Bhavani Ashtakam
भवान्यष्टकम्
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
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
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.
भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरु पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः । कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥
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.
न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् । न जानामि पूजां न च 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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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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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
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.
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