Devi Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram in Sanskrit, English with Meaning

Devi Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram

न मत्रं नो यन्त्रं तदपि च न जाने स्तुतिमहो
न चाह्वानं ध्यानं तदपि च न जाने स्तुतिकथाः ।
न जाने मुद्रास्ते तदपि च न जाने विलपनं
परं जाने मातस्त्वदनुसरणं क्लेशहरणम् ॥१॥

ṇa ṃatram ṇo ẏantram ṭad-āpi Ca ṇa Jāne Stutim-āho
ṇa Ca-[ā]ahvānam ḍhyānam ṭad-āpi Ca ṇa Jāne Stuti-k͟hathāh |
ṇa Jāne ṃudrās-ṭe ṭad-āpi Ca ṇa Jāne Vilapanam
Param Jāne ṃātas-ṭvad-ānusarannam k͟hleśa-ḥarannam ||1||

(O Mother) neither your mantra, nor yantra (do I know); and alas, not even I know your stutI (eulogy),
I do not know how to invoke you through dhyana (meditation); (and alas), not even I know how to simply recite your glories (stuti-katha),
I do not know your mudras (to contemplate on you); (and alas), not even I know how to simply cry for you,
However, one thing I know (for certain); by following you (somehow through rememberance however imperfectly) will take away all my afflictions (from my mind).

विधेरज्ञानेन द्रविणविरहेणालसतया
विधेयाशक्यत्वात्तव चरणयोर्या च्युतिरभूत् ।
तदेतत् क्षन्तव्यं जननि सकलोद्धारिणि शिवे
कुपुत्रो जायेत क्वचिदपि कुमाता न भवति ॥२॥

Vidher-ājnyānena ḍravinna-Virahenna-ālasatayā
Vidheya-āśakyatvāt-ṭava Carannayoryā Cyutir-ābhūt |
ṭad-ĕtat k͟hssantavyam Janani Sakalo[a-ū]ddhārinni ṣive
k͟huputro Jāyeta k͟hvacid-āpi k͟humātā ṇa Bhavati ||2||

(O Mother) due to ignorance of the vidhis (injunctions of worship), and due to lack of wealth, as well as due to my indolent (lazy) nature, …
it was not possible for me to serve your lotus feet; there have been failures on the performance of my duties (I admit that),
(but) all these are pardonable (by you), O Mother; because you are the saviour of all, O Shivaa (auspicious mother),
there can be Kuputra (fallen disobedient son turning away from mother), but there can never be Kumata (mother turning away from son permanently).

पृथिव्यां पुत्रास्ते जननि बहवः सन्ति सरलाः
परं तेषां मध्ये विरलतरलोऽहं तव सुतः ।
मदीयोऽयं त्यागः समुचितमिदं नो तव शिवे
कुपुत्रो जायेत क्वचिदपि कुमाता न भवति ॥३॥

Prthivyām Putrās-ṭe Janani Bahavah Santi Saralāh
Param ṭessām ṃadhye Virala-ṭaralo[a-ā]ham ṭava Sutah |
ṃadīyo-[ā]yam ṭyāgah Samucitam-īdam ṇo ṭava ṣive
k͟huputro Jāyeta k͟hvacid-āpi k͟humātā ṇa Bhavati ||3||

(O Mother) in this world, there are many many sons of yours who are simple-minded,
however, among them I am a rare son of yours who is restless,
because of this only, it is not proper for you to forsake me O Shivaa (auspicious mother),
(because) there can be Kuputra (fallen disobedient son turning away from mother), but there can never be Kumata (mother turning away from son permanently).

जगन्मातर्मातस्तव चरणसेवा न रचिता
न वा दत्तं देवि द्रविणमपि भूयस्तव मया ।
तथापि त्वं स्नेहं मयि निरुपमं यत्प्रकुरुषे
कुपुत्रो जायेत क्वचिदपि कुमाता न भवति ॥४॥

Jaganmātar-ṃātas-ṭava Caranna-Sevā ṇa ṟacitā
ṇa Vā ḍattam ḍevi ḍravinnam-āpi Bhūyas-ṭava ṃayā |
ṭathā-[ā]pi ṭvam Sneham ṃayi ṇirupamam ẏat-Prakurusse
k͟huputro Jāyeta k͟hvacid-āpi k͟humātā ṇa Bhavati ||4||

O Jaganmata (mother of the world), O Mother, I have never served your lotus feet,
neither have I offered, O Devi, abundant wealth at your lotus feet (during worship),
inspite of this, you have maintained your motherly love towards me which is incomparable,
(because) there can be Kuputra (fallen disobedient son turning away from mother), but there can never be Kumata (mother turning away from son permanently).

परित्यक्ता देवा विविधविधसेवाकुलतया
मया पञ्चाशीतेरधिकमपनीते तु वयसि ।
इदानीं चेन्मातस्तव यदि कृपा नापि भविता
निरालम्बो लम्बोदरजननि कं यामि शरणम् ॥५॥

Parityaktā ḍevā Vividha-Vidha-Sevā-k͟hulatayā
ṃayā Pan.cāśīter-ādhikam-āpanīte ṭu Vayasi |
īdānīm Cenmātas-ṭava ẏadi k͟hrpā ṇa-āpi Bhavitā
ṇirālambo l̤ambodara-Janani k͟ham ẏāmi ṣarannam ||5||

(O Mother) letting go (i.e. left or never undertaking) the various ritualistic worship services of the devas …
by me, more than eighty five years of my life has passed,
even at this moment (nearing death), if your grace do not descend, O Mother (who is) of the form of bliss-consciousness, …
where will this niralamba (One without any support) seek refuge, O Lambodara JananI (mother of Lambodara or Ganesha).

श्वपाको जल्पाको भवति मधुपाकोपमगिरा
निरातङ्को रङ्को विहरति चिरं कोटिकनकैः ।
तवापर्णे कर्णे विशति मनुवर्णे फलमिदं
जनः को जानीते जननि जपनीयं जपविधौ ॥६॥

ṣvapāko Jalpāko Bhavati ṃadhupāko[a-ū]pama-ġirā
ṇirātangko ṟangko Viharati Ciram k͟hotti-k͟hanakaih |
ṭava-āparnne k͟harnne Viśati ṃanu-Varnne Phalam-īdam
Janah k͟ho Jānīte Janani Japanīyam Japa-Vidhau ||6||

(O Mother) a swapaka (a dog-eater or chandala) (from whose mouth nothing much comes out in terms of good speech) becomes jalpaka (talkative) with speech like a madhupaka (from whose mouth good speech comes out like honey) (by your grace),
a ranka (poor and miserable) becomes niratanka (free from fear) forever, and moves about having obtained million gold (by your grace),
O Aparna (another name of DevI Parvati), when your prayer (and glory) enter one’s ear (and sits in the heart), such is the result,
(then) who among men can know, O Mother, the destiny which your holy japa can unfold?

चिताभस्मालेपो गरलमशनं दिक्पटधरो
जटाधारी कण्ठे भुजगपतिहारी पशुपतिः ।
कपाली भूतेशो भजति जगदीशैकपदवीं
भवानि त्वत्पाणिग्रहणपरिपाटीफलमिदम् ॥७॥

Citā-Bhasmā-l̤epo ġaralam-āśanam ḍik-Patta-ḍharo
Jattā-ḍhārī k͟hanntthe Bhujaga-Pati-ḥārī Paśupatih |
k͟hapālī Bhūteśo Bhajati Jagadīśai[a-ĕ]ka-Padavīm
Bhavāni ṭvat-Pānni-ġrahanna-Paripāttī-Phalam-īdam ||7||

(O Mother) (Lord Shankara), who is smeared with chitabhasma (ashes from the cremation ground), whose food is the poison, whose clothes are the directions, …
who has matted hairs on his head, who wears the garland of the king of snakes around his neck; (inspite of all this he is called) PashupatI (the lord of the pashus or living beings),
he carries a begging bowl of skull in his hand but is worshipped as Bhutesha (the lord of the bhutas or beings) and got the title of Jagadisha eka (One lord of the universe), …
O Bhavani, all this is because of the result of your panI grahana (accepting your hand in marriage).

न मोक्षस्याकाङ्क्षा भवविभववाञ्छापि च न मे
न विज्ञानापेक्षा शशिमुखि सुखेच्छापि न पुनः ।
अतस्त्वां संयाचे जननि जननं यातु मम वै
मृडानी रुद्राणी शिव शिव भवानीति जपतः ॥८॥

ṇa ṃokssasya-[ā]akāngkssā Bhava-Vibhava-Vān.cā-[ā]pi Ca ṇa ṃe
ṇa Vijnyāna-āpekssā ṣaśi-ṃukhi Sukhe[a-ī]cca-āpi ṇa Punah |
ātas-ṭvām Samyāce Janani Jananam ẏātu ṃama Vai
ṃrddānī ṟudrānnī ṣiva ṣiva Bhavāni-īti Japatah ||8||

(O Mother) I do not have the desire for moksha (liberation); neither have I the desire for worldly fortune,
neither do I long for worldly knowledge, O ShashI MukhI (the moon-faced one); I do not have the desire for enjoying the worldly comforts again,
henceforth I implore you, O Mother, may you direct my life towards (the rememberance of your names),
(the string of your holy names) MridanI RudranI Shiva Shiva Bhavani; may my future life be spent in performing japa of your holy names.

नाराधितासि विधिना विविधोपचारैः
किं रुक्षचिन्तनपरैर्न कृतं वचोभिः ।
श्यामे त्वमेव यदि किञ्चन मय्यनाथे
धत्से कृपामुचितमम्ब परं तवैव ॥९॥

ṇa-[ā]arādhitāsi Vidhinā Vividho[a-ū]pacāraih
k͟him ṟukssa-Cintana-Parair-ṇa k͟hrtam Vacobhih |
ṣyāme ṭvameva ẏadi k͟hin.cana ṃayy-ānāthe
ḍhatse k͟hrpām-ūcitam-āmba Param ṭavai[a-ĕ]va ||9||

(O Mother) I have not worshipped you as prescribed by tradition with various rituals,
(On the other hand) what rough thoughts did my mind not think and my speech utter?
O Shyama, inspite of this, if you indeed, to a little extent, to this orphan …
have extended your grace, O supreme mother, it indeed only becomes you (i.e. is possible for you).

आपत्सु मग्नः स्मरणं त्वदीयं
करोमि दुर्गे करुणार्णवेशि ।
नैतच्छठत्वं मम भावयेथाः
क्षुधातृषार्ता जननीं स्मरन्ति ॥१०॥

āapatsu ṃagnah Smarannam ṭvadīyam
k͟haromi ḍurge k͟harunnā-[ā]rnnav[a-īi]eśi |
ṇai[a-ĕ]tac-chattha-ṭvam ṃama Bhāvayethāh
k͟hssudhā-ṭrssā-[āa]rtā Jananīm Smaranti ||10||

(O Mother) I have sunk in misfortunes and therefore remembering you now (which I never did before),
O Mother Durga, (you who are) an ocean of compassion, …
(therefore) do not think of me as false (and my invocation as pretence),
(because) when children are afflicted with hunger and thirst, they naturally remember their mother (Only).

जगदम्ब विचित्रमत्र किं
परिपूर्णा करुणास्ति चेन्मयि ।
अपराधपरम्परापरं
न हि माता समुपेक्षते सुतम् ॥११॥

Jagadamba Vicitram-ātra k͟him
Paripūrnnā k͟harunnā-[ā]sti Cenmayi |
āparādha-Paramparā-Param
ṇa ḥi ṃātā Samupekssate Sutam ||11||

O Jagadamba (mother of the universe), what is surprising in this!
the graceful compassion of the (blissful) mother always remains fully filled,
(because) inspite of the son committing mistakes after mistakes,
the mother never abandons the son.

मत्समः पातकी नास्ति पापघ्नी त्वत्समा न हि ।
एवं ज्ञात्वा महादेवि यथायोग्यं तथा कुरु ॥१२॥

ṃatsamah Pātakī ṇāsti Pāpa-ġhnī ṭvatsamā ṇa ḥi |
ĕvam Jnyātvā ṃahādevi ẏathā-ẏogyam ṭathā k͟huru ||12||

(O Mother) there is no one as fallen like me, and there is no one as uplifting (by removing sins) like you,
considering thus, O Mahadevi, please do whatever is proper (to save me).

Description

Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Aparadha Kshamapana stotram is usually recited after a recital or after the completion of Puja. Its like asking for forgiveness from Goddess for various mistakes that one might have done during the recital/puja including (but not limited to) mispronounciations of mantra, omissions of bindu visargas etc, not showing proper mudras etc.

Other Durga Shlokams

Devi Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram – Durga – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Translation and Meaning. Commentary for selected Shlokams.