- Doha
जय गणपति सद्गुण सदन, करिवर बदन कृपाल।
विघ्न हरण मंगल करण, जय जय गिरिजालाल॥
Jay ganapti sadgun sadan, karivar badan kripal.
Vighna haran mangal karan, jay jay girijalal ||
Victory to Ganapati, home of every virtue, the gracious one with the face of a noble elephant. Remover of obstacles, maker of all that is good, victory, victory to Girija’s (Parvati’s) son.
- Chaupai 1
जय जय जय गणपति गणराजू।
मंगल भरण करण शुभ काजू॥
Jay jay jay ganapti ganrajoo.
Mangal bharan karan shubh kajoo ||
Victory, victory, victory to Ganapati, king of the ganas, who fills life with good and brings good work to completion.
- Chaupai 2
जय गजबदन सदन सुखदाता।
विश्व विनायक बुद्धि विधाता॥
Jay gajabdan sadan sukhdata.
Vishva vinayak buddhi vidhata ||
Victory to the elephant-faced one, home and giver of happiness, Vinayak of the world and the giver of wisdom.
- Chaupai 3
वक्र तुण्ड शुचि शुण्ड सुहावन।
तिलक त्रिपुण्ड भाल मन भावन॥
Vakra tunda shuchi shunda suhavan.
Tilak tripunda bhal man bhavan ||
Your curved face and pure trunk are lovely, and the three-line tilak on your forehead delights the heart.
- Chaupai 4
राजित मणि मुक्तन उर माला।
स्वर्ण मुकुट सिर नयन विशाला॥
Rajit mani muktan ur mala.
Svarna mukut sir nayan vishala ||
A garland of jewels and pearls shines on your chest; a golden crown is on your head, and your eyes are large.
- Chaupai 5
पुस्तक पाणि कुठार त्रिशूलं।
मोदक भोग सुगन्धित फूलं॥
Pustak pani kuthar trishoolam.
Modak bhog sugandhit phoolam ||
In your hands are a book, an axe and a trident; modaks are offered to you, with fragrant flowers.
- Chaupai 6
सुन्दर पीताम्बर तन साजित।
चरण पादुका मुनि मन राजित॥
Sundar pitambar tan sajit.
Charan paduka muni man rajit ||
Fine yellow silk adorns your body, and your sandalled feet dwell in the minds of the sages.
- Chaupai 7
धनि शिव सुवन षडानन भ्राता।
गौरी ललन विश्व-विख्याता॥
Dhani Shiv suvan shadanan bhrata.
Gauri lalan vishva-vikhyata ||
Blessed are you, son of Shiva and brother of six-faced Kartikeya; darling of Gauri, famous throughout the world.
- Chaupai 8
ऋद्धि-सिद्धि तव चँवर सुधारे।
मूषक वाहन सोहत द्वारे॥
Riddhi-siddhi tav chanvar sudhare.
Mooshak vahan sohat dvare ||
Riddhi and Siddhi wave the chamar fan over you, and your mouse vehicle waits in splendour at the door.
- Chaupai 9
कहौं जन्म शुभ कथा तुम्हारी।
अति शुचि पावन मंगलकारी॥
Kahaun janma shubh katha tumhari.
Ati shuchi pavan mangalkari ||
Now I tell the auspicious story of your birth, which is very pure, holy and full of blessing.
- Chaupai 10
एक समय गिरिराज कुमारी।
पुत्र हेतु तप कीन्हा भारी॥
Ek samay giriraj kumari.
Putra hetu tap kinha bhari ||
Once the daughter of the king of mountains (Parvati) performed great penance to have a son.
- Chaupai 11
भयो यज्ञ जब पूर्ण अनूपा।
तब पहुँच्यो तुम धरि द्विज रूपा॥
Bhayo yagya jab poorna anoopa.
Tab pahunchyo tum dhari dvij roopa ||
When her matchless sacrifice was complete, you arrived there in the form of a brahmin.
- Chaupai 12
अतिथि जानि के गौरी सुखारी।
बहु विधि सेवा करी तुम्हारी॥
Atithi jani ke gauri sukhari.
Bahu vidhi seva kari tumhari ||
Gauri was glad to have a guest and served you in many ways.
- Chaupai 13
अति प्रसन्न ह्वै तुम वर दीन्हा।
मातु पुत्र हित जो तप कीन्हा॥
Ati prasanna hvai tum var dinha.
Matu putra hit jo tap kinha ||
Greatly pleased, you gave her a boon: “Mother, for the penance you have done to have a son,
- Chaupai 14
मिलहि पुत्र तुहि, बुद्धि विशाला।
बिना गर्भ धारण यहि काला॥
Milhi putra tuhi, buddhi vishala.
Bina garbha dharan yahi kala ||
you will have a son of great wisdom, at this very time, without carrying him in the womb.
- Chaupai 15
गणनायक गुण ज्ञान निधाना।
पूजित प्रथम रूप भगवाना॥
Gannayak gun gyaan nidhana.
Poojit pratham roop bhagvana ||
He will be leader of the ganas, a treasury of virtue and knowledge, worshipped first of all, a form of God.”
- Chaupai 16
अस कहि अन्तर्धान रूप ह्वै।
पलना पर बालक स्वरूप ह्वै॥
As kahi antardhan roop hvai.
Palna par balak svaroop hvai ||
Saying this you vanished, and appeared as a baby in the cradle.
- Chaupai 17
बनि शिशु रुदन जबहिं तुम ठाना।
लखि मुख सुख नहिं गौरी समाना॥
Bani shishu rudan jabahin tum thana.
Lakhi mukh sukh nahin gauri samana ||
When, as a baby, you began to cry, Gauri looked at your face and could not contain her joy.
- Chaupai 18
सकल मगन सुख मंगल गावहिं।
नभ ते सुरन सुमन वर्षावहिं॥
Sakal magan sukh mangal gavhin.
Nabh te suran suman varshavhin ||
Everyone was lost in joy and sang songs of celebration, and the gods rained flowers from the sky.
- Chaupai 19
शम्भु उमा बहु दान लुटावहिं।
सुर मुनिजन सुत देखन आवहिं॥
Shambhu uma bahu daan lutavhin.
Sur munijan sut dekhan aavhin ||
Shambhu and Uma gave gifts freely, and gods and sages came to see the son.
- Chaupai 20
लखि अति आनन्द मंगल साजा।
देखन भी आये शनि राजा॥
Lakhi ati aananda mangal saja.
Dekhan bhi aaye shani raja ||
Seeing such joy and festivity, King Shani too came to see the child.
- Chaupai 21
निज अवगुण गुनि शनि मन माहीं।
बालक देखन चाहत नाहीं॥
Nij avgun guni shani man mahin.
Balak dekhan chahat nahin ||
But thinking of his own flaw (the harm his gaze could do), Shani did not want to look at the child.
- Chaupai 22
गिरिजा कछु मन भेद बढ़ायो।
उत्सव मोर न शनि तुहि भायो॥
Girija kachhu man bhed badhayo.
Utsav mor na shani tuhi bhayo ||
This hurt Girija a little, and she said, “Shani, my celebration does not please you.”
- Chaupai 23
कहन लगे शनि मन सकुचाई।
का करिहौ शिशु मोहि दिखाई॥
Kahan lage shani man sakuchaee.
Ka karihau shishu mohi dikhaee ||
Shani, embarrassed, replied: “What will you gain by showing me the child?”
- Chaupai 24
नहिं विश्वास उमा उर भयऊ।
शनि सों बालक देखन कह्यऊ॥
Nahin vishvas uma ur bhayaoo.
Shani son balak dekhan kahyaoo ||
Uma did not believe him, and asked Shani to look at the child.
- Chaupai 25
पड़तहिं शनि दृग कोण प्रकाशा।
बालक सिर उड़ि गयो अकाशा॥
Padtahin shani drig kon prakasha.
Balak sir udi gayo akasha ||
The moment the glance from the corner of Shani’s eye fell on him, the child’s head flew off into the sky.
- Chaupai 26
गिरिजा गिरी विकल ह्वै धरणी।
सो दुख दशा गयो नहिं वरणी॥
Girija giri vikal hvai dharni.
So dukh dasha gayo nahin varni ||
Girija fell to the ground in anguish. That grief is beyond words.
- Chaupai 27
हाहाकार मच्यो कैलाशा।
शनि कीन्ह्यो लखि सुत का नाशा॥
Hahakar machyo kailasha.
Shani kinhyo lakhi sut ka nasha ||
Cries of grief filled Kailash: with a glance Shani had destroyed the son.
- Chaupai 28
तुरत गरुड़ चढ़ि विष्णु सिधाये।
काटि चक्र सो गज सिर लाये॥
Turat garud chadhi Vishnu sidhaye.
Kati chakra so gaj sir laye ||
At once Vishnu set off on Garuda, cut off an elephant’s head with his discus and brought it back.
- Chaupai 29
बालक के धड़ ऊपर धार्यो।
प्राण मन्त्र पढ़ शंकर डार्यो॥
Balak ke dhad oopar dharyo.
Pran mantra padh shankar daryo ||
He set it on the child’s body, and Shankar, reciting the mantra of life, breathed life into him.
- Chaupai 30
नाम गणेश शम्भु तब कीन्हे।
प्रथम पूज्य बुद्धि निधि वर दीन्हे॥
Naam Ganesh shambhu tab kinhe.
Pratham poojya buddhi nidhi var dinhe ||
Then Shambhu named him Ganesh, and gave him the boon of being worshipped first and being a treasury of wisdom.
- Chaupai 31
बुद्धि परीक्षा जब शिव कीन्हा।
पृथ्वी कर प्रदक्षिणा लीन्हा॥
Buddhi pariksha jab Shiv kinha.
Prithvi kar pradakshina linha ||
When Shiva tested the wisdom of his sons, he set them to go round the earth.
- Chaupai 32
चले षडानन भरमि भुलाई।
रचे बैठ तुम बुद्धि उपाई॥
Chale shadanan bharmi bhulaee.
Rache baith tum buddhi upaee ||
Shadanan (Kartikeya) rushed off, misled, while you sat and thought of a wise plan.
- Chaupai 33
चरण मातु-पितु के धर लीन्हें।
तिनके सात प्रदक्षिण कीन्हें॥
Charan matu-pitu ke dhar linhen.
Tinke saat pradakshin kinhen ||
You took hold of your mother’s and father’s feet and went round them seven times.
- Chaupai 34
धनि गणेश कहि शिव हिय हर्ष्यो।
नभ ते सुरन सुमन बहु वर्ष्यो॥
Dhani Ganesh kahi Shiv hiy harshyo.
Nabh te suran suman bahu varshyo ||
“Blessed are you, Ganesh,” said Shiva, glad at heart, and the gods showered flowers from the sky.
- Chaupai 35
तुम्हरी महिमा बुद्धि बड़ाई।
शेष सहस मुख सके न गाई॥
Tumhari mahima buddhi badaee.
Shesh sahas mukh sake na gaee ||
Even thousand-mouthed Shesha cannot sing the full glory of your greatness and wisdom.
- Chaupai 36
मैं मतिहीन मलीन दुखारी।
करहुँ कौन विधि विनय तुम्हारी॥
Main matihin malin dukhari.
Karhun kaun vidhi vinay tumhari ||
I am dull, impure and unhappy. How can I pray to you as I should?
- Chaupai 37
भजत रामसुन्दर प्रभुदासा।
लग प्रयाग ककरा दुर्वासा॥
Bhajat ramsundar prabhudasa.
Lag prayag kakra durvasa ||
The Lord’s servant Ramsundar sings your praise; he lives near Prayag, at Kakra, by the ashram of Durvasa.
- Chaupai 38
अब प्रभु दया दीन पर कीजै।
अपनी भक्ति शक्ति कुछ दीजै॥
Ab prabhu daya din par kijai.
Apni bhakti shakti kuchh dijai ||
Now, Lord, have mercy on this humble one, and give me something of devotion to you and of your strength.
- Closing Doha 1
श्री गणेश यह चालीसा, पाठ करै धर ध्यान।
नित नव मंगल गृह बसै, लहै जगत सन्मान॥
Shri Ganesh yah chalisa, path karai dhar dhyaan.
Nit nav mangal grih basai, lahai jagat sanman ||
The text says that whoever recites this Chalisa of Shri Ganesh with attention has fresh blessings in the home every day and earns respect in the world.
- Closing Doha 2
सम्वत् अपन सहस्र दश, ऋषि पंचमी दिनेश।
पूरण चालीसा भयो, मंगल मूर्ति गणेश॥
Samvat apan sahasra dash, rishi panchami dinesh.
Pooran chalisa bhayo, mangal moorti Ganesh ||
This doha dates the work: the Chalisa of Ganesh, the image of all good, was completed on Rishi Panchami, on a Sunday (dinesh). The first line gives the Samvat year, but its words differ between sources, so the year cannot be fixed.
The text was compared word by word with two printed books (Randhir Prakashan’s ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’, Haridwar, and ‘Ramayan (Manka 108)’ of Shri Madhva Math, Daraganj, Prayag), a booklet of the Santoshi Mata temple at Pushkar, and two families of web texts. Where the two books agree, their reading is taken; elsewhere the majority reading. The main variant readings: in the first doha ‘karivar badan’ (elephant-faced) is the reading of the printed books, while most websites read ‘kavivar badan’; in chaupai 4 ‘rajat’; in chaupai 7 ‘vishva-vidhata’; in chaupai 17 ‘thani … samani’; in chaupai 24 ‘nahin paritosh’ and ‘Uma kar bhayau’; in chaupai 27 ‘sut ko nasha’; in chaupai 31 ‘prithvi ki pradakshina’; in chaupai 34 ‘harashe … barase’; in chaupai 37 ‘jag Prayag’ and ‘lakh Prayag’ in place of ‘lag Prayag’; in chaupai 38 ‘shakti bhakti’. Two books from Kolkata have this chaupai in place of chaupai 33: ‘“Ram” nam likhi mahi par anka. Sat bhanvar di kari nahin shanka’. In the last doha many sources print ‘sambandh’ in place of ‘samvat’, and the next word appears as ‘apan’, ‘apna’ and ‘apne’. The ‘Ganesh Chalisa’ of Mahamaya Publications, Jalandhar, is a different composition; no Gita Press edition of this chalisa was found.
