- Doha
जय काली कलिमल हरण, महिमा अगम अपार।
महिष मर्दिनी कालिका, देहु अभय अपार॥
Jay kali kalimal haran, mahima agam apar.
Mahish mardini kalika, dehu abhay apar ||
Victory to Kali, who washes away the impurity of the Kali age; your glory is beyond reach and without end. O Kalika, slayer of Mahisha, grant me boundless fearlessness.
- Chaupai 1
अरि मद मान मिटावन हारी।
मुण्डमाल गल सोहत प्यारी॥
Ari mad man mitavan hari.
Mundamal gal sohat pyari ||
You erase the pride and arrogance of enemies; a garland of severed heads adorns your neck.
- Chaupai 2
अष्टभुजी सुखदायक माता।
दुष्टदलन जग में विख्याता॥
Ashtabhuji sukhdayak mata.
Dushtadlan jag mein vikhyata ||
Eight-armed Mother, giver of joy, you are renowned in the world as the one who crushes the wicked.
- Chaupai 3
भाल विशाल मुकुट छवि छाजै।
कर में शीश शत्रु का साजै॥
Bhal vishal mukut chhavi chhajai.
Kar mein shish shatru ka sajai ||
A crown graces your broad forehead, and one hand holds an enemy’s severed head.
- Chaupai 4
दूजे हाथ लिए मधु प्याला।
हाथ तीसरे सोहत भाला॥
Dooje haath liye madhu pyala.
Haath tisre sohat bhala ||
Your second hand holds a cup of madhu, and a spear shines in the third.
- Chaupai 5
चौथे खप्पर खड्ग कर पांचे।
छठे त्रिशूल शत्रु बल जांचे॥
Chauthe khappar khadga kar panche.
Chhathe trishool shatru bal janche ||
The fourth hand holds a skull-bowl (khappar), the fifth a sword (khadga), and the trident in the sixth tests the enemy’s strength.
- Chaupai 6
सप्तम कर दमकत असि प्यारी।
शोभा अद्भुत मात तुम्हारी॥
Saptam kar damkat asi pyari.
Shobha adbhut mat tumhari ||
In the seventh hand gleams a sword (asi). Wondrous is your beauty, O Mother.
- Chaupai 7
अष्टम कर भक्तन वर दाता।
जग मनहरण रूप ये माता॥
Ashtam kar bhaktan var data.
Jag manahran roop ye mata ||
The eighth hand grants boons to devotees. This form of yours, O Mother, captivates the world.
- Chaupai 8
भक्तन में अनुरक्त भवानी।
निशदिन रटें ऋषी मुनि ज्ञानी॥
Bhaktan mein anurakta bhavani.
Nishdin raten rishi muni gyani ||
Bhavani loves her devotees; seers, sages and the wise repeat your name day and night.
- Chaupai 9
महाशक्ति अति प्रबल पुनीता।
तू ही काली तू ही सीता॥
Mahashakti ati prabal punita.
Too hi kali too hi Sita ||
You are the Great Power, mighty and pure. You are Kali, and you are Sita.
- Chaupai 10
पतित तारिणी हे जग पालक।
कल्याणी पापी कुल घालक॥
Patit tarini he jag palak.
Kalyani papi kul ghalak ||
O saviour of the fallen and sustainer of the world, auspicious one, you destroy the clans of sinners.
- Chaupai 11
शेष सुरेश न पावत पारा।
गौरी रूप धर्यो एक बारा॥
Shesh suresh na pavat para.
Gauri roop dharyo ek bara ||
Neither Shesha nor Indra can find your limit. Once you took the form of Gauri (Parvati).
- Chaupai 12
तुम समान दाता नहिं दूजा।
विधिवत करें भक्तजन पूजा॥
Tum saman data nahin dooja.
Vidhivat karein bhaktajan pooja ||
There is no giver like you; devotees worship you with due rites.
- Chaupai 13
रूप भयंकर जब तुम धारा।
दुष्टदलन कीन्हेहु संहारा॥
Roop bhayankar jab tum dhara.
Dushtadlan kinhehu sanhara ||
When you took on your terrible form, you destroyed the hosts of the wicked.
- Chaupai 14
नाम अनेकन मात तुम्हारे।
भक्तजनों के संकट टारे॥
Naam anekan mat tumhare.
Bhaktagyon ke sankat tare ||
Many are your names, O Mother, and you have warded off your devotees’ troubles.
- Chaupai 15
कलि के कष्ट कलेशन हरनी।
भव भय मोचन मंगल करनी॥
Kali ke kashta kaleshan harni.
Bhav bhay mochan mangal karni ||
You remove the pains and troubles of the Kali age, free us from the fear of worldly life and bring what is auspicious.
- Chaupai 16
महिमा अगम वेद यश गावैं।
नारद शारद पार न पावैं॥
Mahima agam ved yash gavain.
Narad sharad par na pavain ||
Your glory is unfathomable; the Vedas sing your praise, yet even Narada and Sharada cannot reach its end.
- Chaupai 17
भू पर भार बढ्यौ जब भारी।
तब तब तुम प्रकटीं महतारी॥
Bhoo par bhar badhyau jab bhari.
Tab tab tum praktin mahtari ||
Whenever the burden on the earth grew heavy, O Mother, you appeared.
- Chaupai 18
आदि अनादि अभय वरदाता।
विश्वविदित भव संकट त्राता॥
Aadi anadi abhay vardata.
Vishvavidit bhav sankat trata ||
You are the beginning and without beginning, giver of the boon of fearlessness, known to the whole world as the rescuer from life’s troubles.
- Chaupai 19
कुसमय नाम तुम्हारौ लीन्हा।
उसको सदा अभय वर दीन्हा॥
Kusmay naam tumharau linha.
Usko sada abhay var dinha ||
Whoever took your name in bad times, you always granted the boon of fearlessness.
- Chaupai 20
ध्यान धरें श्रुति शेष सुरेशा।
काल रूप लखि तुम्हरो भेषा॥
Dhyaan dharen shruti shesh suresha.
Kal roop lakhi tumharo bhesha ||
Beholding your guise as Time itself, the Vedas, Shesha and Indra meditate on you.
- Chaupai 21
कलुआ भैंरों संग तुम्हारे।
अरि हित रूप भयानक धारे॥
Kalua bhainron sang tumhare.
Ari hit roop bhayanak dhare ||
Kalua Bhairon (the dark Bhairava) is with you, who has taken a fearsome form against enemies.
- Chaupai 22
सेवक लांगुर रहत अगारी।
चौंसठ जोगन आज्ञाकारी॥
Sevak langur rahat agari.
Chaunsath jogan aagyakari ||
Your attendant Langur walks before you, and the sixty-four yoginis obey your command.
- Chaupai 23
त्रेता में रघुवर हित आई।
दशकंधर की सैन नसाई॥
Treta mein raghuvar hit aaee.
Dashkandhar ki sain nasaee ||
The Chalisa says that in the Treta age you came to help Shri Ram and destroyed the army of ten-headed Ravana.
- Chaupai 24
खेला रण का खेल निराला।
भरा मांस-मज्जा से प्याला॥
Khela ran ka khel nirala.
Bhara mans-majja se pyala ||
You played the wondrous game of battle and filled your bowl with the flesh and marrow of the demons.
- Chaupai 25
रौद्र रूप लखि दानव भागे।
कियौ गवन भवन निज त्यागे॥
Raudra roop lakhi danav bhage.
Kiyau gavan bhavan nij tyage ||
Seeing your wrathful form the demons fled, abandoning their homes.
- Chaupai 26
तब ऐसौ तामस चढ़ आयो।
स्वजन विजन को भेद भुलायो॥
Tab aisau tamas chadh aayo.
Svajan vijan ko bhed bhulayo ||
Then such fury rose in you that you forgot the difference between your own and others.
- Chaupai 27
ये बालक लखि शंकर आए।
राह रोक चरनन में धाए॥
Ye balak lakhi shankar aae.
Rah rok charnan mein dhae ||
Seeing this, Shankar came in the form of a child, blocked your path and fell at your feet. This follows a popular story.
- Chaupai 28
तब मुख जीभ निकर जो आई।
यही रूप प्रचलित है माई॥
Tab mukh jibh nikar jo aaee.
Yahi roop prachlit hai maee ||
Then your tongue came out of your mouth. O Mother, it is this form of yours that is widely known.
- Chaupai 29
बाढ्यो महिषासुर मद भारी।
पीड़ित किए सकल नर-नारी॥
Badhyo mahishasur mad bhari.
Pidit kiye sakal nar-nari ||
Mahishasura’s arrogance grew great, and he tormented all men and women.
- Chaupai 30
करुण पुकार सुनी भक्तन की।
पीर मिटावन हित जन-जन की॥
Karun pukar suni bhaktan ki.
Pir mitavan hit jan-jan ki ||
Then, to take away the pain of every one, you heard the piteous cry of your devotees.
- Chaupai 31
तब प्रगटी निज सैन समेता।
नाम पड़ा माँ महिष-विजेता॥
Tab pragti nij sain sameta.
Naam pada man mahish-vijeta ||
Then you appeared with your army, and you came to be called ‘Mahisha-vijeta’, the conqueror of Mahishasura.
- Chaupai 32
शुंभ-निशुंभ हने छन माहीं।
तुम सम जग दूसर कोउ नाहीं॥
Shumbh-nishumbh hane chhan mahin.
Tum sam jag doosar kou nahin ||
You slew Shumbha and Nishumbha in an instant. There is none like you in the world.
- Chaupai 33
मान-मथनहारी खल दल के।
सदा सहायक भक्त विकल के॥
Man-mathanhari khal dal ke.
Sada sahayak bhakta vikal ke ||
You crush the pride of the hosts of the wicked, and are ever the helper of the distressed devotee.
- Chaupai 34
दीन विहीन करैं नित सेवा।
पावैं मनवांछित फल-मेवा॥
Din vihin karain nit seva.
Pavain manvanchhit phal-meva ||
The Chalisa says that the poor and helpless serve you daily and receive the fruits they long for.
- Chaupai 35
संकट में जो सुमिरन करहीं।
उनके कष्ट मातु तुम हरहीं॥
Sankat mein jo sumiran karhin.
Unke kashta matu tum harhin ||
O Mother, those who remember you in trouble, you relieve of their suffering.
- Chaupai 36
प्रेम सहित जो कीरति गावैं।
भव बन्धन सों मुक्ति पावैं॥
Prem sahit jo kirti gavain.
Bhav bandhan son mukti pavain ||
According to the Chalisa, those who sing your glory with love are freed from the bonds of worldly life.
- Chaupai 37
काली चालीसा जो पढ़हीं।
स्वर्गलोक बिनु बन्धन चढ़हीं॥
Kali chalisa jo padhhin.
Svargalok binu bandhan chadhhin ||
The Chalisa says that those who read the Kali Chalisa rise to heaven, free of bonds.
- Chaupai 38
दया-दृष्टि हेरौ जगदम्बा।
केहि कारण माँ कियौ विलम्बा॥
Daya-drishti herau jagdamba.
Kehi karan man kiyau vilamba ||
Cast a merciful glance on me, O Jagadamba. Why, Mother, have you delayed?
- Chaupai 39
करहु मातु भक्तन रखवाली।
जयति-जयति काली कंकाली॥
Karhu matu bhaktan rakhvali.
Jayti-jayti kali kankali ||
Guard your devotees, O Mother. Victory, victory to Kali, the Kankali, adorned with bones.
- Chaupai 40
सेवक दीन अनाथ अनारी।
भक्तिभाव युत शरण तुम्हारी॥
Sevak din anath anari.
Bhaktibhav yut sharan tumhari ||
I, your humble, helpless and unskilled servant, have come to your shelter with devotion.
- Closing Doha
प्रेम सहित जो करे, काली चालीसा पाठ।
तिनकी पूरन कामना, होय सकल जग ठाठ॥
Prem sahit jo kare, kali chalisa path.
Tinki pooran kamna, hoy sakal jag thath ||
The Chalisa says that whoever recites the Kali Chalisa with love has every wish fulfilled and enjoys all the splendour of the world.
This is the Chalisa that begins ‘Jai Kali kalimal haran’, as printed in the Manoj Publications booklet ‘Kali Chalisa’ (pages 5 to 11); the Bhakti Bharat text agrees with it word for word. The differences are only of spelling, such as ‘chaunsath/chausath’ and ‘karun/karoon’; Bhakti Bharat reads ‘yuti’ for ‘yut’ in chaupai 40. The booklet prints ‘dehoo’ in the doha; this page writes ‘dehu’. A second, longer Kali Chalisa, beginning ‘Jai Kali Jagadamb jai, harani ogh agh punj’, is also found (Randhir Prakashan’s ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’, Drik Panchang); it is a different composition with 54 chaupais, and its closing doha carries the name ‘Bhakt’. The episodes in chaupais 23, 27 and 28 (the destruction of Ravana’s army in the Treta age, Shiva coming to her feet as a child, and her tongue coming out) are given as the Chalisa tells them; no scriptural reference for them was checked. The Chalisa carries no poet’s name.
