My views on BHAWANI ASHTAKAM BY ADI SHANKARACHARYA

Ashtakam, as name suggest is a Sanskrit poem with eight stanza. Bhavani Ashtkam is a poem written by Philosopher Sankhracharya. In this hymns he describes himself and prays Mother Nature, mother of all. The hymns are reality and reflection of his psyche. Even though hundreds of years has passed, whatever he said is reality and still hold true and shall remain true. These hymns are still capable of moving the inner working of a person.
This is how I interpret these hymns.

न तातो न माता न बन्धुर्न दाता न पुत्रो न पुत्री न भृत्यो न भर्ता ।
न जाया न विद्या न वृत्तिर्ममैव गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥१॥
No one is my salvation.
Neither the Father, nor the one who gave me birth;
nor the Donor, Neither the Son, nor the Daughter;
Neither the Servant, nor the Husband, Neither the Wife.
No relationship I can think of where I can take refuge.
Nor I can think of any knowledge or profession which will be my salvation.
You are the only one on whom I can depend.
Mother You are my Refuge, You Alone are my my salvation.

भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरु पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः ।
कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥२॥
In the endless ocean of worldly existence, I am afraid and full of sorrow.
I am a lustful sinner, filled with greed and desire.
I am tide and boneheaded by my worldly existence.
You are the only one on whom I can depend.
Mother You are my Refuge, You Alone are my my salvation.

न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम्।
न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगम् गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥३॥
Neither do I know how to do Charity,
Nor do I know how to meditate,
Neither do I know how to practice tantra
Nor do I know hymns of prayer,
Neither do I know how to worship,
Nor do I know the art of yoga,
You are the only one on whom I can depend.
Mother You are my Refuge, You Alone are my my salvation.

न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थं न जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित्।
न जानामि भक्तिं व्रतं वापि मातर्गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥४॥
Neither I know how to be righteous,
Nor the way to pilgrimage
I do not know ways of Liberation
Nor Do I have concentration.
I do not know how to be a devotee
nor do I know how to practice austerities
Oh, mother, you are my refuge and my only refuge.

कुकर्मी कुसंगी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः।
कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहम् गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥५॥
I am a bad person who keeps bad company and who keeps bad thoughts.
I am a bad servant. I neglect and do not perform my duties
I am immersed in sinful acts.
I have bad eyes filled with bad intentions,
my tongue only knows bad words.
Oh, mother, you are my refuge and my only refuge.

प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित्।
न जानामि चान्यत् सदाहं शरण्ये गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥६॥
I know nothing about creator or the who sustain or lord of all.
I do not know who presides over day nor who presides over night
and neither the one who rules over them.
I do not know about others, I am seeking Your Refuge,
You are the only one on whom I can depend.
You Alone are my my salvation.

विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे जले चानले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये।
अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥७॥
Protect me
during fight, Dispute and Quarrel,
during Despair, Dejection and loneliness,
during Intoxication and Insanity,
in Foreign Land,In Water, in Fire, in Mountains and Hills, amidst Enemies and In Forest
You are the only one on whom I can depend.
You Alone are my my salvation.

अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तो महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः।
विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रणष्टः सदाहम् गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥८॥
I am orphan, poor, ill, old and diseased
I am now pale and Very Weak and tired.
Fallen Asunder I am in a pitiable state,
lost and surrounded by troubles and danger.
You are the only one on whom I can depend.
Mother You are my Refuge, You Alone are my my salvation.