavani
The Goddess, consort of Bhava (Shiva) — Parvati / Durga, addressed as the sole refuge
गतिस्त्वम्
Gatis-tvam
'You are my refuge / recourse / goal' — the surrendering refrain of every verse
त्वमेका
Tvam-eka
You alone — none other than you
भवाब्धौ
Bhavabdhau
In the ocean (abdhi) of worldly existence (bhava)
शरण्ये
Sharanye
O giver of refuge, the one worthy to be taken shelter in

Origin & History

Source: Composed by Adi Shankaracharya

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: 8th century CE

The Bhavani Ashtakam is Adi Shankaracharya's hymn of utter surrender to the Mother Goddess Bhavani. In eight verses he sets down every prop a person might lean on — father, mother, wealth, knowledge, ritual, merit, even the other gods — and declares that he has none of them and knows none of them; the Mother alone is his refuge. It is among the most loved Devi stotras for those who come to the Mother with empty hands and a surrendered heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bhavani Ashtakam?
The Bhavani Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of the Mother Goddess Bhavani (Parvati/Durga). Each verse ends 'Gatis-tvam Gatis-tvam Tvam Eka Bhavani' — 'you alone are my refuge' — making it the supreme prayer of surrender to the Divine Mother.
What does 'Gatis-tvam Tvam Eka Bhavani' mean?
It means 'You are my refuge, you are my refuge, you alone, O Bhavani.' It is the refrain of every verse, in which the devotee declares that the Mother is his only recourse, support and goal — he has no other.
When should the Bhavani Ashtakam be recited?
It may be recited daily, and is especially powerful during Navratri and in times of difficulty, fear or helplessness — when one feels there is no other refuge. Its seventh verse is a prayer for protection in every kind of danger.
Who wrote the Bhavani Ashtakam?
It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE), the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, who also wrote the Nirvana Shatkam, Annapurna Stotram and many beloved hymns. It is one of his most moving prayers of surrender to the Mother.

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