- Doha
जय गिरी तनये दक्षजे शंभु प्रिये गुणखानि।
गणपति जननी पार्वती अम्बे! शक्ति! भवानि॥
Jay giri tanye dakshaje shambhu priye gunkhani.
Ganapti janni Parvati ambe! shakti! bhavani ||
Victory to you, daughter of the mountain, daughter of Daksha (as Sati), beloved of Shambhu, treasury of virtues. O Parvati, mother of Ganapati! O Amba! O Shakti! O Bhavani!
- Chaupai 1
ब्रह्मा भेद न तुम्हरो पावे।
पंच बदन नित तुमको ध्यावे॥
Brahma bhed na tumharo pave.
Panch badan nit tumko dhyave ||
Even Brahma cannot know your secret; the five-faced one (Shiva) meditates on you every day.
- Chaupai 2
षड्मुख कहि न सकत यश तेरो।
सहसबदन श्रम करत घनेरो॥
Shadmukh kahi na sakat yash tero.
Sahsabdan shram karat ghanero ||
The six-faced one (Kartikeya) cannot tell your glory, and the thousand-faced one (Shesha) labours hard at it.
- Chaupai 3
तेऊ पार न पावत माता।
स्थित रक्षा लय हित सजाता॥
Teoo par na pavat mata.
Sthit raksha lay hit sajata ||
Even they cannot reach your end, O Mother; you arrange all things for the world’s continuance, protection and dissolution.
- Chaupai 4
अधर प्रवाल सदृश अरुणारे।
अति कमनीय नयन कजरारे॥
Adhar praval sadrish arunare.
Ati kamniy nayan kajrare ||
Your lips are red like coral, and your kohl-lined eyes are most lovely.
- Chaupai 5
ललित ललाट विलेपित केशर।
कुंकुम अक्षत शोभा मनहर॥
Lalit lalat vilepit keshar.
Kunkum akshat shobha manhar ||
Saffron is smeared on your fair forehead, and the kumkum and rice grains there are enchanting.
- Chaupai 6
कनक बसन कंचुकी सजाए।
कटि मेखला दिव्य लहराए॥
Kanak basan kanchuki sajae.
Kati mekhla divya lahrae ||
You wear golden garments and a bodice, and a divine girdle sways at your waist.
- Chaupai 7
कंठ मदार हार की शोभा।
जाहि देखि सहजहि मन लोभा॥
Kanth madar har ki shobha.
Jahi dekhi sahjahi man lobha ||
A garland of madar flowers adorns your neck; seeing it, the heart is charmed without effort.
- Chaupai 8
बालारुण अनन्त छबि धारी।
आभूषण की शोभा प्यारी॥
Balarun ananta chhabi dhari.
Aabhooshan ki shobha pyari ||
You bear the endless radiance of the rising sun, and your ornaments are lovely.
- Chaupai 9
नाना रत्न जटित सिंहासन।
तापर राजति हरि चतुरानन॥
Nana ratna jatit sinhasan.
Tapar rajti hari chaturanan ||
You sit on a throne studded with many jewels, where Hari (Vishnu) and four-faced Brahma are also seen in splendour.
- Chaupai 10
इन्द्रादिक परिवार पूजित।
जग मृग नाग यक्ष रव कूजित॥
Indradik parivar poojit.
Jag mrig nag yaksha rav koojit ||
Indra and the gods with their families worship you, and the world’s creatures, nagas and yakshas resound with your praise.
- Chaupai 11
गिर कैलास निवासिनी जय जय।
कोटिक प्रभा विकासिन जय जय॥
Gir kailas nivasini jay jay.
Kotik prabha vikasin jay jay ||
Victory, victory to you who dwell on Mount Kailash; victory, victory to you who spread the light of millions.
- Chaupai 12
त्रिभुवन सकल कुटुम्ब तिहारी।
अणु अणु महं तुम्हारी उजियारी॥
Tribhuvan sakal kutumba tihari.
Anu anu maham tumhari ujiyari ||
The three worlds are all your family, and your light is in every atom.
- Chaupai 13
हैं महेश प्राणेश! तुम्हारे।
त्रिभुवन के जो नित रखवारे॥
Hain mahesh pranesh! tumhare.
Tribhuvan ke jo nit rakhvare ||
Mahesh, the constant guardian of the three worlds, is the lord of your life.
- Chaupai 14
उनसो पति तुम प्राप्त कीन्ह जब।
सुकृत पुरातन उदित भए तब॥
Unso pati tum prapta kinha jab.
Sukrit puratan udit bhae tab ||
When you won him as your husband, the merit of your past deeds bore fruit.
- Chaupai 15
बूढ़ा बैल सवारी जिनकी।
महिमा का गावे कोउ तिनकी॥
Boodha bail savari jinki.
Mahima ka gave kou tinki ||
Whose mount is an old bull, whose greatness can anyone sing?
- Chaupai 16
सदा श्मशान बिहारी शंकर।
आभूषण है भुजंग भयंकर॥
Sada shmashan bihari shankar.
Aabhooshan hai bhujang bhayankar ||
Shankar ever roams the cremation ground, and fearsome serpents are his ornaments.
- Chaupai 17
कण्ठ हलाहल को छबि छायी।
नीलकण्ठ की पदवी पायी॥
Kantha halahal ko chhabi chhayi.
Nilkantha ki padvi payi ||
The hue of the halahala poison spreads over his throat, and so he won the title Nilakantha, the blue-throated.
- Chaupai 18
देव मगन के हित अस कीन्हों।
विष लै आपु तिनहि अमि दीन्हों॥
Dev magan ke hit as kinhon.
Vish lai aapu tinhi ami dinhon ||
For the gods’ delight he did this: he took the poison himself and gave them the nectar.
- Chaupai 19
ताकी तुम पत्नी छवि धारिणि।
दुरित विदारिणि मंगल कारिणि॥
Taki tum patni chhavi dharini.
Durit vidarini mangal karini ||
You are his beautiful wife, the destroyer of sin and bringer of all that is auspicious.
- Chaupai 20
देखि परम सौन्दर्य तिहारो।
त्रिभुवन चकित बनावन हारो॥
Dekhi param saundarya tiharo.
Tribhuvan chakit banavan haro ||
Your supreme beauty leaves the three worlds in wonder.
- Chaupai 21
भय भीता सो माता गंगा।
लज्जा मय है सलिल तरंगा॥
Bhay bhita so mata ganga.
Lajja may hai salil taranga ||
Seeing it, Mother Ganga grew afraid, and her rippling waters filled with shyness.
- Chaupai 22
सौत समान शम्भु पहआयी।
विष्णु पदाब्ज छोड़ि सो धायी॥
Saut saman shambhu pahaaayi.
Vishnu padabja chhodi so dhayi ||
Leaving Vishnu’s lotus feet, she rushed to Shambhu like a rival wife.
- Chaupai 23
तेहिकों कमल बदन मुरझायो।
लखि सत्वर शिव शीश चढ़ायो॥
Tehikon kamal badan murjhayo.
Lakhi satvar Shiv shish chadhayo ||
Her lotus face wilted; seeing this, Shiva at once took her upon his head.
- Chaupai 24
नित्यानन्द करी बरदायिनी।
अभय भक्त कर नित अनपायिनि॥
Nityananda kari bardayini.
Abhay bhakta kar nit anpayini ||
You give lasting joy and grant boons; you make your devotees fearless and are ever imperishable.
- Chaupai 25
अखिल पाप त्रयताप निकन्दिनि।
माहेश्वरी हिमालय नन्दिनि॥
Akhil pap traytap nikandini.
Maheshvari himalay nandini ||
You uproot all sin and the three kinds of suffering (of the body, of fate and of the world around); you are Maheshvari, daughter of the Himalaya.
- Chaupai 26
काशी पुरी सदा मन भायी।
सिद्ध पीठ तेहि आपु बनायी॥
Kashi puri sada man bhayi.
Siddha pith tehi aapu banayi ||
The city of Kashi has always been dear to you, and you made it a siddha pitha, a seat of spiritual attainment.
- Chaupai 27
भगवती प्रतिदिन भिक्षा दात्री।
कृपा प्रमोद सनेह विधात्री॥
Bhagavti pratidin bhiksha datri.
Kripa pramod saneh vidhatri ||
O Bhagavati, you give alms every day (as Annapurna), and you create grace, delight and affection.
- Chaupai 28
रिपुक्षय कारिणि जय जय अम्बे।
वाचा सिद्ध करि अवलम्बे॥
Ripukshay karini jay jay ambe.
Vacha siddha kari avlambe ||
Victory, victory to Amba, destroyer of enemies. O support of all, make your devotee’s words come true.
- Chaupai 29
गौरी उमा शंकरी काली।
अन्नपूर्णा जग प्रतिपाली॥
Gauri uma shankari kali.
Annapoorna jag pratipali ||
You are Gauri, Uma, Shankari and Kali; you are Annapurna, who nourishes the world.
- Chaupai 30
सब जन की ईश्वरी भगवती।
पतिप्राणा परमेश्वरी सती॥
Sab jan ki eeshvari bhagavti.
Patiprana parmeshvari sati ||
You are Bhagavati, sovereign of all people; you are Sati, the supreme Goddess whose life is her husband.
- Chaupai 31
तुमने कठिन तपस्या कीनी।
नारद सों जब शिक्षा लीनी॥
Tumne kathin tapasya kini.
Narad son jab shiksha lini ||
When you received Narada’s counsel, you undertook severe austerities.
- Chaupai 32
अन्न न नीर न वायु अहारा।
अस्थि मात्रतन भयउ तुम्हारा॥
Anna na nir na vayu ahara.
Asthi matratan bhayau tumhara ||
You took neither food, nor water, nor even air, till your body was nothing but bones.
- Chaupai 33
पत्र घास को खाद्य न भायउ।
उमा नाम तब तुमने पायउ॥
Patra ghas ko khadya na bhayau.
Uma naam tab tumne payau ||
You gave up even leaves and grass as food; the Chalisa says it was then that you received the name ‘Uma’.
- Chaupai 34
तप बिलोकि रिषि सात पधारे।
लगे डिगावन डिगी न हारे॥
Tap biloki rishi saat padhare.
Lage digavan digi na hare ||
Seeing your penance, the seven sages came and tried to shake your resolve; you did not waver, and it was they who gave up.
- Chaupai 35
तब तव जय जय जय उच्चारेउ।
सप्तरिषी निज गेह सिधारेउ॥
Tab tav jay jay jay uchchareu.
Saptarishi nij geh sidhareu ||
Then they hailed you, ‘victory, victory, victory’, and the seven sages went back to their homes.
- Chaupai 36
सुर विधि विष्णु पास तब आए।
वर देने के वचन सुनाए॥
Sur vidhi Vishnu paas tab aae.
Var dene ke vachan sunae ||
Then the gods, Brahma and Vishnu came to you and offered you a boon.
- Chaupai 37
मांगे उमा वर पति तुम तिनसों।
चाहत जग त्रिभुवन निधि जिनसों॥
Mange uma var pati tum tinson.
Chahat jag tribhuvan nidhi jinson ||
O Uma, you asked them for the husband from whom the three worlds seek their treasure (Shiva).
- Chaupai 38
एवमस्तु कहि ते दोऊ गए।
सुफल मनोरथ तुमने लए॥
Evmastu kahi te dooo gaye.
Suphal manorath tumne lae ||
Saying ‘so be it’, the two departed, and your wish was fulfilled.
- Chaupai 39
करि विवाह शिव सों हे भामा।
पुनः कहाई हर की बामा॥
Kari vivah Shiv son he bhama.
Punah kahaee har ki bama ||
O lady, by marrying Shiva you were once again called the wife of Hara.
- Chaupai 40
जो पढ़िहै जन यह चालीसा।
धन जन सुख देइहै तेहि ईसा॥
Jo padhihai jan yah chalisa.
Dhan jan sukh deihai tehi eesa ||
The Chalisa says that whoever reads this Chalisa will be given wealth, family and happiness by the Lord.
- Closing Doha
कूट चंद्रिका सुभग शिर जयति जयति सुख खानि।
पार्वती निज भक्त हित रहहु सदा वरदानि॥
Koot chandrika subhag shir jayti jayti sukh khani.
Parvati nij bhakta hit rahhu sada vardani ||
Victory, victory to you, treasury of joy, with the lovely crescent moon upon your head. O Parvati, remain ever the giver of boons to your devotees.
This text is taken from Randhir Prakashan’s ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (Haridwar, 2004, pages 246 to 249); Drik Panchang has the same text, and the Bhakti Bharat text agrees with it except for a few words. Variant readings (Bhakti Bharat): ‘hiy’ for ‘hit’ in chaupai 3, ‘vikasini’ for ‘vikasin’ in chaupai 11 and ‘tab tab’ for ‘tab tav’ in chaupai 35. In chaupai 19 the printed book and Drik Panchang print ‘doorit’; this page writes ‘durit’ (sin), as Bhakti Bharat does, which is the correct word for the sense. The reason given for the name ‘Uma’ in chaupai 33 is presented as the Chalisa’s own statement. The Chalisa carries no poet’s name.
