- Doha 1
विश्वनाथ को सुमिर मन, धर गणेश का ध्यान।
भैरव चालीसा रचूं, कृपा करहु भगवान॥
Vishvanath ko sumir man, dhar Ganesh ka dhyaan.
Bhairav chalisa rachoon, kripa karhu Bhagwan ||
Remembering Vishwanath (Shiva) in my mind and meditating on Ganesha, I compose this Bhairav Chalisa. Be gracious, O Lord.
- Doha 2
बटुकनाथ भैरव भजूं, श्री काली के लाल।
छीतरमल पर कर कृपा, काशी के कुतवाल॥
Batuknath bhairav bhajoon, Shri kali ke lal.
Chhitarmal par kar kripa, kashi ke kutval ||
I worship Batuknath Bhairav, the dear son of Shri Kali. O Kotwal (guardian) of Kashi, be gracious to Chhitarmal. (‘Chhitarmal’ appears to be the poet’s signature; the booklet of the Batuk Bhairav temple in Delhi prints ‘be gracious to me, your servant’ here.)
- Chaupai 1
जय जय श्रीकाली के लाला।
रहो दास पर सदा दयाला॥
Jay jay shrikali ke lala.
Raho das par sada dayala ||
Victory to you, dear son of Shri Kali. Be ever kind to this servant of yours.
- Chaupai 2
भैरव भीषण भीम कपाली।
क्रोधवन्त लोचन में लाली॥
Bhairav bhishan bhim kapali.
Krodhvanta lochan mein lali ||
O Bhairav, you are fearsome and mighty, Kapali, the bearer of the skull. Your eyes are red with wrath.
- Chaupai 3
कर त्रिशूल है कठिन कराला।
गल में प्रभु मुण्डन की माला॥
Kar trishool hai kathin karala.
Gal mein prabhu mundan ki mala ||
In your hand is the hard and terrible trident, and around your neck, O Lord, a garland of heads.
- Chaupai 4
कृष्ण रूप तन वर्ण विशाला।
पीकर मद रहता मतवाला॥
Krishna roop tan varna vishala.
Pikar mad rahta matvala ||
Your body is huge and dark in colour. Having drunk wine, you stay in a state of rapture.
- Chaupai 5
रुद्र बटुक भक्तन के संगी।
प्रेत नाथ भूतेश भुजंगी॥
Rudra batuk bhaktan ke sangi.
Pret nath bhootesh bhujangi ||
You are Rudra, you are Batuk, the boy, and the companion of your devotees. You are lord of the pretas, master of the bhutas, and you wear serpents.
- Chaupai 6
त्रैल तेश है नाम तुम्हारा।
चक्र तुण्ड अमरेश पियारा॥
Trail tesh hai naam tumhara.
Chakra tunda amresh piyara ||
Trailatesh is your name; you are also called Chakratund and the beloved Amaresh. (No source explains these names; the temple booklet reads ‘Chakradand’ for ‘Chakratund’.)
- Chaupai 7
शेखरचंद्र कपाल बिराजे।
स्वान सवारी पै प्रभु गाजे॥
Shekharchandra kapal biraje.
Svan savari pai prabhu gaje ||
The moon shines like a crest on your brow. Riding on a dog, the Lord roars.
- Chaupai 8
शिव नकुलेश चण्ड हो स्वामी।
बैजनाथ प्रभु नमो नमामी॥
Shiv nakulesh chanda ho svami.
Baigyath prabhu namo namami ||
O Master, you are Shiva, Nakulesh and Chanda. O Lord Baijnath (Vaidyanath), I bow to you again and again.
- Chaupai 9
अश्वनाथ क्रोधेश बखाने।
भैरों काल जगत ने जाने॥
Ashvanath krodhesh bakhane.
Bhairon kal jagat ne jane ||
You are praised as Ashvanath and Krodhesh, and the world knows you as Kaal Bhairav.
- Chaupai 10
गायत्री कहैं निमिष दिगम्बर।
जगन्नाथ उन्नत आडम्बर॥
Gayatri kahain nimish digambar.
Jagannath unnat aadambar ||
The Gayatri calls you Nimish and Digambar, clad in the sky. You are Jagannath, lord of the world, of lofty splendour.
- Chaupai 11
क्षेत्रपाल दसपाण कहाये।
मंजुल उमानन्द कहलाये॥
Kshetrapal daspan kahaye.
Manjul umananda kahlaye ||
You are called Kshetrapal, guardian of the land, and the ten-handed one. You are called the lovely Umanand, the joy of Uma.
- Chaupai 12
चक्रनाथ भक्तन हितकारी।
कहैं त्र्यम्बक सब नर नारी॥
Chakranath bhaktan hitkari.
Kahain tryambak sab nar nari ||
You are Chakranath, who does good to devotees. All men and women call you Tryambak, the three-eyed one.
- Chaupai 13
संहारक सुनन्द तव नामा।
करहु भक्त के पूरण कामा॥
Sanharak sunanda tav nama.
Karhu bhakta ke pooran kama ||
Samharak, the destroyer, and Sunand are your names. Bring your devotee’s wishes to fulfilment.
- Chaupai 14
नाथ पिशाचन के हो प्यारे।
संकट मेटहु सकल हमारे॥
Nath pishachan ke ho pyare.
Sankat metahu sakal hamare ||
O beloved lord of the pishachas, remove all our troubles.
- Chaupai 15
कृत्यायू सुन्दर आनन्दा।
भक्त जनन के काटहु फन्दा॥
Krityayoo sundar aananda.
Bhakta janan ke katahu phanda ||
You are Krityayu, beautiful and full of bliss. Cut the nooses that bind your devotees. (The sense of ‘Krityayu’ is not clear; the temple booklet reads ‘Katyayu’.)
- Chaupai 16
कारण लम्ब आप भय भंजन।
नमोनाथ जय जनमन रंजन॥
Karan lamba aap bhay bhanjan.
Namonath jay janman ranjan ||
You are ‘Karan Lamb’ and the breaker of fear. Salutations to you, Lord, and victory to you who delight people’s hearts. (The sense of ‘Karan Lamb’ is not clear.)
- Chaupai 17
हो तुम देव त्रिलोचन नाथा।
भक्त चरण में नावत माथा॥
Ho tum dev trilochan natha.
Bhakta charan mein navat matha ||
O God, you are the three-eyed Lord. Devotees bow their heads at your feet.
- Chaupai 18
त्वं अशतांग रुद्र के लाला।
महाकाल कालों के काला॥
Tvam ashtang rudra ke lala.
Mahakal kalon ke kala ||
You are Ashatang (Asitanga, one of the eight Bhairavas), the dear son of Rudra. You are Mahakal, the death of death itself. (The temple booklet prints ‘tum Ansitang’.)
- Chaupai 19
ताप विमोचन अरि दल नासा।
भाल चन्द्रमा करहि प्रकाशा॥
Tap vimochan ari dal nasa.
Bhal chandrama karhi prakasha ||
You free us from the heat of suffering and destroy the ranks of enemies. The moon on your forehead gives light.
- Chaupai 20
श्वेत काल अरु लाल शरीरा।
मस्तक मुकुट शीश पर चीरा॥
Shvet kal aru lal sharira.
Mastak mukut shish par chira ||
Your forms are white, black and red of body. A crown is on your brow and a turban (chira) on your head.
- Chaupai 21
काली के लाला बलधारी।
कहाँ तक शोभा कहूँ तुम्हारी॥
Kali ke lala baldhari.
Kahan tak shobha kahoon tumhari ||
O mighty son of Kali, how far can I describe your splendour?
- Chaupai 22
शंकर के अवतार कृपाला।
रहो चकाचक पी मद प्याला॥
Shankar ke avtar kripala.
Raho chakachak pi mad pyala ||
O merciful one, you are an incarnation of Shankar. Having drunk the cup of wine, you stay in high spirits.
- Chaupai 23
काशी के कुतवाल कहाओ।
बटुक नाथ चेटक दिखलाओ॥
Kashi ke kutval kahao.
Batuk nath chetak dikhlao ||
You are called the Kotwal of Kashi. O Batuknath, show your wonder.
- Chaupai 24
रवि के दिन जन भोग लगावें।
धूप दीप नैवेद्य चढ़ावें॥
Ravi ke din jan bhog lagaven.
Dhoop dip naivedya chadhaven ||
On Sundays, the text says, people offer you food and present incense, lamps and naivedya.
- Chaupai 25
दरशन करके भक्त सिहावें।
दारुड़ा की धार पिलावें॥
Darshan karke bhakta sihaven.
Daruda ki dhar pilaven ||
Seeing you, devotees are filled with delight, and they pour a stream of liquor (daruda) for you to drink.
- Chaupai 26
मठ में सुन्दर लटकत झावा।
सिद्ध कार्य कर भैरों बाबा॥
Math mein sundar latkat jhava.
Siddha karya kar bhairon baba ||
A fine jhava hangs in your shrine. O Bhairon Baba, bring our work to success.
- Chaupai 27
नाथ आपका यश नहीं थोड़ा।
कर में सुभग सुशोभित कोड़ा॥
Nath aapka yash nahin thoda.
Kar mein subhag sushobhit koda ||
O Lord, your glory is not small. A fine whip shines in your hand.
- Chaupai 28
कटि घूँघरा सुरीले बाजत।
कंचनमय सिंहासन राजत॥
Kati ghoonghara surile bajat.
Kanchanmay sinhasan rajat ||
Bells ring sweetly at your waist, and you sit on a golden throne.
- Chaupai 29
नर नारी सब तुमको ध्यावहिं।
मनवांछित इच्छाफल पावहिं॥
Nar nari sab tumko dhyavhin.
Manvanchhit ichchhaphal pavhin ||
The text says that all men and women meditate on you and gain the fruit their hearts desire.
- Chaupai 30
भोपा हैं आपके पुजारी।
करें आरती सेवा भारी॥
Bhopa hain aapke pujari.
Karein aarti seva bhari ||
The Bhopas are your priests; they perform your aarti and serve you devotedly. (In Rajasthan the priest-singers of folk deities are called Bhopas.)
- Chaupai 31
भैरव भात आपका गाऊँ।
बार बार पद शीश नवाऊँ॥
Bhairav bhat aapka gaoon.
Bar bar pad shish navaoon ||
O Bhairav, I sing the story of your bhat and bow my head at your feet again and again. (Bhat, also called mayra, is the set of gifts a brother brings to his sister’s home at a wedding in her family.)
- Chaupai 32
आपहि वारे छीजन धाये।
ऐलादी ने रूदन मचाये॥
Aapahi vare chhijan dhaye.
Ailadi ne roodan machaye ||
The sense of the first line is not clear; from the context it seems that you had gone away. Then Ailadi began to weep.
- Chaupai 33
बहन त्यागि भाई कहाँ जावे।
तो बिन को मोहि भात पिन्हावे॥
Bahan tyagi bhaee kahan jave.
To bin ko mohi bhat pinhave ||
(Ailadi says:) Where does a brother go, leaving his sister? Without you, who will bring me my bhat?
- Chaupai 34
रोये बटुक नाथ करुणा कर।
गये हिवारे में तुम जाकर॥
Roye batuk nath karuna kar.
Gaye hivare mein tum jakar ||
Moved to compassion, Batuknath wept, and you went into the Hivare. (Which place ‘Hivare’ means is not clear; the temple booklet reads ‘you fell into the Hivare’.)
- Chaupai 35
दुखित भई ऐलादी बाला।
तब हर का सिंहासन हाला॥
Dukhit bhaee ailadi bala.
Tab har ka sinhasan hala ||
When the young Ailadi grieved, the throne of Hara (Shiva) shook.
- Chaupai 36
समय ब्याह का जिस दिन आया।
प्रभु ने तुमको तुरत पठाया॥
Samay byah ka jis din aaya.
Prabhu ne tumko turat pathaya ||
On the day the wedding came, the Lord sent you at once.
- Chaupai 37
विष्णु कही मत विलम्ब लगाओ।
तीन दिवस को भैरव जाओ॥
Vishnu kahi mat vilamba lagao.
Teen divas ko bhairav jao ||
Vishnu said, “Do not delay. Go, Bhairav, for three days.”
- Chaupai 38
दल पठान संग लेकर धाया।
ऐलादी को भात पिन्हाया॥
Dal pathan sang lekar dhaya.
Ailadi ko bhat pinhaya ||
Taking a band of Pathans with you, you rushed there and gave Ailadi her bhat, the wedding gifts.
- Chaupai 39
पूरन आस बहन की कीनी।
सुर्ख चुन्दरी सिर धर दीनी॥
Pooran aas bahan ki kini.
Surkha chundari sir dhar dini ||
You fulfilled your sister’s hope and laid a red chunari (veil) over her head.
- Chaupai 40
भात भरा लौटे गुण ग्रामी।
नमो नमामी अन्तर्यामी॥
Bhat bhara laute gun grami.
Namo namami antaryami ||
Having brought the bhat, the treasury of virtues returned. Salutations again and again to you who dwell within all.
- Closing Doha 1
जय जय जय भैरव बटुक, स्वामी संकट टार।
कृपा दास पर कीजिए, शंकर के अवतार॥
Jay jay jay bhairav batuk, svami sankat tar.
Kripa das par kijie, shankar ke avtar ||
Victory to Batuk Bhairav. O Master, ward off our troubles. O incarnation of Shankar, be gracious to this servant.
- Closing Doha 2
जो यह चालीसा पढ़े, प्रेम सहित सत बार।
उस घर सर्वानन्द हों, वैभव बढ़ें अपार॥
Jo yah chalisa padhe, prem sahit sat bar.
Us ghar sarvananda hon, vaibhav badhen apar ||
The text says that in the home of one who reads this Chalisa a hundred times with love there is every joy, and prosperity grows without limit.
Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/batuk-bhairav-chalisa/
This is the text of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar, ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (2004, pp. 69 to 72), read from the page images and checked against the booklet ‘Shri Bhairav Chalisa’ of the Shri Batuk Bhairav temple, Nehru Park, New Delhi, and against Drik Panchang. In the second doha the book prints ‘bhajan’ and in chaupai 34 ‘main’ (I), both misprints; here they are ‘bhajun’ and ‘mein’ (into). The temple booklet differs in several places: in the first doha ‘Bhairav Chalisa padhun’ (I read) for ‘rachun’ (I compose); in the second doha ‘mujh das par kripa kar’ (be gracious to me, your servant), with no poet’s name; in chaupai 6 ‘Chakradand’; in chaupai 11 ‘Dashapani’; in chaupai 15 ‘Katyayu’; in chaupai 17 ‘ho tum Mesh Trilochan natha’; in chaupai 18 ‘tum Ansitang’; in chaupai 19 ‘tap mochan’; in chaupai 22 ‘rahahun chakachak’; in chaupai 25 ‘piyaven’; in chaupai 28 ‘kanchan ke singhasan’; in chaupai 34 ‘roye Batuknath karunakar, gire hivare mein tum jakar’; in chaupai 39 ‘sukh chanduri sir dhari dinhin’. After the fortieth chaupai the temple booklet has one more: ‘Main hun Prabhu bas tumhara chera, karun aapki sharan basera’ (I am only your servant, Lord; let me dwell in your refuge). Several names, such as Trailatesh, Chakratund, Krityayu and Karan Lamb, are not explained in any source, so the meanings keep them as names. We did not find the story of Ailadi and the bhat in any Purana; it appears to be a folk tale.
