- Doha 1
श्री गुरु चरण सरोज छवि, निज मन मन्दिर धारि।
सुमरि गजानन शारदा, गहि आशिष त्रिपुरारि॥
Shri guru charan saroj chhavi, nij man mandir dhari.
Sumri gajanan sharda, gahi aashish tripurari ||
Holding the image of my Guru’s lotus feet in the temple of my mind, remembering Gajanan (Ganesha) and Sharada (Saraswati), and taking the blessing of Tripurari (Shiva), (I begin this Chalisa).
- Doha 2
बुद्धिहीन जन जानिये, अवगुणों का भण्डार।
बरणौं परशुराम सुयश, निज मति के अनुसार॥
Buddhihin jan janiye, avgunon ka bhandar.
Barnaun parshuram suyash, nij mati ke anusar ||
Know me to be a person without wisdom, a store of faults. Even so, I describe Parashurama’s glory as far as my understanding allows.
- Chaupai 1
जय प्रभु परशुराम सुख सागर।
जय मुनीश गुण ज्ञान दिवाकर॥
Jay prabhu parshuram sukh sagar.
Jay munish gun gyaan divakar ||
Victory to Lord Parashurama, ocean of happiness. Victory to the lord of sages, a sun of virtue and knowledge.
- Chaupai 2
भृगुकुल मुकुट बिकट रणधीरा।
क्षत्रिय तेज मुख संत शरीरा॥
Bhrigukul mukut bikat randhira.
Kshatriy tej mukh sant sharira ||
You are the crown of the Bhrigu clan, formidable and steadfast in battle. Your face has a warrior’s radiance; your body is a saint’s.
- Chaupai 3
जमदग्नी सुत रेणुका जाया।
तेज प्रताप सकल जग छाया॥
Jamdagni sut renuka jaya.
Tej pratap sakal jag chhaya ||
You are the son of Jamadagni, born of Renuka. Your radiance and might spread across the whole world.
- Chaupai 4
मास बैसाख सित पच्छ उदारा।
तृतीया पुनर्वसु मनुहारा॥
Mas baisakh sit pachchha udara.
Tritiya punarvasu manuhara ||
According to the text you were born in the month of Vaishakh, in the bright fortnight, on the lovely third lunar day, under the Punarvasu nakshatra.
- Chaupai 5
प्रहर प्रथम निशा शीत न घामा।
तिथि प्रदोष व्यापि सुखधामा॥
Prahar pratham nisha shit na ghama.
Tithi pradosh vyapi sukhdhama ||
It was the first watch of the night, neither cold nor hot. The tithi prevailed at pradosh, the hour of dusk, a time full of joy.
- Chaupai 6
तब ऋषि कुटीर रुदन शिशु कीन्हा।
रेणुका कोखि जनम हरि लीन्हा॥
Tab rishi kutir rudan shishu kinha.
Renuka kokhi janam hari linha ||
Then a baby cried in the sage’s hut: Hari (Vishnu) was born from Renuka’s womb.
- Chaupai 7
निज घर उच्च ग्रह छः ठाढ़े।
मिथुन राशि राहु सुख गाढ़े॥
Nij ghar uchcha grah chhah thadhe.
Mithun rashi rahu sukh gadhe ||
The text says that (at the birth) six planets stood exalted in their own houses, and Rahu in Gemini was well placed.
- Chaupai 8
तेज-ज्ञान मिल नर तनु धारा।
जमदग्नी घर ब्रह्म अवतारा॥
Tej-gyaan mil nar tanu dhara.
Jamdagni ghar brahma avtara ||
Radiance and wisdom together took a human body: the Supreme (Brahman) became incarnate in Jamadagni’s home.
- Chaupai 9
धरा राम शिशु पावन नामा।
नाम जपत जग लह विश्रामा॥
Dhara Ram shishu pavan nama.
Naam japat jag lah vishrama ||
The child was given the holy name ‘Rama’; chanting that name, the world finds rest.
- Chaupai 10
भाल त्रिपुण्ड जटा सिर सुन्दर।
कांधे मुंज जनेउ मनहर॥
Bhal tripunda jata sir sundar.
Kandhe munj janeu manhar ||
The tripundra mark is on your forehead, fine matted locks on your head, and a lovely sacred thread of munja grass on your shoulder.
- Chaupai 11
मंजु मेखला कटि मृगछाला।
रूद्र माला बर वक्ष बिशाला॥
Manju mekhla kati mrigchhala.
Roodra mala bar vaksha bishala ||
A fine girdle and a deerskin are at your waist, and a handsome rudraksha garland on your broad chest.
- Chaupai 12
पीत बसन सुन्दर तनु सोहें।
कंध तुणीर धनुष मन मोहें॥
Pit basan sundar tanu sohen.
Kandh tunir dhanush man mohen ||
Yellow garments adorn your handsome body; the quiver and bow on your shoulder charm the heart.
- Chaupai 13
वेद-पुराण-श्रुति-स्मृति ज्ञाता।
क्रोध रूप तुम जग विख्याता॥
Ved-Puran-shruti-smriti gyata.
Krodh roop tum jag vikhyata ||
You know the Vedas, Puranas, Shruti and Smriti, and you are famed in the world for your wrathful form.
- Chaupai 14
दायें हाथ श्रीपरशु उठावा।
बेद-संहिता बायें सुहावा॥
Dayen haath shriparshu uthava.
Bed-sanhita bayen suhava ||
In your right hand you raise the sacred axe (parashu); in your left, the Veda Samhita looks fine.
- Chaupai 15
विद्यावान गुण ज्ञान अपारा।
शास्त्र-शस्त्र दोउ पर अधिकारा॥
Vidyavan gun gyaan apara.
Shastra-shastra dou par adhikara ||
You are learned, of boundless virtue and knowledge, master of both scripture and weapons.
- Chaupai 16
भुवन चारिदस अरू नवखंडा।
चहुं दिशि सुयश प्रताप प्रचंडा॥
Bhuvan charidas aroo navkhanda.
Chahun dishi suyash pratap prachanda ||
Through the fourteen worlds and the nine regions, in all four directions, spread your fame and fierce might.
- Chaupai 17
एक बार गणपति के संगा।
जूझे भृगुकुल कमल पतंगा॥
Ek bar ganapti ke sanga.
Joojhe bhrigukul kamal patanga ||
Once the sun of the Bhrigu lotus, Parashurama, fought with Ganapati.
- Chaupai 18
दांत तोड़ रण कीन्ह विरामा।
एक दंत गणपति भयो नामा॥
Dant tod ran kinha virama.
Ek dant ganapti bhayo nama ||
He broke Ganapati’s tusk and ended the fight; from then on Ganapati was called ‘Ekadanta’, the one-tusked. (This is a story told in tradition.)
- Chaupai 19
कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन भूपाला।
सहस्त्रबाहु दुर्जन विकराला॥
Kartavirya Arjun bhoopala.
Sahastrabahu durjan vikrala ||
King Kartavirya Arjuna, the thousand-armed (Sahasrabahu), was wicked and fearsome.
- Chaupai 20
सुरगऊ लखि जमदग्नी पांहीं।
रखिहहुं निज घर ठानि मन मांहीं॥
Surgaoo lakhi jamdagni panhin.
Rakhihhun nij ghar thani man manhin ||
Seeing the divine cow (surgau) with Jamadagni, he resolved in his mind to keep it in his own house.
- Chaupai 21
मिली न मांगि तब कीन्ह लड़ाई।
भयो पराजित जगत हंसाई॥
Mili na mangi tab kinha ladaee.
Bhayo parajit jagat hansaee ||
When asking did not win him the cow, he fought for it, but he was defeated and became a laughing-stock.
- Chaupai 22
तन खल हृदय भई रिस गाढ़ी।
रिपुता मुनि सौं अतिसय बाढ़ी॥
Tan khal hriday bhaee ris gadhi.
Riputa muni saun atisay badhi ||
Then deep anger filled the villain’s heart, and his enmity toward the sage grew great.
- Chaupai 23
ऋषिवर रहे ध्यान लवलीना।
तिन्ह पर शक्तिघात नृप कीन्हा॥
Rishivar rahe dhyaan lavlina.
Tinha par shaktighat nrip kinha ||
While the great sage was absorbed in meditation, the king struck him with a shakti, a spear.
- Chaupai 24
लगत शक्ति जमदग्नी निपाता।
मनहुं क्षत्रिकुल बाम विधाता॥
Lagat shakti jamdagni nipata.
Manhun kshatrikul bam vidhata ||
Struck by the spear, Jamadagni fell. It was as if fate had turned against the Kshatriya race.
- Chaupai 25
पितु-बध मातु-रूदन सुनि भारा।
भा अति क्रोध मन शोक अपारा॥
Pitu-badh matu-roodan suni bhara.
Bha ati krodh man shok apara ||
Hearing of his father’s killing and his mother’s bitter weeping, he was filled with great anger and endless grief.
- Chaupai 26
कर गहि तीक्षण परशु कराला।
दुष्ट हनन कीन्हेउ तत्काला॥
Kar gahi tikshan parshu karala.
Dushta hanan kinheu tatkala ||
Seizing his sharp and terrible axe, he slew the wicked king at once.
- Chaupai 27
क्षत्रिय रुधिर पितु तर्पण कीन्हा।
पितु-बध प्रतिशोध सुत लीन्हा॥
Kshatriy rudhir pitu tarpan kinha.
Pitu-badh pratishodh sut linha ||
With the blood of Kshatriyas he made the offering (tarpan) for his father; the son avenged his father’s killing.
- Chaupai 28
इक्कीस बार भू क्षत्रिय बिहीनी।
छीन धरा बिप्रन्ह कहँ दीनी॥
Ikkis bar bhoo kshatriy bihini.
Chhin dhara bipranha kahan dini ||
Twenty-one times he rid the earth of Kshatriyas, and he took the land and gave it to the Brahmins.
- Chaupai 29
जुग त्रेता कर चरित सुहाई।
शिव-धनु भंग कीन्ह रघुराई॥
Jug treta kar charit suhaee.
Shiv-dhanu bhang kinha raghuraee ||
In the Treta age came this lovely episode: Raghurai, Shri Rama, broke Shiva’s bow.
- Chaupai 30
गुरु धनु भंजक रिपु करि जाना।
तब समूल नाश ताहि ठाना॥
Guru dhanu bhanjak ripu kari jana.
Tab samool nash tahi thana ||
Taking the breaker of his guru’s (Shiva’s) bow for an enemy, Parashurama resolved to destroy him root and branch.
- Chaupai 31
कर जोरि तब राम रघुराई।
बिनय कीन्ही पुनि शक्ति दिखाई॥
Kar jori tab Ram raghuraee.
Binay kinhi puni shakti dikhaee ||
Then Rama, king of the Raghus, folded his hands and spoke humbly, and then he showed his power.
- Chaupai 32
भीष्म द्रोण कर्ण बलवन्ता।
भये शिष्या द्वापर महँ अनन्ता॥
Bhishma dron karna balvanta.
Bhaye shishya dvapar mahan ananta ||
In the Dvapara age mighty Bhishma, Drona and Karna, and countless others, became your disciples.
- Chaupai 33
शस्त्र विद्या देह सुयश कमावा।
गुरु प्रताप दिगन्त फिरावा॥
Shastra vidya deh suyash kamava.
Guru pratap diganta phirava ||
Given the science of arms by you, they won great fame and carried their guru’s glory to the ends of the earth.
- Chaupai 34
चारों युग तव महिमा गाई।
सुर मुनि मनुज दनुज समुदाई॥
Charon yug tav mahima gaee.
Sur muni manuj danuj samudaee ||
Through all four ages, gods, sages, humans and demons alike have sung your glory.
- Chaupai 35
दे कश्यप सों संपदा भाई।
तप कीन्हा महेन्द्र गिरि जाई॥
De kashyap son sampada bhaee.
Tap kinha mahendra giri jaee ||
Giving the wealth of the earth to Kashyapa, you went to Mount Mahendra and did penance.
- Chaupai 36
अब लौं लीन समाधि नाथा।
सकल लोक नावइ नित माथा॥
Ab laun lin samadhi natha.
Sakal lok navai nit matha ||
O Lord, to this day you remain absorbed in samadhi, and the whole world bows to you every day.
- Chaupai 37
चारों वर्ण एक सम जाना।
समदर्शी प्रभु तुम भगवाना॥
Charon varna ek sam jana.
Samdarshi prabhu tum bhagvana ||
You regard all four varnas as equal; O Lord God, you look on all with an equal eye.
- Chaupai 38
ललहिं चारि फल शरण तुम्हारी।
देव दनुज नर भूप भिखारी॥
Lalhin chari phal sharan tumhari.
Dev danuj nar bhoop bhikhari ||
Gods, demons, humans, kings and beggars all long to gain the four fruits of life (dharma, artha, kama and moksha) in your refuge. (Some texts read ‘lahahin’: they gain them.)
- Chaupai 39
जो यह पढ़ै श्री परशु चालीसा।
तिन्ह अनुकूल सदा गौरीसा॥
Jo yah padhai Shri parshu chalisa.
Tinha anukool sada gaurisa ||
The text says that Gaurisha, Shiva, is always favourable to whoever reads this Parashurama Chalisa.
- Chaupai 40
पूर्णेन्दु निसि बासर स्वामी।
बसहु हृदय प्रभु अन्तरयामी॥
Poornendu nisi basar svami.
Basahu hriday prabhu antaryami ||
O Master, O Lord who dwells within, live night and day in the heart of Purnendu. (‘Purnendu’ appears to be the poet’s signature; the Parashurama aarti printed in the same book also closes with the name ‘Purnendu’.)
- Closing Doha
परशुराम को चारू चरित, मेटत सकल अज्ञान।
शरण पड़े को देत प्रभु, सदा सुयश सम्मान॥
Parshuram ko charoo charit, metat sakal agyan.
Sharan pade ko det prabhu, sada suyash samman ||
Parashurama’s lovely story wipes away all ignorance. The text says that to one who takes refuge in him the Lord always gives good name and honour.
- Shloka
भृगुदेव कुलं भानुं, सहसबाहुर्मर्दनम्।
रेणुका नयना नंदं, परशुंवन्दे विप्रधनम्॥
Bhrigudev kulam bhanun, sahasbahurmardanam.
Renuka nayna nandam, parshunvande vipradhnam ||
I bow to the bearer of the axe: the sun of the Bhrigu line, the crusher of the thousand-armed king, the joy of Renuka’s eyes, the treasure of the Brahmins.
This is the text of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar, ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (2004, pp. 146 to 150), read from the page images and compared word by word with several websites. All sources have the same chaupais in the same order. The main variant readings: in chaupai 38 the book and most websites read ‘lalahin’ (long for), while one line of copies reads ‘lahahin’ (gain); the same copies read ‘rahihahun’ in chaupai 20 and ‘shishya’ in chaupai 32. Some copies print ‘Ganapatiji’ in chaupai 17, ‘shaastra vidya’ (scriptural learning) for ‘shastra vidya’ (the science of arms) in chaupai 33 and ‘desi Kashyap’ in chaupai 35, which look like slips; some websites leave out the closing doha and the shloka. The shloka is given in the book’s spelling (‘sahasabahurmardanam’, ‘nayana nandam’, ‘parashumvande’); some copies read ‘sahasrabahurmardanam’ and ‘nayananandam’. The last chaupai carries the name ‘Purnendu’, which appears to be the poet’s signature; nothing else is known about the poet.
