Devi Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram

न मन्त्रं नो यन्त्रं तदपि च न जाने स्तुतिमहो

Na Mantram No Yantram Tadapi Cha Na Jane Stutimaho

na mantraṃ no yantraṃ tadapi ca na jāne stutimaho

I know no mantra, no yantra — alas, I do not even know a hymn of praise;

न चाह्वानं ध्यानं तदपि च न जाने स्तुतिकथाः ।

Na Chahvanam Dhyanam Tadapi Cha Na Jane Stutikathah

na cāhvānaṃ dhyānaṃ tadapi ca na jāne stutikathāḥ

I know no invocation, no meditation, nor any hymns or stories about you;

न जाने मुद्रास्ते तदपि च न जाने विलपनं

Na Jane Mudraste Tadapi Cha Na Jane Vilapanam

na jāne mudrāste tadapi ca na jāne vilapanaṃ

I know none of your mudras, nor even how to cry out to you;

परं जाने मातस्त्वदनुसरणं क्लेशहरणम् ॥ १ ॥

Param Jane Matas Tvadanusaranam Kleshaharanam

paraṃ jāne mātastvadanusaraṇaṃ kleśaharaṇam

but this I know, O Mother: following you takes away all suffering.

विधेरज्ञानेन द्रविणविरहेणालसतया

Vidher Ajnanena Dravina Virahenalasataya

vidherajñānena draviṇaviraheṇālasatayā

Through ignorance of the rules, through lack of money, through laziness,

विधेयाशक्यत्वात्तव चरणयोर्या च्युतिरभूत् ।

Vidheyashakyatvat Tava Charanayor Ya Chyutirabhut

vidheyāśakyatvāttava caraṇayoryā cyutirabhūt

and through being unable to do what should be done, I have failed to serve your feet;

तदेतत्क्षन्तव्यं जननि सकलोद्धारिणि शिवे

Tadetat Kshantavyam Janani Sakaloddharini Shive

tadetatkṣantavyaṃ janani sakaloddhāriṇi śive

please forgive this, O Mother, gracious one, saviour of all —

कुपुत्रो जायेत क्वचिदपि कुमाता न भवति ॥ २ ॥

Kuputro Jayeta Kvachidapi Kumata Na Bhavati

kuputro jāyeta kvacidapi kumātā na bhavati

a bad son may sometimes be born, but there is never a bad mother.

पृथिव्यां पुत्रास्ते जननि बहवः सन्ति सरलाः

Prithivyam Putraste Janani Bahavah Santi Saralah

pṛthivyāṃ putrāste janani bahavaḥ santi saralāḥ

O Mother, you have many simple, sincere children on earth;

परं तेषां मध्ये विरलतरलोऽहं तव सुतः ।

Param Tesham Madhye Viralataraloham Tava Sutah

paraṃ teṣāṃ madhye viralataralo'haṃ tava sutaḥ

but among them I am a rare, restless one;

मदीयोऽयं त्यागः समुचितमिदं नो तव शिवे

Madiyoyam Tyagah Samuchitam Idam No Tava Shive

madīyo'yaṃ tyāgaḥ samucitamidaṃ no tava śive

yet it would not be fitting, O gracious one, for you to abandon me —

कुपुत्रो जायेत क्वचिदपि कुमाता न भवति ॥ ३ ॥

Kuputro Jayeta Kvachidapi Kumata Na Bhavati

kuputro jāyeta kvacidapi kumātā na bhavati

a bad son may sometimes be born, but there is never a bad mother.

जगन्मातर्मातस्तव चरणसेवा न रचिता

Jaganmatar Matas Tava Charanaseva Na Rachita

jaganmātarmātastava caraṇasevā na racitā

O Mother of the world, O Mother, I have not served your feet,

न वा दत्तं देवि द्रविणमपि भूयस्तव मया ।

Na Va Dattam Devi Dravinamapi Bhuyas Tava Maya

na vā dattaṃ devi draviṇamapi bhūyastava mayā

nor given you much wealth, O Goddess;

तथापि त्वं स्नेहं मयि निरुपमं यत्प्रकुरुषे

Tathapi Tvam Sneham Mayi Nirupamam Yat Prakurushe

tathāpi tvaṃ snehaṃ mayi nirupamaṃ yatprakuruṣe

and yet you shower me with matchless love —

कुपुत्रो जायेत क्वचिदपि कुमाता न भवति ॥ ४ ॥

Kuputro Jayeta Kvachidapi Kumata Na Bhavati

kuputro jāyeta kvacidapi kumātā na bhavati

a bad son may sometimes be born, but there is never a bad mother.

परित्यक्ता देवा विविधविधसेवाकुलतया

Parityakta Deva Vividha Vidha Sevakulataya

parityaktā devā vividhavidhasevākulatayā

Weary of serving them in so many different ways, I have given up all the other gods,

मया पञ्चाशीतेरधिकमपनीते तु वयसि ।

Maya Panchashiteradhikam Apanite Tu Vayasi

mayā pañcāśīteradhikamapanīte tu vayasi

now that I am past eighty-five years of age.

इदानीं चेन्मातस्तव यदि कृपा नापि भविता

Idanim Chen Matas Tava Yadi Kripa Napi Bhavita

idānīṃ cenmātastava yadi kṛpā nāpi bhavitā

If now, O Mother, I do not receive your grace,

निरालम्बो लम्बोदरजननि कं यामि शरणम् ॥ ५ ॥

Niralambo Lambodara Janani Kam Yami Sharanam

nirālambo lambodarajanani kaṃ yāmi śaraṇam

where can I, with no support, go for refuge, O mother of Ganesha?

श्वपाको जल्पाको भवति मधुपाकोपमगिरा

Shvapako Jalpako Bhavati Madhupakopamagira

śvapāko jalpāko bhavati madhupākopamagirā

An outcaste becomes a speaker whose words are sweet as honey,

निरातङ्को रङ्को विहरति चिरं कोटिकनकैः ।

Niratanko Ranko Viharati Chiram Kotikanakaih

nirātaṅko raṅko viharati ciraṃ koṭikanakaiḥ

and a pauper lives long and fearless with millions in gold,

तवापर्णे कर्णे विशति मनुवर्णे फलमिदं

Tavaparne Karne Vishati Manuvarne Phalamidam

tavāparṇe karṇe viśati manuvarṇe phalamidaṃ

O Aparna, when even a syllable of your mantra enters the ear — such is its fruit;

जनः को जानीते जननि जपनीयं जपविधौ ॥ ६ ॥

Janah Ko Janite Janani Japaniyam Japavidhau

janaḥ ko jānīte janani japanīyaṃ japavidhau

then who, O Mother, can know what comes from repeating it properly?

चिताभस्मालेपो गरलमशनं दिक्पटधरो

Chitabhasmalepo Garalamashanam Dikpatadharo

citābhasmālepo garalamaśanaṃ dikpaṭadharo

Smeared with pyre ash, eating poison, clothed only by the sky,

जटाधारी कण्ठे भुजगपतिहारी पशुपतिः ।

Jatadhari Kanthe Bhujagapatihari Pashupatih

jaṭādhārī kaṇṭhe bhujagapatihārī paśupatiḥ

matted-haired, with the serpent king around his neck,

कपाली भूतेशो भजति जगदीशैकपदवीं

Kapali Bhutesho Bhajati Jagadishaikapadavim

kapālī bhūteśo bhajati jagadīśaikapadavīṃ

carrying a skull, lord of ghosts — yet Pashupati holds the title “Lord of the world”:

भवानि त्वत्पाणिग्रहणपरिपाटीफलमिदम् ॥ ७ ॥

Bhavani Tvat Panigrahana Paripati Phalamidam

bhavāni tvatpāṇigrahaṇaparipāṭīphalamidam

O Bhavani, this is only the fruit of his having taken your hand in marriage.

न मोक्षस्याकाङ्क्षा भवविभववाञ्छापि च न मे

Na Mokshasyakanksha Bhava Vibhava Vanchhapi Cha Na Me

na mokṣasyākāṅkṣā bhavavibhavavāñchāpi ca na me

I have no longing for liberation, nor any desire for worldly riches;

न विज्ञानापेक्षा शशिमुखि सुखेच्छापि न पुनः ।

Na Vijnanapeksha Shashimukhi Sukhecchapi Na Punah

na vijñānāpekṣā śaśimukhi sukhecchāpi na punaḥ

O moon-faced one, I seek no special knowledge, nor even happiness;

अतस्त्वां संयाचे जननि जननं यातु मम वै

Atas Tvam Samyache Janani Jananam Yatu Mama Vai

atastvāṃ saṃyāce janani jananaṃ yātu mama vai

so I ask you only this, O Mother: let my life pass by

मृडानी रुद्राणी शिव शिव भवानीति जपतः ॥ ८ ॥

Mridani Rudrani Shiva Shiva Bhavaniti Japatah

mṛḍānī rudrāṇī śiva śiva bhavānīti japataḥ

chanting “Mridani, Rudrani, Shivaa, Shivaa, Bhavani.”

नाराधितासि विधिना विविधोपचारैः

Naradhitasi Vidhina Vividhopacharaih

nārādhitāsi vidhinā vividhopacāraiḥ

I have not worshipped you properly with all the many offerings;

किं रुक्षचिन्तनपरैर्न कृतं वचोभिः ।

Kim Rukshachintanaparair Na Kritam Vachobhih

kiṃ rukṣacintanaparairna kṛtaṃ vacobhiḥ

what harsh thoughts and words have I not committed?

श्यामे त्वमेव यदि किञ्चन मय्यनाथे

Shyame Tvameva Yadi Kinchana Mayyanathe

śyāme tvameva yadi kiñcana mayyanāthe

O dark one, if you show even a little grace to me, who have no protector,

धत्से कृपामुचितमम्ब परं तवैव ॥ ९ ॥

Dhatse Kripam Uchitamamba Param Tavaiva

dhatse kṛpāmucitamamba paraṃ tavaiva

it is only fitting for you, O Mother — and entirely your own goodness.

आपत्सु मग्नः स्मरणं त्वदीयं

Apatsu Magnah Smaranam Tvadiyam

āpatsu magnaḥ smaraṇaṃ tvadīyaṃ

When I am sunk in troubles, I remember you,

करोमि दुर्गे करुणार्णवेशि ।

Karomi Durge Karunarnaveshi

karomi durge karuṇārṇaveśi

O Durga, queen of the ocean of compassion;

नैतच्छठत्वं मम भावयेथाः

Naitacchathatvam Mama Bhavayethah

naitacchaṭhatvaṃ mama bhāvayethāḥ

please don’t think of this as cunning on my part —

क्षुधातृषार्ता जननीं स्मरन्ति ॥ १० ॥

Kshudha Trishartah Jananim Smaranti

kṣudhātṛṣārtā jananīṃ smaranti

children who are hungry and thirsty always call for their mother.

जगदम्ब विचित्रमत्र किं परिपूर्णा करुणास्ति चेन्मयि ।

Jagadamba Vichitramatra Kim Paripurna Karunasti Chenmayi

jagadamba vicitramatra kiṃ paripūrṇā karuṇāsti cenmayi

O Mother of the world, what is surprising if your compassion for me is complete?

अपराधपरम्परापरं न हि माता समुपेक्षते सुतम् ॥ ११ ॥

Aparadha Paramparaparam Na Hi Mata Samupekshate Sutam

aparādhaparamparāparaṃ na hi mātā samupekṣate sutam

a mother never abandons her child, however long the line of his faults.

मत्समः पातकी नास्ति पापघ्नी त्वत्समा न हि ।

Matsamah Pataki Nasti Papaghni Tvatsama Na Hi

matsamaḥ pātakī nāsti pāpaghnī tvatsamā na hi

There is no sinner like me, and no destroyer of sin like you;

एवं ज्ञात्वा महादेवि यथायोग्यं तथा कुरु ॥ १२ ॥

Evam Jnatva Mahadevi Yathayogyam Tatha Kuru

evaṃ jñātvā mahādevi yathāyogyaṃ tathā kuru

knowing this, O great Goddess, do whatever is fitting.