- Doha 1
जय जय माता शीतला, तुमहिं धरै जो ध्यान।
होय विमल शीतल हृदय, विकसै बुधि बल ज्ञान॥
Jay jay mata shitla, tumhin dharai jo dhyaan.
Hoy vimal shital hriday, viksai budhi bal gyaan ||
Victory, victory to you, Mother Sheetala. Whoever meditates on you finds the heart made pure and cool, and understanding, strength and knowledge blossom.
- Doha 2
घट घट वासी शीतला, शीतल प्रभा तुम्हार।
शीतल छइयाँ में झुलई, मइया पलना डार॥
Ghat ghat vasi shitla, shital prabha tumhar.
Shital chhaiyan mein jhulaee, maiya palna dar ||
Mother Sheetala, you dwell in every heart, and your radiance is cool. O Mother, hang a cradle in your cool shade and rock us in it.
- Chaupai 1
जय जय श्री शीतला भवानी।
जय जग जननि सकल गुणखानी॥
Jay jay Shri shitla bhavani.
Jay jag janni sakal gunkhani ||
Victory, victory to you, Shri Sheetala Bhavani. Victory to you, mother of the world, mine of every virtue.
- Chaupai 2
गृह गृह शक्ति तुम्हारी राजित।
पूरण शरदचन्द्र सम साजित॥
Grih grih shakti tumhari rajit.
Pooran sharadchandra sam sajit ||
Your power is present in every home, and you shine like the full moon of autumn.
- Chaupai 3
विस्फोटक से जलत शरीरा।
शीतल करत हरत सब पीरा॥
Visphotak se jalat sharira.
Shital karat harat sab pira ||
When the body burns with visphotak (eruptive fevers such as smallpox), the text says, you cool it and take away all its pain.
- Chaupai 4
मातु शीतला तव शुभ नामा।
सबके गाढ़े आवहिं कामा॥
Matu shitla tav shubh nama.
Sabke gadhe aavhin kama ||
Mother Sheetala, your auspicious name comes to everyone’s aid in hard times.
- Chaupai 5
शोकहरी शंकरी भवानी।
बाल-प्राणरक्षी सुखदानी॥
Shokahri shankari bhavani.
Bal-pranrakshi sukhdani ||
You are Bhavani who removes grief, Shankari who brings good; protector of children’s lives and giver of happiness.
- Chaupai 6
शुचि मार्जनी कलश कर राजै।
मस्तक तेज सूर्य सम साजै॥
Shuchi marjani kalash kar rajai.
Mastak tej soorya sam sajai ||
A pure broom (marjani) and a water pot shine in your hands, and your brow bears a radiance like the sun.
- Chaupai 7
चौंसठ योगिन संग में गावैं।
वीणा ताल मृदंग बजावैं॥
Chaunsath yogin sang mein gavain.
Vina tal mridang bajavain ||
The sixty-four yoginis sing with you and play the veena, cymbals and the mridang drum.
- Chaupai 8
नृत्य नाथ भैरों दिखरावैं।
सहस शेष शिव पार न पावैं॥
Nritya nath bhairon dikhravain.
Sahas shesh Shiv par na pavain ||
Lord Bhairav shows his dance. Even thousand-headed Shesha and Shiva cannot find the end of your glory.
- Chaupai 9
धन्य धन्य धात्री महारानी।
सुर नर मुनि तव सुयश बखानी॥
Dhanya dhanya dhatri maharani.
Sur nar muni tav suyash bakhani ||
Blessed, blessed are you, great Queen who nurtures all. Gods, humans and sages tell of your fair fame.
- Chaupai 10
ज्वाला रूप महा बलकारी।
दैत्य एक विस्फोटक भारी॥
Jvala roop maha balkari.
Daitya ek visphotak bhari ||
(The story:) There was a mighty demon named Visphotak, fierce as a flame and immensely strong.
- Chaupai 11
घर घर प्रविशत कोई न रक्षत।
रोग रूप धरि बालक भक्षत॥
Ghar ghar pravishat koee na rakshat.
Rog roop dhari balak bhakshat ||
He entered house after house and no one could stop him; taking the form of a disease, he devoured children.
- Chaupai 12
हाहाकार मच्यो जग भारी।
सक्यो न जब कोई संकट टारी॥
Hahakar machyo jag bhari.
Sakyo na jab koee sankat tari ||
A great outcry rose across the world, for no one could ward off this calamity.
- Chaupai 13
तब मइया धरि अद्भुत रूपा।
कर में लिये मार्जनी सूपा॥
Tab maiya dhari adbhut roopa.
Kar mein liye marjani soopa ||
Then the Mother took on a wondrous form, holding a broom and a winnowing basket in her hands.
- Chaupai 14
विस्फोटकहिं पकड़ि कर लीन्ह्यो।
मुसल प्रहार बहुविधि कीन्ह्यो॥
Visphotkahin pakdi kar linhyo.
Musal prahar bahuvidhi kinhyo ||
She seized Visphotak and struck him many times with a pestle.
- Chaupai 15
बहु प्रकार वह विनती कीन्हा।
मैया नहीं भल मैं कछु चीन्हा॥
Bahu prakar vah vinti kinha.
Maiya nahin bhal main kachhu chinha ||
He pleaded in many ways: “Mother, I did not recognise what is good.”
- Chaupai 16
अब नहिं मातु काहु गृह जइहौं।
जहँ अपवित्र वही घर रहिहौं॥
Ab nahin matu kahu grih jaihaun.
Jahan apvitra vahi ghar rahihaun ||
“Mother, I will no longer go into any home; I will stay only in a house that is impure.”
- Chaupai 17
पूजन पाठ मातु जब करिहैं।
होइ आनन्द सकल दुख हरिहैं॥
Poojan path matu jab karihain.
Hoi aananda sakal dukh harihain ||
“When people worship the Mother and recite her praise, there will be joy, and all sorrows will be taken away.”
- Chaupai 18
भभकत तन शीतल ह्वै जइहैं।
विस्फोटक भय घोर नसइहैं॥
Bhabhkat tan shital hvai jaihain.
Visphotak bhay ghor nasaihain ||
“Burning bodies will be cooled, and the terrible fear of Visphotak will pass.” So Visphotak promises in the story.
- Chaupai 19
श्री शीतलहिं भजे कल्याना।
वचन सत्य भाषे भगवाना॥
Shri shitalhin bhaje kalyana.
Vachan satya bhashe bhagvana ||
Worshipping Shri Sheetala brings well-being; the text says the Lord himself spoke these true words.
- Chaupai 20
विस्फोटक भय जिहि गृह भाई।
भजै देवि कहँ यही उपाई॥
Visphotak bhay jihi grih bhaee.
Bhajai devi kahan yahi upaee ||
Brother, in a home that fears Visphotak, worship the Goddess: this, the text says, is the remedy.
- Chaupai 21
कलश शीतला का सजवावै।
द्विज से विधिवत पाठ करावै॥
Kalash shitla ka sajvavai.
Dvij se vidhivat path karavai ||
Have a kalash of Sheetala set up, and have a Brahmin recite her praise according to the rites.
- Chaupai 22
तुम्हीं शीतला जग की माता।
तुम्हीं पिता जग की सुखदाता॥
Tumhin shitla jag ki mata.
Tumhin pita jag ki sukhdata ||
Sheetala, you are the mother of the world, and you are its father too; you give the world its happiness.
- Chaupai 23
तुम्हीं जगद्धात्री सुखसेवी।
नमो नमामि शीतले देवी॥
Tumhin jagaddhatri sukhsevi.
Namo namami shitle devi ||
You are Jagaddhatri, sustainer of the world, whose service brings joy. Salutations to you, Goddess Sheetala.
- Chaupai 24
नमो सुखकरणी दुखहरणी।
नमो नमो जगतारणि तरणी॥
Namo sukhkarni dukhharni.
Namo namo jagtarni tarni ||
Salutations to you who give happiness and take away sorrow; salutations to you, the boat that carries the world across.
- Chaupai 25
नमो नमो त्रैलोक्य वन्दिनी।
दुखदारिद्रादिक निकन्दिनी॥
Namo namo trailokya vandini.
Dukhdaridradik nikandini ||
Salutations to you, honoured in the three worlds, who root out sorrow, poverty and the like.
- Chaupai 26
श्री शीतला, शेढ़ला, महला।
रुणकी झुणकी मातु मन्दला॥
Shri shitla, shedhla, mahla.
Runki jhunki matu mandala ||
Shri Sheetala, Shedhala, Mahala, Runki, Jhunki and Mother Mandala: all these are the Mother’s names.
- Chaupai 27
हो तुम दिगम्बर तनुधारी।
शोभित पंचनाम असवारी॥
Ho tum digambar tanudhari.
Shobhit panchanam asvari ||
You are Digambara, clothed only in space, and you ride gracefully on the animal of five names (the donkey).
- Chaupai 28
रासभ, खर, बैशाख सुनन्दन।
गर्दभ, दुर्वाकन्द निकन्दन॥
Rasabh, khar, baishakh sunandan.
Gardabh, durvakanda nikandan ||
(That mount) is called Rasabha, Khara, Baishakhnandan and Gardabha, the one who grazes on the roots of durva grass. (These are all names of the donkey.)
- Chaupai 29
सुमिरत संग शीतला माई।
जाहि सकल दुख दूर पराई॥
Sumirat sang shitla maee.
Jahi sakal dukh door paraee ||
As soon as one remembers Mother Sheetala, the text says, all sorrows run far away.
- Chaupai 30
गलका, गलगण्डादिक जु होई।
ताकर मन्त्र न औषधि कोई॥
Galka, galgandadik ju hoee.
Takar mantra na aushdhi koee ||
The text says that for throat ailments, goitre and the like there is no mantra and no medicine. (This is the statement of an old devotional poem. Such conditions are treated today; for any illness, please see a doctor.)
- Chaupai 31
एक मातु जी का आराधन।
और नहिं कोई है साधन॥
Ek matu ji ka aaradhan.
Aur nahin koee hai sadhan ||
According to the text, worship of the Mother alone is the way; there is no other means. (This expresses devotion; it is not medical advice.)
- Chaupai 32
निश्चय मातु शरण जो आवै।
निर्भय मन इच्छित फल पावै॥
Nishchay matu sharan jo aavai.
Nirbhay man ichchhit phal pavai ||
Whoever comes to the Mother’s shelter with firm faith, the text says, becomes fearless and gains the fruit the heart desires.
- Chaupai 33
कोढ़ी, निर्मल काया धारै।
अन्धा, दृग निज दृष्टि निहारै॥
Kodhi, nirmal kaya dharai.
Andha, drig nij drishti niharai ||
The text says that the leper gains a clean body and the blind see with their own eyes. (This is the language of devotional poetry; for illness, see a doctor.)
- Chaupai 34
बन्ध्या नारि पुत्र को पावै।
जन्म दरिद्र धनी होइ जावै॥
Bandhya nari putra ko pavai.
Janma daridra dhani hoi javai ||
According to the text, a childless woman is blessed with a son, and one born poor becomes rich.
- Chaupai 35
मातु शीतला के गुण गावत।
लखा मूक को छन्द बनावत॥
Matu shitla ke gun gavat.
Lakha mook ko chhanda banavat ||
Singing the virtues of Mother Sheetala, the poet says, even the mute have been seen composing verses.
- Chaupai 36
यामें कोई करै जनि शंका।
जग में मैया का ही डंका॥
Yamen koee karai jani shanka.
Jag mein maiya ka hi danka ||
Let no one doubt this: it is the Mother’s drum that sounds throughout the world.
- Chaupai 37
भनत रामसुन्दर प्रभुदासा।
तट प्रयाग से पूरब पासा॥
Bhanat ramsundar prabhudasa.
Tat prayag se poorab pasa ||
So says Ramsundar, servant of the Lord (the poet’s signature), who lives close by, east of the river bank at Prayag.
- Chaupai 38
पुरी तिवारी मोर निवासा।
ककरा गंगा तट दुर्वासा॥
Puri tivari mor nivasa.
Kakra ganga tat durvasa ||
“My home is at Puri Tiwari, in Kakra on the bank of the Ganga, where the sage Durvasa’s hermitage is.”
- Chaupai 39
अब विलम्ब मैं तोहि पुकारत।
मातु कृपा कौ बाट निहारत॥
Ab vilamba main tohi pukarat.
Matu kripa kau bat niharat ||
Mother, it grows late; I am calling to you, watching the road for your grace.
- Chaupai 40
पड़ा द्वार तव आस लगाई।
रक्षा करहु शीतला माई॥
Pada dvar tav aas lagaee.
Raksha karhu shitla maee ||
I lie at your door, my hopes set on you; Mother Sheetala, protect me.
This is a devotional text. What the Chalisa says about illnesses (visphotak, that is eruptive fevers such as smallpox, goitre, leprosy, blindness) is the statement of an old devotional poem, not medical advice; for any illness, please see a doctor. The text: the printed ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar, is the base, compared with the 1983 magazine ‘Mantra-Tantra-Yantra Vigyan’ (August–September issue, which prints the Chalisa up to ‘tat Prayag se purab pasa’), sanskritdocuments.org and Drik Panchang. In the Randhir book chaupais 16 and 17 have run into each other (‘jahan apavitra sakal dukh harihain’); the correct text is taken from the magazine and sanskritdocuments.org. Drik Panchang’s text is the same as the Randhir book, misprints included. The main variants: in chaupai 1 Randhir reads ‘jai jai jai Sheetala Bhavani’; in chaupai 6 Randhir ‘surya samrajai’; in chaupai 8 Randhir ‘sahaj Shesh’, while the magazine and sanskritdocuments.org read ‘sahas Shesh’; in chaupais 12 and 15 Randhir ‘sakyo na jab sankat tari’ and ‘bahut prakar’; in chaupai 24 Randhir ‘sukkhakarani’; in chaupai 26 Randhir ‘runalihyanani’ (apparently a misprint), the magazine ‘Runki Jhunki’; in chaupai 27 the magazine ‘Digambari’; in chaupai 38 Randhir ‘mor mor nivasa’ (one word printed twice); in chaupai 40 Randhir and Drik Panchang ‘pada kshar’, where the ‘dvar’ (door) of sanskritdocuments.org is taken. The sanskritdocuments.org text ends with two more dohas (‘Yah chalisa Sheetala path kare jo koy…’); they were not found in any printed source, so they are not given here.
