- Doha
श्री गुरु चरण ध्यान धर, सुमिरि सच्चिदानन्द।
श्याम चालीसा भणत हूँ, रच चौपाई छंद॥
Shri guru charan dhyaan dhar, sumiri sachchidananda.
Shyam chalisa bhanat hoon, rach chaupaee chhand ||
Meditating on my Guru’s feet and remembering the Lord who is being, awareness and bliss, I recite the Shyam Chalisa, composed in the chaupai metre.
- Chaupai 1
श्याम श्याम भजि बारम्बारा।
सहज ही हो भवसागर पारा॥
Shyam shyam bhaji barambara.
Sahaj hi ho bhavsagar para ||
The Chalisa says that by chanting ‘Shyam, Shyam’ again and again one easily crosses the ocean of worldly life.
- Chaupai 2
इन सम देव न दूजा कोई।
दीन दयालु न दाता होई॥
In sam dev na dooja koee.
Din dayalu na data hoee ||
There is no other god like him, nor any giver so kind to the lowly.
- Chaupai 3
भीमसुपुत्र अहिलवती जाया।
कहीं भीम का पौत्र कहाया॥
Bhimsuputra ahilavti jaya.
Kahin bhim ka pautra kahaya ||
The Chalisa says he is Bhima’s son, born of Ahilavati; elsewhere he is called Bhima’s grandson.
- Chaupai 4
यह सब कथा सही कल्पान्तर।
तनिक न मानों इसमें अन्तर॥
Yah sab katha sahi kalpantar.
Tanik na manon ismen antar ||
All these stories are true, each for a different age of creation (kalpa); do not think there is any contradiction in them.
- Chaupai 5
बर्बरीक विष्णु अवतारा।
भक्तन हेतु मनुज तनु धारा॥
Barbarik Vishnu avtara.
Bhaktan hetu manuj tanu dhara ||
According to the Chalisa, Barbarika is an avatar of Vishnu, who took a human body for the sake of devotees.
- Chaupai 6
वसुदेव देवकी प्यारे।
यशुमति मैया नन्द दुलारे॥
Vasudev devki pyare.
Yashumti maiya nanda dulare ||
As Shyam you are the beloved of Vasudeva and Devaki, the darling of Mother Yashoda and Nanda.
- Chaupai 7
मधुसूदन गोपाल मुरारी।
बृजकिशोर गोवर्धन धारी॥
Madhusoodan gopal murari.
Brijkishor govardhan dhari ||
You are Madhusudana, Gopala, Murari, the youth of Braj and the lifter of Govardhan.
- Chaupai 8
सियाराम श्री हरि गोविन्दा।
दीनपाल श्री बाल मुकन्दा॥
Siyaram Shri hari govinda.
Dinpal Shri bal mukanda ||
You are Siyaram, Shri Hari, Govinda, protector of the lowly, and the child Mukunda.
- Chaupai 9
दामोदर रणछोड़ बिहारी।
नाथ द्वारिकाधीश खरारी॥
Damodar ranchhod bihari.
Nath dvarikadhish kharari ||
You are Damodara, Ranchhod and Bihari; the Lord of Dwarka and the slayer of Khara (Rama).
- Chaupai 10
नरहरि रूप प्रहलाद प्यारा।
खम्भ फारि हिरनाकुश मारा॥
Narahri roop prahlad pyara.
Khambha phari hirnakush mara ||
In the form of Narasimha you loved Prahlada; bursting from a pillar you slew Hiranyakashipu.
- Chaupai 11
राधा वल्लभ रुक्मिणी कंता।
गोपी वल्लभ कंस हनंता॥
Radha vallabh rukmini kanta.
Gopi vallabh kans hananta ||
You are Radha’s beloved, Rukmini’s husband, dear to the gopis, and the slayer of Kamsa.
- Chaupai 12
मनमोहन चित्तचोर कहाये।
माखन चोरि चोरि कर खाये॥
Manmohan chittachor kahaye.
Makhan chori chori kar khaye ||
You are called the enchanter of hearts and the stealer of minds, who stole butter again and again and ate it.
- Chaupai 13
मुरलीधर यदुपति घनश्याम।
कृष्ण पतितपावन अभिरामा॥
Murlidhar yadupti ghanashyam.
Krishna patitpavan abhirama ||
You are the flute-bearer, lord of the Yadus, dark as a rain cloud, Krishna, purifier of the fallen, the delightful one.
- Chaupai 14
मायापति लक्ष्मीपति ईसा।
पुरुषोत्तम केशव जगदीशा॥
Mayapti lakshmipti eesa.
Purushottam keshav jagdisha ||
You are lord of maya, husband of Lakshmi, the Lord, Purushottama, Keshava and master of the world.
- Chaupai 15
विश्वपति त्रिभुवन उजियारा।
दीन बन्धु भक्तन रखवारा॥
Vishvapti tribhuvan ujiyara.
Din bandhu bhaktan rakhvara ||
You are lord of the universe, light of the three worlds, friend of the lowly and guardian of devotees.
- Chaupai 16
प्रभु का भेद कोई न पाया।
शेष महेश थके मुनिराया॥
Prabhu ka bhed koee na paya.
Shesh mahesh thake muniraya ||
No one has found the Lord’s secret; Shesha, Mahesh and the greatest sages have tired in the attempt.
- Chaupai 17
नारद शारद ऋषि योगिन्दर।
श्याम श्याम सब रटत निरन्तर॥
Narad sharad rishi yogindar.
Shyam shyam sab ratat nirantar ||
Narada, Sharada, the seers and the great yogis all repeat ‘Shyam, Shyam’ without end.
- Chaupai 18
कवि कोविद करि सके न गिनन्ता।
नाम अपार अथाह अनन्ता॥
Kavi kovid kari sake na ginanta.
Naam apar athah ananta ||
Poets and scholars could not count them; your names are boundless, fathomless and endless.
- Chaupai 19
हर सृष्टि हर युग में भाई।
ले अवतार भक्त सुखदाई॥
Har srishti har yug mein bhaee.
Le avtar bhakta sukhdaee ||
Brother, in every creation and every age he takes birth to bring joy to his devotees.
- Chaupai 20
हृदय माँहि करि देखु विचारा।
श्याम भजे तो हो निस्तारा॥
Hriday manhi kari dekhu vichara.
Shyam bhaje to ho nistara ||
Reflect upon it in your heart: it is by worshipping Shyam that one is saved.
- Chaupai 21
कीर पढ़ावत गणिका तारी।
भीलनी की भक्ति बलिहारी॥
Kir padhavat ganika tari.
Bhilni ki bhakti balihari ||
The courtesan was saved while teaching her parrot the Lord’s name; blessed was the devotion of the Bhil woman (Shabari).
- Chaupai 22
सती अहिल्या गौतम नारी।
भई श्राप वश शिला दुखारी॥
Sati ahilya gautam nari.
Bhaee shrap vash shila dukhari ||
The virtuous Ahalya, wife of Gautama, had become a grieving stone because of a curse.
- Chaupai 23
श्याम चरण रज नित लाई।
पहुँची पतिलोक में जाई॥
Shyam charan raj nit laee.
Pahunchi patilok mein jaee ||
Receiving the dust of Shyam’s feet (in the form of Rama), she reached her husband’s world.
- Chaupai 24
अजामिल अरु सदन कसाई।
नाम प्रताप परम गति पाई॥
Ajamil aru sadan kasaee.
Naam pratap param gati paee ||
Ajamila and Sadan the butcher also reached the highest state through the power of the Name.
- Chaupai 25
जाके श्याम नाम अधारा।
सुख लहहि दुःख दूर हो सारा॥
Jake shyam naam adhara.
Sukh lahhi duhkh door ho saara ||
The Chalisa says that one whose life rests on Shyam’s name finds happiness, and all sorrow goes far away.
- Chaupai 26
श्याम सुलोचन है अति सुन्दर।
मोर मुकुट सिर तन पीताम्बर॥
Shyam sulochan hai ati sundar.
Mor mukut sir tan pitambar ||
Shyam of the lovely eyes is most beautiful, with a peacock-feather crown on his head and yellow silk on his body.
- Chaupai 27
गल वैजयन्तिमाल सुहाई।
छवि अनूप भक्तन मन भाई॥
Gal vaijyantimal suhaee.
Chhavi anoop bhaktan man bhaee ||
The Vaijayanti garland graces his neck; this matchless beauty delights his devotees’ hearts.
- Chaupai 28
श्याम श्याम सुमिरहु दिनराती।
शाम दुपहरि अरु परभाती॥
Shyam shyam sumirhu dinrati.
Sham dupahri aru parbhati ||
Remember ‘Shyam, Shyam’ day and night, in the evening, at noon and at dawn.
- Chaupai 29
श्याम सारथी जिसके रथ के।
रोड़े दूर होय उस पथ के॥
Shyam sarthi jiske rath ke.
Rode door hoy us path ke ||
When Shyam is the charioteer of one’s chariot, the stones on that road are cleared away.
- Chaupai 30
श्याम भक्त न कहीं पर हारा।
भीर परि तब श्याम पुकारा॥
Shyam bhakta na kahin par hara.
Bhir pari tab shyam pukara ||
Shyam’s devotee has never been defeated anywhere; in times of trouble he called on Shyam.
- Chaupai 31
रसना श्याम नाम रस पी ले।
जी ले श्याम नाम के हाले॥
Rasna shyam naam ras pi le.
Ji le shyam naam ke hale ||
O tongue, drink the nectar of Shyam’s name, and live in the joy of Shyam’s name.
- Chaupai 32
संसारी सुख भोग मिलेगा।
अन्त श्याम सुख योग मिलेगा॥
Sansari sukh bhog milega.
Anta shyam sukh yog milega ||
The Chalisa says you will have the joys of this world, and in the end the bliss of union with Shyam.
- Chaupai 33
श्याम प्रभु हैं तन के काले।
मन के गोरे भोले भाले॥
Shyam prabhu hain tan ke kale.
Man ke gore bhole bhale ||
Lord Shyam is dark of body, but fair of heart, simple and innocent.
- Chaupai 34
श्याम संत भक्तन हितकारी।
रोग दोष अघ नाशै भारी॥
Shyam sant bhaktan hitkari.
Rog dosh agh nashai bhari ||
Shyam does good to saints and devotees; according to the Chalisa he destroys illness, faults and heavy sins.
- Chaupai 35
प्रेम सहित जे नाम पुकारा।
भक्त लगत श्याम को प्यारा॥
Prem sahit je naam pukara.
Bhakta lagat shyam ko pyara ||
The devotee who calls the Name with love is dear to Shyam.
- Chaupai 36
खाटू में है मथुरा वासी।
पार ब्रह्म पूरण अविनासी॥
Khatoo mein hai mathura vasi.
Par brahma pooran avinasi ||
He who dwells in Mathura (Shri Krishna) is present at Khatu; he is the complete, imperishable Supreme Brahman.
- Chaupai 37
सुधा तान भरि मुरली बजाई।
चहुं दिशि नाना जहाँ सुनि पाई॥
Sudha tan bhari murli bajaee.
Chahun dishi nana jahan suni paee ||
He played the flute, filling it with a nectar-sweet melody that was heard in all four directions and in many places.
- Chaupai 38
वृद्ध बाल जेते नारी नर।
मुग्ध भये सुनि वंशी के स्वर॥
Vriddha bal jete nari nar.
Mugdha bhaye suni vanshi ke svar ||
All the old and young, women and men, were enchanted on hearing the notes of the flute.
- Chaupai 39
दौड़ दौड़ पहुँचे सब जाई।
खाटू में जहां श्याम कन्हाई॥
Daud daud pahunche sab jaee.
Khatoo mein jahan shyam kanhaee ||
They all came running to Khatu, where Shyam Kanhai is.
- Chaupai 40
जिसने श्याम स्वरूप निहारा।
भव भय से पाया छुटकारा॥
Jisne shyam svaroop nihara.
Bhav bhay se paya chhutkara ||
The Chalisa says that whoever beheld Shyam’s form was freed from the fear of worldly life.
- Closing Doha
श्याम सलोने साँवरे, बर्बरीक तनु धार।
इच्छा पूर्ण भक्त की, करो न लाओ बार॥
Shyam salone sanvare, barbarik tanu dhar.
Ichchha poorna bhakta ki, karo na lao bar ||
O lovely dark Shyam, who took the body of Barbarika, fulfil your devotee’s wish and do not delay.
Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/khatu-shyam-chalisa/
This is the text printed as ‘Shri Shyam (Khatu) Chalisa’ in Randhir Prakashan’s ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (Haridwar, 2004, pages 152 to 155), compared word by word with the texts on khatu-shyam.in, a website devoted to Khatu Shyam, and on Sri Mandir. Those two web texts share the same misprints, so they are counted as one source. Variant readings: in the opening doha the web texts read ‘bhajat’ for ‘bhanat’ (I recite); ‘inmen’ for ‘ismen’ in chaupai 4; the book ends chaupai 14 with ‘Jagdish’ and the web texts with ‘Jagdisha’; in chaupai 18 the book prints ‘kari kovid’, while the web texts read ‘kavi kovid’ (poets and scholars), which fits the sense and is kept here; in chaupai 31 the web texts leave out ‘ras’. The first word of the closing doha is misprinted ‘Shyay’ in the book; this page writes ‘Shyam’. In chaupais 3 and 4 the Chalisa itself notes that there are different stories about Barbarika’s parents. The Chalisa carries no poet’s name.
