CHALISA

Krishna Chalisa

श्री कृष्ण चालीसा

🙏 Krishna ✍️ Traditional 🗣️ Hindi 📜 43 verses 👁 23 reads Suggest a correction
Krishna

The Krishna Chalisa (श्री कृष्ण चालीसा) is a forty-verse devotional hymn in praise of Lord Krishna — the eighth avatar of Vishnu and one of the most beloved and complex figures in Hindu tradition. He is simultaneously the divine child of Vrindavan, the playful cowherd of Gokul, the devoted friend of Arjuna, and the cosmic teacher who delivered the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

The Chalisa celebrates Krishna's Lila — his divine play — across the arc of his life: his miraculous birth in a prison cell in Mathura, his childhood in Vrindavan stealing butter and enchanting the gopis, his defeat of the serpent Kaliya, and his role in guiding the Pandavas through the Mahabharata war. Each episode is understood in the devotional tradition not merely as biography but as a map of the soul's relationship with the divine.

Devotees recite it to invite joy, cultivate devotion, and seek Krishna's guidance through difficulty. It holds special significance on Janmashtami — the festival celebrating his birth at midnight — and on Wednesdays, the day associated with Krishna worship in several Vaishnava traditions.

Doha 1
बंशी शोभित कर मधुर, नील जलज तनु श्याम। अरुण अधर जनु बिम्बफल, नयन कमल अभिराम॥
Banshi shobhit kar madhur, neel jalaj tanu shyam | Arun adhar janu bimbaphal, nayan kamal abhiram ||
His sweet hands are adorned with a flute, and His dark complexion is like a blue lotus. His lips are as red as the Bimba fruit, and His eyes are as beautiful as lotuses.
Doha 2
पूर्ण इन्दु अरविन्द मुख, पीताम्बर शुभ साज। जय मनमोहन मदन छवि, कृष्णचन्द्र महाराज॥
Poorn indu aravind mukh, peetambar shubh saaj | Jai manmohan madan chhavi, krishnachandra maharaj ||
With a face like the full moon and eyes like lotuses, adorned in auspicious yellow silks; victory to the enchanter of minds, the king Krishnachandra, whose beauty surpasses that of Cupid.
Chaupai 1
जय यदुनन्दन जय जगवन्दन। जय वसुदेव देवकी नन्दन॥
Jai yadunandan jai jagvandan | Jai vasudev devaki nandan ||
Victory to the son of the Yadu clan, the one worshipped by the entire world. Victory to the son of Vasudeva and Devaki.
Chaupai 2
जय यशुदा सुत नन्द दुलारे। जय प्रभु भक्तन के दृग तारे॥
Jai yashuda sut nand dulare | Jai prabhu bhaktan ke drig tare ||
Victory to the son of Yashoda and the beloved of Nanda. Victory to the Lord who is the apple of the eyes of His devotees.
Chaupai 3
जय नटनागर नाग नथैया। कृष्ण कन्हैया धेनु चरैया॥
Jai natnagar naag nathaiya | Krishna kanhaiya dhenu charaiya ||
Victory to the expert dancer and the subduer of the serpent Kaliya. O Krishna Kanhaiya, the tender of cows.
Chaupai 4
पुनि नख पर प्रभु गिरिवर धारो। आओ दीन जनन दुख टारो॥
Puni nakh par prabhu girivar dharo | Aao deen janan dukh taro ||
O Lord, You held the Govardhan mountain on Your fingernail. Please come and remove the sorrows of the humble and poor.
Chaupai 5
वंशी मधुर अधर धरि बजाओ। हिय की उलझन आप मिटाओ॥
Vanshi madhur adhar dhari bajao | Hiya ki uljhan aap mitao ||
Place the sweet flute to Your lips and play it; please resolve the confusion and tangles of my heart.
Chaupai 6
व्योम चरिणी सूपनखा आई। नाक कान काटि प्रभु तुम बिसराई॥
Vyom charini shupanakhā āī | Nāk kān kāti prabhu tum bisarāī ||
When the sky-roaming Shurpanakha came (in the Rama incarnation), You had her nose and ears cut and sent her away.
Chaupai 7
अजामिल अघ कीन्हो भारी। नाम लेत प्रभु तुमहुं उबारी॥
Ajamil agh keenho bhari | Naam let prabhu tumhun ubari ||
Ajamila committed many heavy sins, but just by calling Your name at the end, You liberated him.
Chaupai 8
कंस विकराल देखि डरि जाय। तुमही मारि उसे सुगति दिलाय॥
Kans vikral dekhi dari jay | Tumhi mari use sugati dilay ||
Seeing the formidable Kamsa, everyone was afraid, but You slew him and granted him a good destination (salvation).
Chaupai 9
पूतना मारि मात तुम कीन्ही। परम पद उसे प्रभु तुम दीन्ही॥
Putana mari maat tum keenhi | Param pad use prabhu tum deenhi ||
By killing the demoness Putana, You accepted her as a mother and granted her the supreme spiritual state.
Chaupai 10
शिशुपाल के अघ तुम गिने। सौ अपराध क्षमा प्रभु कीने॥
Shishupal ke agh tum gine | Sau aparadh kshama prabhu keene ||
You counted the sins of Shishupala and forgave him for a hundred offenses as promised.
Chaupai 11
चक्र सुदर्शन हाथ लियो। शीश काटि उसका प्रभु दियो॥
Chakra sudarshan hath liyo | Sheesh kati usaka prabhu diyo ||
Then You took the Sudarshana Chakra in Your hand and severed his head.
Chaupai 12
विदुर के घर साग खाया। दुर्योधन का मेवा विसराया॥
Vidur ke ghar saag khaya | Duryodhan ka meva visraya ||
You ate simple greens at Vidura's house, ignoring the rich sweets and luxuries offered by Duryodhana.
Chaupai 13
द्रौपदी लाज प्रभु तुम राखी। सभा बीच पट बढ़ायो साखी॥
Draupadi laaj prabhu tum rakhi | Sabha beech pat badhayo sakhi ||
O Lord, You protected Draupadi's honor by infinitely increasing her garment in the assembly, as everyone witnessed.
Chaupai 14
गीता ज्ञान दियो अर्जुन को। मोह मिटायो उस अर्जुन को॥
Gita gyan diyo arjun ko | Moh mitayo us arjun ko ||
You gave the knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna and removed his confusion and attachment.
Chaupai 15
पाण्डव की प्रभु लाज बचाई। जीत दिला उनहें हर्षाई॥
Pandav ki prabhu laaj bachai | Jeet dila unhen harshai ||
You protected the honor of the Pandavas and filled them with joy by granting them victory.
Chaupai 16
सब सखा तुम संग फिराया। रास रचा तुम सब हर्षाया॥
Sab sakha tum sang firaya | Raas racha tum sab harshaya ||
You wandered with all Your friends (Gopalas) and delighted everyone by performing the Rasa-lila.
Chaupai 17
दधि माखन चोरी तुम कीन्ही। भक्तन को प्रभु शिक्षा दीन्ही॥
Dadhi makhan chori tum keenhi | Bhaktan ko prabhu shiksha deenhi ||
You engaged in the stealing of yogurt and butter, using these pastimes to teach lessons to Your devotees.
Chaupai 18
ग्वाल बाल संग खेल खेलैया। जय जय जय श्री कृष्ण कन्हैया॥
Gwal baal sang khel khelaiya | Jai jai jai shri krishna kanhaiya ||
You played various games with the cowherd boys. Victory, victory, victory to Shri Krishna Kanhaiya.
Chaupai 19
नन्द घर आनन्द भयो भारी। जय यदुनन्दन मंगलकारी॥
Nand ghar aanand bhayo bhari | Jai yadunandan mangalkari ||
There was immense joy in Nanda's house. Victory to the son of the Yadu clan, the bringer of auspiciousness.
Chaupai 20
कहा कहाँ तक महिमा गाऊँ। मंद बुद्धि मैं पार न पाऊँ॥
Kaha kahan tak mahima gaoon | Mand buddhi main paar na paoon ||
How much can I sing Your praises? With my limited intellect, I cannot reach the end of Your glory.
Chaupai 21
धनि धनि कृष्ण प्रभु अविनाशी। घट-घट वासी अविनाशी॥
Dhani dhani krishna prabhu avinashi | Ghat-ghat vasi avinashi ||
Blessed is the eternal Lord Krishna, who resides in the heart of every being.
Chaupai 22
अधर मधुर मुस्काहिं तुम्हारी। मोह लियो जग गिरधारी॥
Adhar madhur muskāhiṃ tumhārī | Moh liyo jag giridhārī ||
The sweet smile on Your lips has enchanted the whole world, O Giridhari (lifter of the mountain).
Chaupai 23
मौर मुकुट पीताम्बर सोहे। देखि रूप सुर मुनि मन मोहे॥
Maur mukut peetambar sohe | Dekhi roop sur muni man mohe ||
The peacock-feather crown and yellow silks look magnificent; seeing this form, even gods and sages are captivated.
Chaupai 24
गले माल मोतिन की सोहे। कुण्डल कान झलक मन मोहे॥
Gale maal motin ki sohe | Kundal kaan jhalak man mohe ||
A pearl necklace graces Your neck, and the glint of the earrings in Your ears enchants the mind.
Chaupai 25
काली दह में कूद पड़े जब। कालिया नाग नाथ लियो तब॥
Kali dah mein kood pade jab | Kaliya naag nath liyo tab ||
When You jumped into the deep waters of the Yamuna (Kaliya Dah), You subdued the venomous serpent Kaliya.
Chaupai 26
फन फन पर प्रभु नृत्य करायो। सब गोकुल का दुख बिसरायो॥
Phan phan par prabhu nritya karayo | Sab gokul ka dukh bisrayo ||
O Lord, You danced upon each hood of the serpent and removed all the sorrows of the people of Gokul.
Chaupai 27
अजहुं नाथ मोहि उबारो। अपना जन जानि दुख टारो॥
Ajahun nath mohi ubaro | Apana jan jaani dukh taro ||
Even now, O Lord, please liberate me; knowing me as Your own, take away my miseries.
Chaupai 28
दीन जानि प्रभु दया करो अब। कष्ट मिटाओ मेरे प्रभु सब॥
Deen jaani prabhu daya karo ab | Kasht mitao mere prabhu sab ||
Knowing me to be humble and helpless, please show mercy now and erase all my troubles.
Chaupai 29
शरण पड़ा मैं द्वार तिहारे। तारो नाथ मुझे बनवारे॥
Sharan pada main dwar tihare | Taro nath mujhe banvare ||
I have come to Your doorstep seeking refuge; O Banvari (dweller of the groves), please liberate me.
Chaupai 30
अन्धकार मन बीच भरा है। ज्ञान ज्योति अब आन जगाओ॥
Andhkar man beech bhara hai | Gyan jyoti ab aan jagao ||
My mind is filled with darkness; please come and ignite the flame of knowledge within me.
Chaupai 31
प्रेम भक्ति मोहिं दीजै स्वामी। जानत तुम हो अन्तर्यामी॥
Prem bhakti mohi deejai swami | Jaanat tum ho antaryami ||
Grant me the gift of loving devotion, O Lord; You are the knower of all hearts.
Chaupai 32
यहि विनती प्रभु मोही तुम्हारी। हरहु सकल दुःख विपदा भारी॥
Yahi vinti prabhu mohi tumhari | Harahu sakal dukh vipada bhari ||
This is my humble prayer to You, O Lord: please take away all my sorrows and heavy calamities.
Chaupai 33
जो यह पाठ करे मन लाई। कृष्ण कृपा उस पर हो जाई॥
Jo yeh paath kare man laayi | Krishna kripa us par ho jaai ||
Whoever recites this prayer with full concentration shall be blessed with the grace of Lord Krishna.
Chaupai 34
श्री कृष्ण चालीसा जो गावै। सब सुख शांति अमित फल पावै॥
Shri krishna chalisa jo gavai | Sab sukh shanti amit fal pavai ||
Whoever sings the Shri Krishna Chalisa attains all happiness, peace, and limitless fruits.
Chaupai 35
दुःख दारिद्र पास न आवे। मन वाञ्छित फल निश्चय पावे॥
Dukh daridra paas na ave | Man vanchhit fal nishchay pave ||
Sorrow and poverty shall not come near them, and they shall surely attain their heart's desires.
Chaupai 36
रामदास जो विनय सुनावे। श्री कृष्ण कृपा सब सुख पावे॥
Ramdas jo vinay sunave | Shri krishna kripa sab sukh pave ||
The devotee (Ramdas) offers this prayer; by the grace of Shri Krishna, everyone attains all happiness.
Chaupai 37
अष्ट सिद्धि नवनिधि के दाता। तुम ही हो प्रभु भाग्य विधाता॥
Asht siddhi navnidhi ke data | Tum hi ho prabhu bhagya vidhata ||
You are the bestower of the eight spiritual powers and nine treasures. O Lord, You are the writer of our destiny.
Chaupai 38
बार बार कर जोरि मनाऊँ। चरण कमल में शीश नवाऊँ॥
Baar baar kar jori manaun | Charan kamal mein sheesh navaun ||
Repeatedly I pray with folded hands and bow my head at Your lotus feet.
Chaupai 39
नित नेम कर प्रातः ही, पाठ करौ चालीसा।
Nit nem kar pratah hi, paath karau chalisa |
I recite this Chalisa every morning as a daily rule.
Chaupai 40
तुम मेरी मनोकामना, पूर्ण करो जगदीश॥
Tum meri manokamana, poorn karo jagadisha ||
O Lord of the Universe, please fulfill all my desires.
Doha
प्रेम सहित सुमिरन करो, कृष्ण चन्द्र का नाम। लोक लाज सब छोड़ कर, पावो अक्षय धाम॥
Prem sahit sumiran karo, krishna chandra ka naam | Lok laaj sab chhod kar, pavo akshay dhaam ||
Meditate upon the name of Krishna with love. Leaving aside all worldly hesitation, attain the eternal abode.

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