- Doha 1
श्री गुरु पद नमन करि, गिरा गनेश मनाय।
कथूं रामदेव विमल यश, सुने पाप विनशाय॥
Shri guru pad naman kari, gira ganesh manay.
Kathoon ramdev vimal yash, sune pap vinshay ||
Bowing at my Guru’s feet and invoking Gira (Saraswati) and Ganesha, I tell the spotless glory of Ramdev; hearing it destroys sin.
- Doha 2
द्वारकेश ने आय कर, लिया मनुज अवतार।
अजमल गेह बधावणा, जग में जय जयकार॥
Dvarkesh ne aay kar, liya manuj avtar.
Ajmal geh badhavna, jag mein jay jaykar ||
The Lord of Dwarka (Krishna) came and was born in human form. There was rejoicing in Ajmal’s house and the world rang with cries of victory.
- Chaupai 1
जय जय रामदेव सुर राया।
अजमल पुत्र अनोखी माया॥
Jay jay ramdev sur raya.
Ajmal putra anokhi maya ||
Victory to Ramdev, king among gods. Son of Ajmal, your wondrous power is unlike any other.
- Chaupai 2
विष्णु रूप सुर नर के स्वामी।
परम प्रतापी अन्तर्यामी॥
Vishnu roop sur nar ke svami.
Param pratapi antaryami ||
You are a form of Vishnu, lord of gods and men, supremely mighty, the one who dwells within all.
- Chaupai 3
ले अवतार अवनि पर आये।
तंवर वंश अवतंश कहाये॥
Le avtar avni par aaye.
Tanvar vansh avtansh kahaye ||
Taking birth you came to earth and were called the jewel of the Tanwar clan.
- Chaupai 4
संत जनों के कारज सारे।
दानव दैत्य दुष्ट संहारे॥
Sant janon ke karaj saare.
Danav daitya dushta sanhare ||
You brought the work of holy people to completion and destroyed demons and the wicked.
- Chaupai 5
परच्या प्रथम पिता को दीन्हा।
दूध परीण्डा मांही कीन्हा॥
Parachya pratham pita ko dinha.
Doodh parinda manhi kinha ||
The first parcha (a proof given by a miracle) you gave to your father: you made milk appear at the parinda, the place where the water pots stand.
- Chaupai 6
कुमकुम पद पोली दर्शाये।
ज्योंही प्रभु पलने प्रगटाये॥
Kumkum pad poli darshaye.
Jyonhi prabhu palne pragtaye ||
As soon as the Lord appeared in the cradle, footprints of kumkum were seen in the gateway (pol).
- Chaupai 7
परचा दूजा जननी पाया।
दूध उफणता चरा उठाया॥
Parcha dooja janni paya.
Doodh uphanta chara uthaya ||
The second parcha was for your mother: you lifted off the pot (chara) of milk that was boiling over.
- Chaupai 8
परचा तीजा पुरजन पाया।
चिथड़ों का घोड़ा ही साया॥
Parcha tija purjan paya.
Chithdon ka ghoda hi saya ||
The third parcha was for the townsfolk: a horse made of rags neighed. (‘Hi saya’ is read here as ‘hinsaya’, neighed.)
- Chaupai 9
परच्या चौथा भैरव मारा।
भक्त जनों का कष्ट निवारा॥
Parachya chautha bhairav mara.
Bhakta janon ka kashta nivara ||
In the fourth parcha you slew Bhairav and ended the suffering of your devotees. (In the folk tale this Bhairav is not the god but a demon who troubled the Pokaran region.)
- Chaupai 10
पंचम परच्या रतना पाया।
पुंगल जा प्रभु फंद छुड़ाया॥
Pancham parachya ratna paya.
Pungal ja prabhu phand chhudaya ||
The fifth parcha was Ratna’s: the Lord went to Pungal and freed him from his bonds.
- Chaupai 11
परच्या छठा विजयसिंह पाया।
जला नगर शरणागत आया॥
Parachya chhatha vijaysinh paya.
Jala nagar sharnagat aaya ||
The sixth parcha was Vijay Singh’s: when his town burned, he came to you for refuge.
- Chaupai 12
परच्या सप्तम् सुगना पाया।
मुवा पुत्र हंसता भग आया॥
Parachya saptam sugna paya.
Muva putra hansata bhag aaya ||
The seventh parcha was Sugna’s: her dead son came running back, laughing.
- Chaupai 13
परच्या अष्टम् बौहित पाया।
जा परदेश द्रव्य बहु लाया॥
Parachya ashtam bauhit paya.
Ja pardesh dravya bahu laya ||
The eighth parcha was Bohit’s, who went to a far country and brought back great wealth.
- Chaupai 14
भंवर डूबती नाव उबारी।
प्रगत टेर पहुँचे अवतारी॥
Bhanvar doobti nav ubari.
Pragat ter pahunche avtari ||
You saved his boat as it sank in a whirlpool: at his call the incarnate Lord appeared and reached him.
- Chaupai 15
नवमां परच्या वीरम पाया।
बनियां आ जब हाल सुनाया॥
Navman parachya viram paya.
Baniyan a jab hal sunaya ||
The ninth parcha was Viram’s, when a merchant (baniya) came and told his plight. (By tradition Viramdev was Ramdev’s elder brother.)
- Chaupai 16
दसवां परच्या पा बिनजारा।
मिश्री बनी नमक सब खारा॥
Dasvan parachya pa binjara.
Mishri bani namak sab khara ||
The tenth parcha was a banjara’s, a travelling trader’s: all his sugar candy turned into bitter salt.
- Chaupai 17
परच्या ग्यारह किरपा थारी।
नमक हुआ मिश्री फिर सारी॥
Parachya gyarah kirpa thari.
Namak hua mishri phir sari ||
In the eleventh parcha, by your grace, all the salt became sugar candy again.
- Chaupai 18
परच्या द्वादश ठोकर मारी।
निकलंग नाडी सिरजी प्यारी॥
Parachya dvadash thokar mari.
Niklang nadi sirji pyari ||
In the twelfth parcha you struck with your foot and created the lovely Niklang Nadi, a small pond.
- Chaupai 19
परच्या तेरहवां पीर परी पधारया।
ल्याय कटोरा कारज सारा॥
Parachya terahvan pir pari padharya.
Lyay katora karaj saara ||
In the thirteenth parcha the pirs came; you brought the bowls and fulfilled their need. (According to the folk tale, five pirs from Mecca said they ate only from their own bowls, which were in Mecca, and Ramdev made the bowls appear there.)
- Chaupai 20
चौदहवां परच्या जाभो पाया।
निजसर जल खारा करवाया॥
Chaudahvan parachya jabho paya.
Nijsar jal khara karvaya ||
The fourteenth parcha was Jabho’s: the water of the Nijsar pond was made salty.
- Chaupai 21
परच्या पन्द्रह फिर बतलाया।
राम सरोवर प्रभु खुदवाया॥
Parachya pandrah phir batlaya.
Ram sarovar prabhu khudvaya ||
The fifteenth parcha, the text goes on, is that the Lord had the Ram Sarovar dug.
- Chaupai 22
परच्या सोलह हरबू पाया।
दर्श पाय अतिशय हरषाया॥
Parachya solah harboo paya.
Darsha pay atishay harshaya ||
The sixteenth parcha was Harbu’s, who rejoiced greatly when he saw you.
- Chaupai 23
परच्या सत्रह हर जी पाया।
दूध थणा बकरया के आया॥
Parachya satrah har ji paya.
Doodh thana bakarya ke aaya ||
The seventeenth parcha was Harji’s: milk came into the teats of a he-goat.
- Chaupai 24
सुखी नाडी पानी कीन्हों।
आत्म ज्ञान हरजी ने दीन्हों॥
Sukhi nadi pani kinhon.
Aatma gyaan harji ne dinhon ||
You filled a dry pond with water, and gave Harji knowledge of the Self.
- Chaupai 25
परच्या अठारहवां हाकिम पाया।
सूते को धरती लुढ़काया॥
Parachya atharahvan hakim paya.
Soote ko dharti ludhkaya ||
The eighteenth parcha was the hakim’s, an official’s: as he slept, he was rolled onto the ground.
- Chaupai 26
परच्या उन्नीसवां दल जी पाया।
पुत्र पाय मन में हरषाया॥
Parachya unnisvan dal ji paya.
Putra pay man mein harshaya ||
The nineteenth parcha was Dalji’s, who rejoiced at heart when he was given a son.
- Chaupai 27
परच्या बीसवां पाया सेठाणी।
आये प्रभु सुन गदगद वाणी॥
Parachya bisvan paya sethani.
Aaye prabhu sun gadgad vani ||
The twentieth parcha was the merchant’s wife’s: hearing her voice choked with feeling, the Lord came.
- Chaupai 28
तुरंत सेठ सरजीवण कीन्हा।
भक्त उजागर अभय वर दीन्हा॥
Turant seth sarjivan kinha.
Bhakta ujagar abhay var dinha ||
At once you brought the merchant back to life, made your devotee’s name shine and gave him the boon of fearlessness.
- Chaupai 29
परच्या इक्कीसवां चोर जो पाया।
हो अन्धा करनी फल पाया॥
Parachya ikkisvan chor jo paya.
Ho andha karni phal paya ||
The twenty-first parcha was a thief’s: he went blind and reaped the fruit of his deeds.
- Chaupai 30
परच्या बाईसवां मिर्जो चीहां।
सातो तवा बेध प्रभु दीन्हां॥
Parachya baeesvan mirjo chihan.
Sato tava bedh prabhu dinhan ||
The twenty-second parcha the Mirzas asked for, and the Lord pierced all seven iron griddles (tava). (‘Chihan’ is read here as ‘asked for’.)
- Chaupai 31
परच्या तेईसवां बादशाह पाया।
फेर भक्त को नहीं सताया॥
Parachya teeesvan badshah paya.
Pher bhakta ko nahin sataya ||
The twenty-third parcha was the emperor’s, and after it he never again harassed a devotee.
- Chaupai 32
परच्या चौबीसवां बख्शी पाया।
मुवा पुत्र पल में उठ धाया॥
Parachya chaubisvan bakhshi paya.
Muva putra pal mein uth dhaya ||
The twenty-fourth parcha was the bakhshi’s, an official’s: his dead son rose in a moment and ran.
- Chaupai 33
जब-जब जिसने सुमरण कीन्हां।
तब-तब आ तुम दर्शन दीन्हां॥
Jab-jab jisne sumran kinhan.
Tab-tab a tum darshan dinhan ||
Whenever anyone remembered you, you came and appeared to them.
- Chaupai 34
भक्त टेर सुन आतुर धाते।
चढ़ लीले पर जल्दी आते॥
Bhakta ter sun aatur dhate.
Chadh lile par jaldi aate ||
Hearing a devotee’s call you hurry to them, riding swiftly on Lila, your horse.
- Chaupai 35
जो जन प्रभु की लीला गावें।
मनवांछित कारज फल पावें॥
Jo jan prabhu ki lila gaven.
Manvanchhit karaj phal paven ||
The text says that those who sing of the Lord’s deeds see the work and the fruit they desire.
- Chaupai 36
यह चालीसा सुने सुनावे।
ताके कष्ट सकल कट जावे॥
Yah chalisa sune sunave.
Take kashta sakal kat jave ||
The text says that whoever hears or recites this Chalisa has all troubles cut away.
- Chaupai 37
जय जय जय प्रभु लीला धारी।
तेरी महिमा अपरम्पारी॥
Jay jay jay prabhu lila dhari.
Teri mahima aprampari ||
Victory to the Lord of wondrous deeds; your glory has no bounds.
- Chaupai 38
मैं मूरख क्या गुण तब गाऊँ।
कहाँ बुद्धि शारद सी लाऊँ॥
Main moorakh kya gun tab gaoon.
Kahan buddhi sharad si laoon ||
What virtues of yours can a fool like me sing? Where would I find wisdom like Sharada’s?
- Chaupai 39
नहीं बुद्धि बल घट लव लेशा।
मती अनुसार रची चालीसा॥
Nahin buddhi bal ghat lav lesha.
Mati anusar rachi chalisa ||
There is not a trace of wisdom or strength in me; I have composed this Chalisa as far as my understanding goes.
- Chaupai 40
दास सभी शरण में तेरी।
रखियो प्रभु लज्जा मेरी॥
Das sabhi sharan mein teri.
Rakhiyo prabhu lajja meri ||
All your servants are in your refuge; O Lord, keep my honour.
This is the text of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar, ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (2004, pp. 157 to 160), read from the page images and compared word by word with Drik Panchang, Bhakti Bharat and several other websites. All sources have the same dohas and chaupais in the same order. In the second doha the book prints ‘Dwar kesh ne’, written here as ‘Dwarkesh’ (the Lord of Dwarka); most websites read ‘Dwar kesh se’ (from the Lord of Dwarka). The main variant readings: in chaupai 28 every website reads ‘ukt ujagar’, while the book has ‘bhakt ujagar’ (made the devotee’s name shine), which is followed here; some websites read ‘sanj jano’ in chaupai 3, ‘pragat ter’ in chaupai 14, ‘putra paya’ in chaupai 26, ‘saton tava’ in chaupai 30 and ‘kya gun tav gaun’ (your virtues) in chaupai 38. The words ‘hi saya’ in chaupai 8 and ‘mirjo chihan’ in chaupai 30 are the same in every source; their meaning is taken from the context. The book has no closing doha. The stories of the twenty-four parchas belong to folk tradition; the Chalisa lists them in brief.
