Shiva
अपराधाष्टकम्
Aparādhāṣṭakam
Attributed to Shankaracharya; the tradition points to Śrī Vṛddha Nṛsiṃha Bhāratī VIII (1798–1879), the Shankaracharya of Sringeri Maṭh, though Sanskrit manuscript catalogues list it simply as "Ācāryasvāmin / Shankaracharya." Encoded and proofread by Mohan Chettoor; manuscript references include Archive.org IGNCA collection, Google Books, and the Thanjavur Sarasvati Mahal Series. Source: sanskritdocuments.org/doc_shiva/aparAdhAShTakam.html. Also known as Aparādhastotrāṣṭakam or Śivāṣṭakam.
A deeply moving eight-verse penitential prayer in which the devotee confesses all their moral and spiritual failings to Lord Śiva and implores his grace and protection. Each verse describes a different dimension of human weakness — wandering driven by desire, pride in the body, immersion in worldly māyā, the six inner enemies, neglect of Vedic duties, improper conduct — and ends with the refrain "śiva pāhi śambho" (O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me). The final verse draws on the image of a father protecting his son: just as a father shields his child, the devotee asks the Father of the Universe to protect him despite every transgression. The title aparādha means offence or transgression, giving the prayer its distinctive character of humble self-examination.
॥ ॐ ॥
Stotram
आशावशादष्टदिगन्तराले देशान्तरभ्रान्तमशान्तबुद्धिम् ।
आकारमात्रादवनीसुरं मामकुत्सकुत्स्यं शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ १ ॥
āśā-vaśād aṣṭa-dig-antarāle deśāntara-bhrāntam aśānta-buddhim |
ākāra-mātrād avanī-suraṃ mām akutsa-kutsyaṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 1 ||
aashaa-vashaad ashtha-dig-antaraale deshaantara-bhraantam ashaanta-buddhim
aakaar-matraad avanee-suram maam akutsa-kutsyam shiva paahi shambho
कामनाओं के वश होकर मैंने आठों दिशाओं में, देश-देशान्तर में अशान्त मन से भटकते हुए जीवन बिताया; मैं केवल बाह्य रूप से ब्राह्मण हूँ, पर निन्दा के सर्वथा योग्य हूँ: हे शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
Driven by desire, I have wandered restlessly through the expanse of the eight directions, from land to land, my mind unquiet; I am a Brahmin only in outward form — yet all too worthy of blame: O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me.
मांसास्थिमज्जामलमूत्रपात्र-गात्राभिमानं क्रिमिकृस्नजालम् ।
मद्भावनं मन्मथपीडिताङ्गं मायामयं मां शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ २ ॥
māṃsa-asthi-majjā-mala-mūtra-pātra-gātrābhimānaṃ krimi-kṛtsna-jālam |
mad-bhāvanaṃ manmatha-pīḍitāṅgaṃ māyāmayaṃ māṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 2 ||
maansa-asthi-majjaa-mala-mootra-paatra gatraabhimaanam krimi-kritsna-jaalam
mad-bhaavonam manmatha-peeditaangam maayaamayam maam shiva paahi shambho
मैं मांस, अस्थि, मज्जा, मल और मूत्र का पात्र हूँ — फिर भी इस कृमि-जाल मात्र शरीर पर अभिमान करता हूँ; अहंकार से भरा, कामदेव से सन्तप्त, माया का ही बना हुआ प्राणी हूँ: हे शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
I am a vessel of flesh, bone, marrow, refuse and urine — yet proud of this body, which is entirely a web of worms; filled with arrogance, my body tormented by Kāma the god of desire, a creature entirely made of māyā: O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me.
संसारमायाजलधिप्रवाह-सम्मग्नमुद्भ्रान्तमशान्तचित्तम् ।
त्वत्पादसेवाविमुखं सकामं सुदुर्जनं मां शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ ३ ॥
saṃsāra-māyā-jaladhi-pravāha-sammagna-mudbhrāntam aśānta-cittam |
tvat-pāda-sevā-vimukhaṃ sakāmaṃ sudurjanaṃ māṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 3 ||
sansaara-maayaa-jaladhi-pravaaha-sammagna-udbhraantam ashaanta-chittam
tvat-paada-sevaa-vimukham sakaamam sudurjanam maam shiva paahi shambho
संसार-माया के समुद्र के प्रवाह में पूर्णतः डूबा, भ्रमित और अशान्त चित्तवाला; आपके चरणों की सेवा से विमुख, कामनाओं से भरा, अत्यन्त दुष्ट व्यक्ति हूँ: हे शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
Fully submerged and utterly bewildered in the flood of the ocean of worldly māyā, with an unquiet mind; turned away from service at your feet, full of desire, a thoroughly wicked person: O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me.
इष्टानृतं भ्रष्टमनिष्टधर्मं नष्टात्मबोधं नयलेशहीनम् ।
कष्टारिषड्वर्गनिपीडिताङ्गं दुष्टोत्तमं मां शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ ४ ॥
iṣṭānṛtaṃ bhraṣṭam aniṣṭa-dharmaṃ naṣṭātma-bodhaṃ naya-leśa-hīnam |
kaṣṭāri-ṣaḍvarga-nipīḍitāṅgaṃ duṣṭottamaṃ māṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 4 ||
ishtaanritam bhrashtam anishtha-dharmam nashtaatma-bodham naya-lesha-heenam
kashtaari-shadvarga-nipeeditaangam dushtottamam maam shiva paahi shambho
असत्य से प्रेम करनेवाला, पतित, दुष्ट आचरणवाला; आत्मज्ञान से रहित, सदाचार के लेशमात्र से भी हीन; षड्रिपुओं (काम, क्रोध, लोभ, मोह, मद, मात्सर्य) से सन्तप्त शरीरवाला — दुष्टों में भी अधम हूँ: हे शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
One who loves falsehood, the fallen one, of evil dharma; whose self-knowledge is destroyed, devoid of even a trace of right conduct; whose body is tormented by the terrible six inner enemies [desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride, jealousy] — the most wicked of the wicked: O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me.
वेदागमाभ्यः सरसानभिज्ञं पादारविन्दं तव नार्चयन्तम् ।
वेदोक्तकर्माणि विलोपयन्तं वेदाकृते मां शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ ५ ॥
veda-āgamābhyaḥ sarasa-anabhijñaṃ pādāravindam tava nārcayantam |
vedokta-karmāṇi vilopayantaṃ veda-ākṛte māṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 5 ||
vedaagamaabhyah sarasa-anabhijnam paadaaravindam tava naarchayantam
vedokta-karmaani vilopayantam vedaakritre maam shiva paahi shambho
वेद और आगमों के सार से अनभिज्ञ; जो आपके चरण-कमलों की पूजा नहीं करता; जो वेदोक्त कर्तव्यों का त्याग करता है: हे वेदस्वरूप शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
Unknowing of the true essence of the Vedas and Āgamas; who does not worship your lotus feet; who abandons the duties enjoined by the Vedas: O Śiva whose very form is the Veda, O Śambhu, protect me.
अन्यायवित्तार्जनसक्तचित्तं अन्यासु नारीष्वनुरागवन्तम् ।
अन्यान्नभोक्तारमशुद्धदेहं आचारहीनं शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ ६ ॥
anyāya-vittārjana-sakta-cittaṃ anyāsu nārīṣu anurāgavantam |
anya-anna-bhoktāram aśuddha-dehaṃ ācāra-hīnaṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 6 ||
anyaaya-vittaarjana-sakta-chittam anyaasu naareesu anuraagavantam
anya-anna-bhoktaaram ashuddha-deham aachaara-heenam shiva paahi shambho
जिसका मन अन्यायपूर्वक धन कमाने में लगा है; जो पराई स्त्रियों में अनुचित आसक्ति रखता है; जो दूसरों का अन्न अनुचित रूप से खाता है; अपवित्र शरीरवाला, सदाचार से रहित: हे शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
Whose mind is attached to acquiring wealth by unjust means; who has improper attachment to other women; who eats others' food improperly; of impure body; devoid of proper conduct: O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me.
पुरात्ततापत्रयतप्तदेहं परां गतिं गन्तुमुपायवर्जम् ।
परावमानैकपरात्मभावं नराधमं मां शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ ७ ॥
purā tat-tāpatraya-tapta-dehaṃ parāṃ gatiṃ gantum upāya-varjam |
para-avamāna-eka-parātma-bhāvaṃ narādhamaṃ māṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 7 ||
puraa tat-taapatraya-tapta-deham paraam gatim gantum upaaya-varjam
para-avamaana-eka-paraatma-bhaavam naraadhamam maam shiva paahi shambho
जिसका शरीर त्रिविध तापों (आध्यात्मिक, आधिदैविक, आधिभौतिक) से चिरकाल से जल रहा है; जिसके पास परम गति पाने का कोई उपाय नहीं; जिसका स्वभाव केवल दूसरों का अपमान करना है — मनुष्यों में अधम हूँ: हे शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
Whose body has long been scorched by the three-fold suffering [of self, fate and nature]; without any means to attain the highest state; whose very nature is solely the occupation of demeaning others — the lowest of humans: O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me.
पिताऽथ संरक्षतु पुत्रमीशो जगत्पिता त्वं जगत्सहायः ।
कृतापराधं तव सर्वकार्ये कृपानिधे मां शिव पाहि शम्भो ॥ ८ ॥
pitā atha saṃrakṣatu putram īśaḥ jagat-pitā tvaṃ jagat-sahāyaḥ |
kṛtāparādhaṃ tava sarva-kārye kṛpā-nidhe māṃ śiva pāhi śambho || 8 ||
pitaa atha samrakshatu putram eeshah jagat-pitaa tvam jagat-sahaayah
kritaaparaadham tava sarva-kaarye kripaanidhe maam shiva paahi shambho
जैसे पिता पुत्र की रक्षा करता है, हे प्रभु — वैसे ही आप जगत् के पिता और समस्त लोकों के सहायक हैं। मैंने प्रत्येक पवित्र कर्तव्य में आपके प्रति अपराध किए हैं: हे करुणासागर, हे शिव, हे शम्भु, मेरी रक्षा करें।
Just as a father protects his son, O Lord — you are the father of the world, the helper of all worlds. I have committed offences against you in every sacred duty: O ocean of compassion, O Śiva, O Śambhu, protect me.
