'bhavAnyASTakam' - Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavatpada

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Namaste all. _/\_

 

These 8 verses are from 'bhavAny ASTakam' - A Prayer to Mother Divine,

Devi Bhavani, composed by Adi Jagadguru Sri Shankaraacarya Bhagvatpada

in a high state of devotion and Divine bliss to uplift the devotees.

 

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 !!

 

 

(translation attempt by dr. jaya)

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

Divine_Lovers/

 

, pyari_h <no_reply> wrote:

 

> udAsInaH stabdhaH satatam aguNaH saGgarahito

> bhavAM tAtaH kAtaH paramiha bhavej jIvanagatiH

> akasmAd asmAkaM yadi na kurute sneham atha tat

> vasasva svIyAntar vimala jaThare 'smin punarapi ..

 

> (Prabodha Sudhakaram)

 

 

> "(In Your 'Brahman' aspect) You're unmovable,

> indifferent, devoid of material qualities

> and attributes as well as associates.

>

> If You contnue to be so, how can I ever exist

> and who could be my eternal shelter?

>

> (In Your 'Bhagavan' aspect) O my Divine Father, Sri Krishna!

> If You do not actively accept me

> at once with your causeless Grace,

> please at least be prepared to stay passively for

> innumerable lives in my pure heart again!" (In Your 'Paramatma'

> aspect)

>

> Also in the preceding verse Sri Shankara expressed his relational

> feeling to the Lord addressing Him as his Divine Mother:

>

> mAyAhaste 'rpayitvA bharaNakRtikRte mohamUlodbhavaM mAM

> mAtaH kRSNAbhidhAne cirasamayam udAsiinabhAvaM gatAsi

> kAruNyaika adhivAse sakRdapi vadanam nekShase tvaM madIyaM

> tatsarvajJne na kartuM prabhavasi bhavatI kiM nu mUlasya zAntiM ..

>

> "O my Lord Krishna in the form of Divine Mother!

> Why have you resorted to this indifference

> and negligence towards Your own helpless child

> who's been placed from time immemorial in

> the terrible hands of Your Maya Shakti,

> the generating power of ignorance,

> the power of Your own material energy!

>

> You're all knowing Lord and the Ocean of mercy!

> You haven't yet looked at my distress and sorrowful face.

> O Mother how can I attain any peace or joy!"

>

> Jaya Sri Radhey!

>