Bhavani Ashtakam — Word-by-Word 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.