- Chaupai 1
नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी।
नमो नमो अम्बे दुःख हरनी॥
Namo namo durge sukh karni.
Namo namo ambe duhkh harni ||
Salutations again and again to you, Durga, giver of happiness. Salutations again and again to you, Amba, remover of sorrow.
- Chaupai 2
निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी।
तिहूँ लोक फैली उजियारी॥
Nirankar hai jyoti tumhari.
Tihoon lok phaili ujiyari ||
Your light has no form, and its brightness spreads through all three worlds.
- Chaupai 3
शशि ललाट मुख महा विशाला।
नेत्र लाल भृकुटि विकराला॥
Shashi lalat mukh maha vishala.
Netra lal bhrikuti vikrala ||
The moon adorns your forehead and your face is vast. Your eyes are red and your brows are fierce.
- Chaupai 4
रूप मातु को अधिक सुहावे।
दरश करत जन अति सुख पावे॥
Roop matu ko adhik suhave.
Darash karat jan ati sukh pave ||
The Mother’s form is exceedingly lovely, and those who see her feel great joy.
- Chaupai 5
तुम संसार शक्ति लय कीना।
पालन हेतु अन्न धन दीना॥
Tum sansar shakti lay kina.
Palan hetu anna dhan dina ||
All the power of the world rests in you, and it is you who gave food and wealth to sustain it.
- Chaupai 6
अन्नपूर्णा हुई जग पाला।
तुम ही आदि सुन्दरी बाला॥
Annapoorna hui jag pala.
Tum hi aadi sundari bala ||
As Annapurna you nourish the world. You are the primal Sundari and the youthful Bala.
- Chaupai 7
प्रलयकाल सब नाशन हारी।
तुम गौरी शिव शंकर प्यारी॥
Pralaykal sab nashan hari.
Tum gauri Shiv shankar pyari ||
At the time of dissolution it is you who bring all things to an end. You are Gauri, beloved of Shiva Shankar.
- Chaupai 8
शिव योगी तुम्हरे गुण गावें।
ब्रह्मा विष्णु तुम्हें नित ध्यावें॥
Shiv yogi tumhare gun gaven.
Brahma Vishnu tumhen nit dhyaven ||
Shiva and the yogis sing your virtues, and Brahma and Vishnu meditate on you every day.
- Chaupai 9
रूप सरस्वती को तुम धारा।
दे सुबुद्धि ऋषि मुनिन उबारा॥
Roop sarasvati ko tum dhara.
De subuddhi rishi munin ubara ||
You took the form of Saraswati and uplifted the rishis and munis by giving them right understanding.
- Chaupai 10
धरा रूप नरसिंह को अम्बा।
परगट भई फाड़ कर खम्बा॥
Dhara roop narsinh ko amba.
Pargat bhaee phad kar khamba ||
O Amba, it was you who took the form of Narasimha and came forth by splitting open the pillar.
- Chaupai 11
रक्षा करि प्रह्लाद बचायो।
हिरणाकुश को स्वर्ग पठायो॥
Raksha kari prahlad bachayo.
Hirnakush ko svarga pathayo ||
You protected and saved Prahlad, and by slaying Hiranyakashipu (Hiranakush) you sent him to heaven.
- Chaupai 12
लक्ष्मी रूप धरो जग माहीं।
श्री नारायण अंग समाहीं॥
Lakshmi roop dharo jag mahin.
Shri narayan ang samahin ||
In the world you took the form of Lakshmi, and you abide as one with Shri Narayan (Vishnu).
- Chaupai 13
क्षीरसिन्धु में करत विलासा।
दयासिन्धु दीजै मन आसा॥
Kshirsindhu mein karat vilasa.
Dayasindhu dijai man aasa ||
You dwell joyfully in the ocean of milk. O ocean of compassion, grant the hope of my heart.
- Chaupai 14
हिंगलाज में तुम्हीं भवानी।
महिमा अमित न जात बखानी॥
Hingalaj mein tumhin bhavani.
Mahima amit na jat bakhani ||
At Hinglaj it is you who are Bhavani. Your glory is boundless and cannot be put into words. (The well-known Hinglaj Mata shrine is in Balochistan, Pakistan.)
- Chaupai 15
मातंगी धूमावति माता।
भुवनेश्वरी बगला सुख दाता॥
Matangi dhoomavti mata.
Bhuvneshvari bagla sukh data ||
You are Matangi, Mother Dhumavati, Bhuvaneshvari and Bagala (Bagalamukhi), the giver of happiness. By tradition these names are counted among the ten Mahavidyas.
- Chaupai 16
श्री भैरव तारा जग तारिणी।
छिन्न भाल भव दुःख निवारिणी॥
Shri bhairav tara jag tarini.
Chhinna bhal bhav duhkh nivarini ||
You are Bhairavi, and Tara who carries the world across. With severed head, as Chhinnamasta, you remove the sorrows of worldly life.
- Chaupai 17
केहरि वाहन सोह भवानी।
लांगुर वीर चलत अगवानी॥
Kehri vahan soh bhavani.
Langur vir chalat agvani ||
O Bhavani, you shine upon your lion, and the hero Langur walks ahead of you. (In folk tradition Langur Veer is taken to be Hanuman or Bhairav.)
- Chaupai 18
कर में खप्पर खड्ग विराजे।
जाको देख काल डर भाजे॥
Kar mein khappar khadga viraje.
Jako dekh kal dar bhaje ||
The skull-bowl and the sword shine in your hands; at the sight of them even Kaal, Death himself, flees in fear.
- Chaupai 19
सोहै अस्त्र और त्रिशूला।
जाते उठत शत्रु हिय शूला॥
Sohai astra aur trishoola.
Jaate uthat shatru hiy shoola ||
Weapons and the trident adorn you, and they raise a stabbing pain in the hearts of enemies.
- Chaupai 20
नगरकोट में तुम्हीं विराजत।
तिहूँ लोक में डंका बाजत॥
Nagarkot mein tumhin virajat.
Tihoon lok mein danka bajat ||
It is you who reside at Nagarkot (Kangra in Himachal Pradesh), and your drum of victory sounds through the three worlds.
- Chaupai 21
शुम्भ निशुम्भ दानव तुम मारे।
रक्तबीज शंखन संहारे॥
Shumbha nishumbha danav tum mare.
Raktabij shankhan sanhare ||
You slew the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha and destroyed Raktabija in his countless forms. (These stories are in chapters 8 to 10 of the Durga Saptashati.)
- Chaupai 22
महिषासुर नृप अति अभिमानी।
जेहि अघ भार मही अकुलानी॥
Mahishasur nrip ati abhimani.
Jehi agh bhar mahi akulani ||
Mahishasura, king of the asuras, was full of pride, and the earth was in distress under the weight of his sins.
- Chaupai 23
रूप कराल कालिका धारा।
सेन सहित तुम तिहि संहारा॥
Roop karal kalika dhara.
Sen sahit tum tihi sanhara ||
You took the terrible form of Kalika and destroyed him together with his army. (The story of Mahishasura is in chapters 2 to 4 of the Durga Saptashati.)
- Chaupai 24
परी गाढ़ सन्तन पर जब जब।
भई सहाय मातु तुम तब तब॥
Pari gadh santan par jab jab.
Bhaee sahay matu tum tab tab ||
Whenever grave trouble fell upon the good, then, O Mother, you came to their help.
- Chaupai 25
अमरपुरी अरु बासव लोका।
तव महिमा सब रहें अशोका॥
Amarpuri aru basav loka.
Tav mahima sab rahen ashoka ||
Amarapuri, the city of the gods, and the realm of Indra (Vasava) all remain free of sorrow through your glory.
- Chaupai 26
ज्वाला में है ज्योति तुम्हारी।
तुम्हें सदा पूजें नर नारी॥
Jvala mein hai jyoti tumhari.
Tumhen sada poojen nar nari ||
Your light burns at Jwala (Jwalamukhi), and men and women always worship you. (By tradition the flames at the Jwalamukhi temple in Himachal Pradesh are worshipped as the Goddess.)
- Chaupai 27
प्रेम भक्ति से जो यश गावै।
दुःख दारिद्र निकट नहिं आवें॥
Prem bhakti se jo yash gavai.
Duhkh daridra nikat nahin aaven ||
The text says that sorrow and poverty do not come near one who sings your glory with love and devotion.
- Chaupai 28
ध्यावे तुम्हें जो नर मन लाई।
जन्म-मरण ताकौ छुटि जाई॥
Dhyave tumhen jo nar man laee.
Janma-maran takau chhuti jaee ||
It also says that whoever meditates on you with a settled mind is released from the round of birth and death.
- Chaupai 29
जोगी सुर मुनि कहत पुकारी।
योग न हो बिन शक्ति तुम्हारी॥
Jogi sur muni kahat pukari.
Yog na ho bin shakti tumhari ||
Yogis, gods and sages declare aloud that without your power yoga cannot be accomplished.
- Chaupai 30
शंकर आचारज तप कीनो।
काम अरु क्रोध जीति सब लीनो॥
Shankar aacharaj tap kino.
Kaam aru krodh jiti sab lino ||
Shankaracharya practised austerity and conquered desire and anger entirely. (The episode up to chaupai 34 is given as the Chalisa tells it; by tradition he is understood to be Adi Shankaracharya.)
- Chaupai 31
निशिदिन ध्यान धरो शंकर को।
काहु काल नहिं सुमिरो तुमको॥
Nishidin dhyaan dharo shankar ko.
Kahu kal nahin sumiro tumko ||
Day and night he meditated on Shankar (Shiva), but never once did he remember you.
- Chaupai 32
शक्ति रूप को मरम न पायो।
शक्ति गई तब मन पछितायो॥
Shakti roop ko maram na payo.
Shakti gayi tab man pachhitayo ||
He did not grasp the secret of Shakti. When his power left him, his heart was filled with regret.
- Chaupai 33
शरणागत हुई कीर्ति बखानी।
जय जय जय जगदम्ब भवानी॥
Sharnagat hui kirti bakhani.
Jay jay jay jagdamba bhavani ||
Then, taking refuge in you, he sang your praise: “Victory, victory, victory to Jagadamba Bhavani!”
- Chaupai 34
भई प्रसन्न आदि जगदम्बा।
दई शक्ति नहिं कीन विलम्बा॥
Bhaee prasanna aadi jagdamba.
Daee shakti nahin kin vilamba ||
The primal Mother of the world was pleased, and without any delay she gave him back his power.
- Chaupai 35
मोको मातु कष्ट अति घेरो।
तुम बिन कौन हरै दुःख मेरो॥
Moko matu kashta ati ghero.
Tum bin kaun harai duhkh mero ||
O Mother, heavy troubles surround me. Who but you can take my sorrow away?
- Chaupai 36
आशा तृष्णा निपट सतावै।
रिपु मूरख मोहि अति डरपावै॥
Aasha trishna nipat satavai.
Ripu moorakh mohi ati darpavai ||
Hope and craving torment me sorely, and foolish enemies frighten me greatly.
- Chaupai 37
शत्रु नाश कीजै महारानी।
सुमिरौं इकचित तुम्हें भवानी॥
Shatru nash kijai maharani.
Sumiraun ikchit tumhen bhavani ||
O great Queen, destroy my enemies. O Bhavani, I remember you with an undivided mind.
- Chaupai 38
करो कृपा हे मातु दयाला।
ऋद्धि-सिद्धि दे करहु निहाला॥
Karo kripa he matu dayala.
Riddhi-siddhi de karhu nihala ||
Be gracious, O compassionate Mother: grant me prosperity and accomplishment, and make my life complete.
- Chaupai 39
जब लगि जियौं दया फल पाऊँ।
तुम्हरो यश मैं सदा सुनाऊँ॥
Jab lagi jiyaun daya phal paoon.
Tumharo yash main sada sunaoon ||
As long as I live, may I receive the fruit of your kindness, and may I always tell of your glory.
- Chaupai 40
दुर्गा चालीसा जो कोई गावै।
सब सुख भोग परमपद पावै॥
Durga chalisa jo koee gavai.
Sab sukh bhog parampad pavai ||
The text says that whoever sings the Durga Chalisa enjoys every happiness and reaches the highest state (moksha).
- Closing Chaupai
देवीदास शरण निज जानी।
करहु कृपा जगदम्ब भवानी॥
Devidas sharan nij jani.
Karhu kripa jagdamba bhavani ||
O Jagadamba Bhavani, knowing Devidas to have come to your shelter, be gracious to him. (‘Devidas’ may be the poet’s signature; the word also simply means ‘servant of the Goddess’.)
This is the text on which most printed books and online collections agree; where the sources are evenly split, the reading of the Gita Press, Gorakhpur booklet (code 1033) is taken. Gita Press uses an older spelling, such as ‘sakti’, ‘Sankar’, ‘birajai’ and ‘jas’. The main variant readings: in chaupai 1 several sources read ‘namo namo Durge dukh harni’; some have ‘nirakar’ for ‘nirankar’; in chaupai 11 many websites read ‘Hiranyaksh’, but all three printed books, including Gita Press, read ‘Hiranakush’ (Hiranyakashipu), and according to the Bhagavata Purana (7.8) Narasimha slew Hiranyakashipu, while Hiranyaksha was killed by Varaha (3.19). In chaupai 15 several sources read ‘Matangi aru Dhumavati Mata’; in chaupai 23 the printed books have ‘Kali ko dhara’; in chaupai 25 Gita Press reads ‘amar puri auron sab loka’, and most websites print ‘tab’ (then) in place of ‘tav’ (your); in chaupai 33 Gita Press reads ‘saranagat hvai’; in chaupai 36 many sources give the second line as ‘moh madadik sab binashaven’; in chaupai 40 you will also find ‘jo gavai’, ‘jo nit gavai’ or ‘jo jan gavai’ in place of ‘jo koi gavai’. Some editions end with this doha: ‘Sharanagat raksha kare, bhakt rahe nihshank. Main aaya teri sharan mein, Matu lijiye ank’. Gita Press and most other sources do not have it. The closing chaupai carries the name ‘Devidas’, which may be the poet’s signature; no reliable information about the author is available.
