- Doha
जय जय श्री महालक्ष्मी, करूँ मात तव ध्यान।
सिद्ध काज मम कीजिए, निज शिशु सेवक जान॥
Jay jay Shri mahalakshmi, karoon mat tav dhyaan.
Siddha kaj mam kijie, nij shishu sevak jan ||
Victory, victory to Shri Mahalakshmi! Mother, I meditate on you. Know me as your child and servant, and bring my tasks to success.
- Chaupai 1
नमो महा लक्ष्मी जय माता।
तेरो नाम जगत विख्याता॥
Namo maha Lakshmi jay mata.
Tero naam jagat vikhyata ||
Salutations to you, Mother Mahalakshmi, victory to you. Your name is famous throughout the world.
- Chaupai 2
आदि शक्ति हो मात भवानी।
पूजत सब नर मुनि ज्ञानी॥
Aadi shakti ho mat bhavani.
Poojat sab nar muni gyani ||
Mother Bhavani, you are the primal power (Adi Shakti). All people, sages and the wise worship you.
- Chaupai 3
जगत पालिनी सब सुख करनी।
निज जनहित भण्डारन भरनी॥
Jagat palini sab sukh karni.
Nij janhit bhandaran bharni ||
You sustain the world and give every happiness. For the good of your devotees you fill their storehouses.
- Chaupai 4
श्वेत कमल दल पर तव आसन।
मात सुशोभित है पद्मासन॥
Shvet kamal dal par tav aasan.
Mat sushobhit hai padmasan ||
Your seat is on the petals of a white lotus; Mother, you shine on the lotus throne.
- Chaupai 5
श्वेताम्बर अरु श्वेता भूषन।
श्वेतहि श्वेत सुसज्जित पुष्पन॥
Shvetambar aru shveta bhooshan.
Shvetahi shvet susajjit pushpan ||
Your garments are white, your ornaments are white, and you are adorned with flowers of the purest white.
- Chaupai 6
शीश छत्र अति रूप विशाला।
गल सोहे मुक्तन की माला॥
Shish chhatra ati roop vishala.
Gal sohe muktan ki mala ||
A royal parasol rises above your head and your form is magnificent. A string of pearls graces your neck.
- Chaupai 7
सुन्दर सोहे कुंचित केशा।
विमल नयन अरू अनुपम भेषा॥
Sundar sohe kunchit kesha.
Vimal nayan aroo anupam bhesha ||
Your curling hair is beautiful; your eyes are clear and your attire is beyond compare.
- Chaupai 8
कमलनाल सम भुज तव चारी।
सुर नर मुनिजन हित सुखकारी॥
Kamalnal sam bhuj tav chari.
Sur nar munijan hit sukhkari ||
Your four arms are like lotus stalks, and they bring good and joy to gods, humans and sages.
- Chaupai 9
अद्भुत छटा मात तव बानी।
सकल विश्व कीन्हो सुखखानी॥
Adbhut chhata mat tav bani.
Sakal vishva kinho sukhkhani ||
Mother, your splendour is wondrous; you have made the whole world a mine of joy.
- Chaupai 10
शांति स्वभाव मृदुल तव भवानी।
सकल विश्व की हो सुखखानी॥
Shanti svabhav mridul tav bhavani.
Sakal vishva ki ho sukhkhani ||
Bhavani, your nature is calm and gentle. You are the source of joy for the whole world.
- Chaupai 11
महालक्ष्मी धन्य हो माई।
पंच तत्व में सृष्टि रचाई॥
Mahalakshmi dhanya ho maee.
Panch tatva mein srishti rachaee ||
Blessed are you, Mother Mahalakshmi; you made the creation out of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space).
- Chaupai 12
जीव चराचर तुम उपजाए।
पशु पक्षी नर नारि बनाए॥
Jiv charachar tum upjae.
Pashu pakshi nar nari banae ||
You brought forth all beings, moving and unmoving, and made animals, birds, men and women.
- Chaupai 13
क्षितितल अगणित वृक्ष जमाए।
अमित रंग फल फूल सुहाए॥
Kshitital agnit vriksha jamae.
Amit rang phal phool suhae ||
On the face of the earth you raised countless trees and adorned them with fruits and flowers of endless colours.
- Chaupai 14
छवि बिलोक सुर मुनि नर नारी।
करे सदा तव जय-जय कारी॥
Chhavi bilok sur muni nar nari.
Kare sada tav jay-jay kari ||
Seeing your beauty, gods, sages, men and women ever hail you with cries of victory.
- Chaupai 15
सुरपति औ नरपत सब ध्यावैं।
तेरे सम्मुख शीश नवावैं॥
Surapti au narpat sab dhyavain.
Tere sammukh shish navavain ||
The king of the gods (Indra) and the kings of men all meditate on you and bow their heads before you.
- Chaupai 16
चारहु वेदन तव यश गाया।
महिमा अगम पार नहिं पाया॥
Charhu vedan tav yash gaya.
Mahima agam par nahin paya ||
All four Vedas have sung your glory; your greatness is unfathomable and no one has found its end.
- Chaupai 17
जापर करहु मातु तुम दाया।
सोई जग में धन्य कहाया॥
Japar karhu matu tum daya.
Soee jag mein dhanya kahaya ||
Mother, the one on whom you show kindness is the one the world calls blessed.
- Chaupai 18
पल में राजाहि रंक बनाओ।
रंक राव कर बिलम न लाओ॥
Pal mein rajahi rank banao.
Rank rav kar bilam na lao ||
In a moment you can make a king a pauper, and you take no time to make a pauper a king.
- Chaupai 19
जिन घर करहु मात तुम बासा।
उनका यश हो विश्व प्रकाशा॥
Jin ghar karhu mat tum basa.
Unka yash ho vishva prakasha ||
Mother, those in whose homes you dwell have their good name shine throughout the world.
- Chaupai 20
जो ध्यावै सो बहु सुख पावै।
विमुख रहै हो दुख उठावै॥
Jo dhyavai so bahu sukh pavai.
Vimukh rahai ho dukh uthavai ||
The Chalisa says: whoever meditates on you finds great happiness; whoever turns away from you suffers.
- Chaupai 21
महालक्ष्मी जन सुख दाई।
ध्याऊं तुमको शीश नवाई॥
Mahalakshmi jan sukh daee.
Dhyaoon tumko shish navaee ||
Mahalakshmi, giver of joy to your people, I bow my head and meditate on you.
- Chaupai 22
निज जन जानि मोहिं अपनाओ।
सुख सम्पति दे दुख नसाओ॥
Nij jan jani mohin apnao.
Sukh sampati de dukh nasao ||
Know me as your own and accept me; grant me happiness and wealth and end my sorrows.
- Chaupai 23
ॐ श्री-श्री जय सुख की खानी।
रिद्धि सिद्ध देउ मात जन जानी॥
Om Shri-Shri jay sukh ki khani.
Riddhi siddha deu mat jan jani ||
‘Om Shri, Shri’: victory to you, mine of happiness. Mother, knowing me as your devotee, grant me prosperity and success (riddhi-siddhi).
- Chaupai 24
ॐ ह्रीं-ॐ ह्रीं सब ब्याधि हटाओ।
जन उन बिमल दृष्टि दर्शाओ॥
Om hrin-om hrin sab byadhi hatao.
Jan un bimal drishti darshao ||
‘Om Hrim, Om Hrim’: remove every illness, and turn your pure, gracious gaze upon your devotees.
- Chaupai 25
ॐ क्लीं-ॐ क्लीं शत्रुन क्षय कीजै।
जनहित मात अभय वर दीजै॥
Om klin-om klin shatrun kshay kijai.
Janhit mat abhay var dijai ||
‘Om Klim, Om Klim’: destroy the enemies. Mother, for your devotees’ good, grant the boon of fearlessness.
- Chaupai 26
ॐ जय जयति जय जननी।
सकल काज भक्तन के सरनी॥
Om jay jayti jay janni.
Sakal kaj bhaktan ke sarni ||
‘Om’: victory, victory to you, Mother. You bring all your devotees’ tasks to completion.
- Chaupai 27
ॐ नमो-नमो भवनिधि तारनी।
तरणि भंवर से पार उतारनी॥
Om namo-namo bhavnidhi tarni.
Tarni bhanvar se par utarni ||
‘Om’: salutations again and again to you who carry us across the ocean of worldly life; like a boat you bring us safely past the whirlpool.
- Chaupai 28
सुनहु मात यह विनय हमारी।
पुरवहु आश न करहु अबारी॥
Sunhu mat yah vinay hamari.
Puravhu aash na karhu abari ||
Mother, hear this prayer of ours: fulfil our hopes, and do not delay.
- Chaupai 29
ऋणी दुखी जो तुमको ध्यावै।
सो प्राणी सुख सम्पत्ति पावै॥
Rini dukhi jo tumko dhyavai.
So prani sukh sampatti pavai ||
The Chalisa says that anyone in debt or in sorrow who meditates on you finds happiness and wealth.
- Chaupai 30
रोग ग्रसित जो ध्यावै कोई।
ताकी निर्मल काया होई॥
Rog grasit jo dhyavai koee.
Taki nirmal kaya hoee ||
The Chalisa says that whoever is gripped by illness and meditates on you gains a pure, healthy body.
- Chaupai 31
विष्णु प्रिया जय-जय महारानी।
महिमा अमित न जाय बखानी॥
Vishnu priya jay-jay maharani.
Mahima amit na jay bakhani ||
Victory, victory to you, great Queen, beloved of Vishnu. Your glory is boundless and cannot be described.
- Chaupai 32
पुत्रहीन जो ध्यान लगावै।
पाये सुत अतिहि हुलसावै॥
Putrahin jo dhyaan lagavai.
Paye sut atihi hulsavai ||
The Chalisa says that one without a son who meditates on you is blessed with a son and rejoices greatly.
- Chaupai 33
त्राहि त्राहि शरणागत तेरी।
करहु मात अब नेक न देरी॥
Trahi trahi sharnagat teri.
Karhu mat ab nek na deri ||
Save me, save me! I have come to your shelter; Mother, do not delay even a little now.
- Chaupai 34
आवहु मात विलम्ब न कीजै।
हृदय निवास भक्त बर दीजै॥
Aavhu mat vilamba na kijai.
Hriday nivas bhakta bar dijai ||
Come, Mother, do not delay. Dwell in my heart and grant this devotee a boon.
- Chaupai 35
जानूँ जप तप का नहिं भेवा।
पार करौ भवनिध बन खेवा॥
Janoon jap tap ka nahin bheva.
Par karau bhavnidh ban kheva ||
I do not know the secret of japa or austerity. Become my boatman yourself and carry me across the ocean of worldly life.
- Chaupai 36
बिनवों बार-बार कर जोरी।
पूरण आशा करहु अब मेरी॥
Binvon bar-bar kar jori.
Pooran aasha karhu ab meri ||
With folded hands I pray again and again: fulfil my hopes now.
- Chaupai 37
जानि दास मम संकट टारौ।
सकल व्याधि से मोहिं उबारौ॥
Jani das mam sankat tarau.
Sakal vyadhi se mohin ubarau ||
Knowing me as your servant, turn away my troubles and deliver me from every illness.
- Chaupai 38
जो तव सुरति रहै लव लाई।
सो जग पावै सुयश बड़ाई॥
Jo tav surti rahai lav laee.
So jag pavai suyash badaee ||
The Chalisa says that whoever keeps you lovingly in mind wins a good name and honour in the world.
- Chaupai 39
छायो यश तेरा संसारा।
पावत शेष शम्भु नहिं पारा॥
Chhayo yash tera sansara.
Pavat shesh shambhu nahin para ||
Your glory has spread over the whole world; even Shesha and Shambhu (Shiva) cannot reach its end.
- Chaupai 40
गोविंद निशदिन शरण तिहारी।
करहु पूरण अभिलाष हमारी॥
Govind nishdin sharan tihari.
Karhu pooran abhilash hamari ||
Govind is in your shelter day and night; fulfil our wishes. (‘Govind’ may be the poet’s signature.)
- Closing Doha
महालक्ष्मी चालीसा, पढ़ै सुनै चित लाय।
ताहि पदारथ मिलै अब, कहै वेद अस गाय॥
Mahalakshmi chalisa, padhai sunai chit lay.
Tahi padarath milai ab, kahai ved as gay ||
The Chalisa says: whoever reads or hears the Mahalakshmi Chalisa attentively obtains what they seek; so, it says, the Vedas sing.
Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/mahalakshmi-chalisa/
The text is based on the ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar (2004, pages 187–190), read from the page scans. It was compared with the texts of Drik Panchang, Bhakti Bharat, Sri Mandir and Mukti Mantra; these four agree almost word for word with one another and differ from the printed book in several places, so they carry a separate line of the text. The main variants: in chaupai 18 the websites read ‘bimal na lao’, but only the printed book’s ‘bilam na lao’ (take no time) makes sense; in chaupai 16 ‘tab yash’ and ‘par nahin paye’; in chaupai 20 ‘jo dhyavai se’; in chaupai 35 ‘par karo bhavanidh van kheva’; in chaupai 36 ‘karahu ab mori’; in chaupai 12 ‘nar nari’; in the doha ‘kijiye’. In chaupai 6 the printed book has ‘sauhe’, a misprint (the very next chaupai has ‘sohe’); the websites’ ‘sohe’ is taken here. The printed book runs several words together (such as ‘matatum’, ‘janimohin’, ‘byadhihatao’, ‘ashan’); here they are written apart, and ‘ashan’ in chaupai 28 is read as ‘ash na’ (hope; do not [delay]). What the Chalisa says about illness, children and wealth is the statement of a devotional poem.
