- Doha 1
देवि पूजिता नर्मदा, महिमा बड़ी अपार।
चालीसा वर्णन करत, कवि अरु भक्त उदार॥
Devi poojita narmada, mahima badi apar.
Chalisa varnan karat, kavi aru bhakta udar ||
Narmada, worshipped as a goddess, has a glory that is vast and boundless. Generous poets and devotees describe it in this Chalisa.
- Doha 2
इनकी सेवा से सदा, मिटते पाप महान।
तट पर कर जप दान नर, पाते हैं नित ज्ञान॥
Inki seva se sada, mitte pap mahan.
Tat par kar jap daan nar, pate hain nit gyaan ||
The text says that serving her wipes away even great sins, and that those who chant and give in charity on her banks keep gaining wisdom.
- Chaupai 1
जय-जय-जय नर्मदा भवानी।
तुम्हरी महिमा सब जग जानी॥
Jay-jay-jay narmada bhavani.
Tumhari mahima sab jag jani ||
Victory, victory, victory to you, Narmada Bhavani. The whole world knows your glory.
- Chaupai 2
अमरकण्ठ से निकलीं माता।
सर्व सिद्धि नव निधि की दाता॥
Amarkantha se niklin mata.
Sarva siddhi nav nidhi ki data ||
Mother Narmada rises at Amarkantak, and she grants every accomplishment and the nine treasures. (The Narmada rises at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.)
- Chaupai 3
कन्या रूप सकल गुण खानी।
जब प्रकटीं नर्मदा भवानी॥
Kanya roop sakal gun khani.
Jab praktin narmada bhavani ||
When Narmada Bhavani appeared, she came as a maiden, a mine of every virtue.
- Chaupai 4
सप्तमी सूर्य मकर रविवारा।
अश्वनि माघ मास अवतारा॥
Saptami soorya makar ravivara.
Ashvani magh mas avtara ||
According to the Chalisa she came down on the Saptami (seventh lunar day) of the month of Magha, with the Sun in Makara (Capricorn), on a Sunday, under the Ashvini nakshatra. (Narmada Jayanti is observed on Magha Shukla Saptami.)
- Chaupai 5
वाहन मकर आपको साजैं।
कमल पुष्प पर आप विराजैं॥
Vahan makar aapko sajain.
Kamal pushpa par aap virajain ||
The makara (crocodile) is your mount, and you are seated on a lotus flower.
- Chaupai 6
ब्रह्मा हरि हर तुमको ध्यावैं।
तब ही मनवांछित फल पावैं॥
Brahma hari har tumko dhyavain.
Tab hi manvanchhit phal pavain ||
Brahma, Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva) meditate on you, and only then obtain the fruit they desire.
- Chaupai 7
दर्शन करत पाप कटि जाते।
कोटि भक्त गण नित्य नहाते॥
Darshan karat pap kati jaate.
Koti bhakta gan nitya nahate ||
Sins are cut away at the sight of you, and countless devotees bathe in you every day.
- Chaupai 8
जो नर तुमको नित ही ध्यावै।
वह नर रुद्र लोक को जावै॥
Jo nar tumko nit hi dhyavai.
Vah nar rudra lok ko javai ||
The text says that whoever meditates on you every day goes to Rudraloka, the realm of Shiva.
- Chaupai 9
मगरमच्छ तुम में सुख पावैं।
अन्तिम समय परमपद पावैं॥
Magarmachchha tum mein sukh pavain.
Antim samay parampad pavain ||
Even the crocodiles live happily in you, and according to the Chalisa they too reach the highest state at the end.
- Chaupai 10
मस्तक मुकुट सदा ही साजैं।
पांव पैंजनी नित ही राजैं॥
Mastak mukut sada hi sajain.
Panv painjani nit hi rajain ||
A crown always adorns your head, and anklets (painjani) always shine on your feet.
- Chaupai 11
कल-कल ध्वनि करती हो माता।
पाप ताप हरती हो माता॥
Kal-kal dhvani karti ho mata.
Pap tap harti ho mata ||
O Mother, you flow with a murmuring sound, and you take away sin and suffering.
- Chaupai 12
पूरब से पश्चिम की ओरा।
बहती माता नाचत मोरा॥
Poorab se pashchim ki ora.
Bahti mata nachat mora ||
Mother Narmada flows from east to west, and peacocks dance (on her banks). (The Narmada flows west into the Gulf of Khambhat.)
- Chaupai 13
शौनक ऋषि तुम्हरौ गुण गावैं।
सूत आदि तुम्हरौ यश गावैं॥
Shaunak rishi tumharau gun gavain.
Soot aadi tumharau yash gavain ||
The sage Shaunaka sings of your virtues, and Suta and others sing your glory.
- Chaupai 14
शिव गणेश भी तेरे गुण गावैं।
सकल देव गण तुमको ध्यावैं॥
Shiv Ganesh bhi tere gun gavain.
Sakal dev gan tumko dhyavain ||
Shiva and Ganesha too sing your virtues, and all the gods meditate on you.
- Chaupai 15
कोटि तीर्थ नर्मदा किनारे।
ये सब कहलाते दुःख हारे॥
Koti tirth narmada kinare.
Ye sab kahlate duhkh hare ||
Countless holy places lie on the banks of the Narmada, and all of them are called removers of sorrow.
- Chaupai 16
मनोकामना पूरण करती।
सर्व दुःख माँ नित ही हरती॥
Manokamna pooran karti.
Sarva duhkh man nit hi harti ||
Mother Narmada fulfils the wishes of the heart and always takes away every sorrow.
- Chaupai 17
कनखल में गंगा की महिमा।
कुरुक्षेत्र में सरस्वति महिमा॥
Kankhal mein ganga ki mahima.
Kurukshetra mein sarasvati mahima ||
The glory of the Ganga is at Kankhal, and that of the Saraswati at Kurukshetra.
- Chaupai 18
पर नर्मदा ग्राम जंगल में।
नित रहती माता मंगल में॥
Par narmada gram jangal mein.
Nit rahti mata mangal mein ||
But Mother Narmada is always auspicious, in village and forest alike. (The same thought is in a verse of the Narmada Mahatmya in the Matsya Purana: the Ganga is holy at Kankhal and the Saraswati at Kurukshetra, but the Narmada is holy everywhere, in village or forest.)
- Chaupai 19
एक बार करके असनाना।
तरत पीढ़ी है नर नाना॥
Ek bar karke asnana.
Tarat pidhi hai nar nana ||
The text says that by bathing in you just once, many generations of a person’s family are carried across.
- Chaupai 20
मेकल कन्या तुम ही रेवा।
तुम्हीं भजन करें नित देवा॥
Mekal kanya tum hi reva.
Tumhin bhajan karein nit deva ||
You are the daughter of the Mekala hills, and you are Reva. The gods always sing your praise.
- Chaupai 21
जटा शंकरी नाम तुम्हारा।
तुमने कोटि जनों को तारा॥
Jata shankari naam tumhara.
Tumne koti janon ko tara ||
One of your names is Jatashankari, a name joined to that of Shankar (Shiva). You have carried countless people across.
- Chaupai 22
समोद्भवा नर्मदा तुम हो।
पाप मोचनी रेवा तुम हो॥
Samodbhava narmada tum ho.
Pap mochni reva tum ho ||
You are Narmada the Samodbhava, and you are Reva who frees from sin. (The Amarakosha gives ‘Somodbhava’ as a name of the Narmada; ‘Samodbhava’ seems to be that name.)
- Chaupai 23
तुम महिमा कहि नहिं जाई।
करत न बनती मातु बड़ाई॥
Tum mahima kahi nahin jaee.
Karat na banti matu badaee ||
Your glory cannot be told. O Mother, no one can praise you enough.
- Chaupai 24
जल प्रताप तुममें अति माता।
जो रमणीय तथा सुख दाता॥
Jal pratap tummen ati mata.
Jo ramniy tatha sukh data ||
O Mother, great is the power of your water; it is lovely and gives joy.
- Chaupai 25
चाल सर्पिणी सम है तुम्हारी।
महिमा अति अपार है तुम्हारी॥
Chal sarpini sam hai tumhari.
Mahima ati apar hai tumhari ||
Your course winds like a serpent, and your glory is utterly boundless.
- Chaupai 26
तुम में पड़ी अस्थि भी भारी।
छुवत पाषाण होत वर वारी॥
Tum mein padi asthi bhi bhari.
Chhuvat pashan hot var vari ||
The text says that even heavy bones that fall into you turn to stone at the touch of your excellent water. (This appears to be the sense of the line.)
- Chaupai 27
यमुना में जो मनुज नहाता।
सात दिनों में वह फल पाता॥
Yamuna mein jo manuj nahata.
Saat dinon mein vah phal pata ||
One who bathes in the Yamuna receives the fruit (of purification) in seven days.
- Chaupai 28
सरसुति तीन दिनों में देती।
गंगा तुरत बाद ही देती॥
Sarsuti teen dinon mein deti.
Ganga turat baad hi deti ||
The Saraswati gives it in three days, and the Ganga right after the bath.
- Chaupai 29
पर रेवा का दर्शन करके।
मानव फल पाता मन भर के॥
Par reva ka darshan karke.
Manav phal pata man bhar ke ||
But by merely seeing Reva (the Narmada), a person receives the fruit in full. (The Narmada Mahatmya of the Matsya Purana says the same: the water of the Saraswati purifies in three days, of the Yamuna in seven, of the Ganga at once, and of the Narmada at the very sight of it.)
- Chaupai 30
तुम्हरी महिमा है अति भारी।
जिसको गाते हैं नर-नारी॥
Tumhari mahima hai ati bhari.
Jisko gate hain nar-nari ||
Your glory is very great, and men and women all sing of it.
- Chaupai 31
जो नर तुम में नित्य नहाता।
रुद्र लोक में पूजा जाता॥
Jo nar tum mein nitya nahata.
Rudra lok mein pooja jaata ||
The text says that whoever bathes in you every day is honoured in Rudraloka.
- Chaupai 32
जड़ी बूटियां तट पर राजें।
मोहक दृश्य सदा ही साजें॥
Jadi bootiyan tat par rajen.
Mohak drishya sada hi sajen ||
Healing herbs grow on your banks, and lovely scenes always adorn them.
- Chaupai 33
वायु सुगन्धित चलती तीरा।
जो हरती नर तन की पीरा॥
Vayu sugandhit chalti tira.
Jo harti nar tan ki pira ||
A fragrant breeze blows along your banks and takes away the body’s pain.
- Chaupai 34
घाट-घाट की महिमा भारी।
कवि भी गा नहिं सकते सारी॥
Ghat-ghat ki mahima bhari.
Kavi bhi ga nahin sakte sari ||
Every one of your ghats has great glory; even poets cannot sing all of it.
- Chaupai 35
नहिं जानूँ मैं तुम्हरी पूजा।
और सहारा नहीं मम दूजा॥
Nahin janoon main tumhari pooja.
Aur sahara nahin mam dooja ||
I do not know how to worship you, yet I have no other support but you.
- Chaupai 36
हो प्रसन्न ऊपर मम माता।
तुम ही मातु मोक्ष की दाता॥
Ho prasanna oopar mam mata.
Tum hi matu moksha ki data ||
O Mother, be pleased with me. It is you, Mother, who grant liberation.
- Chaupai 37
जो मानव यह नित है पढ़ता।
उसका मान सदा ही बढ़ता॥
Jo manav yah nit hai padhta.
Uska man sada hi badhta ||
The text says that whoever reads it every day always grows in honour.
- Chaupai 38
जो शत बार इसे है गाता।
वह विद्या धन दौलत पाता॥
Jo shat bar ise hai gata.
Vah vidya dhan daulat pata ||
It also says that whoever sings it a hundred times gains learning and wealth.
- Chaupai 39
अगणित बार पढ़े जो कोई।
पूरण मनोकामना होई॥
Agnit bar padhe jo koee.
Pooran manokamna hoee ||
And whoever reads it countless times has the wishes of the heart fulfilled.
- Chaupai 40
सबके उर में बसत नर्मदा।
यहाँ वहाँ सर्वत्र नर्मदा॥
Sabke ur mein basat narmada.
Yahan wahan sarvatra narmada ||
Narmada dwells in every heart; here, there and everywhere, there is Narmada.
- Closing Doha
भक्ति भाव उर आनि के, जो करता है जाप।
माता जी की कृपा से, दूर होत सन्ताप॥
Bhakti bhav ur aani ke, jo karta hai jap.
Mata ji ki kripa se, door hot santap ||
The text says that whoever recites it with devotion in the heart is freed from distress by the Mother’s grace.
This is the text of the Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar book ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (2004), compared with a second printing from the same publisher and several websites. All sources have the same stanzas in the same order. The main variant readings: in the first doha many websites read ‘devi pujit, Narmada’; in chaupai 4 some misspell ‘surya’ (the Sun) with a short u; in chaupai 19 you will also find ‘ek bar kar ke snana, tarat pidhi hai nar nana’; in chaupai 20 the printed book reads ‘tumhin bhajan’ (you alone), while the websites have ‘tumhari bhajan’; in chaupai 21 some read ‘janon ko hai tara’; in chaupai 23 some read ‘tumhari mahima kahi nahin jai’; in chaupais 17 and 28 several sources write ‘Saraswati’ in place of ‘Sarasvati’ and ‘Sarasuti’; and in chaupai 24 one source reads ‘jalaprapat’ (waterfall) for ‘jal pratap’ (the power of the water). No source names the author.
