Karacharana Kritam — Shiva Kshama Prarthana (Forgiveness Prayer)
The traditional prayer asking Shiva's forgiveness at the close of worship
Karacharana Kritam is the gentle forgiveness prayer traditionally recited at the close of Shiva worship. In it the devotee asks Mahadev to forgive every fault — of hand, foot, speech, body, senses, or mind, whether knowing or unknowing — and rests in his compassion.
Kṣamā Prārthanā — a prayer seeking forgiveness (recited to close worship) · 2h 31m chant
Listen
This is Spiritual Awakening's own long-form recording — the official way to listen. There is no separate audio hosted on this page.
Best suited for: Closing a home worship or pūjā · Reflection, humility, and letting go · Calm, reconciling listening before sleep
Sacred text
Devanagari
करचरण कृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा, श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम् । विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व, जय जय करुणाब्धे श्री महादेव शम्भो ॥
IAST transliteration
Karacaraṇa Kṛtaṃ Vākkāyajaṃ Karmajaṃ Vā, Śravaṇanayanajaṃ Vā Mānasaṃ Vāparādham | Vihitamavihitaṃ Vā Sarvametatkṣamasva, Jaya Jaya Karuṇābdhe Śrī Mahādeva Śambho ||
Simple pronunciation
Ka-ra-cha-ra-na Kri-tam Vaak-kaa-ya-jam Kar-ma-jam Vaa; Shra-va-na-na-ya-na-jam Vaa Maa-na-sam Vaa-pa-raa-dham; Vi-hi-tam-a-vi-hi-tam Vaa Sar-va-me-tat-ksha-ma-sva; Ja-ya Ja-ya Ka-ru-naab-dhe Shree Ma-haa-de-va Sham-bho
Meaning
O Mahadev Shambho, ocean of compassion — please forgive every fault I have committed by hand or foot, speech or body, action, hearing, sight, or mind; whether right or wrong, knowingly or unknowingly. Victory, victory to you!
- Literal meaning
- Whatever fault, done by hand and foot, born of speech or body or action, of ears or eyes or mind, sanctioned or unsanctioned — forgive all of it. Victory, victory, O ocean of compassion, Śrī Mahādeva Śambho.
- Devotional interpretation
- This is the prayer of the humble heart at the end of worship: knowing our devotion is always imperfect, we ask forgiveness for every lapse and entrust ourselves to Shiva's boundless compassion. It closes practice not with pride but with tender relief.
Word-by-word meaning
| Word | IAST | Literal meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| करचरण कृतं | karacaraṇa kṛtaṃ | done by hands and feet | Faults of physical action. |
| वाक्कायजं | vākkāyajaṃ | born of speech and body | Faults of word and bodily conduct. |
| कर्मजं वा | karmajaṃ vā | or born of action | Or arising from any deed. |
| श्रवणनयनजं वा | śravaṇanayanajaṃ vā | or born of ears and eyes | Faults of what we hear and see (and how we use the senses). |
| मानसं वापराधम् | mānasaṃ vā aparādham | or a mental fault | Or any offence of the mind — thought and intention. |
| विहितमविहितं वा | vihitam avihitaṃ vā | sanctioned or unsanctioned | Whether prescribed or not — i.e. every kind, knowing or unknowing. |
| सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व | sarvam etat kṣamasva | forgive all of this | The heart of the prayer: please forgive it all. |
| जय जय करुणाब्धे | jaya jaya karuṇābdhe | victory, victory, O ocean of compassion | Praise of Shiva as boundless (abdhi = ocean) compassion. |
| श्री महादेव शम्भो | śrī mahādeva śambho | O Shri Mahadeva Shambho | Address to Shiva as Mahadeva ('great god') and Shambhu ('source of wellbeing'). |
करचरण कृतंkaracaraṇa kṛtaṃ
- Literal meaning
- done by hands and feet
- Explanation
- Faults of physical action.
वाक्कायजंvākkāyajaṃ
- Literal meaning
- born of speech and body
- Explanation
- Faults of word and bodily conduct.
कर्मजं वाkarmajaṃ vā
- Literal meaning
- or born of action
- Explanation
- Or arising from any deed.
श्रवणनयनजं वाśravaṇanayanajaṃ vā
- Literal meaning
- or born of ears and eyes
- Explanation
- Faults of what we hear and see (and how we use the senses).
मानसं वापराधम्mānasaṃ vā aparādham
- Literal meaning
- or a mental fault
- Explanation
- Or any offence of the mind — thought and intention.
विहितमविहितं वाvihitam avihitaṃ vā
- Literal meaning
- sanctioned or unsanctioned
- Explanation
- Whether prescribed or not — i.e. every kind, knowing or unknowing.
सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्वsarvam etat kṣamasva
- Literal meaning
- forgive all of this
- Explanation
- The heart of the prayer: please forgive it all.
जय जय करुणाब्धेjaya jaya karuṇābdhe
- Literal meaning
- victory, victory, O ocean of compassion
- Explanation
- Praise of Shiva as boundless (abdhi = ocean) compassion.
श्री महादेव शम्भोśrī mahādeva śambho
- Literal meaning
- O Shri Mahadeva Shambho
- Explanation
- Address to Shiva as Mahadeva ('great god') and Shambhu ('source of wellbeing').
Translations are prepared with editorial review against the Sanskrit text, transliteration and English master meaning. Sanskrit words may carry layers of meaning that no single translation can fully express.
How to chant
Preparation
- Sit quietly, as at the close of worship.
- Read the verse slowly once, letting its meaning settle.
Pronunciation notes
- Kṣamasva — 'ksha-ma-sva', the key word ('forgive').
- Karuṇābdhe — 'ka-ru-naab-dhe', flowing as one phrase.
How many times
Traditionally recited once (or a few times) to close worship. It may be repeated softly for reflection; there is no required count.
To close
Let a moment of silence follow — the release the prayer offers is part of it.
How to use the recording
Chanting along
Recite along softly, as you would to close your own worship.
Meditation
Let the mood of honest release be your focus, rather than any single image.
Prayer or pūjā
Play it to close a home pūjā, or in any moment of asking forgiveness.
Sleep listening
Its reconciling mood suits the end of the day; keep the volume gentle.
Morning practice
A way to begin with a clear, unburdened heart.
Background atmosphere
Let it play softly as a quiet, reflective atmosphere.
Background & sourcesClassification, origin, historical context, symbolism, intentions & occasions
What kind of sacred text is this?
This is a kṣamā prārthanā — a prayer seeking forgiveness — most often recited as the kṣamāpana at the close of pūjā. 'Kṣamā' means forgiveness: it is a heartfelt prayer for pardon, often known by its opening words 'Karacharana Kritam'.
Origin and textual source
- Tradition / work
- The traditional kṣamā (forgiveness) prayer recited at the close of worship
- Attribution
- Traditional; commonly recited across Śaiva worship
Historical and devotional context
Indian worship traditionally ends with a kṣamāpana — an acknowledgement that no ritual is ever performed perfectly, and a request that the deity overlook every shortcoming. This verse is among the best-loved of those closing prayers in Shiva worship, turning the end of pūjā into a moment of honesty and release.
It is recited after the offerings are done, when the devotee sets aside any sense of having 'completed' worship correctly and simply asks for grace. Its mood is humble and reconciling — which is also why it is soothing to hear at the end of a day.
Symbolism and inner meaning
- Naming faults of hand, foot, speech, senses, and mind covers the whole person — nothing is held back from forgiveness.
- 'Ocean of compassion' (karuṇābdhi) frames Shiva's mercy as limitless, larger than any fault.
- Ending worship with 'forgive me' rather than 'I have done well' is itself the teaching of humility.
Traditionally associated intentions
Traditional purpose
- Seeking forgiveness at the close of worship
- Cultivating humility and release
- Entrusting oneself to Shiva's compassion
Devotional intentions
- Forgiveness
- Humility
- Reconciliation and release
- Devotion
This recording is for
- Reflective long-form listening
- Meditation
- Calm, reconciling listening before sleep
- A devotional atmosphere
A note on wellbeing: Many find a prayer of letting-go quietly relieving at day's end. This is devotional practice, not medical or psychological treatment.
When is it traditionally chanted?
The close of any Shiva worship or pūjā
Its most traditional use — the forgiveness prayer that ends worship.
Monday, Pradosha, and Maha Shivaratri
Natural times for Shiva worship and its closing prayer; suitable on any day.
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