- Doha
जय जय जय जग पावनी, जयति देवसरि गंग।
जय शिव जटा निवासिनी, अनुपम तुंग तरंग॥
Jay jay jay jag pavni, jayti devasri gang.
Jay Shiv jata nivasini, anupam tung tarang ||
Victory, victory to you, Ganga, river of the gods, who purify the world. Victory to you who dwell in Shiva’s matted hair, with your matchless towering waves.
- Chaupai 1
जय जग जननि हरण अघ खानी।
आनन्द करनि गंग महारानी॥
Jay jag janni haran agh khani.
Aananda karni gang maharani ||
Victory to you, mother of the world, who carry away heaps of sin: Queen Ganga, giver of joy.
- Chaupai 2
जय भागीरथि सुरसरि माता।
कलिमल मूल दलनि विख्याता॥
Jay bhagirthi surasri mata.
Kalimal mool dalni vikhyata ||
Victory to Mother Bhagirathi, the river of the gods, famed for crushing the very root of the impurities of the Kali age.
- Chaupai 3
जय जय जह्नु सुता अघ हननी।
भीषम की माता जग जननी॥
Jay jay jahnu suta agh hanni.
Bhisham ki mata jag janni ||
Victory to you, daughter of the sage Jahnu, destroyer of sin. You are the mother of Bhishma and the mother of the world.
- Chaupai 4
धवल कमल दल मम तनु साजे।
लखि शत शरद चन्द्र छवि लाजे॥
Dhaval kamal dal mam tanu saje.
Lakhi shat sharad chandra chhavi laje ||
Your body is adorned like the petals of a white lotus; seeing it, even the beauty of a hundred autumn moons is put to shame.
- Chaupai 5
वाहन मकर विमल शुचि सोहै।
अमिय कलश कर लखि मन मोहै॥
Vahan makar vimal shuchi sohai.
Amiy kalash kar lakhi man mohai ||
Your mount, the makara, gleams pure and spotless. The pitcher of nectar in your hand is a sight that charms the heart.
- Chaupai 6
जड़ित रत्न कंचन आभूषण।
हिय मणि हार, हरणितम दूषण॥
Jadit ratna kanchan aabhooshan.
Hiy mani har, harnitam dooshan ||
Your golden ornaments are set with jewels, and a necklace of gems lies on your breast. You remove darkness and every fault.
- Chaupai 7
जग पावनि त्रय ताप नसावनि।
तरल तरंग तुंग मन भावनि॥
Jag pavni tray tap nasavni.
Taral tarang tung man bhavni ||
You purify the world and end the three kinds of suffering. Your rippling, towering waves delight the heart.
- Chaupai 8
जो गणपति अति पूज्य प्रधाना।
तिहुँ ते प्रथम गंग अस्नाना॥
Jo ganapti ati poojya pradhana.
Tihun te pratham gang asnana ||
Ganapati is honoured first of all in worship; yet, the verse says, a bath in the Ganga comes even before him.
- Chaupai 9
ब्रह्म कमण्डल वासिनि देवी।
श्री प्रभु पद पंकज सुख सेवी॥
Brahma kamandal vasini devi.
Shri prabhu pad pankaj sukh sevi ||
O Goddess, you dwell in Brahma’s water-pot (kamandalu) and joyfully serve the lotus feet of the Lord (Vishnu).
- Chaupai 10
साठि सहस्र सगर सुत तारयो।
गंगा सागर तीरथ धारयो॥
Sathi sahasra sagar sut taryo.
Ganga sagar tirath dharyo ||
You set free the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara, and where you met the sea, the holy place of Gangasagar arose.
- Chaupai 11
अगम तरंग उठ्यो मन भावन।
लखि तीरथ हरिद्वार सुहावन॥
Agam tarang uthyo man bhavan.
Lakhi tirath haridvar suhavan ||
Your deep and lovely waves rise high; at the beautiful holy town of Haridwar, the sight gladdens the heart.
- Chaupai 12
तीरथ राज प्रयाग अक्षैवट।
धरयौ मातु पुनि काशी करवट॥
Tirath raj prayag akshaivat.
Dharyau matu puni kashi karvat ||
At Prayag, king of holy places, by the undying banyan (Akshayavat), and then at Kashi, O Mother, you turned your course.
- Chaupai 13
धनि धनि सुरसरि स्वर्ग की सीढ़ी।
तारणि अमित पितृ पद पीढ़ी॥
Dhani dhani surasri svarga ki sidhi.
Tarni amit pitri pad pidhi ||
Blessed, blessed are you, river of the gods, a stairway to heaven, who carry across countless generations of ancestors.
- Chaupai 14
भागीरथ तप कियो अपारा।
दियो ब्रह्म तब सुरसरि धारा॥
Bhagirath tap kiyo apara.
Diyo brahma tab surasri dhara ||
King Bhagiratha performed immense austerities, and then Brahma granted the stream of the heavenly river.
- Chaupai 15
जब जग जननी चल्यो हहराई।
शंभु जटा महँ रह्यो समाई॥
Jab jag janni chalyo hahraee.
Shambhu jata mahan rahyo samaee ||
When the mother of the world rushed down with a roar, she was held fast within Shiva’s matted locks.
- Chaupai 16
वर्ष पर्यन्त गंग महारानी।
रहीं शंभु के जटा भुलानी॥
Varsha paryanta gang maharani.
Rahin shambhu ke jata bhulani ||
For a whole year Queen Ganga stayed lost within Shiva’s locks.
- Chaupai 17
मुनि भागीरथ शंभुहिं ध्यायो।
तब इक बूँद जटा से पायो॥
Muni bhagirath shambhuhin dhyayo.
Tab ik boond jata se payo ||
Then Bhagiratha, the sage-king, meditated on Shiva, and received a single drop from his locks.
- Chaupai 18
ताते मातु भई त्रय धारा।
मृत्यु लोक, नभ अरु पातारा॥
Tate matu bhaee tray dhara.
Mrityu lok, nabh aru patara ||
From that, Mother Ganga became three streams: in the mortal world, in the sky and in the netherworld.
- Chaupai 19
गई पाताल प्रभावति नामा।
मन्दाकिनी गई गगन ललामा॥
Gayi patal prabhavti nama.
Mandakini gayi gagan lalama ||
The stream that went to the netherworld is called Prabhavati, and the lovely one that went to the sky, Mandakini.
- Chaupai 20
मृत्यु लोक जाह्नवी सुहावनि।
कलिमल हरणि अगम जग पावनि॥
Mrityu lok jahnavi suhavni.
Kalimal harni agam jag pavni ||
In the mortal world she is the lovely Jahnavi, who takes away the impurities of the Kali age and purifies the world beyond measure.
- Chaupai 21
धनि मइया तव महिमा भारी।
धर्म धुरि कलि कलुष कुठारी॥
Dhani maiya tav mahima bhari.
Dharma dhuri kali kalush kuthari ||
Blessed are you, Mother; great is your glory. You are the axle of dharma and an axe against the sins of the Kali age.
- Chaupai 22
मातु प्रभावति धनि मन्दाकिनी।
धनि सुरसरित सकल भयनासिनी॥
Matu prabhavti dhani mandakini.
Dhani surasrit sakal bhaynasini ||
Blessed are you, Mother Prabhavati, and you, Mandakini. Blessed are you, heavenly river, who end every fear.
- Chaupai 23
पान करत निर्मल गंगा जल।
पावत मन इच्छित अनन्त फल॥
Pan karat nirmal ganga jal.
Pavat man ichchhit ananta phal ||
The text says that whoever drinks the pure water of the Ganga gains endless fruit, as the heart desires.
- Chaupai 24
पूरब जन्म पुण्य जब जागत।
तबहिं ध्यान गंगा महँ लागत॥
Poorab janma punya jab jagat.
Tabahin dhyaan ganga mahan lagat ||
Only when the merit of past lives awakens does the mind turn to the Ganga.
- Chaupai 25
जई पगु सुरसरि हेतु उठावहिं।
तइ जगि अश्वमेध फल पावहिं॥
Jaee pagu surasri hetu uthavhin.
Tai jagi ashvamedh phal pavhin ||
According to the text, for every step taken towards the Ganga one gains the fruit of as many Ashvamedha sacrifices.
- Chaupai 26
महा पतित जिन काहु न तारे।
तिन तारे इक नाम तिहारे॥
Maha patit jin kahu na tare.
Tin tare ik naam tihare ||
The great sinners whom no one else could save were saved by your name alone.
- Chaupai 27
शत योजनहू से जो ध्यावहिं।
निश्चय विष्णु लोक पद पावहिं॥
Shat yojanhoo se jo dhyavhin.
Nishchay Vishnu lok pad pavhin ||
The text says that those who meditate on you even from a hundred yojanas away surely reach a place in Vishnu’s world.
- Chaupai 28
नाम भजत अगणित अघ नाशै।
विमल ज्ञान बल बुद्धि प्रकाशै॥
Naam bhajat agnit agh nashai.
Vimal gyaan bal buddhi prakashai ||
Singing your name destroys countless sins and brings to light pure knowledge, strength and understanding.
- Chaupai 29
जिमि धन मूल धर्म अरु दाना।
धर्म मूल गंगाजल पाना॥
Jimi dhan mool dharma aru dana.
Dharma mool gangajal pana ||
Just as dharma and charity are the root of wealth, so drinking Ganga water is the root of dharma.
- Chaupai 30
तव गुण गुणन करत दुख भाजत।
गृह गृह सम्पति सुमति विराजत॥
Tav gun gunan karat dukh bhajat.
Grih grih sampati sumti virajat ||
As your virtues are recounted, sorrows flee, and wealth and good sense settle in every home.
- Chaupai 31
गंगहि नेम सहित नित ध्यावत।
दुर्जनहूँ सज्जन पद पावत॥
Gangahi nem sahit nit dhyavat.
Durjanhoon sajjan pad pavat ||
One who meditates on the Ganga daily and with discipline, even if wicked, becomes a good person.
- Chaupai 32
बुद्धिहीन विद्या बल पावै।
रोगी रोग मुक्त ह्वै जावै॥
Buddhihin vidya bal pavai.
Rogi rog mukta hvai javai ||
The text says that the dull gain learning and strength, and the sick are freed from illness. (This is the language of devotional poetry; for illness, see a doctor.)
- Chaupai 33
गंगा गंगा जो नर कहहीं।
भूखे नंगे कबहुँ न रहहीं॥
Ganga ganga jo nar kahhin.
Bhookhe nange kabahun na rahhin ||
Those who say “Ganga, Ganga”, the text says, will never go hungry or unclothed.
- Chaupai 34
निकसत ही मुख गंगा माई।
श्रवण दाबि यम चलहिं पराई॥
Niksat hi mukh ganga maee.
Shravan dabi yam chalhin paraee ||
As soon as “Mother Ganga” leaves one’s lips, the text says, Yama’s messengers cover their ears and run away.
- Chaupai 35
महाँ अघिन अधमन कहँ तारे।
भए नर्क के बन्द किवारे॥
Mahan aghin adhman kahan tare.
Bhae narka ke banda kivare ||
You carried across great sinners and the lowest of the low, so that the doors of hell were shut.
- Chaupai 36
जो नर जपै गंग शत नामा।
सकल सिद्ध पूरण ह्वै कामा॥
Jo nar japai gang shat nama.
Sakal siddha pooran hvai kama ||
Whoever chants the hundred names of the Ganga, the verse says, sees all their undertakings fulfilled.
- Chaupai 37
सब सुख भोग परम पद पावहिं।
आवागमन रहित ह्वै जावहिं॥
Sab sukh bhog param pad pavhin.
Aavagman rahit hvai javhin ||
Having enjoyed every happiness, they reach the highest state and are freed from the round of birth and death.
- Chaupai 38
धनि मइया सुरसरि सुखदैनी।
धनि धनि तीरथ राज त्रिवेणी॥
Dhani maiya surasri sukhdaini.
Dhani dhani tirath raj triveni ||
Blessed are you, Mother Ganga, giver of joy; blessed, blessed is Triveni (the confluence at Prayag), king of holy places.
- Chaupai 39
ककरा ग्राम ऋषि दुर्वासा।
सुन्दरदास गंगा कर दासा॥
Kakra gram rishi durvasa.
Sundardas ganga kar dasa ||
Sundardas, of the village of Kakra where the sage Durvasa’s hermitage is, is the servant of the Ganga. This is the poet’s signature.
- Chaupai 40
जो यह पढ़े गंगा चालीसा।
मिलै भक्ति अविरल वागीसा॥
Jo yah padhe ganga chalisa.
Milai bhakti aviral vagisa ||
Whoever reads this Ganga Chalisa, the verse says, gains unbroken devotion and mastery of speech.
- Closing Doha 1
नित नव सुख सम्पति लहैं, धरैं गंग का ध्यान।
अन्त समय सुरपुर बसै, सादर बैठि विमान॥
Nit nav sukh sampati lahain, dharain gang ka dhyaan.
Anta samay surpur basai, sadar baithi viman ||
Those who keep the Ganga in their minds, the text says, gain fresh joy and wealth every day, and at the end are carried with honour in a celestial chariot to dwell in heaven.
- Closing Doha 2
सम्वत् भुज नभ दिशि, राम जन्म दिन चैत्र।
पूरण चालीसा कियो, हरि भक्तन हित नैत्र॥
Samvat bhuj nabh dishi, Ram janma din chaitra.
Pooran chalisa kiyo, hari bhaktan hit naitra ||
In the samvat year written in the code words “bhuj, nabh, dishi”, on Ram’s birthday in Chaitra (Ram Navami), this Chalisa was completed for the good of Hari’s devotees. (Older poets often gave the year in such code words.)
This is the text of the printed ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar; Webdunia’s 2021 page has almost the same text. Drik Panchang, Bhakti Bharat and other Webdunia pages carry a garbled copy of this Chalisa (for example ‘harana’, ‘dalini’, ‘Jahanu’), which seems to have been written back from Roman script; it was used only to confirm the words. The main variants: in chaupai 3 the printed book and Webdunia print ‘jai jai jai Hanu suta’, while the other sources have ‘Jahnu suta’ (daughter of Jahnu, Jahnavi), which is taken here; in chaupai 7 the book prints ‘taral tarang tang’, but the opening doha says ‘tung tarang’, so ‘tung’ is taken; in chaupai 15 Webdunia reads ‘lahrai’; in chaupai 17 some sources read ‘puni Bhagirathi’ for ‘muni Bhagirath’; in chaupai 35 the book prints ‘adhin’ and Drik Panchang ‘aghin’ (sinners), which is taken here. In chaupai 4 every source reads ‘mam tanu’; the meaning takes it as a description of the Goddess’s form. In the last doha the poet gives the year of composition in code words; since their meaning is not certain, no year is given here.
