Shani Chalisa — Lyrics with Meaning

Doha

Jai Ganesh Girija suvan, mangal karan kripal | Deenan ke dukh door kari, keejai Nath nihal ||

Victory to Ganesh, son of Girija, kind bringer of good. O Lord, remove the sorrows of the humble and bless them.

Doha

Jai jai Shri Shanidev Prabhu, sunahu vinay Maharaj | Karahu kripa he Ravi tanay, rakhahu jan ki laaj ||

Glory to Lord Shani Dev; O great king, hear my prayer. O son of the Sun, be kind and protect your devotee's honour.

Chaupai 1

Jayati jayati Shanidev dayala | Karat sada bhaktan pratipala ||

Glory to kind Shani Dev, who always looks after his devotees.

Chaupai 2

Chari bhuja tanu shyam virajai | Mathe ratan mukut chhavi chhajai ||

You have four arms and a dark body, and a jewelled crown shines on your head.

Chaupai 3

Param vishal manohar bhala | Tedhi drishti bhrikuti vikrala ||

Your forehead is broad and handsome; your gaze is sideways and your brows are fierce.

Chaupai 4

Kundal shravan chamacham chamke | Hiy maal muktan mani damke ||

Earrings sparkle in your ears, and a garland of pearls and gems glows on your chest.

Chaupai 5

Kar mein gada trishul kuthara | Pal bich karain arihin sanhara ||

In your hands are a mace, a trident and an axe, with which you destroy enemies in a moment.

Chaupai 6

Pingal Krishno Chhaya nandan | Yam Konasth Raudra dukhbhanjan ||

Pingal, Krishna, son of Chhaya, Yam, Konasth, Raudra and remover of sorrow — these are your names.

Chaupai 7

Sauri Mand Shani dash nama | Bhanu putra poojahin sab kama ||

With Sauri, Mand and Shani, these make your ten names. O son of the Sun, devotees believe worshipping you makes every task succeed.

Chaupai 8

Ja par Prabhu prasann hvain jahin | Rankahun raav karain kshan mahin ||

When the Lord is pleased with someone, he can turn even a pauper into a king in a moment.

Chaupai 9

Parvatahu trin hoi niharat | Trinahu ko parvat kari darat ||

By your glance a mountain becomes a blade of grass, and a blade of grass becomes a mountain.

Chaupai 10

Raaj milat ban Ramahin deenhayo | Kaikeihun ki mati hari leenhayo ||

Shri Ram was about to be crowned but was sent to the forest instead; even Kaikeyi's judgement was clouded.

Chaupai 11

Banahun mein mrig kapat dikhai | Matu Janaki gayi churai ||

Even in the forest a deceptive deer appeared, and Mother Sita was carried away.

Chaupai 12

Lakhanahin shakti vikal karidara | Machiga dal mein hahakara ||

The Shakti weapon struck Lakshman down, and cries of despair filled the army.

Chaupai 13

Ravan ki gati-mati baurai | Ramchandra son bair badhai ||

Ravan's mind and conduct went astray, and he deepened his enmity with Shri Ram.

Chaupai 14

Diyo keet kari kanchan Lanka | Baji Bajrang beer ki danka ||

Golden Lanka was brought to dust, and the fame of brave Bajrangbali rang out.

Chaupai 15

Nrip Vikram par tuhi pagu dhara | Chitra mayur nigali gai hara ||

When your influence fell on King Vikramaditya, a painted peacock on the wall swallowed a necklace.

Chaupai 16

Haar naulakha lagyo chori | Haath pair darvayo tori ||

The king was blamed for stealing the precious necklace, and his hands and feet were broken.

Chaupai 17

Bhari dasha nikrisht dikhayo | Telihin ghar kolhu chalvayo ||

You showed him very hard times; he had to turn the oil press in an oil-maker's house.

Chaupai 18

Vinay raag Deepak mahan keenhayon | Tab prasann Prabhu hvai sukh deenhayon ||

When the king prayed to you in Raag Deepak, you were pleased and gave him happiness again.

Chaupai 19

Harishchandra nrip naari bikani | Aapahun bhare Dom ghar paani ||

King Harishchandra's wife was sold, and the king himself had to carry water in the house of a cremation-ground keeper.

Chaupai 20

Taise Nal par dasha sirani | Bhunji-meen kood gayi paani ||

In the same way hard times fell on King Nal; even a roasted fish leapt back into the water.

Chaupai 21

Shri Shankarahin gahyo jab jaai | Parvati ko Sati karai ||

When your influence reached Lord Shankar, Parvati (in her earlier birth) had to give up her body as Sati.

Chaupai 22

Tanik vilokat hi kari reesa | Nabh udi gayo Gaurisut seesa ||

When Gauri grew annoyed and you glanced just slightly, the head of her son Ganesh flew into the sky.

Chaupai 23

Pandav par bhai dasha tumhari | Bachi Draupadi hoti ughari ||

When your influence fell on the Pandavs, Draupadi was nearly disrobed and was saved (by Krishna's grace).

Chaupai 24

Kaurav ke bhi gati mati maryo | Yuddh Mahabharat kari daryo ||

You also clouded the Kauravas' judgement, which led to the Mahabharat war.

Chaupai 25

Ravi kahan mukh mahan dhari tatkala | Lekar koodi paryo patala ||

You at once held your father the Sun in your mouth and leapt down into the netherworld with him.

Chaupai 26

Shesh dev-lakhi vinti lai | Ravi ko mukh te diyo chhudai ||

Seeing this, the gods pleaded with you, and you released the Sun from your mouth.

Chaupai 27

Vahan Prabhu ke saat sujana | Jag diggaj gardabh mrig swana ||

The Lord is said to have seven vehicles — the elephant, horse, donkey, deer, dog,

Chaupai 28

Jambuk singh aadi nakh dhari | So phal jyotish kahat pukari ||

the jackal and the lion; the Jyotish tradition describes a different result for each vehicle.

Chaupai 29

Gaj vahan Lakshmi grih aavain | Hay te sukh sampatti upjavain ||

According to the Chalisa, the elephant vehicle brings Lakshmi home, and the horse brings comfort and wealth.

Chaupai 30

Gardabh hani karai bahu kaja | Singh siddhkar raaj samaja ||

The donkey is said to bring setbacks in work, and the lion success in society and public affairs.

Chaupai 31

Jambuk buddhi nasht kar darai | Mrig de kasht pran sanharai ||

The jackal is said to confuse the mind, and the deer to bring great distress.

Chaupai 32

Jab aavahin Prabhu swan savari | Chori aadi hoy dar bhari ||

When the Lord comes riding a dog, the text speaks of a great fear of theft and similar losses.

Chaupai 33

Taisahi chari charan yah nama | Swarna lauh chandi aru tama ||

In the same way four 'feet' (padas) of Shani are named — gold, iron, silver and copper.

Chaupai 34

Lauh charan par jab Prabhu aavain | Dhan jan sampatti nasht karavain ||

According to the Chalisa, when he comes on the iron foot, wealth, family and property suffer losses.

Chaupai 35

Samta tamra rajat shubhkari | Swarna sarva sukh mangal bhari ||

The copper and silver feet are said to be balanced and favourable, and the golden foot to bring every comfort and great blessing.

Chaupai 36

Jo yah Shani charitra nit gavai | Kabahun na dasha nikrisht satavai ||

Whoever sings this story of Shani daily is never troubled by hard times — so the Chalisa says.

Chaupai 37

Adbhut Nath dikhavain leela | Karain shatru ke nashi bali dheela ||

The Lord shows his wondrous play and weakens the strength of enemies.

Chaupai 38

Jo pandit suyogya bulvai | Vidhivat Shani grah shanti karai ||

Whoever invites a capable priest and has the Shani graha shanti puja done properly,

Chaupai 39

Peepal jal Shani divas chadhavat | Deep daan dai bahu sukh pavat ||

and on Saturday offers water to the peepal tree and lights a lamp, is believed to find much happiness.

Chaupai 40

Kahat Ram Sundar Prabhu dasa | Shani sumirat sukh hot prakasha ||

Ramsundar, the Lord's servant, says: remembering Shani Dev brings the light of happiness.

Doha

Paath Shanishchar dev ko, keenhon Vimal taiyar | Karat paath chalis din, ho bhavsagar paar ||

This hymn to Shani Dev was prepared by Vimal; whoever recites it for forty days crosses the ocean of worldly life — so this doha says.