kshamaa : Pardon

KSHAMAA-PARDON
(Shri Kanchi Mahaswami’s Discourses)
(English Translation by P.N. Ramachandran pnramchandran@gmail.com)

O Vishnu! I pray to You ......to increase me in me kindness towards all sentient beings; and enable me to cross the ocean of SamsAra (the world or the constantly repeating cycle of birth and death) (Shatpadi Stotram sloka No.1)

So far, Shri Bhagavatpada has enumerated what one should pray for, for one’s own Spiritual benefit. But he goes beyond one’s own requirements. On the one hand, he has termed the universe a maya (illusion); on the other hand he has immense grace towards the whole world. We blunder about considering the universe to be absolutely real. To wake us up from this dream and to make us attain knowledge about Reality, Shri Bhagavatpada, out of his immense grace, undertook all his teachings, writings, pilgrimages etc. Thus it is but appropriate that the first sloka prays to God to increase in us kindness towards all sentient beings. No matter however much spiritual knowledge one gets, one should, with heart full of mercy, do good continuously to all living beings. The root meaning of Sankara is one who does good deeds.
प्राणिनां निर्दयत्वं मा भूदेवं पशुपतॆ जन्मजन्मान्तरेषु (१४)
prANinAM nirdayatvaM mA bhUdevaM pashupate janmajanmAntareShu (14)

In Shiva AparAdha KshamApanha Stotra, Sloka No. 14, instead of asking for good benefits, Shri Bhagavatpad prays that he should not have lack of kindness towards any being in any of his present/future janmas (births). The latter negative request is addressed to Ishwara, the god of destruction. In Shatpadi Stotram, Sloka No.1, the Acharya appropriately makes a positive request addressed to Shri Mahavishnu, the preserver of all creation, to increase in us kindness towards all beings.
करचरण कृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा | श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम् |
विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व | जय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेवशम्भो || (१७)
karacharaNa kR^itaM vAk_kAyajaM karmajaM vA .
shravaNanayanajaM vA mAnasaM vAparAdham.h |
vihitamavihitaM vA sarvametatkshamasva .
jaya jaya karuNAbdhe shrImahAdevashambho || (17)

We may cause harm to others, knowingly or unknowingly, by deeds of our hands, feet, words, body, ears, eyes and mind. Kindly pardon me for these faults, O! Shiva, the veritable ocean of mercy O! Mahadeva! Shambo! I also pray for your pardon for either performing those acts banned by the Shastras or not performing others classified as duties. (17).

Some ready instances of these defects may be cited now Shri Ramalinga Swami (Tamil saint) would always walk with folded hands, lest they harm others by their swinging action. Shri Rama belonged to the Raghu dynasty. Those of this dynasty will not utter needlessly even one more word than necessary lest it may lead to lying. The rainy season is known as chaturmasyam (period of four months). During this period, heads of mutts (Hindu religious institutions similar to monasteries) will stay put in the same place, lest their movement causes harm to those insects etc. which come out of their hiding places then. Shri Rama, dressed as for performing penance in garments made of bark, left for the forest; Yet he carried his bow and arrows with him, as it was his duty as a kshatriya (warrior caste) to protect dharma (righteousness) wherever he happened to reside.