bhavanidurgaparvatiadi-shankaracharya

𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

Bhavani Ashtakam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Daily; during Navratri; in times of difficulty or fear·🎵 Audio included·📜 Composed by Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that this hymn was born of Shankaracharya's own surrender, and that whoever recites it in genuine helplessness — having no other refuge — finds the Mother's protection precisely there; the seventh verse, naming every danger from fire and flood to enemies and the wilderness, is recited as a shield in any peril.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌨 𑌤𑌾𑌤𑍋 𑌨 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌾 𑌨 𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌨 𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌾 𑌨 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍋 𑌨 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌨 𑌭𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌨 𑌭𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾 । 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌯𑌾 𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌨 𑌵𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌮𑍈𑌵 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:Neither 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

𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌵𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌭𑍀𑌰𑍁 𑌪𑌪𑌾𑌤 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌾𑌮𑍀 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌲𑍋𑌭𑍀 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌃 । 𑌕𑍁𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌬𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌃 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌹𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:In 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

𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌨 𑌚 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌂 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌨 𑌚 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌾𑌂 𑌨 𑌚 𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:I 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

𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌤𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌲𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌾 𑌕𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍 । 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:I 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

𑌕𑍁𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍀 𑌕𑍁𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍀 𑌕𑍁𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌦𑌾𑌸𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌰𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌃 𑌕𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌰𑌲𑍀𑌨𑌃 । 𑌕𑍁𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌃 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌹𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:A 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

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌰𑌮𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍀𑌥𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌾 𑌕𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍 । 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌚𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍍 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌹𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:Of 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

𑌵𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌦𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌾𑌦𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌾𑌸𑍇 𑌜𑌲𑍇 𑌚𑌾𑌨𑌲𑍇 𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍇 𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇 । 𑌅𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌹𑌿 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:In 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

𑌅𑌨𑌾𑌥𑍋 𑌦𑌰𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍋 𑌜𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌗𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌣𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌜𑌾𑌡𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌃 । 𑌵𑌿𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍗 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌨𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃 𑌸𑌦𑌾𑌹𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿 ॥

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

Meaning:Orphaned, 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 Meaning

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𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌿🔊BhavaniThe Goddess, consort of Bhava (Shiva) — Parvati / Durga, addressed as the sole refuge

𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍🔊Gatis-tvam'You are my refuge / recourse / goal' — the surrendering refrain of every verse

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌕𑌾🔊Tvam-ekaYou alone — none other than you

𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑍗🔊BhavabdhauIn the ocean (abdhi) of worldly existence (bhava)

𑌶𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑍇🔊SharanyeO giver of refuge, the one worthy to be taken shelter in

Benefits of Chanting Bhavani Ashtakam

✦

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the Bhavani Ashtakam is a supreme prayer of total surrender (sharanagati) to the Mother Goddess Bhavani.

✦

In eight verses the devotee confesses that he has no other support and no spiritual merit of his own, and casts himself entirely upon the Mother — 'you alone are my refuge'.

✦

Recited for protection in every danger and difficulty (the seventh verse lists dispute, fire, water, enemies and the wilderness), and for inner peace through surrender.

✦

Believed to remove fear, helplessness and the sense of being alone, and to draw the Mother's grace upon the utterly dependent devotee.

✦

Chanted with the Durga Chalisa, Mahishasura Mardini Stotram and Durga Kavach in the worship of the Devi.

How to Chant Bhavani Ashtakam

Repetitions1times

Best TimeDaily; during Navratri; in times of difficulty or fear

FaceEast or North; or facing the Devi

Sit before an image of the Mother (Bhavani / Durga), light a lamp, and recite the eight verses slowly with a feeling of complete surrender, letting the refrain 'Gatis-tvam Gatis-tvam Tvam Eka Bhavani' carry the heart to the Mother. It is especially recited in distress, when one feels there is no other refuge.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Bhavani Ashtakam written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

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.

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.

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.

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.