bhavānyaṣṭakam

Bhavani Ashtakam

I have no father, no mother, no relative, no donor, no son, no daughter, no servant, and no master. I have no wife, no knowledge, and no profession. You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (1)

I have fallen into this boundless ocean of worldly existence, filled with great sorrow and fear. I am very lustful, very greedy, and completely intoxicated (with delusion). I am always bound by the tight noose of this miserable worldly life. You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (2)

I do not know how to give charity, nor do I know meditation or yoga. I do not know Tantra, nor do I know hymns (Stotras) and mantras. I do not know how to perform worship, nor do I know the practice of Nyasa (installing mantras on the body). You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (3)

I do not know what religious merit (Punya) is, nor do I know about holy pilgrimages (Tirtha). I do not know about liberation (Mukti) or merging into the Divine (Laya). O Mother! I know neither devotion (Bhakti) nor any religious vows (Vratas). You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (4)

I am a performer of bad deeds, I keep bad company, I have wicked thoughts, and I am a bad servant. I am devoid of traditional righteous conduct, and I am deeply engaged in bad behavior. My vision is flawed, and I am always uttering bad words. You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (5)

I do not know the Creator (Brahma), the Lord of Ramaa (Vishnu), the Supreme Lord (Shiva), the Lord of gods (Indra), the Lord of the day (Sun), or the Lord of the night (Moon). I do not know any other god. O Supreme Refuge! You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (6)

In disputes, in sorrow, in carelessness, in foreign lands, in water, in fire, in mountains, and amidst enemies; in the forest, O provider of refuge, please always protect me! You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (7)

I am an orphan, poor, afflicted by old age and disease, extremely weak and miserable, and always dull-faced. I have fallen into adversities and am completely ruined. You are my only refuge, You are my only refuge, O Goddess Bhavani! (8)

Thus ends the Bhavani Ashtakam composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya.