- Doha
श्री तुलसी महारानी, करूँ विनय सिरनाय।
जो मम हो संकट विकट, दीजै मात नशाय॥
Shri tulsi maharani, karoon vinay sirnay.
Jo mam ho sankat vikat, dijai mat nashay ||
O Shri Tulsi, great queen, I bow my head and pray: whatever grave trouble befalls me, Mother, please destroy it.
- Chaupai 1
नमो नमो तुलसी महारानी।
महिमा अमित न जाय बखानी॥
Namo namo tulsi maharani.
Mahima amit na jay bakhani ||
Salutations again and again to you, Queen Tulsi. Your boundless glory cannot be described.
- Chaupai 2
दियो विष्णु तुमको सनमाना।
जग में छायो सुयश महाना॥
Diyo Vishnu tumko sanmana.
Jag mein chhayo suyash mahana ||
Lord Vishnu honoured you, and so your great fame spread across the world.
- Chaupai 3
विष्णुप्रिया जय जयति भवानि।
तिहूँ लोक की हो सुखखानी॥
Vishnupriya jay jayti bhavani.
Tihoon lok ki ho sukhkhani ||
Victory, victory to you, Bhavani, beloved of Vishnu. You are the source of happiness in all three worlds.
- Chaupai 4
भगवत पूजा कर जो कोई।
बिना तुम्हारे सफल न होई॥
Bhagvat pooja kar jo koee.
Bina tumhare saphal na hoee ||
Whoever worships the Lord, that worship is not complete without you. (By tradition a Tulsi leaf is essential in the worship of Vishnu.)
- Chaupai 5
जिन घर तव नहिं होय निवासा।
उस पर करहिं विष्णु नहिं बासा॥
Jin ghar tav nahin hoy nivasa.
Us par karhin Vishnu nahin basa ||
The text says that Vishnu does not dwell in a home where you (the Tulsi plant) do not live.
- Chaupai 6
करे सदा जो तव नित सुमिरन।
तेहिके काज होय सब पूरन॥
Kare sada jo tav nit sumiran.
Tehike kaj hoy sab pooran ||
Whoever remembers you always, every day, has all their work brought to completion.
- Chaupai 7
कातिक मास महात्म तुम्हारा।
ताको जानत सब संसारा॥
Katik mas mahatma tumhara.
Tako janat sab sansara ||
Your special glory in the month of Kartik is known to the whole world.
- Chaupai 8
तव पूजन जो करैं कुँवारी।
पावै सुन्दर वर सुकुमारी॥
Tav poojan jo karain kunvari.
Pavai sundar var sukumari ||
According to the text, unmarried girls who worship you find a handsome and gentle husband.
- Chaupai 9
कर जो पूजा नितप्रति नारी।
सुख सम्पत्ति से होय सुखारी॥
Kar jo pooja nitaprati nari.
Sukh sampatti se hoy sukhari ||
A woman who worships you every day lives happily, blessed with comfort and wealth.
- Chaupai 10
वृद्धा नारी करै जो पूजन।
मिले भक्ति होवै पुलकित मन॥
Vriddha nari karai jo poojan.
Mile bhakti hovai pulkit man ||
An elderly woman who worships you receives devotion, and her heart thrills with joy.
- Chaupai 11
श्रद्धा से पूजै जो कोई।
भवनिधि से तर जावै सोई॥
Shraddha se poojai jo koee.
Bhavnidhi se tar javai soee ||
Whoever worships you with faith crosses the ocean of worldly life.
- Chaupai 12
कथा भागवत यज्ञ करावै।
तुम बिन नहीं सफलता पावै॥
Katha bhagvat yagya karavai.
Tum bin nahin saphalta pavai ||
Whether one arranges a recital of the Bhagavata or a yajna, it does not succeed without you.
- Chaupai 13
छायो तब प्रताप जगभारी।
ध्यावत तुमहिं सकल चितधारी॥
Chhayo tab pratap jagbhari.
Dhyavat tumhin sakal chitdhari ||
Your glory spreads over the whole world, and all thinking beings meditate on you.
- Chaupai 14
तुम्हीं मात यंत्रन तंत्रन में।
सकल काज सिधि होवै क्षण में॥
Tumhin mat yantran tantran mein.
Sakal kaj sidhi hovai kshan mein ||
O Mother, you are present in every yantra and tantra (ritual form); through you, the text says, every task is accomplished in a moment.
- Chaupai 15
औषधि रूप आप हो माता।
सब जग में तव यश विख्याता॥
Aushdhi roop aap ho mata.
Sab jag mein tav yash vikhyata ||
O Mother, you are a healing herb in form, and your fame is known throughout the world.
- Chaupai 16
देव रिषी मुनि औ तपधारी।
करत सदा तव जय जयकारी॥
Dev rishi muni au tapdhari.
Karat sada tav jay jaykari ||
Gods, rishis, sages and ascetics forever hail your victory.
- Chaupai 17
वेद पुरानन तव यश गाया।
महिमा अगम पार नहिं पाया॥
Ved puranan tav yash gaya.
Mahima agam par nahin paya ||
The Vedas and Puranas have sung your fame, but have not found the end of your unfathomable glory.
- Chaupai 18
नमो नमो जै जै सुखकारनि।
नमो नमो जै दुखनिवारनि॥
Namo namo jai jai sukhkarni.
Namo namo jai dukhnivarni ||
Salutations and victory to you, giver of happiness; salutations and victory to you, remover of sorrow.
- Chaupai 19
नमो नमो सुखसम्पति देनी।
नमो नमो अघ काटन छेनी॥
Namo namo sukhsampati deni.
Namo namo agh katan chheni ||
Salutations to you who give happiness and wealth; salutations to you, the chisel that cuts away sin.
- Chaupai 20
नमो नमो भक्तन दुख हरनी।
नमो नमो दुष्टन मद छेनी॥
Namo namo bhaktan dukh harni.
Namo namo dushtan mad chheni ||
Salutations to you who take away your devotees’ sorrow; salutations to you who cut down the pride of the wicked.
- Chaupai 21
नमो नमो भव पार उतारनि।
नमो नमो परलोक सुधारनि॥
Namo namo bhav par utarni.
Namo namo parlok sudharni ||
Salutations to you who carry us across the sea of existence; salutations to you who set right the world beyond.
- Chaupai 22
नमो नमो निज भक्त उबारनि।
नमो नमो जन काज सँवारनि॥
Namo namo nij bhakta ubarni.
Namo namo jan kaj sanvarni ||
Salutations to you who rescue your devotees; salutations to you who set people’s affairs in order.
- Chaupai 23
नमो नमो जय कुमति नशावनि।
नमो नमो सब सुख उपजावनि॥
Namo namo jay kumti nashavni.
Namo namo sab sukh upjavni ||
Salutations and victory to you who destroy ill thinking; salutations to you who bring forth every happiness.
- Chaupai 24
जयति जयति जय तुलसी माई।
ध्याऊँ तुमको शीश नवाई॥
Jayti jayti jay tulsi maee.
Dhyaoon tumko shish navaee ||
Victory, victory to you, Mother Tulsi. With bowed head I meditate on you.
- Chaupai 25
निजजन जानि मोहि अपनाओ।
बिगड़े कारज आप बनाओ॥
Nijjan jani mohi apnao.
Bigde karaj aap banao ||
Knowing me as your own, take me in, and set right the tasks that have gone wrong.
- Chaupai 26
करूँ विनय मैं मात तुम्हारी।
पूरण आशा करहु हमारी॥
Karoon vinay main mat tumhari.
Pooran aasha karhu hamari ||
O Mother, I pray to you: fulfil my hopes.
- Chaupai 27
शरण चरण कर जोरि मनाऊँ।
निशदिन तेरे ही गुण गाऊँ॥
Sharan charan kar jori manaoon.
Nishdin tere hi gun gaoon ||
At the shelter of your feet I plead with folded hands, and day and night I sing only of your virtues.
- Chaupai 28
करहु मात यह अब मोपर दाया।
निर्मल होय सकल ममकाया॥
Karhu mat yah ab mopar daya.
Nirmal hoy sakal mamkaya ||
O Mother, show me this kindness now: let my whole being become pure.
- Chaupai 29
माँगूँ मात यह बर दीजै।
सकल मनोरथ पूर्ण कीजै॥
Mangoon mat yah bar dijai.
Sakal manorath poorna kijai ||
Mother, I ask this boon of you, grant it: fulfil all my heart’s wishes.
- Chaupai 30
जानूँ नहिं कुछ नेम अचारा।
छमहु मात अपराध हमारा॥
Janoon nahin kuchh nem achara.
Chhamhu mat apradh hamara ||
I know nothing of the rules and rites of worship; Mother, forgive my faults.
- Chaupai 31
बारह मास करै जो पूजा।
ता सम जग में और न दूजा॥
Barah mas karai jo pooja.
Ta sam jag mein aur na dooja ||
One who worships you through all twelve months has no equal in the world.
- Chaupai 32
प्रथमहि गंगाजल मँगवावे।
फिर सुन्दर स्नान करावे॥
Prathamhi gangajal mangavave.
Phir sundar snaan karave ||
(The manner of worship:) first bring Ganga water, then bathe (the Tulsi) with care.
- Chaupai 33
चन्दन अक्षत पुष्प चढ़ावे।
धूप दीप नैवेद्य लगावे॥
Chandan akshat pushpa chadhave.
Dhoop dip naivedya lagave ||
Offer sandal paste, unbroken rice and flowers, and present incense, a lamp and food offerings.
- Chaupai 34
करे आचमन गंगा जल से।
ध्यान करे हृदय निर्मल से॥
Kare aachman ganga jal se.
Dhyaan kare hriday nirmal se ||
Sip Ganga water in purification (achaman), and meditate with a pure heart.
- Chaupai 35
पाठ करे फिर चालीसा की।
अस्तुति करे मात तुलसा की॥
Path kare phir chalisa ki.
Astuti kare mat tulsa ki ||
Then recite the Chalisa and sing the praises of Mother Tulsi.
- Chaupai 36
यह विधि पूजा करे हमेशा।
ताके तन नहिं रहै कलेशा॥
Yah vidhi pooja kare hamesha.
Take tan nahin rahai kalesha ||
The text says that whoever always worships in this way is left with no suffering.
- Chaupai 37
करै मास कार्तिक का साधन।
सोवे नित पवित्र सिध हुई जाहीं॥
Karai mas kartik ka sadhan.
Sove nit pavitra sidh hui jahin ||
One who keeps the observances of the month of Kartik, and sleeps each night in purity, becomes accomplished. (The second line reads this way in every source and seems incomplete.)
- Chaupai 38
है यह कथा महा सुखदाई।
पढ़े सुने सो भव तर जाई॥
Hai yah katha maha sukhdaee.
Padhe sune so bhav tar jaee ||
This account gives great joy; whoever reads or hears it, the text says, crosses the sea of worldly life.
- Closing Doha
यह श्री तुलसी चालीसा पाठ करे जो कोय।
गोविन्द सो फल पावही जो मन इच्छा होय॥
Yah Shri tulsi chalisa path kare jo koy.
Govinda so phal pavhi jo man ichchha hoy ||
Whoever recites this Shri Tulsi Chalisa, the text says, receives from Govind whatever the heart desires.
This is the text of the printed ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’ of Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar, compared with Hindi Path, Aaj Tak and Sri Mandir. It has 38 chaupais. The Aaj Tak page adds two more chaupais at the end (‘Tulsi maiya tum kalyani…’ and ‘Bhav na tujhe maan nit nit dhyave…’); they are not in the printed book, so they are not given here. Small variants: in chaupai 9 Aaj Tak reads ‘pujan’; in chaupai 24 Hindi Path reads ‘Tulsi mata’ (which breaks the rhyme), the others ‘Tulsi mai’; in chaupai 29 the book reads ‘mang mat’. In chaupai 13 every source prints ‘chhayo tab pratap’; the meaning takes it as ‘tav’ (your). The second line of chaupai 37 is the same in every source but seems incomplete in metre and rhyme. Another Tulsi Chalisa, beginning ‘Dhanya dhanya Shri Tulsi Mata’, is also found (on Drik Panchang); it is a different composition.
