- Doha
विष्णु सुनिए विनय, सेवक की चितलाय।
कीरत कुछ वर्णन करूँ, दीजै ज्ञान बताय॥
Vishnu sunie vinay, sevak ki chitlay.
Kirat kuchh varnan karoon, dijai gyaan batay ||
O Vishnu, listen with attention to your servant’s plea. Grant me the understanding to describe a little of your glory.
- Chaupai 1
नमो विष्णु भगवान खरारी।
कष्ट नशावन अखिल बिहारी॥
Namo Vishnu Bhagwan kharari.
Kashta nashavan akhil bihari ||
Salutations to Lord Vishnu, the foe of the demon Khara, who destroys suffering and moves through the whole universe.
- Chaupai 2
प्रबल जगत में शक्ति तुम्हारी।
त्रिभुवन फैल रही उजियारी॥
Prabal jagat mein shakti tumhari.
Tribhuvan phail rahi ujiyari ||
Your power is mighty in the world, and your light spreads through the three worlds.
- Chaupai 3
सुन्दर रूप मनोहर सूरत।
सरल स्वभाव मोहनी मूरत॥
Sundar roop manohar soorat.
Saral svabhav mohni moorat ||
Your form is beautiful and your face enchanting; your nature is gentle and your image captivates the heart.
- Chaupai 4
तन पर पीताम्बर अति सोहत।
बैजन्ती माला मन मोहत॥
Tan par pitambar ati sohat.
Baijanti mala man mohat ||
The yellow garment (pitambar) looks splendid on you, and the Vaijayanti garland charms the heart.
- Chaupai 5
शंख चक्र कर गदा बिराजे।
देखत दैत्य असुर दल भाजे॥
Shankh chakra kar gada biraje.
Dekhat daitya asur dal bhaje ||
Conch, discus and mace shine in your hands; seeing them, the hosts of daityas and asuras flee.
- Chaupai 6
सत्य धर्म मद लोभ न गाजे।
काम क्रोध मद लोभ न छाजे॥
Satya dharma mad lobh na gaje.
Kaam krodh mad lobh na chhaje ||
Truth and dharma are yours; pride and greed hold no sway over you. Desire, anger, pride and greed find no place in you.
- Chaupai 7
सन्तभक्त सज्जन मनरंजन।
दनुज असुर दुष्टन दल गंजन॥
Santabhakta sajjan manranjan.
Danuj asur dushtan dal ganjan ||
You delight the hearts of saints, devotees and good people, and crush the hosts of danavas, asuras and the wicked.
- Chaupai 8
सुख उपजाय कष्ट सब भंजन।
दोष मिटाय करत जन सज्जन॥
Sukh upjay kashta sab bhanjan.
Dosh mitay karat jan sajjan ||
You bring forth happiness and break every hardship; wiping away faults, you make people good.
- Chaupai 9
पाप काट भव सिन्धु उतारण।
कष्ट नाशकर भक्त उबारण॥
Pap kat bhav sindhu utaran.
Kashta nashkar bhakta ubaran ||
Cutting away sin, you carry people across the ocean of worldly life; ending their troubles, you rescue your devotees.
- Chaupai 10
करत अनेक रूप प्रभु धारण।
केवल आप भक्ति के कारण॥
Karat anek roop prabhu dharan.
Keval aap bhakti ke karan ||
O Lord, you take many forms, solely for the sake of devotion.
- Chaupai 11
धरणि धेनु बन तुमहिं पुकारा।
तब तुम रूप राम का धारा॥
Dharni dhenu ban tumhin pukara.
Tab tum roop Ram ka dhara ||
When the Earth took the form of a cow and called to you, you took the form of Ram.
- Chaupai 12
भार उतार असुर दल मारा।
रावण आदिक को संहारा॥
Bhar utar asur dal mara.
Ravan aadik ko sanhara ||
Lifting the Earth’s burden, you slew the demon hosts and destroyed Ravana and the rest.
- Chaupai 13
आप वाराह रूप बनाया।
हिरण्याक्ष को मार गिराया॥
Aap varah roop banaya.
Hiranyaksha ko mar giraya ||
You took the form of the boar (Varaha) and struck down Hiranyaksha.
- Chaupai 14
धर मत्स्य तन सिन्धु बनाया।
चौदह रतनन को निकलाया॥
Dhar matsya tan sindhu banaya.
Chaudah ratnan ko niklaya ||
Taking the body of a fish (Matsya) you moved through the ocean, and you had the fourteen jewels brought out. (Tradition links the fourteen jewels with the churning of the ocean.)
- Chaupai 15
अमिलख असुरन द्वन्द मचाया।
रूप मोहनी आप दिखाया॥
Amilakh asuran dvanda machaya.
Roop mohni aap dikhaya ||
When the asuras raised a quarrel (over the nectar), you showed them the form of Mohini. (The word ‘amilakh’ is unclear; the episode is the sharing of the nectar.)
- Chaupai 16
देवन को अमृत पान कराया।
असुरन को छबि से बहलाया॥
Devan ko amrit pan karaya.
Asuran ko chhabi se bahlaya ||
You gave the gods the nectar to drink and kept the asuras beguiled by your beauty.
- Chaupai 17
कूर्म रूप धर सिन्धु मझाया।
मन्द्राचल गिरि तुरत उठाया॥
Koorma roop dhar sindhu majhaya.
Mandrachal giri turat uthaya ||
Taking the form of the tortoise (Kurma) you had the ocean churned, and at once you bore up Mount Mandarachal.
- Chaupai 18
शंकर का तुम फन्द छुड़ाया।
भस्मासुर को रूप दिखाया॥
Shankar ka tum phanda chhudaya.
Bhasmasur ko roop dikhaya ||
You freed Shankar from a snare by showing your (Mohini) form to Bhasmasura.
- Chaupai 19
वेदन को जब असुर डुबाया।
कर प्रबन्ध उन्हें ढुँढवाया॥
Vedan ko jab asur dubaya.
Kar prabandha unhen dhundhavaya ||
When an asura sank the Vedas (in the waters), you arranged for them to be found.
- Chaupai 20
मोहित बनकर खलहि नचाया।
उसही कर से भस्म कराया॥
Mohit bankar khalhi nachaya.
Usahi kar se bhasma karaya ||
Enchanting that wicked one (Bhasmasura), you made him dance, and had him burn himself to ashes with his own hand.
- Chaupai 21
असुर जलंधर अति बलदाई।
शंकर से उन कीन्ह लड़ाई॥
Asur jalandhar ati baldaee.
Shankar se un kinha ladaee ||
The asura Jalandhar was exceedingly strong, and he waged war on Shankar.
- Chaupai 22
हार पार शिव सकल बनाई।
कीन सती से छल खल जाई॥
Har par Shiv sakal banaee.
Kin sati se chhal khal jaee ||
Shiva tried every means and could not prevail; then that wicked one went to deceive Sati (Parvati).
- Chaupai 23
सुमिरन कीन तुम्हें शिवरानी।
बतलाई सब विपत कहानी॥
Sumiran kin tumhen shivrani.
Batlaee sab vipat kahani ||
Shiva’s queen called on you and told you the whole tale of their trouble.
- Chaupai 24
तब तुम बने मुनीश्वर ज्ञानी।
वृन्दा की सब सुरति भुलानी॥
Tab tum bane munishvar gyani.
Vrinda ki sab surti bhulani ||
Then you became a wise sage, and made Vrinda (Jalandhar’s wife) lose all awareness.
- Chaupai 25
देखत तीन दनुज शैतानी।
वृन्दा आय तुम्हें लपटानी॥
Dekhat teen danuj shaitani.
Vrinda aay tumhen laptani ||
Seeing three wicked demons, Vrinda came and clung to you.
- Chaupai 26
हो स्पर्श धर्म क्षति मानी।
हना असुर उर शिव शैतानी॥
Ho sparsha dharma kshati mani.
Hana asur ur Shiv shaitani ||
At that touch her vow of fidelity was held to be broken, and Shiva struck the wicked asura in the heart and slew him. (The story of Jalandhar and Vrinda is told in the Puranas; the Chalisa sums it up briefly.)
- Chaupai 27
तुमने धुरू प्रहलाद उबारे।
हिरणाकुश आदिक खल मारे॥
Tumne dhuroo prahlad ubare.
Hirnakush aadik khal mare ||
You rescued Dhruva and Prahlad, and slew Hiranyakashipu (Hiranakush) and other wicked ones.
- Chaupai 28
गणिका और अजामिल तारे।
बहुत भक्त भव सिन्धु उतारे॥
Ganika aur ajamil tare.
Bahut bhakta bhav sindhu utare ||
You saved the courtesan (Ganika) and Ajamil, and carried many devotees across the ocean of worldly life.
- Chaupai 29
हरहु सकल संताप हमारे।
कृपा करहु हरि सिरजन हारे॥
Harhu sakal santap hamare.
Kripa karhu hari sirjan hare ||
Take away all our anguish. Be gracious, Hari, creator of all.
- Chaupai 30
देखहुँ मैं निज दरश तुम्हारे।
दीन बन्धु भक्तन हितकारे॥
Dekhhun main nij darash tumhare.
Din bandhu bhaktan hitkare ||
O friend of the humble, well-wisher of devotees, may I behold you as you truly are.
- Chaupai 31
चहत आपका सेवक दर्शन।
करहु दया अपनी मधुसूदन॥
Chahat aapka sevak darshan.
Karhu daya apni madhusoodan ||
Your servant longs to see you. O Madhusudan, show your kindness.
- Chaupai 32
जानूँ नहीं योग्य जप पूजन।
होय यज्ञ स्तुति अनुमोदन॥
Janoon nahin yogya jap poojan.
Hoy yagya stuti anumodan ||
I do not know the proper japa or worship; may my offering and praise still find your approval.
- Chaupai 33
शीलदया सन्तोष सुलक्षण।
विदित नहीं व्रतबोध विलक्षण॥
Shiladya santosh sulakshan.
Vidit nahin vratbodh vilakshan ||
Good conduct, compassion, contentment and other fine qualities, and a deep knowledge of vows: none of these are known to me.
- Chaupai 34
करहु आपका किस विधि पूजन।
कुमति विलोक होत दुख भीषण॥
Karhu aapka kis vidhi poojan.
Kumti vilok hot dukh bhishan ||
By what rite should I worship you? Seeing my own poor understanding, I feel deep sorrow.
- Chaupai 35
करहुँ प्रणाम कौन विधि सुमिरण।
कौन भाँति मैं करहु समर्पण॥
Karhun pranam kaun vidhi sumiran.
Kaun bhanti main karhu samarpan ||
How should I bow to you and remember you? In what way should I offer myself?
- Chaupai 36
सुर मुनि करत सदा सिवकाई।
हर्षित रहत परम गति पाई॥
Sur muni karat sada sivkaee.
Harshit rahat param gati paee ||
Gods and sages serve you always, and having reached the highest state they live in joy.
- Chaupai 37
दीन दुखिन पर सदा सहाई।
निज जन जान लेव अपनाई॥
Din dukhin par sada sahaee.
Nij jan jan lev apnaee ||
You always help the humble and the suffering; know me as your own and take me in.
- Chaupai 38
पाप दोष संताप नशाओ।
भव बन्धन से मुक्त कराओ॥
Pap dosh santap nashao.
Bhav bandhan se mukta karao ||
Destroy my sins, faults and anguish, and free me from the bonds of worldly life.
- Chaupai 39
सुत सम्पति दे सुख उपजाओ।
निज चरनन का दास बनाओ॥
Sut sampati de sukh upjao.
Nij charnan ka das banao ||
Grant children and prosperity and bring happiness, and make me a servant of your feet.
- Chaupai 40
निगम सदा ये विनय सुनावै।
पढ़ै सुनै सो जन सुख पावै॥
Nigam sada ye vinay sunavai.
Padhai sunai so jan sukh pavai ||
Nigam ever offers this plea; the Chalisa says that whoever reads or hears it finds happiness. (‘Nigam’ usually means the Veda; it may also be the poet’s signature.)
This text follows Randhir Prakashan, Haridwar’s printed ‘51 Chalisa Sangrah’, and the Drik Panchang and Bhakti Bharat texts match it almost letter for letter. Only two word-level variants were found: in chaupai 27 Bhakti Bharat has ‘Dhruv’ for ‘Dhuru’, and in chaupai 30 the printed book reads ‘dekhahun main nit daras tumhare’ (may I see you always), while Drik Panchang and Bhakti Bharat read ‘nij daras’; the majority reading ‘nij’ is taken here. Bhakti Bharat spells a few words in modern form (Varah, pitambar, prabandh). None of the three sources has a closing doha.
