- Doha
जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन, मंगल मूल सुजान।
कहत अयोध्यादास तुम, देहु अभय वरदान॥
Jay Ganesh girija suvan, mangal mool sujan.
Kahat ayodhyadas tum, dehu abhay vardan ||
Victory to Ganesha, son of Girija (Parvati), root of all that is auspicious and all-knowing. Ayodhyadas prays: grant me the boon of fearlessness.
- Chaupai 1
जय गिरिजापति दीनदयाला।
सदा करत सन्तन प्रतिपाला॥
Jay girijapti dinadyala.
Sada karat santan pratipala ||
Victory to you, lord of Girija, kind to the helpless. You always protect and care for the good.
- Chaupai 2
भाल चन्द्रमा सोहत नीके।
कानन कुण्डल नागफनी के॥
Bhal chandrama sohat nike.
Kanan kundal nagaphni ke ||
The moon shines beautifully on your forehead, and your earrings are the hoods of serpents.
- Chaupai 3
अंग गौर शिर गंग बहाये।
मुण्डमाल तन छार लगाये॥
Ang gaur shir gang bahaye.
Mundamal tan chhar lagaye ||
Your body is fair and the Ganga flows from your head. You wear a garland of skulls, and your body is smeared with ash.
- Chaupai 4
वस्त्र खाल बाघम्बर सोहे।
छवि को देखि नाग मन मोहे॥
Vastra khal baghambar sohe.
Chhavi ko dekhi nag man mohe ||
A tiger skin is your garment. Seeing your form, even the serpents are charmed.
- Chaupai 5
मैना मातु की ह्वै दुलारी।
वाम अंग सोहत छवि न्यारी॥
Maina matu ki hvai dulari.
Vam ang sohat chhavi nyari ||
The beloved daughter of Mother Maina (Parvati) sits at your left side, and her beauty is beyond compare.
- Chaupai 6
कर त्रिशूल सोहत छवि भारी।
करत सदा शत्रुन क्षयकारी॥
Kar trishool sohat chhavi bhari.
Karat sada shatrun kshaykari ||
The trident in your hand is splendid, and it always destroys the enemy.
- Chaupai 7
नन्दि गणेश सोहै तहँ कैसे।
सागर मध्य कमल हैं जैसे॥
Nandi Ganesh sohai tahan kaise.
Sagar madhya kamal hain jaise ||
Nandi and Ganesha look there like lotuses blooming in the middle of the ocean.
- Chaupai 8
कार्तिक श्याम और गणराऊ।
या छवि को कहि जात न काऊ॥
Kartik shyam aur ganraoo.
Ya chhavi ko kahi jat na kaoo ||
Kartikeya and the lord of the ganas are there too. No one can put this sight into words.
- Chaupai 9
देवन जबहीं जाय पुकारा।
तबहीं दुख प्रभु आप निवारा॥
Devan jabahin jay pukara.
Tabahin dukh prabhu aap nivara ||
Whenever the gods came and called out to you, Lord, you took away their sorrow at once.
- Chaupai 10
किया उपद्रव तारक भारी।
देवन सब मिलि तुमहिं जुहारी॥
Kiya upadrav tarak bhari.
Devan sab mili tumhin juhari ||
When the demon Taraka caused great havoc, all the gods came together and pleaded with you.
- Chaupai 11
तुरत षडानन आप पठायउ।
लव निमेष महँ मारि गिरायउ॥
Turat shadanan aap pathayau.
Lav nimesh mahan mari girayau ||
You at once sent six-faced Kartikeya (Shadanan), who struck the demon down in the blink of an eye.
- Chaupai 12
आप जलंधर असुर संहारा।
सुयश तुम्हार विदित संसारा॥
Aap jalandhar asur sanhara.
Suyash tumhar vidit sansara ||
You destroyed the demon Jalandhar, and the whole world knows your glory.
- Chaupai 13
त्रिपुरासुर सन युद्ध मचाई।
सबहिं कृपा कर लीन बचाई॥
Tripurasur san yuddha machaee.
Sabahin kripa kar lin bachaee ||
You went to war against Tripurasura and, in your mercy, saved everyone.
- Chaupai 14
किया तपहिं भागीरथ भारी।
पुरब प्रतिज्ञा तासु पुरारी॥
Kiya tapahin bhagirath bhari.
Purab pratigya tasu purari ||
When Bhagirath performed great penance, you, Purari (foe of Tripura), fulfilled his vow. This is the story of bringing the Ganga to earth, when Shiva received her in his matted hair.
- Chaupai 15
दानिन महँ तुम सम कोउ नाहीं।
सेवक स्तुति करत सदाहीं॥
Danin mahan tum sam kou nahin.
Sevak stuti karat sadahin ||
Among givers there is none like you, and your servants praise you always.
- Chaupai 16
वेद नाम महिमा तव गाई।
अकथ अनादि भेद नहिं पाई॥
Ved naam mahima tav gaee.
Akath anadi bhed nahin paee ||
The Vedas have sung the glory of your name, yet you are beyond words and without beginning, and even they could not find your secret.
- Chaupai 17
प्रकटी उदधि मंथन में ज्वाला।
जरत सुरासुर भए विहाला॥
Prakti uddhi manthan mein jvala.
Jarat surasur bhae vihala ||
When the ocean was churned, a blaze (of poison) rose from it, and gods and demons alike were in agony from its burning.
- Chaupai 18
कीन्ही दया तहँ करी सहाई।
नीलकण्ठ तब नाम कहाई॥
Kinhi daya tahan kari sahaee.
Nilkantha tab naam kahaee ||
Then you showed mercy and helped them (by drinking the poison), and from then on you were called Neelkanth, the blue-throated.
- Chaupai 19
पूजन रामचन्द्र जब कीन्हा।
जीत के लंक विभीषण दीन्हा॥
Poojan ramchandra jab kinha.
Jit ke lank vibhishan dinha ||
When Shri Ramchandra worshipped you, he won Lanka and gave it to Vibhishan.
- Chaupai 20
सहस कमल में हो रहे धारी।
कीन्ह परीक्षा तबहिं पुरारी॥
Sahas kamal mein ho rahe dhari.
Kinha pariksha tabahin purari ||
As Ram was offering a thousand lotuses, Purari (Shiva) put him to the test.
- Chaupai 21
एक कमल प्रभु राखेउ जोई।
कमल नयन पूजन चहं सोई॥
Ek kamal prabhu rakheu joee.
Kamal nayan poojan chaham soee ||
The Lord hid one lotus, and lotus-eyed Ram then wished to complete the worship by offering his own eye in its place.
- Chaupai 22
कठिन भक्ति देखी प्रभु शंकर।
भए प्रसन्न दिए इच्छित वर॥
Kathin bhakti dekhi prabhu shankar.
Bhae prasanna diye ichchhit var ||
Seeing such hard devotion, Lord Shankar was pleased and granted the boon Ram wished for.
- Chaupai 23
जय जय जय अनन्त अविनाशी।
करत कृपा सब के घटवासी॥
Jay jay jay ananta avinashi.
Karat kripa sab ke ghatvasi ||
Victory, victory, victory to you, endless and imperishable one. You dwell in every heart and are kind to all.
- Chaupai 24
दुष्ट सकल नित मोहि सतावै।
भ्रमत रहौं मोहि चैन न आवै॥
Dushta sakal nit mohi satavai.
Bhramat rahaun mohi chain na aavai ||
All the wicked torment me day after day. I wander about and find no peace.
- Chaupai 25
त्राहि त्राहि मैं नाथ पुकारो।
यहि अवसर मोहि आन उबारो॥
Trahi trahi main nath pukaro.
Yahi avsar mohi aan ubaro ||
“Save me, save me,” I cry, O Lord. Come now and lift me out of this.
- Chaupai 26
लै त्रिशूल शत्रुन को मारो।
संकट से मोहि आन उबारो॥
Lai trishool shatrun ko maro.
Sankat se mohi aan ubaro ||
Take up your trident and strike down the enemies, and come and rescue me from trouble.
- Chaupai 27
मात-पिता भ्राता सब कोई।
संकट में पूछत नहिं कोई॥
Mat-pita bhrata sab koee.
Sankat mein poochhat nahin koee ||
Mother, father, brothers: everyone is there, yet in trouble no one asks after me.
- Chaupai 28
स्वामी एक है आस तुम्हारी।
आय हरहु मम संकट भारी॥
Svami ek hai aas tumhari.
Aay harhu mam sankat bhari ||
Master, you are my only hope. Come and take away my heavy trouble.
- Chaupai 29
धन निर्धन को देत सदाहीं।
जो कोई जांचे सो फल पाहीं॥
Dhan nirdhan ko det sadahin.
Jo koee janche so phal pahin ||
You always give wealth to the poor, and whoever asks of you receives the fruit.
- Chaupai 30
अस्तुति केहि विधि करौं तुम्हारी।
क्षमहु नाथ अब चूक हमारी॥
Astuti kehi vidhi karaun tumhari.
Kshamhu nath ab chook hamari ||
How can I ever praise you properly? Forgive my mistakes, O Lord.
- Chaupai 31
शंकर हो संकट के नाशन।
मंगल कारण विघ्न विनाशन॥
Shankar ho sankat ke nashan.
Mangal karan vighna vinashan ||
Shankar, you are the destroyer of troubles, the cause of all good and the remover of obstacles.
- Chaupai 32
योगी यति मुनि ध्यान लगावैं।
शारद नारद शीश नवावैं॥
Yogi yati muni dhyaan lagavain.
Sharad narad shish navavain ||
Yogis, ascetics and sages meditate on you, and Sharada (Saraswati) and Narad bow their heads to you.
- Chaupai 33
नमो नमो जय नमः शिवाय।
सुर ब्रह्मादिक पार न पाय॥
Namo namo jay namah shivay.
Sur brahmadik par na pay ||
Salutations again and again, victory to you: namah Shivaya. Even Brahma and the other gods could not find your limit.
- Chaupai 34
जो यह पाठ करे मन लाई।
ता पर होत हैं शम्भु सहाई॥
Jo yah path kare man laee.
Ta par hot hain shambhu sahaee ||
The text says that whoever recites it with a devoted mind has Shambhu (Shiva) as a helper.
- Chaupai 35
ऋनियां जो कोई हो अधिकारी।
पाठ करे सो पावन हारी॥
Riniyan jo koee ho adhikari.
Path kare so pavan hari ||
According to the text, even one who is weighed down by debt becomes pure (free of the burden) by reciting it.
- Chaupai 36
पुत्र हीन कर इच्छा जोई।
निश्चय शिव प्रसाद तेहि होई॥
Putra hin kar ichchha joee.
Nishchay Shiv prasad tehi hoee ||
The text says that one who has no son and longs for one surely receives Shiva’s grace.
- Chaupai 37
पण्डित त्रयोदशी को लावे।
ध्यान पूर्वक होम करावे॥
Pandit trayodshi ko lave.
Dhyaan poorvak hom karave ||
On Trayodashi (the thirteenth lunar day) one should invite a pandit and have a havan performed with care and devotion.
- Chaupai 38
त्रयोदशी व्रत करै हमेशा।
तन नहिं ताके रहै कलेशा॥
Trayodshi vrat karai hamesha.
Tan nahin take rahai kalesha ||
The text says that whoever always keeps the Trayodashi fast is left with no suffering in the body.
- Chaupai 39
धूप दीप नैवेद्य चढ़ावे।
शंकर सम्मुख पाठ सुनावे॥
Dhoop dip naivedya chadhave.
Shankar sammukh path sunave ||
Offer incense, a lamp and food, and recite it before Shankar.
- Chaupai 40
जन्म जन्म के पाप नसावे।
अन्त धाम शिवपुर में पावे॥
Janma janma ke pap nasave.
Anta dham shivpur mein pave ||
According to the text, one who does so destroys the sins of many births and in the end finds a home in Shiva’s realm.
- Closing Chaupai
कहैं अयोध्यादास आस तुम्हारी।
जानि सकल दुःख हरहु हमारी॥
Kahain ayodhyadas aas tumhari.
Jani sakal duhkh harhu hamari ||
Ayodhyadas says: my hope is in you alone. Knowing this, take away all my sorrows.
- Closing Doha 1
नित्त नेम कर प्रातः ही, पाठ करौं चालीस।
तुम मेरी मनोकामना, पूर्ण करो जगदीश॥
Nitta nem kar pratah hi, path karaun chalis.
Tum meri manokamna, poorna karo jagdish ||
As a daily rule I recite this Chalisa every morning. O Lord of the world, fulfil the wish of my heart.
- Closing Doha 2
मगसर छठि हेमन्त ऋतु, संवत चौसठ जान।
अस्तुति चालीसा शिवहि, पूर्ण कीन कल्याण॥
Magsar chhathi hemanta ritu, sanvat chausath jan.
Astuti chalisa shivhi, poorna kin kalyan ||
Know that this Chalisa in praise of Shiva was completed, for the good of all, on the sixth day of Magsar (Margashirsha) in the Hemant season, in Samvat “sixty-four”. (The century is not given, so the year cannot be fixed.)
This is the Shiv Chalisa of Ayodhyadas, the one most widely sung. The text was compared word by word with two printed books, Randhir Prakashan’s ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ (Haridwar) and an old Naval Kishore Press booklet ‘Shivstuti Chalisa’ (Lucknow), and with four websites; where the sources are divided, the majority reading is taken, and on a tie the printed one. The Gita Press ‘Shri Shiv Chalisa’ (book code 228) is a different composition, beginning ‘Aj anadi avigat alakh’ and ‘Jai Shiv Shankar audhardani’. The main variant readings: in chaupai 3 several sources read ‘kshar’ (the printed books have ‘chhar’; both mean ash); in chaupai 4 Randhir Prakashan reads ‘nag muni mohe’; the ‘hvai’ (being) of chaupai 5 is printed ‘have’ in most sources; in chaupai 13 one source reads ‘tabahin kripa’; in chaupai 16 several sources read ‘Ved mahi mahima tum gai’; in chaupai 27 some read ‘sab hoi’; in chaupai 32 Randhir Prakashan reads ‘Narad Sharad’; in chaupai 36 you will also find ‘putra hon (to be born) ki ichchha’ in place of ‘putra hin’; in chaupai 38 one source reads ‘take tan nahin rahai kalesha’; in chaupai 40 Randhir Prakashan reads ‘ant vas’. In the first closing doha some sources read ‘nitt nem uthi pratah hi, path karo chalisa’; ‘chalis’ is the reading of the printed books and rhymes with ‘Jagdish’. The second closing doha (‘Magsar chhathi…’) is missing in some sources.
