- Doha 1
श्री राधे वृषभानुजा, भक्तनि प्राणाधार।
वृन्दाविपिन विहारिणि, प्रणवौं बारंबार॥
Shri radhe vrishbhanuja, bhaktani pranadhar.
Vrindavipin viharini, pranvaun barambar ||
O Shri Radha, daughter of Vrishbhanu, you are the support of your devotees’ lives. O you who roam the forest of Vrindavan, I bow to you again and again.
- Doha 2
जैसौ तैसौ रावरौ, कृष्ण प्रिया सुखधाम।
चरण शरण निज दीजिये, सुन्दर सुखद ललाम॥
Jaisau taisau ravrau, Krishna priya sukhdham.
Charan sharan nij dijiye, sundar sukhad lalam ||
O beloved of Krishna, home of joy: whatever I am, I am yours. O lovely, gracious and charming one, give me shelter at your feet.
- Chaupai 1
जय वृषभानु कुँवरि श्री श्यामा।
कीरति नंदिनी शोभा धामा॥
Jay vrishbhanu kunvari Shri shyama.
Kirti nandini shobha dhama ||
Victory to Shri Shyama (Radha), the dear daughter of Vrishbhanu. Victory to you, daughter of Kirti, home of all beauty.
- Chaupai 2
नित्य विहारिनि श्याम अधारा।
अमित मोद मंगल दातारा॥
Nitya viharini shyam adhara.
Amit mod mangal datara ||
You are ever at play (with Krishna) and are Shyam’s very support. You give boundless joy and blessing.
- Chaupai 3
रास विलासिनि रस विस्तारिनि।
सहचरि सुभग यूथ मन भावनि॥
Ras vilasini ras vistarini.
Sahachri subhag yooth man bhavni ||
You delight in the Raas dance and spread its sweetness far and wide. The lovely band of your companions holds you dear.
- Chaupai 4
नित्य किशोरी राधा गोरी।
श्याम प्राणधन अति जिय भोरी॥
Nitya kishori radha gori.
Shyam prandhan ati jiy bhori ||
Fair Radha is forever young. She is the treasure of Shyam’s life, and her heart is utterly innocent.
- Chaupai 5
करुणा सागर हिय उमंगिनी।
ललितादिक सखियन की संगिनी॥
Karuna sagar hiy umangini.
Lalitadik sakhiyan ki sangini ||
You are an ocean of compassion, your heart full of joy. You are the companion of Lalita and the other sakhis.
- Chaupai 6
दिनकर कन्या कूल विहारिनि।
कृष्ण प्राण प्रिय हिय हुलसावनि॥
Dinkar kanya kool viharini.
Krishna pran priy hiy hulsavni ||
You wander on the banks of the Yamuna, daughter of the Sun. Dear to Krishna as life itself, you gladden his heart.
- Chaupai 7
नित्य श्याम तुमरौ गुण गावैं।
राधा राधा कहि हरषावैं॥
Nitya shyam tumrau gun gavain.
Radha radha kahi harshavain ||
Shyam himself sings your virtues every day, and rejoices as he says “Radha, Radha”.
- Chaupai 8
मुरली में नित नाम उचारें।
तुव कारण लीला वपु धारें॥
Murli mein nit naam ucharen.
Tuv karan lila vapu dharen ||
On his flute he calls your name again and again, and for your sake he takes on his playful form.
- Chaupai 9
प्रेम स्वरूपिणि अति सुकुमारी।
श्याम प्रिया वृषभानु दुलारी॥
Prem svaroopini ati sukumari.
Shyam priya vrishbhanu dulari ||
You are love itself in form, most tender and delicate: Shyam’s beloved and Vrishbhanu’s darling.
- Chaupai 10
नवल किशोरी अति छवि धामा।
द्युति लघु लगै कोटि रति कामा॥
Naval kishori ati chhavi dhama.
Dyuti laghu lagai koti rati kama ||
Ever youthful, you are the home of beauty. Beside your radiance, the glow of countless Ratis and Kamadevas seems small.
- Chaupai 11
गौरांगी शशि निंदक बदना।
सुभग चपल अनियारे नयना॥
Gaurangi shashi nindak badna.
Subhag chapal aniyare nayna ||
Your body is fair and your face puts the moon to shame. Your eyes are lovely, lively and sharp-cornered.
- Chaupai 12
जावक युत युग पंकज चरना।
नूपुर धुनि प्रीतम मन हरना॥
Javak yut yug pankaj charna.
Noopur dhuni pritam man harna ||
Your two lotus feet are tinted with red lac (javak). The chime of your anklets steals your beloved’s heart.
- Chaupai 13
संतत सहचरि सेवा करहीं।
महा मोद मंगल मन भरहीं॥
Santat sahachri seva karhin.
Maha mod mangal man bharhin ||
Your companions serve you always, their hearts filled with great joy and blessing.
- Chaupai 14
रसिकन जीवन प्राण अधारा।
राधा नाम सकल सुख सारा॥
Rasikan jivan pran adhara.
Radha naam sakal sukh saara ||
You are the life and breath of the devotees who savour divine love. The name of Radha is the essence of every joy.
- Chaupai 15
अगम अगोचर नित्य स्वरूपा।
ध्यान धरत निशिदिन ब्रज भूपा॥
Agam agochar nitya svaroopa.
Dhyaan dharat nishidin braj bhoopa ||
Your form is eternal, hard to reach and beyond the senses. The king of Braj (Krishna) meditates on you day and night.
- Chaupai 16
उपजेउ जासु अंश गुण खानी।
कोटिन उमा रमा ब्रह्मानी॥
Upjeu jasu ansh gun khani.
Kotin uma rama brahmani ||
The text says that from a portion of you arose countless Umas (Parvati), Ramas (Lakshmi) and Brahmanis, each a mine of virtue.
- Chaupai 17
नित्य धाम गोलोक विहारिनि।
जन रक्षक दुख दोष नसावनि॥
Nitya dham golok viharini.
Jan rakshak dukh dosh nasavni ||
You dwell at play in Goloka, the eternal abode. You protect your devotees and wipe away their sorrows and faults.
- Chaupai 18
शिव अज मुनि सनकादिक नारद।
पार न पाँइ शेष अरु शारद॥
Shiv aj muni sankadik narad.
Par na pani shesh aru sharad ||
Shiva, Brahma (Aja), Sanaka and the sages, Narada, Shesha and Sharada (Saraswati) cannot find the end of your glory.
- Chaupai 19
राधा शुभ गुण रूप उजारी।
निरखि प्रसन्न होत बनवारी॥
Radha shubh gun roop ujari.
Nirkhi prasanna hot banvari ||
Radha shines with auspicious virtues and bright beauty. Seeing her, Banwari (Krishna of the forest garland) is filled with delight.
- Chaupai 20
ब्रज जीवन धन राधा रानी।
महिमा अमित न जाय बखानी॥
Braj jivan dhan radha rani.
Mahima amit na jay bakhani ||
Radha Rani is the treasure of Braj’s life. Her boundless glory cannot be told.
- Chaupai 21
प्रीतम संग देइ गलबाँही।
बिहरत नित वृन्दावन माँही॥
Pritam sang dei galbanhi.
Bihrat nit vrindavan manhi ||
Arm in arm with your beloved, you roam Vrindavan forever.
- Chaupai 22
राधा कृष्ण कृष्ण कहैं राधा।
एक रूप दोउ प्रीति अगाधा॥
Radha Krishna Krishna kahain radha.
Ek roop dou priti agadha ||
Radha says “Krishna” and Krishna says “Radha”. The two are one form, and their love is fathomless.
- Chaupai 23
श्री राधा मोहन मन हरनी।
जन सुख दायक प्रफुलित बदनी॥
Shri radha mohan man harni.
Jan sukh dayak praphulit badni ||
Shri Radha captivates the heart of Mohan (Krishna). She gives joy to her devotees, and her face is always in bloom.
- Chaupai 24
कोटिक रूप धरें नंद नंदा।
दर्श करन हित गोकुल चंदा॥
Kotik roop dharen nand nanda.
Darsha karan hit gokul chanda ||
To see you, Nanda’s son, the moon of Gokul, takes on countless forms.
- Chaupai 25
रास केलि करि तुम्हें रिझावें।
मान करौ जब अति दुख पावें॥
Ras keli kari tumhen rijhaven.
Man karau jab ati dukh paven ||
He pleases you with the Raas dance, and when you sulk in loving pride (maan), he is deeply sad.
- Chaupai 26
प्रफुलित होत दर्श जब पावें।
विविध भाँति नित विनय सुनावें॥
Praphulit hot darsha jab paven.
Vividh bhanti nit vinay sunaven ||
When he sees you he blossoms with joy, and pleads with you in many ways, again and again.
- Chaupai 27
वृन्दारण्य विहारिनि श्यामा।
नाम लेत पूरण सब कामा॥
Vrindaranya viharini shyama.
Naam let pooran sab kama ||
O Shyama who roams the forest of Vrindavan, the text says that taking your name fulfils every wish.
- Chaupai 28
कोटिन यज्ञ तपस्या करहू।
विविध नेम व्रत हिय में धरहू॥
Kotin yagya tapasya karhoo.
Vividh nem vrat hiy mein dharhoo ||
You may perform countless sacrifices and austerities, and keep all kinds of rules and vows in your heart,
- Chaupai 29
तऊ न श्याम भक्तहिं अपनावें।
जब लगि राधा नाम न गावें॥
Taoo na shyam bhaktahin apnaven.
Jab lagi radha naam na gaven ||
yet, the text says, Shyam does not take a devotee as his own until that devotee sings the name of Radha.
- Chaupai 30
वृन्दाविपिन स्वामिनी राधा।
लीला वपु तब अमित अगाधा॥
Vrindavipin svamini radha.
Lila vapu tab amit agadha ||
Radha is the queen of the Vrindavan forest. Your playful form is boundless and unfathomable.
- Chaupai 31
स्वयं कृष्ण पावैं नहिं पारा।
और तुम्हें को जानन हारा॥
Svayam Krishna pavain nahin para.
Aur tumhen ko janan hara ||
Even Krishna himself cannot find your limit; who else, then, could know you?
- Chaupai 32
श्री राधा रस प्रीति अभेदा।
सादर गान करत नित वेदा॥
Shri radha ras priti abheda.
Sadar gan karat nit veda ||
Shri Radha and the sweetness of love are one, without difference. The Vedas too sing of this with reverence, always.
- Chaupai 33
राधा त्यागि कृष्ण को भजिहैं।
ते सपनेहु जग जलधि न तरिहैं॥
Radha tyagi Krishna ko bhajihain.
Te sapnehu jag jaldhi na tarihain ||
The text says that those who worship Krishna while leaving Radha aside will not cross the ocean of the world, even in a dream.
- Chaupai 34
कीरति कुँवरि लाड़िली राधा।
सुमिरत सकल मिटहिं भव बाधा॥
Kirti kunvari ladili radha.
Sumirat sakal mitahin bhav badha ||
Remembering Radha, Kirti’s beloved daughter, removes all the obstacles of worldly life, the text says.
- Chaupai 35
नाम अमंगल मूल नसावन।
त्रिविध ताप हर हरि मनभावन॥
Naam amangal mool nasavan.
Trividh tap har hari manbhavan ||
Her name destroys the root of misfortune, removes the three kinds of suffering (of the body, of fate and of the world) and delights Hari’s heart.
- Chaupai 36
राधा नाम लेइ जो कोई।
सहजहि दामोदर बस होई॥
Radha naam lei jo koee.
Sahjahi damodar bas hoee ||
Whoever takes the name of Radha, the text says, easily wins over Damodar (Krishna).
- Chaupai 37
राधा नाम परम सुखदाई।
भजतहिं कृपा करहिं यदुराई॥
Radha naam param sukhdaee.
Bhajtahin kripa karhin yaduraee ||
The name of Radha gives the highest joy. As soon as one sings it, the king of the Yadus (Krishna) shows his grace.
- Chaupai 38
यशुमति नन्दन पीछे फिरिहैं।
जो कोऊ राधा नाम सुमिरिहैं॥
Yashumti nandan pichhe phirihain.
Jo kooo radha naam sumirihain ||
Whoever remembers the name of Radha, Yashoda’s son will follow close behind.
- Chaupai 39
रास विहारिनि श्यामा प्यारी।
करहु कृपा बरसाने वारी॥
Ras viharini shyama pyari.
Karhu kripa barsane vari ||
O dear Shyama who delights in the Raas, O Radha of Barsana, be gracious to me.
- Chaupai 40
वृन्दावन है शरण तिहारी।
जय जय जय वृषभानु दुलारी॥
Vrindavan hai sharan tihari.
Jay jay jay vrishbhanu dulari ||
Here in Vrindavan I take refuge in you. Victory, victory, victory to Vrishbhanu’s darling!
- Closing Doha
श्री राधा सर्वेश्वरी, रसिकेश्वर घनश्याम।
करहुँ निरंतर बास मैं, श्री वृन्दावन धाम॥
Shri radha sarveshvari, rasikeshvar ghanashyam.
Karhun nirantar bas main, Shri vrindavan dham ||
Shri Radha is the queen of all, and Ghanshyam (Krishna) the lord of those who savour divine love. May I dwell forever in the holy land of Vrindavan.
This is the text of the printed ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar, compared word by word with Drik Panchang, Bhakti Bharat and Webdunia. There are small spelling differences, such as ‘Vrishbhan/Vrishbhanu’, ‘pranavaun/pranavon’, ‘Banwari/Banbari’. The main variants: in doha 1 the printed book has ‘Vrindavanvipin’ where the others have ‘Vrindavipin’; in chaupai 12 the book reads ‘javak yug yug’, the others ‘javak yut yug’; in chaupai 18 the book reads ‘par na payen’; in chaupai 24 Bhakti Bharat reads ‘darshan karan’; in chaupai 32 the book reads ‘Sarad gan karat’ (Sharada sings), while the other three read ‘sadar gan karat’ (sing with reverence). The printed book drops the second line of chaupai 8 and the first line of chaupai 9; those lines are taken from the other three sources. The text does not name its poet.
