- Doha 1
बन्दउ माँ शाकम्भरी चरणगुरु का धरकर ध्यान।
शाकम्भरी माँ चालीसा का करे प्रख्यान॥
Bandau man shakambhari charanguru ka dharkar dhyaan.
Shakambhari man chalisa ka kare prakhyan ||
Meditating on my Guru’s feet, I bow to Mother Shakambhari and set out to recite the Chalisa of Mother Shakambhari.
- Doha 2
आनन्दमयी जगदम्बिका अनन्त रूप भण्डार।
माँ शाकम्भरी की कृपा बनी रहे हर बार॥
Aanandamyi jagdambika ananta roop bhandar.
Man shakambhari ki kripa bani rahe har bar ||
Jagadambika, full of bliss, is a treasury of endless forms. May Mother Shakambhari’s grace remain always.
- Chaupai 1
शाकम्भरी माँ अति सुखकारी।
पूर्ण ब्रह्म सदा दुःख हारी॥
Shakambhari man ati sukhkari.
Poorna brahma sada duhkh hari ||
Mother Shakambhari gives great happiness. She is the complete Brahman and always takes away sorrow.
- Chaupai 2
कारण करण जगत की दाता।
आनन्द चेतन विश्व विधाता॥
Karan karan jagat ki data.
Aananda chetan vishva vidhata ||
You are the cause and the means of the world, and its giver. You are bliss and consciousness, the maker of the universe.
- Chaupai 3
अमर जोत है मात तुम्हारी।
तुम ही सदा भगतन हितकारी॥
Amar jot hai mat tumhari.
Tum hi sada bhagtan hitkari ||
O Mother, your flame is undying. It is you who always do good to your devotees.
- Chaupai 4
महिमा अमित अथाह अर्पणा।
ब्रह्म हरि हर मात अर्पणा॥
Mahima amit athah arpana.
Brahma hari har mat arpana ||
Your glory is limitless and fathomless. Brahma, Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva) too offer their devotion to the Mother. (This seems to be the sense of ‘arpana’; one source reads ‘Aparna’, a name of Parvati.)
- Chaupai 5
ज्ञान राशि हो दीन दयाली।
शरणागत घर भरती खुशहाली॥
Gyaan rashi ho din dayali.
Sharnagat ghar bharti khushhali ||
You are a treasury of knowledge and kind to the humble. You fill the homes of those who take refuge in you with well-being.
- Chaupai 6
नारायणी तुम ब्रह्म प्रकाशी।
जल-थल-नभ हो अविनाशी॥
Narayni tum brahma prakashi.
Jal-thal-nabh ho avinashi ||
You are Narayani, who reveals Brahman. In water, land and sky you are the imperishable one.
- Chaupai 7
कमल कान्तिमय शान्ति अनूपा।
जोतमन मर्यादा जोत स्वरूपा॥
Kamal kantimay shanti anoopa.
Jotman maryada jot svaroopa ||
Your radiance is like the lotus and your peace is beyond compare. You are light itself. (The exact sense of ‘jotman maryada’ is unclear; it seems to speak of a luminous mind and of right conduct.)
- Chaupai 8
जब-जब भक्तों ने है ध्याई।
जोत अपनी प्रकट हो आई॥
Jab-jab bhakton ne hai dhyaee.
Jot apni prakat ho aaee ||
Whenever devotees have meditated on you, your flame has appeared.
- Chaupai 9
प्यारी बहन के संग विराजे।
मात शताक्षी संग ही साजे॥
Pyari bahan ke sang viraje.
Mat shatakshi sang hi saje ||
You are seated with your dear sister; Mother Shatakshi shines beside you. (In chapter 11 of the Durga Saptashati the Goddess says she will look upon the sages with a hundred eyes and be called Shatakshi.)
- Chaupai 10
भीम भयंकर रूप कराली।
तीसरी बहन की जोत निराली॥
Bhim bhayankar roop karali.
Tisri bahan ki jot nirali ||
The third sister, Bhima, has a fearsome, terrible form, and her flame is unique. (The name Bhima also appears in chapter 11 of the Durga Saptashati.)
- Chaupai 11
चौथी बहिन भ्रामरी तेरी।
अद्भुत चंचल चित्त चितेरी॥
Chauthi bahin bhramri teri.
Adbhut chanchal chitta chiteri ||
Your fourth sister is Bhramari, wondrous and lively, who captivates the mind. (The Shakambhari Devi temple in Saharanpur district has images of Shakambhari, Bhima, Bhramari and Shatakshi.)
- Chaupai 12
सम्मुख भैरव वीर खड़ा है।
दानव दल से खूब लड़ा है॥
Sammukh bhairav vir khada hai.
Danav dal se khoob lada hai ||
Before you stands the hero Bhairav, who has fought hard against the hosts of demons.
- Chaupai 13
शिव शंकर प्रभु भोले भण्डारी।
सदा शाकम्भरी माँ का चेरा॥
Shiv shankar prabhu bhole bhandari.
Sada shakambhari man ka chera ||
Lord Shiva Shankar, the bountiful Bhole Bhandari, is ever a servant of Mother Shakambhari. (One source has two more half-lines here; see the note below.)
- Chaupai 14
हाथ ध्वजा हनुमान विराजे।
युद्ध भूमि में माँ संग साजे॥
Haath dhvaja Hanuman viraje.
Yuddha bhoomi mein man sang saje ||
Hanuman stands with a banner in his hand, and on the battlefield he shines at the Mother’s side.
- Chaupai 15
कालरात्रि धारे कराली।
बहिन मात की अति विकराली॥
Kalratri dhare karali.
Bahin mat ki ati vikrali ||
Kalaratri, the Mother’s sister, takes a dreadful form; she is terrible indeed.
- Chaupai 16
दश विद्या नव दुर्गा आदि।
ध्याते तुम्हें परमार्थ वादि॥
Dash vidya nav Durga aadi.
Dhyate tumhen parmartha vadi ||
The ten Mahavidyas, the nine Durgas and others, and those who speak of the highest truth, meditate on you.
- Chaupai 17
अष्ट सिद्धि गणपति जी दाता।
बाल रूप शरणागत माता॥
Ashta siddhi ganapti ji data.
Bal roop sharnagat mata ||
Ganapati, giver of the eight siddhis, stays in child form in the Mother’s shelter.
- Chaupai 18
माँ भण्डारे के रखवारी।
प्रथम पूजने के अधिकारी॥
Man bhandare ke rakhvari.
Pratham poogye ke adhikari ||
He guards the Mother’s storehouse and has the right to be worshipped first.
- Chaupai 19
जग की एक भ्रमण की कारण।
शिव शक्ति हो दुष्ट विदारण॥
Jag ki ek bhraman ki karan.
Shiv shakti ho dushta vidaran ||
You alone are the cause of the world’s turning. You are the Shakti of Shiva, who tears the wicked apart.
- Chaupai 20
भूरा देव लौकड़ा दूजा।
जिसकी होती पहली पूजा॥
Bhoora dev laukda dooja.
Jiski hoti pahli pooja ||
The second guardian (laukda) is Bhura Dev, who is worshipped first. (Near the Shakambhari Devi temple in Saharanpur district stands a temple of Bhura Dev (Bhairav), called the Goddess’s guard; by tradition pilgrims visit Bhura Dev first.)
- Chaupai 21
बली बजरंगी तेरा चेरा।
चले संग यश गाता तेरा॥
Bali bajrangi tera chera.
Chale sang yash gata tera ||
Mighty Bajrangbali (Hanuman) is your servant; he walks with you, singing your glory.
- Chaupai 22
पाँच कोस की खोल तुम्हारी।
तेरी लीला अति विस्तारी॥
Paanch kos ki khol tumhari.
Teri lila ati vistari ||
The valley (khol) that spreads for five kos is yours, and your divine play reaches far and wide.
- Chaupai 23
रक्त दन्तिका तुम्हीं बनी हो।
रक्त पान कर असुर हनी हो॥
Rakta dantika tumhin bani ho.
Rakta pan kar asur hani ho ||
You became Raktadantika and slew the asuras, drinking their blood. (The name Raktadantika appears in chapter 11 of the Durga Saptashati.)
- Chaupai 24
रक्त बीज का नाश किया था।
छिन्न मस्तिका रूप लिया था॥
Rakta bij ka nash kiya tha.
Chhinna mastika roop liya tha ||
You destroyed Raktabija, and you took the form of Chhinnamastika (Chhinnamasta). (The story of Raktabija is in chapter 8 of the Durga Saptashati.)
- Chaupai 25
सिद्ध योगिनी सहस्या राजे।
सात कुण्ड में आप विराजे॥
Siddha yogini sahasya raje.
Saat kunda mein aap viraje ||
Thousands of siddha yoginis shine around you, and you reside in seven pools (kunds). (All sources print ‘sahasya’; it seems to mean ‘sahasra’, thousands.)
- Chaupai 26
रूप मराल का तुमने धारा।
भोजन दे दे जन जन तारा॥
Roop maral ka tumne dhara.
Bhojan de de jan jan tara ||
You took the form of a marala (swan), and saved people by giving them food.
- Chaupai 27
शोक पात से मुनि जन तारे।
शोक पात जन दुःख निवारे॥
Shok pat se muni jan tare.
Shok pat jan duhkh nivare ||
With ‘shok paat’ you rescued the sages and took away people’s sorrows. (Every source prints ‘shok paat’; from the context it seems to point to ‘shaak paat’, greens and leaves. According to chapter 11 of the Durga Saptashati the Goddess sustained the world with vegetables during the drought.)
- Chaupai 28
भद्र काली कम्पलेश्वर आई।
कान्त शिवा भगतन सुखदाई॥
Bhadra kali kampaleshvar aaee.
Kanta shiva bhagtan sukhdaee ||
As Bhadrakali you came to Kampaleshwar. The poet Kant says that Shiva (the Goddess) gives joy to her devotees. (Some sources read ‘Kamaleshwar’; which place is meant is not certain.)
- Chaupai 29
भोग भण्डारा हलवा पूरी।
ध्वजा नारियल तिलक सिंदूरी॥
Bhog bhandara halva poori.
Dhvaja nariyal tilak sindoori ||
Halwa and puri for the offering and the community feast, and a flag, a coconut and a vermilion tilak are offered to you. (These offerings are folk custom.)
- Chaupai 30
लाल चुनरी लगती प्यारी।
ये ही भेंट ले दुख निवारी॥
Lal chunri lagti pyari.
Ye hi bhent le dukh nivari ||
The red chunri pleases you. The text says that accepting just these gifts you take sorrow away.
- Chaupai 31
अंधे को तुम नयन दिखाती।
कोढ़ी काया सफल बनाती॥
Andhe ko tum nayan dikhati.
Kodhi kaya saphal banati ||
The text says that you give sight to the blind and make whole a body afflicted with leprosy.
- Chaupai 32
बाँझन के घर बाल खिलाती।
निर्धन को धन खूब दिलाती॥
Banjhan ke ghar bal khilati.
Nirdhan ko dhan khoob dilati ||
It also says that you bring children to play in the homes of the childless, and give plenty of wealth to the poor.
- Chaupai 33
सुख दे दे भगत को तारे।
साधु सज्जन काज संवारे॥
Sukh de de bhagat ko tare.
Sadhu sajjan kaj sanvare ||
Giving joy upon joy, you carry your devotees across, and you set right the work of the saintly and the good.
- Chaupai 34
भूमण्डल से जोत प्रकाशी।
शाकम्भरी माँ दुःख की नाशी॥
Bhoomandal se jot prakashi.
Shakambhari man duhkh ki nashi ||
Your flame shines forth over the earth. Mother Shakambhari is the destroyer of sorrow.
- Chaupai 35
मधुर मधुर मुस्कान तुम्हारी।
जन्म जन्म पहचान हमारी॥
Madhur madhur muskan tumhari.
Janma janma pahchan hamari ||
Your smile is so sweet. Our bond with you goes back birth after birth.
- Chaupai 36
चरण कमल तेरे बलिहारी।
जै जै जै जग जननी तुम्हारी॥
Charan kamal tere balihari.
Jai jai jai jag janni tumhari ||
I give myself at your lotus feet. Victory, victory, victory to you, Mother of the world.
- Chaupai 37
कान्ता चालीसा अति सुखकारी।
संकट दुःख दुविधा सब टारी॥
Kanta chalisa ati sukhkari.
Sankat duhkh duvidha sab tari ||
This Chalisa by the poet Kanta gives great joy; the text says it wards off every crisis, sorrow and doubt.
- Chaupai 38
जो कोई जन चालीसा गावे।
मात कृपा अति सुख पावे॥
Jo koee jan chalisa gave.
Mat kripa ati sukh pave ||
The text says that whoever sings this Chalisa receives great happiness through the Mother’s grace.
- Chaupai 39
कान्ता प्रसाद जगाधरी वासी।
भाव शाकम्भरी तत्व प्रकाशी॥
Kanta prasad jagadhri vasi.
Bhav shakambhari tatva prakashi ||
Kanta Prasad, a resident of Jagadhri, has set out in it his feeling for the truth of Mother Shakambhari. (This is the poet’s signature.)
- Chaupai 40
बार बार कहें कर जोरी।
विनती सुन शाकम्भरी मोरी॥
Bar bar kahen kar jori.
Vinti sun shakambhari mori ||
With folded hands I say again and again: O Shakambhari, hear my prayer.
- Chaupai 41
मैं सेवक हूँ दास तुम्हारा।
जननी करना भव निस्तारा॥
Main sevak hoon das tumhara.
Janni karna bhav nistara ||
I am your servant and your slave. O Mother, carry me across the ocean of worldly life.
- Chaupai 42
यह सौ बार पाठ करे कोई।
मातु कृपा अधिकारी सोई॥
Yah sau bar path kare koee.
Matu kripa adhikari soee ||
The text says that whoever recites it a hundred times becomes worthy of the Mother’s grace.
- Chaupai 43
संकट कष्ट को मात निवारे।
शोक मोह शत्रुन संहारे॥
Sankat kashta ko mat nivare.
Shok moh shatrun sanhare ||
The Mother removes crisis and hardship, and destroys grief, delusion and enemies.
- Chaupai 44
निर्धन धन सुख सम्पत्ति पावे।
श्रद्धा भक्ति से चालीसा गावे॥
Nirdhan dhan sukh sampatti pave.
Shraddha bhakti se chalisa gave ||
The text says that whoever sings the Chalisa with faith and devotion, even if poor, gains wealth, happiness and property.
- Chaupai 45
नौ रात्रों तक दीप जगावे।
सपरिवार मगन हो गावे॥
Nau ratron tak dip jagave.
Saprivar magan ho gave ||
According to the Chalisa, one should keep a lamp burning for nine nights and sing it joyfully with the whole family.
- Chaupai 46
प्रेम से पाठ करे मन लाई।
कान्त शाकम्भरी अति सुखदाई॥
Prem se path kare man laee.
Kanta shakambhari ati sukhdaee ||
For one who recites it with love and a settled mind, says the poet Kant, Mother Shakambhari is the giver of great joy.
- Closing Doha 1
दुर्गासुर संहारणि, करणि जग के काज।
शाकम्भरी जननि शिवे, रखना मेरी लाज॥
Durgasur sanharni, karni jag ke kaj.
Shakambhari janni shive, rakhna meri laj ||
O slayer of the asura Durgam, who carries out the work of the world, O Mother Shakambhari, O Shiva, protect my honour. (In chapter 11 of the Durga Saptashati the Goddess says that on that same occasion she will slay the great asura Durgama and so be called Durga.)
- Closing Doha 2
युग युग तक व्रत तेरा, करे भक्त उद्धार।
वो ही तेरा लाड़ला, आवे तेरे द्वार॥
Yug yug tak vrat tera, kare bhakta uddhar.
Vo hi tera ladla, aave tere dvar ||
Through the ages your vrat brings deliverance to devotees. Whoever comes to your door is your beloved child.
Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/shakambhari-chalisa/
This is the text of the Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar book ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (2004), compared with five websites. This book and most sources have 46 chaupais. The main variant readings: in chaupai 13 the sanskritdocuments.org text reads ‘Shiv Shankar prabhu Bhole Bhandari, sada rahe santan hitkari. Hanumat mata laukda tera, sada Shakambhari Maa ka chera’, that is, two more half-lines, which the printed book and the other websites do not have. In chaupai 4 one source reads ‘Aparna’ for ‘arpana’; in chaupai 7 several sources print ‘anapa’ for ‘anupa’, which looks like a misprint; some read ‘ki adhikari’ in chaupai 18, ‘Kamaleshwar’ in chaupai 28, ‘bhog bhandar’ in chaupai 29 and ‘duvidha tari’ in chaupai 37. The printed book writes the ‘shatrun’ (enemies) of chaupai 43 as ‘shatru na’. In the first closing doha you will also find ‘Durga sur harani’ and ‘Durgasur sanharani’, and some sources give the two closing dohas in the reverse order. Another, different Chalisa with the same name begins ‘Jai jai Shri Shakambhari Jagadambe’; that is not the text given here.
