Bhavani Ashtakam

na taato na maataa na bandhurna daataa
na putro na putrii na bhR^ityo na bhartaa
na jaayaa na vidyaa na vR^ittirmamaiva
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
Neither the mother nor the father,
Neither the relation nor the friend,
Neither the son nor the daughter,
Neither the servant nor the husband,
Neither the wife nor the knowledge,
And neither my sole occupation,
Are my refuges that I can depend, Oh, Bhavani,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.

bhavaabdhaavapaare mahaaduHkhabhiiruH
papaata prakaamii pralobhii pramattaH
kusaMsaarapaashaprabaddhaH sadaahaM
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
I am in this ocean of birth and death,
I am a coward, who dare not face sorrow,
I am filled with lust and sin,
I am filled with greed and desire,
And tied I am, by the this useless life that I lead,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.

na jaanaami daanaM na cha dhyaanayogaM
na jaanaami tantraM na cha stotramantram.h
na jaanaami puujaaM na cha nyaasayogaM
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
Neither do I know how to give,
Nor do I know how to meditate,
Neither do I know Tantra,
Nor do I know stanzas of prayer,
Neither do I know how to worship,
Nor do I know the art of yoga,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani

na jaanaami puNyaM na jaanaami tiirthaM
na jaanaami muktiM layaM vaa kadaachit.h
na jaanaami bhaktiM vrataM vaapi maatar-
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
Know I not how to be righteous,
Know I not the way to the places sacred,
Know I not methods of salvation,
Know I not how to merge my mind with God,
Know I not the art of devotion,
Know I not how to practice austerities, Oh, mother,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani

kukarmii kusa~Ngii kubuddhiH kudaasaH
kulaachaarahiinaH kadaachaaraliinaH
kudR^iShTiH kuvaakyaprabandhaH sadaahaM
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
Perform I bad actions,
Keep I company of bad ones,
Think I bad and sinful thoughts,
Serve I Bad masters,
Belong I to a bad family,
Immersed I am in sinful acts,
See I with bad intentions,
Write I collection of bad words,
Always and always,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.

prajeshaM rameshaM maheshaM sureshaM
dineshaM nishiitheshvaraM vaa kadaachit
na jaanaami chaanyat.h sadaahaM sharaNye
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
Neither Do I know the creator,
Nor the Lord of Lakshmi,
Neither do I know the lord of all,
Nor do I know the lord of devas,
Neither do I know the God who makes the day,
Nor the God who rules at night,
Neither do I know any other Gods,
Oh, Goddess to whom I bow always,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani

vivaade viShaade pramaade pravaase
jale chaanale parvate shatrumadhye
araNye sharaNye sadaa maaM prapaahi
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
While I am in a heated argument,
While I am immersed in sorrow,
While I am suffering an accident,
While I am travelling far off,
While I am in water or fire,
While I am on the top of a mountain,
While I am surrounded by enemies,
And while I am in a deep forest,
Oh Goddess, I always bow before thee,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani

anaatho daridro jaraarogayukto
mahaakshiiNadiinaH sadaa jaaDyavaktraH
vipattau praviShTaH pranaShTaH sadaahaM
gatistvaM gatistvaM tvamekaa bhavaani
While being an orphan,
While being extremely poor,
While affected by disease of old age,
While I am terribly tired,
While I am in a pitiable state,
While I am being swallowed by problems,
And While I suffer serious dangers,
I always bow before thee,
So you are my refuge and only refuge, Bhavani

--- Adi Shankaracharya, translation by P. R. Ramachander