- Doha 1
बंशी शोभित कर मधुर, नील जलद तन श्याम।
अरुण अधर जनु बिम्बफल, नयन कमल अभिराम॥
Banshi shobhit kar madhur, nil jalad tan shyam.
Arun adhar janu bimbaphal, nayan kamal abhiram ||
A sweet flute graces his hand, and his body is dark like a blue rain cloud. His red lips are like the bimba fruit, and his eyes are lovely as lotuses.
- Doha 2
पूर्ण इन्द्र, अरविन्द मुख, पीताम्बर शुभ साज।
जय मनमोहन मदन छवि, कृष्णचन्द्र महाराज॥
Poorna indra, arvinda mukh, pitambar shubh saj.
Jay manmohan madan chhavi, krishnachandra maharaj ||
His face is like the full moon and like a lotus, and he is finely dressed in yellow silk. Victory to Maharaj Krishnachandra, enchanter of hearts, lovely as Kamadeva.
- Chaupai 1
जय यदुनन्दन जय जगवन्दन।
जय वसुदेव देवकी नन्दन॥
Jay yadunandan jay jagvandan.
Jay vasudev devki nandan ||
Victory to the joy of the Yadus, whom the whole world worships; victory to the son of Vasudev and Devaki.
- Chaupai 2
जय यशुदा सुत नन्द दुलारे।
जय प्रभु भक्तन के दृग तारे॥
Jay yashuda sut nanda dulare.
Jay prabhu bhaktan ke drig tare ||
Victory to Yashoda’s son, Nand’s darling. Victory to the Lord, the apple of his devotees’ eyes.
- Chaupai 3
जय नटनागर नाग नथइया।
कृष्ण कन्हैया धेनु चरइया॥
Jay natnagar nag nathaiya.
Krishna kanhaiya dhenu charaiya ||
Victory to the master dancer who reined in the serpent Kaliya; to Krishna Kanhaiya, who grazes the cows.
- Chaupai 4
पुनि नख पर प्रभु गिरिवर धारो।
आओ दीनन कष्ट निवारो॥
Puni nakh par prabhu girivar dharo.
Aao dinan kashta nivaro ||
Lord, lift the mountain (Govardhan) on your fingertip once more. Come and take away the troubles of the helpless.
- Chaupai 5
बंशी मधुर अधर धरि टेरी।
होवे पूर्ण विनय यह मेरी॥
Banshi madhur adhar dhari teri.
Hove poorna vinay yah meri ||
Put the sweet flute to your lips and call out, so that this prayer of mine is fulfilled.
- Chaupai 6
आओ हरि पुनि माखन चाखो।
आज लाज भारत की राखो॥
Aao hari puni makhan chakho.
Aaj laj bharat ki rakho ||
Come, Hari, and taste butter once again, and today keep the honour of Bharat.
- Chaupai 7
गोल कपोल, चिबुक अरुणारे।
मृदु मुस्कान मोहिनी डारे॥
Gol kapol, chibuk arunare.
Mridu muskan mohini dare ||
Round cheeks and a rosy chin; his gentle smile casts a spell on everyone.
- Chaupai 8
रंजित राजिव नयन विशाला।
मोर मुकुट वैजन्ती माला॥
Ranjit rajiv nayan vishala.
Mor mukut vaijanti mala ||
His large lotus eyes are beautifully tinted; he wears a peacock-feather crown and the Vaijayanti garland.
- Chaupai 9
कुण्डल श्रवण पीतपट आछे।
कटि किंकिणी काछन काछे॥
Kundal shravan pitpat aachhe.
Kati kinkini kachhan kachhe ||
Rings in his ears and a fine yellow cloth; a girdle of little bells at his waist, and his garment tucked up.
- Chaupai 10
नील जलज सुन्दर तनु सोहे।
छवि लखि सुर नर मुनि मन मोहे॥
Nil jalaj sundar tanu sohe.
Chhavi lakhi sur nar muni man mohe ||
His lovely body shines like a blue lotus. Seeing him, gods, men and sages are enchanted.
- Chaupai 11
मस्तक तिलक अलक घुँघराले।
आओ कृष्ण बाँसुरी वाले॥
Mastak tilak alak ghungharale.
Aao Krishna bansuri vale ||
A tilak on his forehead and curly locks: come, Krishna of the flute.
- Chaupai 12
करि पय पान, पूतनहिं तार्यो।
अका बका कागासुर मार्यो॥
Kari pay pan, pootanhin taryo.
Aka baka kagasur maryo ||
Drinking her (poisoned) milk, you set Putana free, and you slew Aghasura, Bakasura and the crow-demon.
- Chaupai 13
मधुवन जलत अगिन जब ज्वाला।
भये शीतल लखितहिं नन्दलाला॥
Madhuvan jalat agin jab jvala.
Bhaye shital lakhitahin nandalala ||
When flames were burning through Madhuvan, they turned cool the moment Nandlal looked at them.
- Chaupai 14
सुरपति जब ब्रज चढ़्यो रिसाई।
मूसर धार वारि वर्षाई॥
Surapti jab braj chadhyo risaee.
Moosar dhar vari varshaee ||
When Indra, king of the gods, fell upon Braj in anger, he poured down rain in streams as thick as pestles.
- Chaupai 15
लगत-लगत ब्रज चहन बहायो।
गोवर्धन नख धारि बचायो॥
Lagat-lagat braj chahan bahayo.
Govardhan nakh dhari bachayo ||
Braj was about to be swept away when you held Govardhan up on your fingertip and saved it.
- Chaupai 16
लखि यसुदा मन भ्रम अधिकाई।
मुख मँह चौदह भुवन दिखाई॥
Lakhi yasuda man bhram adhikaee.
Mukh manh chaudah bhuvan dikhaee ||
Seeing Yashoda’s mind full of doubt, you showed her all fourteen worlds inside your mouth.
- Chaupai 17
दुष्ट कंस अति उधम मचायो।
कोटि कमल जब फूल मँगायो॥
Dushta kans ati udham machayo.
Koti kamal jab phool mangayo ||
The wicked Kamsa caused great trouble when he demanded millions of lotus flowers (from Kaliya’s pool in the Yamuna, as the tradition tells).
- Chaupai 18
नाथि कालियहिं तब तुम लीन्हें।
चरण चिह्न दै निर्भय कीन्हें॥
Nathi kaliyhin tab tum linhen.
Charan chihna dai nirbhay kinhen ||
Then you reined in the serpent Kaliya, and by leaving your footprints on his hoods you made him free of fear.
- Chaupai 19
करि गोपिन संग रास विलासा।
सबकी पूरण करी अभिलाषा॥
Kari gopin sang ras vilasa.
Sabki pooran kari abhilasha ||
Dancing the raas with the gopis, you fulfilled the longing of every one of them.
- Chaupai 20
केतिक महा असुर संहार्यो।
कंसहि केस पकड़ि दै मार्यो॥
Ketik maha asur sanharyo.
Kansahi kes pakdi dai maryo ||
You destroyed many mighty demons, and seizing Kamsa by the hair, you threw him down and killed him.
- Chaupai 21
मात-पिता की बन्दि छुड़ाई।
उग्रसेन कहँ राज दिलाई॥
Mat-pita ki bandi chhudaee.
Ugrasen kahan raj dilaee ||
You freed your mother and father from prison and gave the kingdom back to Ugrasen.
- Chaupai 22
महि से मृतक छहों सुत लायो।
मातु देवकी शोक मिटायो॥
Mahi se mritak chhahon sut layo.
Matu devki shok mitayo ||
You brought back Devaki’s six dead sons (from the world below the earth) and ended your mother’s grief.
- Chaupai 23
भौमासुर मुर दैत्य संहारी।
लाये षट दस सहस कुमारी॥
Bhaumasur mur daitya sanhari.
Laye shat das sahas kumari ||
You slew Bhaumasura (Narakasura) and the demon Mura, and brought home the sixteen thousand princesses (he had held captive).
- Chaupai 24
दै भीमहिं तृण चीर सहारा।
जरासिंधु राक्षस कहँ मारा॥
Dai bhimhin trin chir sahara.
Jarasindhu rakshas kahan mara ||
By splitting a blade of grass as a hint to Bhima, you helped him, and so the demon Jarasandha was killed.
- Chaupai 25
असुर बकासुर आदिक मार्यो।
भक्तन के तब कष्ट निवार्यो॥
Asur bakasur aadik maryo.
Bhaktan ke tab kashta nivaryo ||
You slew Bakasura and other demons, and took away the troubles of your devotees.
- Chaupai 26
दीन सुदामा के दुःख टार्यो।
तंदुल तीन मूठि मुख डार्यो॥
Din sudama ke duhkh taryo.
Tandul teen moothi mukh daryo ||
You ended poor Sudama’s hardship, putting three handfuls of the rice he brought into your mouth.
- Chaupai 27
प्रेम के साग विदुर घर माँगे।
दुर्योधन के मेवा त्यागे॥
Prem ke sag vidur ghar mange.
Duryodhan ke meva tyage ||
For love’s sake you asked for simple greens at Vidur’s house, and turned down Duryodhana’s rich fare.
- Chaupai 28
लखी प्रेम की महिमा भारी।
ऐसे श्याम दीन हितकारी॥
Lakhi prem ki mahima bhari.
Aise shyam din hitkari ||
See how great the glory of love is. Such is Shyam, the friend of the humble.
- Chaupai 29
भारत के पारथ रथ हाँके।
लिए चक्र कर नहिं बल थाके॥
Bharat ke parath rath hanke.
Liye chakra kar nahin bal thake ||
In the Bharata war you drove Partha’s (Arjun’s) chariot. You took up the discus in your hand, and your strength never tired.
- Chaupai 30
निज गीता के ज्ञान सुनाये।
भक्तन हृदय सुधा वर्षाये॥
Nij Gita ke gyaan sunaye.
Bhaktan hriday sudha varshaye ||
You gave the wisdom of your Gita and rained nectar into your devotees’ hearts.
- Chaupai 31
मीरा थी ऐसी मतवाली।
विष पी गई बजाकर ताली॥
Mira thi aisi matvali.
Vish pi gayi bajakar tali ||
Mira was so lost in love for you that, as the tradition tells, she drank poison clapping her hands.
- Chaupai 32
राणा भेजा साँप पिटारी।
शालिग्राम बने बनवारी॥
Rana bheja sanp pitari.
Shaligram bane banvari ||
The Rana sent a snake in a basket, and Banwari (Krishna) turned into a shaligram. This too is a traditional story of Mira.
- Chaupai 33
निज माया तुम विधिहिं दिखायो।
उर ते संशय सकल मिटायो॥
Nij maya tum vidhihin dikhayo.
Ur te sanshay sakal mitayo ||
You showed Brahma your maya and cleared every doubt from his heart.
- Chaupai 34
तव शत निन्दा करि तत्काला।
जीवन मुक्त भयो शिशुपाला॥
Tav shat ninda kari tatkala.
Jivan mukta bhayo shishupala ||
Having insulted you a hundred times, Shishupal was at once released from life (at your hands).
- Chaupai 35
जबहिं द्रौपदी टेर लगाई।
दीनानाथ लाज अब जाई॥
Jabahin draupdi ter lagaee.
Dinanath laj ab jaee ||
When Draupadi cried out, “Lord of the helpless, my honour is being taken now,”
- Chaupai 36
तुरतहि वसन बने नन्दलाला।
बढ़े चीर भये अरि मुँह काला॥
Turtahi vasan bane nandalala.
Badhe chir bhaye ari munh kala ||
at once Nandlal became her garment. The cloth kept growing, and her enemies were put to shame.
- Chaupai 37
अस अनाथ के नाथ कन्हैया।
डूबत भँवर बचावत नइया॥
As anath ke nath kanhaiya.
Doobat bhanvar bachavat naiya ||
Such is Kanhaiya, protector of those who have no one, who saves the boat sinking in the whirlpool.
- Chaupai 38
सुन्दरदास आस उर धारी।
दयादृष्टि कीजै बनवारी॥
Sundardas aas ur dhari.
Dayadrishti kijai banvari ||
Sundardas holds hope in his heart. Look on him with kindness, Banwari.
- Chaupai 39
नाथ सकल मम कुमति निवारो।
क्षमहु बेगि अपराध हमारो॥
Nath sakal mam kumti nivaro.
Kshamhu begi apradh hamaro ||
Lord, remove all my wrong thinking, and quickly forgive my faults.
- Chaupai 40
खोलो पट अब दर्शन दीजै।
बोलो कृष्ण कन्हैया की जय॥
Kholo pat ab darshan dijai.
Bolo Krishna kanhaiya ki jay ||
Open the curtain now and let us see you. Say: victory to Krishna Kanhaiya!
- Closing Doha
यह चालीसा कृष्ण का, पाठ करै उर धारि।
अष्ट सिद्धि नवनिधि फल, लहै पदारथ चारि॥
Yah chalisa Krishna ka, path karai ur dhari.
Ashta siddhi navnidhi phal, lahai padarath chari ||
The text says that whoever recites this Chalisa of Krishna with a whole heart gains the fruit of the eight siddhis, the nine treasures and the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kama and moksha).
The text was compared word by word with the printed book ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar, 2004) and with two separate families of web texts (Bhakti Bharat/Drik Panchang, and Webdunia/sanskritdocuments). Where the printed reading is clear it is followed; elsewhere the majority reading. The main variant readings: in chaupai 5 you will also find ‘dhari terau … vinay yah merau’ and ‘manorath mero’; in chaupai 8 ‘rajit’ for ‘ranjit’; in chaupai 9 ‘kachhani’ for ‘kachhan’; in chaupais 13 and 36 ‘bhai’ for ‘bhaye’; in chaupai 24 the scan of the printed book reads ‘sanhara’, while the other sources read ‘sahara’ (help), which fits the sense; in chaupai 26 ‘moonth’ for ‘moothi’; in chaupai 34 the printed book reads ‘tav’ (your) and the other sources ‘tab’ (then); in chaupai 37 several websites drop the word ‘anath’; in chaupai 40 ‘ki jai’ for ‘ki jay’. On Drik Panchang the opening dohas are incomplete and carry a line from the Shani Chalisa, ‘karahu kripa he Ravi tanay’. The ‘Shri Krishna Chalisa’ of Khemraj publishers is a different composition (‘Jai Mukund Madhusudan pyare’). No Gita Press edition of this chalisa was found.
