BhavAnyASTakam -- Adi Shankaracharya

na tAto na mAto na bandhur na dAta,
na putro na putrI Na bhRtyo na bharta !
na jAyA na vidyA na vRttir mameva,
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekA bhavAnI !!

In this material world,
neither father, nor mother,
neither relatives nor helpers,
neither son nor daughter,
neither husband nor wife,
neither scriptural wisdom nor
professional knowledge - are mine.

Therefore, O Mother of the universe!
O Divine Consort of Lord Shiva!
You alone are my eternal Refuge !!

bhavaabdhaavapaare mahaaduHkhabhiiru papaata prakaamii pralobhii
pramattaH .
kusa.nsaarapaashaprabaddhaH sadaahaM gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa
bhavaani .. 2..

Having been fallen into the limitless ocean of birth and
death, ever tied myself by greed, pride, delusion and desire,
I am very fearful of this sorrowful existence.

Therefore, O Mother of the universe!
O Divine Consort of Lord Shiva!
You alone are my eternal Refuge !!


na jaanaami daanaM na cha dhyaanayogaM na jaanaami tantraM na cha
stotramantram.h .
na jaanaami puujaaM na cha nyaasayogaM gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa
bhavaani .. 3..

O Mother, I have made no charity;
I have done no meditation;
I have observed no rituals;
nor have I uttered any prayer or holy Name.
I have performed no worship;
nor have I purified myself through proper invocations.

Therefore, O Thou Mother of the universe,
Thou art my only Refuge; Thou art my only Shelter.

na jaanaami puNyaM na jaanaami tiirthaM na jaanaami muktiM layaM vaa
kadaachit.h .
na jaanaami bhaktiM vrataM vaapi maatargatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa
bhavaani .. 4..

I do not know either the righteous deeds nor Your sacred abode nor
how to achieve freedom from material bondage by dissolving my ego.
I am unable to achieve Divine Love, not even inclined to follow
any spiritual descipline to attain it.

Therefore, O Mother of the universe!
O Divine Consort of Lord Shiva!
You alone are my eternal refuge !!

kukarmii kusaN^gii kubuddhiH kudaasaH kulaachaarahiinaH
kadaachaaraliinaH .
kudR^ishhTiH kuvaakyaprabandhaH sadaahaM gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa
bhavaani .. 5..

I am continuously engaged in worthless thoughts
and improper actions. My dull Intellect has been
enslaved by bad habits.
I am always unable to conduct myself admirably
and my character is utterly shameful to the society
along with my critical views and unruly speech.

Therefore, O Mother of the universe!
O Divine Consort of Lord Shiva!
You alone are my eternal refuge !!

prajeshaM rameshaM maheshaM sureshaM dineshaM nishiitheshvaraM vaa
kadaachit.h .
na jaanaami chaanyat.h sadaahaM sharaNye gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa
bhavaani .. 6..


I do not know Lords Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra,
Surya and Chandra, or any other Divine personalities.
So I have taken my full surrender forever in You.

Therefore, O Mother of the universe!
O Divine Consort of Lord Shiva!
You alone are my eternal Refuge !!

vivaade vishhaade pramaade pravaase jale chaanale parvate shatrumadhye .
araNye sharaNye sadaa maaM prapaahi gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa
bhavaani .. 7..

O compassionate Mother, kindly protect me
wherever I am, from all kinds of injuries either
on water or fire, or on mountains or in jungles, or
in disputes with enemies, or in distress of abandonment.

O Divine Consort of Lord Shiva!
You alone are my eternal Refuge !!

anaatho daridro jaraarogayukto mahaakshiiNadiinaH sadaa jaaDyavaktraH .
vipattau pravishhTaH pranashhTaH sadaahaM gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa
bhavaani .. 8..

... iti shriimadaadisha.nkaraachaarya virachitaa bhavaanyashhTakaM
samaaptaa ..

O caring Mother,
I am a true orphan on this earth, without any virtue,
rendered powerless, smitten by pains of disease and aging,
deluded by ignorance and laziness, fallen and forlorn,
continuously entering into calamities.

Therefore, O Mother of the universe!
O Divine Consort of Lord Shiva!
You alone are my eternal Refuge !!