What does 'gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni' mean in the context of the Bhavani Ashtakam?

It translates to 'You alone are my refuge, you alone are my refuge, you alone are Bhavani,' expressing complete surrender and dependence on the Divine Mother Bhavani as the ultimate refuge and source of support.

Who does the speaker in the Bhavani Ashtakam consider as not being their support?

The speaker explicitly states that mother, father, brother, giver, son, daughter, servant, husband, wife, knowledge, and livelihood are not their ultimate refuge.

What are some of the negative qualities the speaker admits to possessing in the Bhavani Ashtakam?

The speaker confesses to being sinful, associating with bad company, having a wicked intellect, being a bad servant, devoid of good conduct, attached to bad habits, having a distorted vision, and always engaging in harsh speech.

In what difficult situations does the speaker seek protection from Bhavani according to the Ashtakam?

The speaker seeks protection from Bhavani in situations of disputes, sorrow, mistakes, exile, water, fire, mountains, amidst enemies, and in the forest, emphasizing the Divine Mother's role as a constant refuge.

What kinds of knowledge does the speaker claim to lack in the Bhavani Ashtakam?

The speaker claims ignorance of charity, meditation, yoga, tantra, hymns, mantras, worship, ritualistic gestures, merit, pilgrimage, liberation, and devotion, highlighting their spiritual destitution and reliance on Bhavani.

śrī bhavānyaṣṭakam

1276
Devi Stotra

na tātō na mātā na bandhurna dātā
na putrō na putrī na bhr̥tyō na bhartā |
na jāyā na vidyā na vr̥ttirmamaiva
gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 1 ||

bhavābdhāvapārē mahāduḥkhabhīru
papāta prakāmī pralōbhī pramattaḥ |
kusaṁsārapāśaprabaddhaḥ sadāhaṁ
gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 2 ||

na jānāmi dānaṁ na ca dhyānayōgaṁ
na jānāmi tantraṁ na ca stōtramantram |
na jānāmi pūjāṁ na ca nyāsayōgaṁ
gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 3 ||

na jānāmi puṇyaṁ na jānāmi tīrthaṁ
na jānāmi muktiṁ layaṁ vā kadācit |
na jānāmi bhaktiṁ vrataṁ vāpi māta-
-rgatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 4 ||

kukarmī kusaṅgī kubuddhiḥ kudāsaḥ
kulācārahīnaḥ kadācāralīnaḥ |
kudr̥ṣṭiḥ kuvākyaprabandhaḥ sadāhaṁ
gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 5 ||

prajēśaṁ ramēśaṁ mahēśaṁ surēśaṁ
dinēśaṁ niśīthēśvaraṁ vā kadācit |
na jānāmi cānyat sadāhaṁ śaraṇyē
gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 6 ||

vivādē viṣādē pramādē pravāsē
jalē cānalē parvatē śatrumadhyē |
araṇyē śaraṇyē sadā māṁ prapāhi
gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 7 ||

anāthō daridrō jarārōgayuktō
mahākṣīṇadīnaḥ sadā jāḍyavaktraḥ |
vipattau praviṣṭaḥ pranaṣṭaḥ sadāhaṁ
gatistvaṁ gatistvaṁ tvamēkā bhavāni || 8 ||

iti śrī bhavānyaṣṭakam |

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