Supplication to Goddess for forgiveness

Neither I know recitation, nor do I possess any instruments of worship; I am unaware of any practices of singing praises to You,

Neither I know how to beseech You, nor I know how to attract Your attention; I am unaware of any procedures of singing ode to You.

I don’t even know how to dance to please You or cry for Your attention,

But I have only one understanding for sure; that is to follow You, as it is the only path that can reduce my hardships. (1.0)

I am the one without knowledge, I have no resources and am lazy too,

Nor am I able to pray to You with devotion, fervor or attention.

But then You are the only One who can bring me out of this misery of my own making, O Mother,

For I know that even if a worthless son is born to a Mother; the Mother always continues to be Motherly to him; She is always blemish-less & always full of love. (2.0)

O Mother, there are innumerable simpleton sons of Yours roaming this earth,

But from amongst them all I am the simplest one & I am alike to one of Your Own sons.

O Goddess it is not appropriate of You to forsake me,

For I know that even if a worthless son is born to a Mother; the Mother always continues to be Motherly to him; She is always blemish-less & always full of love. (3.0)

O Goddess, I have never been able to serve You,

Nor have I been able to raise resources for Your worship.

Yet You still shower Your love, blessings & affection on such a worthless son,

For I know that even if a worthless son is born to a Mother; the Mother always continues to be Motherly to him; She is always blemish-less & always full of love. (4.0)

I worshiped all other beings throughout my life in different ways,

At this age it has become impossible for me to carry out their worship & I don’t expect any help from them either.

However, O Mother of God Ganesha, where should I go now

If you don’t bestow Your Benevolence on me now (5.0)

O Mother Goddess, a word of prayer to You – when listened carefully – is like nectar to the ears of the listener

The one who assimilates it, feels as if he has received all the gifts of the world. He lives in the world fearlessly thereafter.

If this is the impact of one word of the prayer, then what would I contemplate about the human beings,

Who have devoted all their lives in Your service? (6.0)

Here we have One, who smears His body with ashes from the cremation ground, does not care about His clothing & has poison permanently ensconced in His throat,

He has a lock of unkempt hair on His head, serpents around His neck & is famous as the” Lord of the animal world”.

He wears a garland of human skulls & is always in the company of imps & ghostly beings,

He too attained the status of the “Lord of the Universe” only after His union with You. (7.0)

O Mother, I don’t seek salvation nor the splendor of this world,

O Goddess, the One whose face shines alike to the moon, I don’t seek scientific comforts of this world.

I only seek Your blessings so that I spend rest of my life reciting Your name; Rudrani-Rudrani & Shiv-Shiv-Bhawani (8.0)

O Goddess, I have never been able to pray to You in a formal way,

I have always been loud & unbearable to many in my life.

Still You – on Your Own – maintain a kind oversight over me,

It is only You – the Graceful One – Who can take, a worthless son like me, under Your Benevolent Protection. (9.0)

I remember, memorize & worship Your Name, O Goddess Durga

Please take me under Your protection.

I am worshiping You now as I have been overtaken by difficult circumstances,

Kindly don’t consider this to be my foolhardiness or selfishness. (10.0)

O Mother, I am sure You are continuing to be kind & benevolent to me,

For which I am not surprised either.

For I know for sure that a Mother doesn’t ever forsake even a single of Her worthless sons – never. (11.0)

O Goddess, I admit that I am the most worthless son of yours on this earth; but I know You are the Greatest Forgiver if I chose the right path even now – at this age.

In view of above kindly consider my supplication, with my request to treat it in whatever way You think is appropriate for a person like me. (12.0)

(Thus, comes to an end the Devi Khesyamapan stotram written by Shri Shankracharya)

End Note :

This is an attempt to translate it into English for modern youth who find it difficult to read Sanskrit. I am no expert in Sanskrit either but have tried to translate it to the best of my understanding, ability & knowledge. In the process I have also taken some liberties – liberties of a translator.

Suggestions to improve on it – I am sure there will be many, many & many – are welcome.