- Doha
मातु लक्ष्मी करि कृपा, करो हृदय में वास।
मनोकामना सिद्ध करि, पुरवहु मेरी आस॥
Matu Lakshmi kari kripa, karo hriday mein vas.
Manokamna siddha kari, puravhu meri aas ||
Mother Lakshmi, be gracious and make your home in my heart. Fulfil my heart’s wish and complete my hope.
- Sortha
यही मोर अरदास, हाथ जोड़ विनती करूँ।
सब विधि करौ सुवास, जय जननि जगदंबिका॥
Yahi mor ardas, haath jod vinti karoon.
Sab vidhi karau suvas, jay janni jagdambika ||
This is my one prayer, and I make it with folded hands: make my life happy in every way. Victory to you, Mother of the world.
- Chaupai 1
सिन्धु सुता मैं सुमिरौं तोही।
ज्ञान बुद्धि विद्या दो मोही॥
Sindhu suta main sumiraun tohi.
Gyaan buddhi vidya do mohi ||
Daughter of the ocean, I remember you. Grant me knowledge, understanding and learning.
- Chaupai 2
तुम समान नहिं कोई उपकारी।
सब विधि पुरवहु आस हमारी॥
Tum saman nahin koee upkari.
Sab vidhi puravhu aas hamari ||
No one does good as you do. Fulfil my hopes in every way.
- Chaupai 3
जय जय जगत जननि जगदम्बा।
सबकी तुम ही हो अवलम्बा॥
Jay jay jagat janni jagdamba.
Sabki tum hi ho avlamba ||
Victory, victory to you, Jagadamba, Mother of the world. You alone are everyone’s support.
- Chaupai 4
तुम ही हो सब घट घट वासी।
विनती यही हमारी खासी॥
Tum hi ho sab ghat ghat vasi.
Vinti yahi hamari khasi ||
You dwell in every heart. This is my special prayer to you.
- Chaupai 5
जगजननी जय सिन्धु कुमारी।
दीनन की तुम हो हितकारी॥
Jagjanni jay sindhu kumari.
Dinan ki tum ho hitkari ||
Victory to you, Mother of the world, daughter of the ocean. You are the friend of the poor and helpless.
- Chaupai 6
विनवौं नित्य तुमहिं महारानी।
कृपा करौ जग जननि भवानी॥
Vinvaun nitya tumhin maharani.
Kripa karau jag janni bhavani ||
Great Queen, I pray to you every day. Be gracious, Bhavani, Mother of the world.
- Chaupai 7
केहि विधि स्तुति करौं तिहारी।
सुधि लीजै अपराध बिसारी॥
Kehi vidhi stuti karaun tihari.
Sudhi lijai apradh bisari ||
How can I praise you as I should? Forget my faults and take care of me.
- Chaupai 8
कृपा दृष्टि चितवो मम ओरी।
जगजननी विनती सुन मोरी॥
Kripa drishti chitvo mam ori.
Jagjanni vinti sun mori ||
Turn your kind eyes towards me. Mother of the world, hear my prayer.
- Chaupai 9
ज्ञान बुद्धि जय सुख की दाता।
संकट हरो हमारी माता॥
Gyaan buddhi jay sukh ki data.
Sankat haro hamari mata ||
Victory to you, giver of knowledge, understanding and happiness. Mother, take away my troubles.
- Chaupai 10
क्षीरसिन्धु जब विष्णु मथायो।
चौदह रत्न सिन्धु में पायो॥
Kshirsindhu jab Vishnu mathayo.
Chaudah ratna sindhu mein payo ||
When Vishnu had the ocean of milk churned, fourteen treasures came out of the sea.
- Chaupai 11
चौदह रत्न में तुम सुखरासी।
सेवा कियो प्रभु बनि दासी॥
Chaudah ratna mein tum sukhrasi.
Seva kiyo prabhu bani dasi ||
Among those fourteen treasures you were the treasure of happiness, and you served the Lord Vishnu as his devoted servant.
- Chaupai 12
जब जब जन्म जहाँ प्रभु लीन्हा।
रूप बदल तहँ सेवा कीन्हा॥
Jab jab janma jahan prabhu linha.
Roop badal tahan seva kinha ||
Whenever and wherever the Lord took birth, you changed your form and served him there.
- Chaupai 13
स्वयं विष्णु जब नर तनु धारा।
लीन्हेउ अवधपुरी अवतारा॥
Svayam Vishnu jab nar tanu dhara.
Linheu avadhpuri avtara ||
When Vishnu himself took a human body and was born in Ayodhya (as Ram),
- Chaupai 14
तब तुम प्रगट जनकपुर माहीं।
सेवा कियो हृदय पुलकाहीं॥
Tab tum pragat janakpur mahin.
Seva kiyo hriday pulkahin ||
you appeared in Janakpur (as Sita) and served him with a joyful heart.
- Chaupai 15
अपनायो तोहि अन्तर्यामी।
विश्व विदित त्रिभुवन की स्वामी॥
Apnayo tohi antaryami.
Vishva vidit tribhuvan ki svami ||
The Lord who knows every heart made you his own. The whole world knows you as the mistress of the three worlds.
- Chaupai 16
तुम सम प्रबल शक्ति नहिं आनी।
कहँ लौं महिमा कहौं बखानी॥
Tum sam prabal shakti nahin aani.
Kahan laun mahima kahaun bakhani ||
There is no power as mighty as you. How far could I go in describing your glory?
- Chaupai 17
मन क्रम वचन करै सेवकाई।
मन इच्छित वांछित फल पाई॥
Man kram vachan karai sevkaee.
Man ichchhit vanchhit phal paee ||
The text says that whoever serves you in thought, deed and word receives the fruit the heart desires.
- Chaupai 18
तजि छल कपट और चतुराई।
पूजहिं विविध भाँति मन लाई॥
Taji chhal kapat aur chaturaee.
Poojahin vividh bhanti man laee ||
Setting aside deceit, cunning and clever tricks, one should worship you in many ways with a devoted mind.
- Chaupai 19
और हाल मैं कहौं बुझाई।
जो यह पाठ करै मन लाई॥
Aur hal main kahaun bujhaee.
Jo yah path karai man laee ||
And let me explain one more thing: whoever recites this with a devoted mind,
- Chaupai 20
ताको कोई कष्ट न होई।
मन इच्छित पावै फल सोई॥
Tako koee kashta na hoee.
Man ichchhit pavai phal soee ||
the text says, suffers no hardship and receives the fruit the heart desires.
- Chaupai 21
त्राहि त्राहि जय दुःख निवारिणि।
त्रिविध ताप भव बंधन हारिणी॥
Trahi trahi jay duhkh nivarini.
Trividh tap bhav bandhan harini ||
Save me, save me! Victory to you who remove sorrow, who take away the three kinds of suffering and the bonds of worldly life.
- Chaupai 22
जो यह चालीसा पढ़ै पढ़ावै।
ध्यान लगाकर सुनै सुनावै॥
Jo yah chalisa padhai padhavai.
Dhyaan lagakar sunai sunavai ||
Whoever reads this Chalisa or has it read, and listens to it or recites it for others with attention,
- Chaupai 23
ताकौ कोई न रोग सतावै।
पुत्र आदि धन सम्पत्ति पावै॥
Takau koee na rog satavai.
Putra aadi dhan sampatti pavai ||
is troubled by no illness, the text says, and is blessed with children, wealth and property.
- Chaupai 24
पुत्रहीन अरु सम्पत्ति हीना।
अन्ध बधिर कोढ़ी अति दीना॥
Putrahin aru sampatti hina.
Andha badhir kodhi ati dina ||
One who has no son and no property, who is blind, deaf, a leper or in great want,
- Chaupai 25
विप्र बोलाय के पाठ करावै।
शंका दिल में कभी न लावै॥
Vipra bolay ke path karavai.
Shanka dil mein kabhi na lavai ||
should call a brahmin to recite it, and never let doubt into the heart.
- Chaupai 26
पाठ करावै दिन चालीसा।
ता पर कृपा करैं गौरीसा॥
Path karavai din chalisa.
Ta par kripa karain gaurisa ||
If one has it recited for forty days, the text says, Gaurisha (Shiva, lord of Gauri) shows grace.
- Chaupai 27
सुख सम्पत्ति बहुत सी पावै।
कमी नहीं काहू की आवै॥
Sukh sampatti bahut si pavai.
Kami nahin kahoo ki aavai ||
The text says such a person gains much happiness and property and lacks nothing.
- Chaupai 28
बारह मास करै जो पूजा।
तेहि सम धन्य और नहिं दूजा॥
Barah mas karai jo pooja.
Tehi sam dhanya aur nahin dooja ||
One who worships you all twelve months of the year is blessed like no other.
- Chaupai 29
प्रतिदिन पाठ करै मन माहीं।
उन सम कोई जग में कहुँ नाहीं॥
Pratidin path karai man mahin.
Un sam koee jag mein kahun nahin ||
One who recites it every day from the heart has no equal anywhere in the world.
- Chaupai 30
बहुविधि क्या मैं करौं बड़ाई।
लेय परीक्षा ध्यान लगाई॥
Bahuvidhi kya main karaun badaee.
Ley pariksha dhyaan lagaee ||
How much more should I praise it? Let anyone try it for themselves with attention.
- Chaupai 31
करि विश्वास करै व्रत नेमा।
होय सिद्ध उपजै उर प्रेमा॥
Kari vishvas karai vrat nema.
Hoy siddha upjai ur prema ||
One who keeps the fast faithfully and by rule, the text says, succeeds, and love for you grows in the heart.
- Chaupai 32
जय जय जय लक्ष्मी भवानी।
सब में व्यापित हो गुण खानी॥
Jay jay jay Lakshmi bhavani.
Sab mein vyapit ho gun khani ||
Victory, victory, victory to you, Lakshmi Bhavani. You pervade all things and are a mine of virtues.
- Chaupai 33
तुम्हरो तेज प्रबल जग माहीं।
तुम सम कोउ दयालु कहुँ नाहिं॥
Tumharo tej prabal jag mahin.
Tum sam kou dayalu kahun nahin ||
Your radiance is mighty in the world, and there is no one anywhere as kind as you.
- Chaupai 34
मोहि अनाथ की सुधि अब लीजै।
संकट काटि भक्ति मोहि दीजै॥
Mohi anath ki sudhi ab lijai.
Sankat kati bhakti mohi dijai ||
Take care of me now, for I have no one else. Cut away my troubles and give me devotion to you.
- Chaupai 35
भूल चूक करि क्षमा हमारी।
दर्शन दीजै दशा निहारी॥
Bhool chook kari kshama hamari.
Darshan dijai dasha nihari ||
Forgive my mistakes and oversights, and seeing my state, show yourself to me.
- Chaupai 36
बिन दर्शन व्याकुल अधिकारी।
तुमहि अछत दुःख सहते भारी॥
Bin darshan vyakul adhikari.
Tumhi achhat duhkh sahte bhari ||
Without seeing you your devotees are restless; even though you are here, they bear heavy sorrow.
- Chaupai 37
नहिं मोहिं ज्ञान बुद्धि है तन में।
सब जानत हो अपने मन में॥
Nahin mohin gyaan buddhi hai tan mein.
Sab janat ho apne man mein ||
I have no knowledge or wisdom in me; you know everything in your own heart.
- Chaupai 38
रूप चतुर्भुज करके धारण।
कष्ट मोर अब करहु निवारण॥
Roop chaturbhuj karke dharan.
Kashta mor ab karhu nivaran ||
Take your four-armed form and now remove my suffering.
- Chaupai 39
केहि प्रकार मैं करौं बड़ाई।
ज्ञान बुद्धि मोहि नहिं अधिकाई॥
Kehi prakar main karaun badaee.
Gyaan buddhi mohi nahin adhikaee ||
How can I praise you? I have little knowledge or wisdom.
- Closing Doha 1
त्राहि त्राहि दुख हारिणी, हरो बेगि सब त्रास।
जयति जयति जय लक्ष्मी, करो शत्रु को नाश॥
Trahi trahi dukh harini, haro begi sab tras.
Jayti jayti jay Lakshmi, karo shatru ko nash ||
Save me, save me, remover of sorrow, and quickly take away all my fears. Victory, victory to you, Lakshmi: destroy the enemy.
- Closing Doha 2
रामदास धरि ध्यान नित, विनय करत कर जोर।
मातु लक्ष्मी दास पर, करहु दया की कोर॥
Ramdas dhari dhyaan nit, vinay karat kar jor.
Matu Lakshmi das par, karhu daya ki kor ||
Ramdas meditates on you daily and prays with folded hands: Mother Lakshmi, turn a kind glance on your servant.
This is the Lakshmi Chalisa most widely read (‘Matu Lakshmi kari kripa’). The ‘Shri Mahalakshmi Chalisa’ (‘Namo Maha Lakshmi jai Mata’) is a different composition. The text was compared word by word with four printed books (Anand Prakashan’s ‘Lakshmi Sadhana’, Randhir Prakashan’s ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ and a second book of the same publisher, and Lakshmi Publication’s ‘Shri Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat Katha’) and four websites; none of the books is an edited edition, so where the sources are divided the reading of most independent sources is taken. Most sources have thirty-nine chaupais; some add a fortieth, ‘Ramdas ab kahai pukari. Karo door tum vipati hamari’, and have this doha in place of the sortha: ‘Sindhu suta Vishnupriye nat shir barambar. Riddhi siddhi mangalprade nat shir barambar’. The main variant readings: in chaupai 1 ‘de mohi’; in chaupai 3 ‘jai jai jai janani Jagadamba’; in chaupai 4 ‘ghat ghat ke vasi’; in chaupai 9 ‘sab sukh ka data’; in chaupai 12 ‘jo jo janm Prabhu jahan lina’; in chaupai 16 ‘kahan tak’; in chaupai 21 some books drop ‘trividh’; in chaupai 22 ‘jo chalisa padhai padhavai’ and ‘jo yah padhe aur padhave’; in chaupai 36 ‘akshat’ in place of ‘achhat’ (while present); in chaupai 37 ‘hai man mein’; in the first closing doha ‘dushman ka nash’ and ‘shatrun ka nash’. Some websites carry misprints such as ‘paruvahu’, ‘kasht noi’ and ‘dajai’.
