- Doha
श्री भैरव संकट हरन, मंगल करन कृपालु।
करहु दया निज दास पे, निशिदिन दीनदयालु॥
Shri bhairav sankat haran, mangal karan kripalu.
Karhu daya nij das pe, nishidin dinadyalu ||
O Shri Bhairav, remover of troubles, bringer of good, merciful one! Friend of the lowly, be kind to this servant of yours night and day.
- Chaupai 1
जय डमरूधर नयन विशाला।
श्याम वर्ण, वपु महा कराला॥
Jay damroodhar nayan vishala.
Shyam varna, vapu maha karala ||
Victory to the bearer of the damaru, with great wide eyes; your complexion is dark and your form most fearsome.
- Chaupai 2
जय त्रिशूलधर जय डमरूधर।
काशी कोतवाल, संकटहर॥
Jay trishooldhar jay damroodhar.
Kashi kotval, sankatahar ||
Victory to the bearer of the trident, victory to the bearer of the damaru, kotwal (guardian) of Kashi and remover of troubles.
- Chaupai 3
जय गिरिजासुत परमकृपाला।
संकटहरण, हरहु भ्रमजाला॥
Jay girijasut paramkripala.
Sankatahran, harhu bhramjala ||
Victory to you, son of Girija, most merciful. O remover of troubles, tear away the net of my delusion.
- Chaupai 4
जयति बटुक भैरव भयहारी।
जयति काल भैरव बलधारी॥
Jayti batuk bhairav bhayhari.
Jayti kal bhairav baldhari ||
Victory to Batuk Bhairav, who takes away fear; victory to Kaal Bhairav, the mighty.
- Chaupai 5
अष्टरूप तुम्हरे सब गायें।
सफल एक ते एक सिवाये॥
Ashtaroop tumhare sab gayen.
Saphal ek te ek sivaye ||
All sing of your eight forms, each more fruitful than the last.
- Chaupai 6
शिवस्वरूप शिव के अनुगामी।
गणाधीश तुम सबके स्वामी॥
Shivasvaroop Shiv ke anugami.
Ganadhish tum sabke svami ||
You are a form of Shiva and his follower; you are lord of the ganas and master of all.
- Chaupai 7
जटाजूट पर मुकुट सुहावै।
भालचन्द्र अति शोभा पावै॥
Jatajoot par mukut suhavai.
Bhalchandra ati shobha pavai ||
A crown graces your matted locks, and the moon on your forehead shines with great beauty.
- Chaupai 8
कटि करधनी घुँघुरू बाजैं।
दर्शन करत सकल भय भाजैं॥
Kati karadhni ghunghuroo bajain.
Darshan karat sakal bhay bhajain ||
The bells on the girdle at your waist jingle; at the sight of you all fears run away.
- Chaupai 9
कर त्रिशूल डमरू अति सुन्दर।
मोरपंख को चंवर मनोहर॥
Kar trishool damroo ati sundar.
Morpankh ko chanvar manohar ||
In your hands are a beautiful trident and damaru, and a lovely whisk of peacock feathers.
- Chaupai 10
खप्पर खड्ग लिए बलवाना।
रूप चतुर्भुज नाथ बखाना॥
Khappar khadga liye balvana.
Roop chaturbhuj nath bakhana ||
Mighty one, you carry a skull-bowl and a sword. O Lord, your four-armed form is praised.
- Chaupai 11
वाहन श्वान सदा सुखरासी।
तुम अनन्त प्रभु तुम अविनासी॥
Vahan shvan sada sukhrasi.
Tum ananta prabhu tum avinasi ||
The dog is your mount; you are ever a treasury of joy. Lord, you are endless and imperishable.
- Chaupai 12
जय जय जय भैरव भय भंजन।
जय कृपालु भक्तन मनरंजन॥
Jay jay jay bhairav bhay bhanjan.
Jay kripalu bhaktan manranjan ||
Victory, victory, victory to Bhairav, destroyer of fear; victory to the merciful one who gladdens his devotees’ hearts.
- Chaupai 13
नयन विशाल लाल अति भारी।
रक्तवर्ण तुम अहहु पुरारी॥
Nayan vishal lal ati bhari.
Raktavarna tum ahhu purari ||
Your eyes are wide and deep red. O Purari (Shiva), your colour is blood-red.
- Chaupai 14
बं बं बं बोलत दिनराती।
शिव कहँ भजहु असुर आराती॥
Bam bam bam bolat dinrati.
Shiv kahan bhajahu asur aarati ||
Day and night, chanting ‘bam bam bam’, you worship Shiva; you are the enemy of demons.
- Chaupai 15
एकरूप तुम शम्भु कहाये।
दूजे भैरव रूप बनाये॥
Ekroop tum shambhu kahaye.
Dooje bhairav roop banaye ||
In one form you are called Shambhu; in the other you became Bhairav.
- Chaupai 16
सेवक तुमहिं तुमहिं प्रभु स्वामी।
सब जग के तुम अन्तर्यामी॥
Sevak tumhin tumhin prabhu svami.
Sab jag ke tum antaryami ||
You are the servant and you are the Lord and master; you dwell within the whole world.
- Chaupai 17
रक्तवर्ण वपु अहहि तुम्हारा।
श्यामवर्ण कहुँ होइ प्रचारा॥
Raktavarna vapu ahhi tumhara.
Shyamvarna kahun hoi prachara ||
Your body is described as red, and in some places it is spoken of as dark.
- Chaupai 18
श्वेतवर्ण पुनि कहा बखानी।
तीनि वर्ण तुम्हरे गुणखानी॥
Shvetvarna puni kaha bakhani.
Tini varna tumhare gunkhani ||
And again it is described as white. O treasury of virtues, you have three colours.
- Chaupai 19
तीनि नयन प्रभु परम सुहावहिं।
सुरनर मुनि सब ध्यान लगावहिं॥
Tini nayan prabhu param suhavhin.
Surnar muni sab dhyaan lagavhin ||
Your three eyes are most lovely, Lord; gods, humans and sages all meditate on you.
- Chaupai 20
व्याघ्र चर्मधर तुम जग स्वामी।
प्रेतनाथ तुम पूर्ण अकामी॥
Vyaghra charmadhar tum jag svami.
Pretnath tum poorna akami ||
You wear a tiger’s skin and are lord of the world; you are master of the spirits and wholly free of desire.
- Chaupai 21
चक्रनाथ नकुलेश प्रचण्डा।
निमिष दिगम्बर कीरति चण्डा॥
Chakranath nakulesh prachanda.
Nimish digambar kirti chanda ||
Chakranath, Nakulesh, the Fierce One, Nimish and Digambar are your names; your fame is mighty.
- Chaupai 22
क्रोधवत्स भूतेश कालधर।
चक्रतुण्ड दशबाहु व्यालधर॥
Krodhvatsa bhootesh kaldhar.
Chakratunda dashbahu vyaldhar ||
Krodhavatsa, Bhutesh, Kaladhar, Chakratunda, Dashabahu and Vyaladhar (bearer of serpents) are also your names.
- Chaupai 23
अहहिं कोटि प्रभु नाम तुम्हारे।
जपत सदा मेटत दुःख भारे॥
Ahhin koti prabhu naam tumhare.
Japat sada metat duhkh bhare ||
Lord, you have countless names. The Chalisa says that chanting them always removes heavy sorrows.
- Chaupai 24
चौंसठ योगिनी नाचहिं संगा।
क्रोधवान तुम अति रणरंगा॥
Chaunsath yogini nachhin sanga.
Krodhvan tum ati ranranga ||
The sixty-four yoginis dance with you; you are full of wrath and revel in battle.
- Chaupai 25
भूतनाथ तुम परम पुनीता।
तुम भविष्य तुम अहहु अतीता॥
Bhootnath tum param punita.
Tum bhavishya tum ahhu atita ||
O Lord of beings, you are supremely pure; you are the future and you are the past.
- Chaupai 26
वर्तमान तुम्हरो शुचि रूपा।
कालमयी तुम परम अनूपा॥
Vartaman tumharo shuchi roopa.
Kalamyi tum param anoopa ||
The present is your pure form; you are Time itself and beyond compare.
- Chaupai 27
ऐलादी को संकट टार्यो।
साद भक्त को कारज सार्यो॥
Ailadi ko sankat taryo.
Sad bhakta ko karaj saryo ||
You warded off Ailadi’s trouble and accomplished your devotee’s task. (The story of Ailadi, whose wedding gifts Bhairav brought because she had no brother to bring them, is told in the Shri Batuk Bhairav Chalisa.)
- Chaupai 28
कालीपुत्र कहावहु नाथा।
तब चरणन नावहुं नित माथा॥
Kaliputra kahavhu natha.
Tab charnan navhun nit matha ||
O Lord, you are called the son of Kali; so I bow my head at your feet every day.
- Chaupai 29
श्रीक्रोधेश कृपा विस्तारहु।
दीन जानि मोहि पार उतारहु॥
Shrikrodhesh kripa vistarhu.
Din jani mohi par utarhu ||
O Shri Krodhesh, spread your grace; knowing me to be helpless, carry me across (the ocean of the world).
- Chaupai 30
भवसागर बूढ़त दिनराती।
होहु कृपालु दुष्ट आराती॥
Bhavsagar boodhat dinrati.
Hohu kripalu dushta aarati ||
Day and night I am drowning in the ocean of worldly life. O enemy of the wicked, be merciful.
- Chaupai 31
सेवक जानि कृपा प्रभु कीजै।
मोहिं भगति अपनी अब दीजै॥
Sevak jani kripa prabhu kijai.
Mohin bhagti apni ab dijai ||
Lord, knowing me as your servant, be gracious and grant me devotion to you now.
- Chaupai 32
करहुँ सदा भैरव की सेवा।
तुम समान दूजो को देवा॥
Karhun sada bhairav ki seva.
Tum saman doojo ko deva ||
May I always serve Bhairav. What other god is like you?
- Chaupai 33
अश्वनाथ तुम परम मनोहर।
दुष्टन कहँ प्रभु अहहु भयंकर॥
Ashvanath tum param manohar.
Dushtan kahan prabhu ahhu bhayankar ||
O Ashvanath, you are most charming, yet terrible to the wicked.
- Chaupai 34
तुम्हरो दास जहाँ जो होई।
ताकहँ संकट परे न कोई॥
Tumharo das jahan jo hoee.
Takahan sankat pare na koee ||
The Chalisa says that wherever your servant may be, no trouble befalls him.
- Chaupai 35
हरहु नाथ तुम जन की पीरा।
तुम समान प्रभु को बलवीरा॥
Harhu nath tum jan ki pira.
Tum saman prabhu ko balvira ||
O Lord, take away your devotee’s pain. Who is as mighty a hero as you?
- Chaupai 36
सब अपराध क्षमा करि दीजै।
दीन जानि आपुन मोहिं कीजै॥
Sab apradh kshama kari dijai.
Din jani aapun mohin kijai ||
Forgive all my wrongs, and knowing me to be helpless, make me your own.
- Chaupai 37
जो यह पाठ करे चालीसा।
तापै कृपा करहु जगदीशा॥
Jo yah path kare chalisa.
Tapai kripa karhu jagdisha ||
O Lord of the world, be gracious to whoever recites this Chalisa.
- Closing Doha
जय भैरव जय भूतपति जय जय जय सुखकन्द।
करहु कृपा नित दास पे, देहु सदा आनन्द॥
Jay bhairav jay bhootapti jay jay jay sukhkanda.
Karhu kripa nit das pe, dehu sada aananda ||
Victory to Bhairav, victory to the lord of beings, victory to the root of all joy. Be gracious to your servant always, and grant him lasting joy.
This is the Chalisa that begins ‘Shri Bhairav sankat haran’, as printed in Randhir Prakashan’s ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (Haridwar, 2004, pages 64 to 67); Drik Panchang has the same text. It has 37 chaupais, yet it is called a ‘chalisa’. Variant readings (Drik Panchang): ‘sakal’ for ‘saphal’ in chaupai 5 (all the forms, each greater than the other), ‘kaljayi’ for ‘kalmayi’ in chaupai 26 (conqueror of time) and ‘tav charanan’ for ‘tab charanan’ in chaupai 28 (at your feet). The other copies of this text found online seem to be copied from Drik Panchang, since they repeat its misprint ‘jayat sada’ (for ‘japat sada’); so they are not counted as separate sources. Another Bhairav Chalisa, beginning ‘Shri Ganapati guru Gauri pad’ and ‘Jai jai Shri Kali ke lala’, is also widely sung; it is a different composition and is not given here. The Chalisa carries no poet’s name.
