आदौ कर्मप्रसङ्गात्कलयति कलुषं (Shankaracharya Kshyamapan Strotam)

आदौ कर्मप्रसङ्गात्कलयति 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॥

Even before I saw the light of this world, my sins from previous births,
Through which I passed because of desire for the fruit of my deeds,
Punished me as I lay in my mother’s womb.
There I was boiled in the midst of filthy things:
Who can describe the pain that afflicts the child in its mother’s womb?
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

बाल्ये दुःखातिरेको मललुलितवपुः स्तन्यपाने पिपासा
नो शक्तश्चेन्द्रियेभ्यो भवगुणजनिताः जन्तवो मां तुदन्ति ।|
नानारोगादिदुःखाद्रुदनपरवशः शङ्करं न स्मरामि
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ २॥

In childhood my suffering never came to an end;
My body was covered with filth and I craved for my mother’s breasts.
Over my body and limbs I had no control;
I was pursued by troublesome flies and mosquitoes;
Day and night I cried with the pain of many an ailment, forgetting thee, O Sankara!
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

प्रौढोऽहं यौवनस्थो विषयविषधरैः पञ्चभिर्मर्मसन्धौ
दष्टो नष्टो विवेकः सुतधनयुवतिस्वादुसौख्ये निषण्णः ।
शैवीचिन्ताविहीनं मम हृदयमहो मानगर्वाधिरूढं
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ३॥

In youth the venomous snakes of sound, sight, taste, touch, and smell,
Bit into my vitals and slew my discrimination;
I was engrossed in the pleasures of wealth, sons, and a youthful wife.
Alas! My heart, bereft of the thought of Siva,
Was filled with arrogance and pride,
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

वार्धक्ये चेन्द्रियाणां विगतगतिमतिश्चाधिदैवादितापैः
पापै रोगैर्वियोगैस्त्वनवसितवपुः प्रौढहीनं च दीनम् ।
मिथ्यामोहाभिलाषैर्भ्रमति मम मनो धूर्जटेर्ध्यानशून्यं
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ४॥

Now in old age my senses have lost the power of proper judging and acting;
My body, though still not wholly bereft of life,
Is weak and senile from many afflictions, from sins and illnesses and bereavements;
But even now my mind, instead of meditating on Siva,
Runs after vain desires and hollow delusions.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

स्नात्वा प्रत्यूषकाले स्नपनविधिविधौ नाहृतं गाङ्गतोयं
पूजार्थं वा कदाचिद्बहुतरगहनात्खण्डबिल्वीदलानि ।
नानीता पद्ममाला सरसि विकसिता गन्धधूपैः त्वदर्थं
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ५॥

Not even once have I finished my bath before sunrise and brought from the Ganges
Water to bathe thy holy image;
Never, from the deep woods, have I brought the sacred vilwa leaves for thy worship;
Nor have I gathered full-blown lotuses from the lakes,
Nor ever arranged the lights and the incense for worshipping Thee.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

दुग्धैर्मध्वाज्ययुक्तैर्दधिसितसहितैः स्नापितं नैव लिङ्गं
नो लिप्तं चन्दनाद्यैः कनकविरचितैः पूजितं न प्रसूनैः ।
धूपैः कर्पूरदीपैर्विविधरसयुतैर्नैव भक्ष्योपहारैः
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ६॥

I have not bathed thine image with milk and honey, with butter and other oblations;
I have not decked it with fragrant sandal paste;
I have not worshipped Thee with golden flowers, with incense, with camphor-flame and savoury offerings.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

नो शक्यं स्मार्तकर्म प्रतिपदगहनप्रत्यवायाकुलाख्यं
श्रौते वार्ता कथं मे द्विजकुलविहिते ब्रह्ममार्गानुसारे ।
ज्ञातो धर्मो विचारैः श्रवणमननयोः किं निदिध्यासितव्यं
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ७॥
Unable I am to observe the complex rules of Dharma daily,
Unable I am to follow the rules of Veda as told by Brahmins,
Unable I am to know Dharma by listening to Vedas and meditating,
And so what is the use of daily learning all these.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

ध्यात्वा चित्ते शिवाख्यं प्रचुरतरधनं नैव दत्तं द्विजेभ्यो
हव्यं ते लक्षसङ्ख्यैर्हुतवहवदने नार्पितं बीजमन्त्रैः ।
नो तप्तं गाङ्गातीरे व्रतजपनियमैः रुद्रजाप्यैर्न वेदैः
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ८॥
I have not made rich gifts to the Brahmins, cherishing in my heart,
O Mahadeva, thy sacred form;
I have not made in the sacred fire the million oblations of butter,
Repeating the holy mantra given to me by my guru;
Never have I done penance along the Ganges with japa and study of the Vedas.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

नग्नो निःसङ्गशुद्धस्त्रिगुणविरहितो ध्वस्तमोहान्धकारो
नासाग्रे न्यस्तदृष्टिर्विदितभवगुणो नैव दृष्टः कदाचित् ।
उन्मन्याऽवस्थया त्वां विगतकलिमलं शङ्करं न स्मरामि
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ९॥
Never, O Siva! have I seen Thee, the Pure, the Unattached, the Naked One,
Beyond the three gunas, free from delusion and darkness, absorbed in meditation,
And ever aware of the true nature of the world;
Nor, with a longing heart, have I meditated on Thine auspicious and sin-destroying form.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

स्थित्वा स्थाने सरोजे प्रणवमयमरुत्कुम्भके (कुण्डले) सूक्ष्ममार्गे
शान्ते स्वान्ते प्रलीने प्रकटितविभवे ज्योतिरूपेऽपराख्ये ।
लिङ्गज्ञे ब्रह्मवाक्ये सकलतनुगतं शङ्करं न स्मरामि
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ १०॥

I have not sat in the lotus posture, nor have I ever controlled
The prana along the Sushumna, repeating the syllable Om;
Never have I suppressed the turbulent waves of my mind, nor merged the self-effulgent Om
In the ever-shining Witness-Consciousness, whose nature is that of the highest Brahman;
Nor have I, in samadhi, meditated on Sankara, who dwells in every form as the inner guide.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

हृद्यं वेदान्तवेद्यं हृदयसरसिजे दीप्तमुद्यत्प्रकाशं
सत्यं शान्तस्वरूपं सकलमुनिमनःपद्मषण्डैकवेद्यम् ।
जाग्रत्स्वप्ने सुषुप्तौ त्रिगुणविरहितं शङ्करं न स्मरामि
क्षन्तव्यो मेऽपराधः शिव शिव शिव भो श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ ११॥
The One who resides in the lotus of the heart, known through Vedanta, shining forth with the brilliance of rising light, the embodiment of truth and peace, revered by the lotus-minds of all sages, beyond the three states of waking, dream, and deep sleep, and untouched by the three guṇas—I do not remember that Śaṅkara.
Therefore, O Siva! O Mahadeva! O Sambhu! Forgive me, I pray, for my transgressions.

चन्द्रोद्भासितशेखरे स्मरहरे गङ्गाधरे शङ्करे
सर्पैर्भूषितकण्ठकर्णविवरे नेत्रोत्थवैश्वानरे ।
युगले दन्तित्वक्कृतसुन्दराम्बरधरे त्रैलोक्यसारे हरे
मोक्षार्थं कुरु चित्तवृत्तिमचलामन्यैस्तु किं कर्मभिः ॥ १२॥

O mind, to gain liberation, concentrate wholly on Siva,
The sole reality underlying the worlds, the giver of good;
Whose head is illumined by the crescent moon and in whose hair the Ganges is hidden;
Whose fire-darting eyes consumed the god of earthly love; whose throat and ears are decked with snakes;
Whose upper garment is a comely elephant-skin.
Of what avail are all the other rituals?

किं वाऽनेन धनेन वाजिकरिभिः प्राप्तेन राज्येन किं
किं वा पुत्रकलत्रमित्रपशुभिर्देहेन गेहेन किम् ।
ज्ञात्वैतत्क्षणभङ्गुरं सपदि रे त्याज्यं मनो दूरतः
स्वात्मार्थं गुरुवाक्यतो भज मन श्रीपार्वतीवल्लभम् ॥ १३॥

O mind, of what are wealth or horses, elephants or a kingdom?
Of what avail the body or a house?
Know all these to be but momentary and quickly shun them;
Worship Siva, as your guru instructs you, for the attaining of Self-Knowledge.

पौरोहित्यं रजनिचरितं ग्रामणीत्वं नियोगो
माठापत्यं ह्यनृतवचनं साक्षिवादः परान्नम् ।
ब्रह्मद्वेषः खलजनरतिः प्राणिनां निर्दयत्वं
मा भूदेवं मम पशुपते जन्मजन्मान्तरेषु ॥ १४॥

May these (the following) traits never arise in me in any birth, O Lord of Beings (Paśupati): performing priestly duties for material gain, nocturnal wanderings of questionable deeds, village leadership marked by dominance, attachment to institutional power, deceitful speech, false testimony, consumption of another’s food, enmity toward Brahman, delight in the company of the wicked, and cruelty toward living beings.

आयुर्नश्यति पश्यतां प्रतिदिनं याति क्षयं यौवनं
प्रत्यायान्ति गताः पुनर्न दिवसाः कालो जगद्भक्षकः ।
लक्ष्मीस्तोयतरङ्गभङ्गचपला विद्युच्चलं जीवितं
तस्मात्त्वां शरणागतं शरणद त्वं रक्ष रक्षाधुना ॥ १५॥

Day by day does man come nearer to death;
His youth wears away; the day that is gone never returns.
Almighty time devours everything;
Fickle as lightning is the goddess of fortune.
O Siva! O Giver of shelter to those that come to Thee for refuge!
Protect me, who have taken refuge at thy feet.

वन्दे देवमुमापतिं सुरगुरुं वन्दे जगत्कारणं
वन्दे पन्नगभूषणं मृगधरं वन्दे पशूनां पतिम् ।
वन्दे सूर्यशशाङ्कवह्निनयनं वन्दे मुकुन्दप्रियं
वन्दे भक्तजनाश्रयं च वरदं वन्दे शिवं शङ्करम् ॥१६॥

I salute the self-effulgent guru of the gods, the lord of Uma;
I salute the cause of the Universe
I salute the lord of beasts, adorned with snakes;
I salute Siva, whose three eyes shine like the sun, the moon, and fire;
I salute the beloved of Krishna; I salute Sankara, who bestows boons on His devotees and gives them shelter;
I salute the auspicious Siva.

गात्रं भस्मसितं सितं च हसितं हस्ते कपालं सितं
खट्वाङ्गं च सितं सितश्च वृषभः कर्णे सिते कुण्डले ।
गङ्गा फेनसिता जटा पशुपतेश्चन्द्रः सितो मूर्धनि
सोऽयं सर्वसितो ददातु विभवं पापक्षयं सर्वदा ॥ १७॥

O Siva! White is thy body, covered with ashes; white shine thy teeth when thou smilest!
White is the skull thou holdest in thy hand; white is thy club, which threatens the wicked!
White is the bull on which thou ridest; white are the rings that hang from thine ears!
White appear thy matted locks, covered with the foam of the Ganges;
White shines the moon on thy forehead!
May He who is all white, all pure, bestow on me the treasure of forgiveness for my transgressions!

करचरणकृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा
श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वाऽपराधम् ।
विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्ष्मस्व
शिव शिव करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥ १८॥

O Lord Siva, kindly forgive all the wrong acts and omissions I have committed, whether I committed them knowingly or unknowingly, with my hands, feet, words, ears, eyes, or mind. Glory to you, Mahadeva, who is the ocean of kindness and compassion, and the cause of happiness.

॥ इति श्रीमद् शङ्कराचार्यकृत शिवापराधक्षमापणस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Thus ends the Śivāparādhakṣamāpaṇa Stotram composed by the revered Śrī Śaṅkarācārya.

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