- Chaupai 1
श्री रघुबीर भक्त हितकारी।
सुनि लीजै प्रभु अरज हमारी॥
Shri raghubir bhakta hitkari.
Suni lijai prabhu araj hamari ||
O Shri Raghubir (Ram), who does good to his devotees, O Lord, please hear our plea.
- Chaupai 2
निशि दिन ध्यान धरै जो कोई।
ता सम भक्त और नहिं होई॥
Nishi din dhyaan dharai jo koee.
Ta sam bhakta aur nahin hoee ||
Whoever meditates on you night and day, there is no devotee equal to them.
- Chaupai 3
ध्यान धरे शिवजी मन माहीं।
ब्रह्मा इन्द्र पार नहिं पाहीं॥
Dhyaan dhare shivji man mahin.
Brahma indra par nahin pahin ||
Shiva meditates on you in his heart; even Brahma and Indra cannot reach the end of your greatness.
- Chaupai 4
जय जय जय रघुनाथ कृपाला।
सदा करो सन्तन प्रतिपाला॥
Jay jay jay raghunath kripala.
Sada karo santan pratipala ||
Victory, victory, victory to Raghunath, the compassionate. You always sustain and protect the good.
- Chaupai 5
दूत तुम्हार वीर हनुमाना।
जासु प्रभाव तिहूँ पुर जाना॥
Doot tumhar vir hanumana.
Jasu prabhav tihoon pur jana ||
The hero Hanuman is your messenger, whose power all three worlds know.
- Chaupai 6
तुव भुजदण्ड प्रचण्ड कृपाला।
रावण मारि सुरन प्रतिपाला॥
Tuv bhujdanda prachanda kripala.
Ravan mari suran pratipala ||
O compassionate one, your arms are mighty; by slaying Ravana you protected the gods.
- Chaupai 7
तुम अनाथ के नाथ गोसाईं।
दीनन के हो सदा सहाई॥
Tum anath ke nath gosaeen.
Dinan ke ho sada sahaee ||
O Master, you are the protector of the unprotected and the constant helper of the humble.
- Chaupai 8
ब्रह्मादिक तव पार न पावैं।
सदा ईश तुम्हरो यश गावैं॥
Brahmadik tav par na pavain.
Sada eesh tumharo yash gavain ||
Brahma and the other gods cannot fathom you; O Lord, they ever sing your glory.
- Chaupai 9
चारिउ वेद भरत हैं साखी।
तुम भक्तन की लज्जा राखी॥
Chariu ved bharat hain sakhi.
Tum bhaktan ki lajja rakhi ||
All four Vedas bear witness that you have always protected the honour of your devotees.
- Chaupai 10
गुण गावत शारद मन माहीं।
सुरपति ताको पार न पाहीं॥
Gun gavat sharad man mahin.
Surapti tako par na pahin ||
Sharada (Saraswati) sings your virtues in her heart; even Indra, king of the gods, cannot reach their end.
- Chaupai 11
नाम तुम्हार लेत जो कोई।
ता सम धन्य और नहिं होई॥
Naam tumhar let jo koee.
Ta sam dhanya aur nahin hoee ||
Whoever takes your name, none is as blessed as they are.
- Chaupai 12
राम नाम है अपरम्पारा।
चारिहु वेदन जाहि पुकारा॥
Ram naam hai aprampara.
Charihu vedan jahi pukara ||
The name of Ram is boundless; all four Vedas have called upon it.
- Chaupai 13
गणपति नाम तुम्हारो लीन्हो।
तिनको प्रथम पूज्य तुम कीन्हो॥
Ganapti naam tumharo linho.
Tinko pratham poojya tum kinho ||
Ganapati took your name, and you made him the first to be worshipped. (This is how the Chalisa tells it.)
- Chaupai 14
शेष रटत नित नाम तुम्हारा।
महि को भार शीश पर धारा॥
Shesh ratat nit naam tumhara.
Mahi ko bhar shish par dhara ||
Shesha repeats your name constantly and bears the weight of the earth upon his head.
- Chaupai 15
फूल समान रहत सो भारा।
पावत कोउ न तुम्हरो पारा॥
Phool saman rahat so bhara.
Pavat kou na tumharo para ||
(Through your name) that weight is as light to him as a flower. No one can reach the end of your greatness.
- Chaupai 16
भरत नाम तुम्हरो उर धारो।
तासों कबहुँ न रण में हारो॥
Bharat naam tumharo ur dharo.
Tason kabahun na ran mein haro ||
Bharat held your name in his heart, and so he was never defeated in battle.
- Chaupai 17
नाम शत्रुहन हृदय प्रकाशा।
सुमिरत होत शत्रु कर नाशा॥
Naam shatruhan hriday prakasha.
Sumirat hot shatru kar nasha ||
Your name shines in Shatrughna’s heart; as he remembers it, his enemies are destroyed.
- Chaupai 18
लखन तुम्हारे आज्ञाकारी।
सदा करत सन्तन रखवारी॥
Lakhan tumhare aagyakari.
Sada karat santan rakhvari ||
Lakhan (Lakshman) obeys your every command and always guards the good.
- Chaupai 19
ताते रण जीते नहिं कोई।
युद्ध जुरे यमहूँ किन होई॥
Tate ran jite nahin koee.
Yuddha jure yamhoon kin hoee ||
So none can defeat him in battle, even if Yama himself should join the fight.
- Chaupai 20
महालक्ष्मी धर अवतारा।
सब विधि करत पाप को छारा॥
Mahalakshmi dhar avtara.
Sab vidhi karat pap ko chhara ||
Mahalakshmi took birth (as Sita), and in every way she burns sin to ashes.
- Chaupai 21
सीता राम पुनीता गायो।
भुवनेश्वरी प्रभाव दिखायो॥
Sita Ram punita gayo.
Bhuvneshvari prabhav dikhayo ||
The holy glory of Sita and Ram is sung; Sita showed the power of Bhuvaneshvari, the sovereign of the worlds.
- Chaupai 22
घट सों प्रकट भई सो आई।
जाको देखत चन्द्र लजाई॥
Ghat son prakat bhaee so aaee.
Jako dekhat chandra lajaee ||
She came forth from a pot (ghat); seeing her, even the moon is abashed.
- Chaupai 23
सो तुमरे नित पाँव पलोटत।
नवो निद्धि चरणन में लोटत॥
So tumre nit panv palotat.
Navo niddhi charnan mein lotat ||
She presses your feet every day, and the nine treasures (nidhis) lie at your feet.
- Chaupai 24
सिद्धि अठारह मंगलकारी।
सो तुम पर जावै बलिहारी॥
Siddhi atharah mangalkari.
So tum par javai balihari ||
The eighteen auspicious siddhis offer themselves up to you.
- Chaupai 25
औरहु जो अनेक प्रभुताई।
सो सीतापति तुमहिं बनाई॥
Aurhu jo anek prabhutaee.
So sitapti tumhin banaee ||
And every other kind of greatness, O Lord of Sita, it is you who created it.
- Chaupai 26
इच्छा ते कोटिन संसारा।
रचत न लागत पल की बारा॥
Ichchha te kotin sansara.
Rachat na lagat pal ki bara ||
By your will alone you create millions of worlds, and it takes you not a moment.
- Chaupai 27
जो तुम्हरे चरणन चित लावै।
ताकी मुक्ति अवसि हो जावै॥
Jo tumhare charnan chit lavai.
Taki mukti avsi ho javai ||
The Chalisa says that whoever sets their mind on your feet is surely liberated.
- Chaupai 28
सुनहु राम तुम तात हमारे।
तुमहिं भरत कुल पूज्य प्रचारे॥
Sunhu Ram tum tat hamare.
Tumhin bharat kul poojya prachare ||
Hear me, Ram: you are our father. Bharat proclaimed you the one worthy of worship in the family.
- Chaupai 29
तुमहिं देव कुल देव हमारे।
तुम गुरु देव प्राण के प्यारे॥
Tumhin dev kul dev hamare.
Tum guru dev pran ke pyare ||
You are our god and our family deity; you are our guru and dearer than life.
- Chaupai 30
जो कुछ हो सो तुमहीं राजा।
जय जय जय प्रभु राखो लाजा॥
Jo kuchh ho so tumhin raja.
Jay jay jay prabhu rakho laja ||
Whatever there is, O King, it is you. Victory to you, Lord: protect our honour.
- Chaupai 31
राम आत्मा पोषण हारे।
जय जय जय दशरथ के प्यारे॥
Ram aatma poshan hare.
Jay jay jay dashrath ke pyare ||
O Ram, you nourish the soul. Victory, victory, victory to Dasharath’s beloved son.
- Chaupai 32
जय जय जय प्रभु ज्योति स्वरूपा।
निर्गुण ब्रह्म अखण्ड अनूपा॥
Jay jay jay prabhu jyoti svaroopa.
Nirgun brahma akhanda anoopa ||
Victory to the Lord whose form is light. You are Brahman beyond all qualities, undivided and beyond compare.
- Chaupai 33
सत्य सत्य जय सत्यब्रत स्वामी।
सत्य सनातन अन्तर्यामी॥
Satya satya jay satyabrat svami.
Satya sanatan antaryami ||
Victory to the Master whose vow is truth. You are truth, eternal, the knower of every heart.
- Chaupai 34
सत्य भजन तुम्हरो जो गावै।
सो निश्चय चारों फल पावै॥
Satya bhajan tumharo jo gavai.
So nishchay charon phal pavai ||
The Chalisa says that whoever sings your praise in truth surely gains the four fruits of life: dharma, artha, kama and moksha.
- Chaupai 35
सत्य शपथ गौरीपति कीन्हीं।
तुमने भक्तिहिं सब सिद्धि दीन्हीं॥
Satya shapath gauripti kinhin.
Tumne bhaktihin sab siddhi dinhin ||
Gauri’s lord (Shiva) has sworn in truth that you have given every accomplishment to devotion itself.
- Chaupai 36
ज्ञान हृदय दो ज्ञान स्वरूपा।
नमो नमो जय जगपति भूपा॥
Gyaan hriday do gyaan svaroopa.
Namo namo jay jagapti bhoopa ||
O you whose form is knowledge, give my heart knowledge. Salutations again and again to you, King and Lord of the world.
- Chaupai 37
धन्य धन्य तुम धन्य प्रतापा।
नाम तुम्हार हरत संतापा॥
Dhanya dhanya tum dhanya pratapa.
Naam tumhar harat santapa ||
Blessed are you, blessed is your might. Your name takes away all anguish.
- Chaupai 38
सत्य शुद्ध देवन मुख गाया।
बजी दुन्दुभी शंख बजाया॥
Satya shuddha devan mukh gaya.
Baji dundubhi shankh bajaya ||
The gods sang of you as true and pure; drums sounded and conches were blown.
- Chaupai 39
सत्य सत्य तुम सत्य सनातन।
तुम ही हो हमरे तन मन धन॥
Satya satya tum satya sanatan.
Tum hi ho hamre tan man dhan ||
You are truth, the eternal truth. You alone are our body, mind and wealth.
- Chaupai 40
याको पाठ करे जो कोई।
ज्ञान प्रकट ताके उर होई॥
Yako path kare jo koee.
Gyaan prakat take ur hoee ||
The Chalisa says that whoever recites it finds knowledge dawning in the heart,
- Chaupai 41
आवागमन मिटै तिहि केरा।
सत्य वचन माने शिव मेरा॥
Aavagman mitai tihi kera.
Satya vachan mane Shiv mera ||
and their coming and going (the round of birth and death) ends; Shiva holds these words of mine to be true.
- Chaupai 42
और आस मन में जो होई।
मनवांछित फल पावे सोई॥
Aur aas man mein jo hoee.
Manvanchhit phal pave soee ||
And whatever other hope is in the heart, the Chalisa says, the reciter gains the fruit they long for.
- Chaupai 43
तीनहुँ काल ध्यान जो ल्यावै।
तुलसी दल अरु फूल चढ़ावै॥
Tinhun kal dhyaan jo lyavai.
Tulsi dal aru phool chadhavai ||
Whoever meditates at the three times of day and offers tulsi leaves and flowers,
- Chaupai 44
साग पत्र सो भोग लगावै।
सो नर सकल सिद्धता पावै॥
Sag patra so bhog lagavai.
So nar sakal siddhata pavai ||
and offers even simple greens as food to the Lord: that person, the Chalisa says, attains every accomplishment.
- Chaupai 45
अन्त समय रघुबर पुर जाई।
जहाँ जन्म हरि भक्त कहाई॥
Anta samay raghubar pur jaee.
Jahan janma hari bhakta kahaee ||
At life’s end they go to Raghubar’s abode, and wherever they are born they are known as a devotee of Hari.
- Chaupai 46
श्री हरिदास कहै अरु गावै।
सो बैकुण्ठ धाम को पावै॥
Shri haridas kahai aru gavai.
So baikuntha dham ko pavai ||
Haridas says: whoever speaks and sings it reaches Vaikuntha. (‘Haridas’ may be the poet’s signature; the word also means ‘servant of Hari’.)
- Closing Doha 1
सात दिवस जो नेम कर, पाठ करे चित लाय।
हरिदास हरि कृपा से, अवसि भक्ति को पाय॥
Saat divas jo nem kar, path kare chit lay.
Haridas hari kripa se, avsi bhakti ko pay ||
Whoever keeps the rule for seven days and recites it with a settled mind, says Haridas, surely gains devotion by Hari’s grace.
- Closing Doha 2
राम चालीसा जो पढ़े, राम चरण चित लाय।
जो इच्छा मन में करै, सकल सिद्ध हो जाय॥
Ram chalisa jo padhe, Ram charan chit lay.
Jo ichchha man mein karai, sakal siddha ho jay ||
The doha says that whoever reads the Ram Chalisa with the mind set on Ram’s feet sees every wish of the heart fulfilled.
This is the text on which Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar’s printed ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’, Drik Panchang and Bhakti Bharat (whose text matches sanskritdocuments.org) mostly agree; where the sources are evenly split, the printed book’s reading is taken. In the printed book chaupais 32 to 35 (from ‘Jay jay jay prabhu jyoti swarupa’ to ‘Satya shapath Gauripati kinhin’) come before chaupai 28, and Drik Panchang puts chaupai 5 (‘Doot tumhar veer Hanumana’) before chaupai 4; the majority order is followed here. The main variants: in chaupai 6 the printed book reads ‘tav bhuj dand’; in chaupai 15 ‘paav na kou tumharo para’; in chaupai 21 ‘Sita naam’ for ‘Sita Ram’; in chaupai 23 Drik Panchang has ‘jo tumhare nit paanv palotat’; in chaupai 26 the printed book has ‘pal ko vara’; in chaupai 31 ‘Dasharath dulare’ for ‘Dasharath ke pyare’; in chaupai 33 ‘satya satya satya brat swami’; in chaupai 35 Bhakti Bharat has ‘bhaktahin’ (to the devotees); in chaupai 46 the printed book has ‘Baikunth dham ko javai’. On Bhakti Bharat chaupais 42 and 43 have merged into one line (‘Aur aas man mein jo lyavai, tulsi dal aru phool chadhavai’). Bhakti Bharat also prints the shloka ‘Adau Ram tapovanadi gamanam’ (the one-verse Ramayana) before the text; the printed book and Drik Panchang do not have it, so it is not given here.
