Shri Shivaparadha Kshamapana Stotram
श्रीशिवापराधक्षमापनस्तोत्रम्
Sanskrit
आदौ कर्मप्रसङ्गात् कलयति कलुषं मातृकुक्षौ स्थितं मां विण्मूत्रामेध्यमध्ये क्वथयति नितरां जाठरो जातवेदाः । यद्यद्वै तत्र दुःखं व्यथयति नितरां शक्यते केन वक्तुं क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration
ādau karmaprasaṅgāt kalayati kaluṣaṃ mātṛkukṣau sthitaṃ māṃ viṇmūtrāmedhyamadhye kvathayati nitarāṃ jāṭharo jātavedāḥ | yad yad vai tatra duḥkhaṃ vyathayati nitarāṃ śakyate kena vaktuṃ kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 1 ||
Translation
First, through the chain of my own actions, I am made impure and placed, soiled, within my mother's womb; there, amid that unclean mass of stool and urine, the belly's fire cooks me through and through. Whatever sorrows afflict me there without end - by whom can they even be told? Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
At the very beginning, through the course of my actions, the sin that I carried brings me to lie in my mother's womb. Then the digestive fire burns me intensely amid filth and urine. Who can describe the sufferings that torment me there? O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
बाल्ये दुःखातिरेको मललुलितवपुः स्तन्यपाने पिपासा नो शक्तश्चेन्द्रियेभ्यो भवगुणजनिता जन्तवो मां तुदन्ति । नानारोगादिदुःखाद्रुदनपरवशः शङ्करं न स्मरामि क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration
bālye duḥkhātireko malalulitavapuḥ stanyapāne pipāsā no śaktaś cendriyebhyo bhavaguṇajanitā jantavo māṃ tudanti | nānārogādiduḥkhādrudanaparavaśaḥ śaṅkaraṃ na smarāmi kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 2 ||
Translation
In childhood, sorrow was excessive, my body smeared with filth, thirsting at the breast for milk, with no power yet over my senses; creatures born of the power of worldly nature bite me, and, overcome by weeping from various sicknesses and sorrows, I do not remember Shankara. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
In childhood my suffering was excessive. My body was smeared with dirt and urine, and I was always craving the mother's milk. My senses had no power to act, and the creatures born of the Shaiva illusion and the qualities of worldly existence bit me. Afflicted by many diseases and sorrows, I cried constantly, and even then I did not remember Shankara. O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
प्रौढोऽहं यौवनस्थो विषयविषधरैः पञ्चभिर्मर्मसन्धौ दष्टो नष्टो विवेकः सुतधनयुवतिस्वादसौख्ये निषण्णः । शैवीचिन्ताविहीनं मम हृदयमहो मानगर्वाधिरूढं क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration
prauḍho 'haṃ yauvanastho viṣayaviṣadharaiḥ pañcabhir marmasandhau daṣṭo naṣṭo vivekaḥ sutadhanayuvatisvādasaukhye niṣaṇṇaḥ | śaivīcintāvihīnaṃ mama hṛdayam aho mānagarvādhirūḍhaṃ kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 3 ||
Translation
Grown mature, standing in youth, bitten at my vital joints by the five venomous serpents of sense-objects, my discrimination destroyed, I sat absorbed in the pleasant taste of sons, wealth and young women; devoid of thought of Shiva, ah, my heart mounted upon pride and arrogance. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
When I came into youth and grew mature, the five serpents of the senses bit me in my vital parts. My discernment was destroyed, and I became absorbed in enjoying wealth, a wife and children. Even then, forgetting to meditate on you, my heart swelled with great pride and arrogance. So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
वार्द्धक्ये चेन्द्रियाणां विगतगतिमतिश्चाधिदैवादितापैः पापै रोगैर्वियोगैस्त्वनवसितवपुः प्रौढिहीनं च दीनम् । मिथ्यामोहाभिलाषैर्भ्रमति मम मनो धूर्जटेर्ध्यानशून्यं क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration
vārddhakye cendriyāṇāṃ vigatagatimatiś cādhidaivāditāpaiḥ pāpai rogair viyogais tv anavasitavapuḥ prauḍhihīnaṃ ca dīnam | mithyāmohābhilāṣair bhramati mama mano dhūrjaṭer dhyānaśūnyaṃ kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 4 ||
Translation
In old age, my senses' movement and intellect both gone, my body worn by divine afflictions, sins, diseases and separations, weakened and wretched; my mind wanders about through false delusions and desires, empty of meditation on Dhurjati. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
Even in old age, when the movement of the senses has slackened, the intellect has dulled, and the body is worn out by the afflictions of nature, sin, disease and separation, my mind, weakened and humbled by false attachment and desire, wanders empty of any thought of the great Mahadeva. So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
नो शक्यं स्मार्तकर्म प्रतिपदगहनप्रत्यवायाकुलाख्यं श्रौते वार्ता कथं मे द्विजकुलविहिते ब्रह्ममार्गे सुसारे । नास्था धर्मे विचारः श्रवणमननयोः किं निदिध्यासितव्यं क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration
no śakyaṃ smārtakarma pratipadagahanapratyavāyākulākhyaṃ śraute vārtā kathaṃ me dvijakulavihite brahmamārge susāre | nāsthā dharme vicāraḥ śravaṇamananayoḥ kiṃ nididhyāsitavyaṃ kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 5 ||
Translation
Even the ordinary smarta rites, known to be dense at every step with entanglements, are beyond my power - how then shall I speak of the shrauta rites, the very essence of the path to Brahman prescribed for the twice-born? I have no faith in dharma, no reflection on hearing or reasoning - how then should there be any meditation? Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
Because I am burdened at every step by deep penances, I cannot even perform the rites of the smriti tradition, let alone the Shrauta rites that are prescribed for the twice-born as the essence and that lead to the attainment of Brahman. I have no faith in dharma and no reflection on hearing and reflecting on the scriptures, so how could I practise contemplation? So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
स्नात्वा प्रत्यूषकाले स्नपनविधिविधौ नाहृतं गाङ्गतोयं पूजार्थं वा कदाचिद्वहुतरगहनात् खण्डबिल्वीदलानि । नानीता पद्ममाला सरसि विकसिता गन्धपुष्पे त्वदर्थं क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration
snātvā pratyūṣakāle snapanavidhividhau nāhṛtaṃ gāṅgatoyaṃ pūjārthaṃ vā kadācid bahutaragahanāt khaṇḍabilvīdalāni | nānītā padmamālā sarasi vikasitā gandhapuṣpe tvadarthaṃ kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 6 ||
Translation
Having bathed at dawn, for the rite of your consecration I never brought the water of the Ganga, nor ever, for worship, bilva leaves broken off from the far forest, nor was a garland of lotuses blooming in a lake, with fragrant flowers, ever brought for your sake. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
In the early morning, after bathing, I did not bring Ganga water to perform your abhisheka, nor did I ever bring bilva leaves from the forest for your worship. I did not bring garlands of lotuses blooming in the pond, nor fragrant flowers for you. So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
दुग्धैर्मध्वाज्ययुक्तैर्दधिसितसहितैः स्नापितं नैव लिङ्गं नो लिप्तं चन्दनाद्यैः कनकविरचितैः पूजितं न प्रसूनैः । धूपैः कर्पूरदीपैर्विविधरसयुतैर्नैव भक्ष्योपहारैः क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration
dugdhair madhvājyayuktair dadhisitasahitaiḥ snāpitaṃ naiva liṅgaṃ no liptaṃ candanādyaiḥ kanakaviracitaiḥ pūjitaṃ na prasūnaiḥ | dhūpaiḥ karpūradīpair vividharasayutai naiva bhakṣyopahāraiḥ kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 7 ||
Translation
Never was the linga bathed by me with milk, honey, ghee, curd and sugar together; never anointed with sandal and the like; never worshipped with flowers fashioned of gold, with incense, camphor-lamps, or with food-offerings accompanied by various flavours. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
I never bathed the linga with the five nectars of milk, honey, ghee, curd and sugar. I did not anoint it with sandal and other pastes, nor worship it with golden offerings or flowers. I did not worship it with datura flowers, incense, lamps, camphor, or offerings of food with many tastes. So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
ध्यात्वा चित्ते शिवाख्यं प्रचुरतरधनं नैव दत्तं द्विजेभ्यो हव्यं ते लक्षसंख्यैर्हुतवहवदने नार्पितं बीजमन्त्रैः । नो तप्तं गाङ्गतीरे व्रतजपनियमै रुद्रजाप्यैर्न वेदैः क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration
dhyātvā citte śivākhyaṃ pracurataradhanaṃ naiva dattaṃ dvijebhyo havyaṃ te lakṣasaṃkhyair hutavahavadane nārpitaṃ bījamantraiḥ | no taptaṃ gāṅgatīre vratajapaniyamai rudrajāpyair na vedaiḥ kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 8 ||
Translation
Having meditated in my heart on the one named Shiva, I never gave abundant wealth to the twice-born, nor ever offered oblation to you into the mouth of fire a hundred thousand times with seed-mantras, nor performed austerity on the Ganga's bank through the discipline of vow and japa, through Rudra-recitation or the Vedas. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
I did not give much wealth to the Brahmins with a thought of Shiva in my mind, nor offer oblations of a hundred thousand seed-mantras into the fire in your mouth. I did not practise austerity on the bank of the Ganga through vows, japa, observances, the Rudra recitation or the Vedas. So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
स्थित्वा स्थाने सरोजे प्रणवमयमरुत्कुण्डले सूक्ष्ममार्गे शान्ते स्वान्ते प्रलीने प्रकटितविभवे ज्योतिरूपे पराख्ये । लिङ्गज्ञे ब्रह्मवाक्ये सकलतनुगतं शङ्करं न स्मरामि क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ९ ॥
Transliteration
sthitvā sthāne saroje praṇavamayamarutkuṇḍale sūkṣmamārge śānte svānte pralīne prakaṭitavibhave jyotirūpe parākhye | liṅgajñe brahmavākye sakalatanugataṃ śaṅkaraṃ na smarāmi kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 9 ||
Translation
Though established in that place, the lotus, the coil of breath made of Om, upon the subtle path, within the peaceful inner self where [the breath] dissolves, where manifest glory and the form of light, called the supreme, is known through its sign and through the word of Brahman - even there I do not remember Shankara, present in every body. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
Having sat in the lotus seat, the place where the breath is wound in the sound of Pranava, through the subtle path, in the peaceful heart where all things dissolve, in the supreme light that is the highest reality, and having known the sign of the linga and the words of Brahman, I did not remember Shankara, who dwells in all bodies. So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
नग्नो निःसङ्गशुद्धस्त्रिगुणविरहितो ध्वस्तमोहान्धकारो नासाग्रे न्यस्तदृष्टिर्विदितभवगुणो नैव दृष्टः कदाचित् । उन्मन्यावस्थया त्वां विगतकलिमलं शंकरं न स्मरामि क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ १० ॥
Transliteration
nagno niḥsaṅgaśuddhas triguṇavirahito dhvastamohāndhakāro nāsāgre nyastadṛṣṭir viditabhavaguṇo naiva dṛṣṭaḥ kadācit | unmanyāvasthayā tvāṃ vigatakalimalaṃ śaṃkaraṃ na smarāmi kṣantavyo me 'parādhaḥ śiva śiva śiva bho śrīmahādeva śambho || 10 ||
Translation
Naked, unattached, pure, free of the three gunas, having destroyed the darkness of delusion, my gaze fixed on the tip of the nose, knowing the qualities of worldly existence - never once have I truly seen you, nor, in the state beyond mind, do I remember Shankara, free of the taint of this age. Forgive my offence, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O glorious Mahadeva, Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
I was naked, unattached, pure, free of the three qualities, with the darkness of delusion destroyed, my gaze fixed on the tip of my nose, and I knew the qualities of existence. Yet I never saw you, and I did not remember the auspicious Shiva, free of the impurities of the age, in the state of unmani. So, O Shiva, Shiva, Shiva, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu, forgive my offence, forgive it.
Sanskrit
चन्द्रोद्भासितशेखरे स्मरहरे गङ्गाधरे शंकरे सर्पैर्भूषितकण्ठकर्णविवरे नेत्रोत्थवैश्वानरे । दन्तित्वक्कृतसुन्दराम्बरधरे त्रैलोक्यसारे हरे मोक्षार्थं कुरु चित्तवृत्तिमखिलामन्यैस्तु किं कर्मभिः ॥ ११ ॥
Transliteration
candrodbhāsitaśekhare smarahare gaṅgādhare śaṃkare sarpair bhūṣitakaṇṭhakarṇavivare netrotthavaiśvānare | dantitvakkṛtasundarāmbaradhare trailokyasāre hare mokṣārthaṃ kuru cittavṛttim akhilām anyais tu kiṃ karmabhiḥ || 11 ||
Translation
On Shankara, whose crest is lit by the moon, destroyer of Kama, bearer of the Ganga, whose throat and ear-holes are adorned with serpents, who wears the beautiful garment made of elephant-hide, from whose eye fire arises, who is the essence of the three worlds, Hara - fix your whole disposition of mind, for the sake of liberation; what use are other actions?
Deep Meaning
Let the whole of your mind be directed to Shiva, the Lord who has the moon's crescent shining on his forehead, the destroyer of Kama's pride, the bearer of the Ganga, who is auspicious in form, whose throat and ears are adorned with serpents, from whose eyes fire flashes, who wears the elephant hide as his cloak and who is the essence of the three worlds, for liberation. What use are other actions?
Sanskrit
किं वानेन धनेन वाजिकरिभिः प्राप्तेन राज्येन किं किं वा पुत्रकलत्रमित्रपशुभिर्देहेन गेहेन किम् । ज्ञात्वैतत्क्षणभङ्गुरं सपदि रे त्याज्यं मनो दूरतः स्वात्मार्थं गुरुवाक्यतो भज भज श्रीपार्वतीवल्लभम् ॥ १२ ॥
Transliteration
kiṃ vānena dhanena vājikaribhiḥ prāptena rājyena kiṃ kiṃ vā putrakalatramitrapaśubhir dehena gehena kim | jñātvaitat kṣaṇabhaṅguraṃ sapadi re tyājyaṃ mano dūrataḥ svātmārthaṃ guruvākyato bhaja bhaja śrīpārvatīvallabham || 12 ||
Translation
What use is this wealth, horses and elephants, or a kingdom attained - what use? What use are sons, wife, friends, cattle, this body, this house? Knowing all this to be fleeting as a moment, O mind, cast it away at once, far off; for your own true Self's sake, by the Guru's word, worship, worship the beloved of Shri Parvati.
Deep Meaning
What use is this wealth, the horses and elephants, or the kingdom won? What use are sons, wife, friends, cattle, this body, or this house? Knowing that all this is perishable, O mind, give it up at once, from afar. For the sake of your own self, through the words of the guru, worship the beloved of Parvati, Shankara.
Sanskrit
आयुर्नश्यति पश्यतां प्रतिदिनं याति क्षयं यौवनं प्रत्यायान्ति गताः पुनर्न दिवसाः कालो जगद्भक्षकः । लक्ष्मीस्तोयतरङ्गभङ्गचपला विद्युच्चलं जीवितं तस्मान्मां शरणागतं शरणद त्वं रक्ष रक्षाधुना ॥ १३ ॥
Transliteration
āyur naśyati paśyatāṃ pratidinaṃ yāti kṣayaṃ yauvanaṃ pratyāyānti gatāḥ punar na divasāḥ kālo jagadbhakṣakaḥ | lakṣmīs toyataraṅgabhaṅgacapalā vidyuccalaṃ jīvitaṃ tasmān māṃ śaraṇāgataṃ śaraṇada tvaṃ rakṣa rakṣādhunā || 13 ||
Translation
Even as we watch, life is destroyed; day by day youth goes to decay; days once gone never come back again; time is the devourer of the universe; wealth is as fickle as the breaking of water's waves; life is as unsteady as lightning. Therefore, O giver of refuge, protect me, who have come for refuge - protect me now!
Deep Meaning
Life is wasting away in front of our eyes every day, youth is diminishing, days that have passed never return, and time, which devours the whole world, is at work. Wealth is as unsteady as the waves of water, and life is as restless as lightning. Therefore, O Shankara, giver of refuge, protect me, who have taken refuge in you, protect me now.
Sanskrit
करचरणकृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम् । विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत् क्षमस्व जय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ १४ ॥
Transliteration
karacaraṇakṛtaṃ vākkāyajaṃ karmajaṃ vā śravaṇanayanajaṃ vā mānasaṃ vā 'parādham | vihitam avihitaṃ vā sarvam etat kṣamasva jaya jaya karuṇābdhe śrīmahādeva śambho || 14 ||
Translation
Any offence done by hand or foot, born of speech or body, born of action, or born of ear or eye, or mental - whether sanctioned or unsanctioned - forgive all of this; victory, victory to you, O ocean of compassion, glorious Mahadeva Shambhu.
Deep Meaning
Whatever offences I have committed by my hands, feet, speech, body, actions, ears, eyes or mind, whether prescribed or forbidden, forgive them all, O Mahadeva Shambhu, ocean of compassion. Victory, victory to you.