Tulsi Chalisa — Lyrics with Meaning

Doha

Jai Tulsi jag janani, Vishnupriya sukhdan | Vrindavan mein raajti, karo bhakt kalyan ||

Victory to Tulsi, mother of the world, beloved of Vishnu, giver of happiness. Reigning in Vrindavan, bless your devotees.

Doha

Namami Tulsi Mata, Shaligram-priye | Dev rishi muni vandit, pujit sarvatra piye ||

I bow to Mother Tulsi, beloved of Shaligram. Gods, sages and saints all bow to you; you are worshipped everywhere.

Chaupai 1

Jai jai Tulsi Dev suhaavan | Hari-man-priya jag-hit-paavan || Brahma Vishnu Mahesh manaaven | Indraadi sur tav pad dhyaayen ||

Victory, victory to lovely Tulsi Devi, dear to Hari's heart and purifier of the world. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh propitiate you; Indra and all gods meditate on your feet.

Chaupai 2

Vrindavan mein tum raj karo | Radha-Krishna ki seva karo || Vrinda naam dhaaran karti ho | Bhakton ki peeda harti ho ||

You reign in Vrindavan and serve Radha-Krishna. Your name is Vrinda; you remove the suffering of your devotees.

Chaupai 3

Jalandhar ki priya patni thi | Sati Vrinda param sati thi || Vishnu maya se bhramit hui | Shaap dekar Tulsi hui ||

Vrinda, the dear wife of Jalandhar, was a supreme chaste woman. Deceived by Vishnu's maya, she gave a curse and became the Tulsi plant.

Chaupai 4

Vishnu ne varadaan diya aisa | Shaaligram roop priya jaisa || Tulsi bin Hari pooja nahin | Tulsi dal nahin to pooja nahin ||

Vishnu gave the boon that as Shaligram he would be her beloved. Without Tulsi there is no worship of Hari; without Tulsi leaves, worship is incomplete.

Chaupai 5

Tulsi ke patte hain pawan | Darshan matra se dukh hai chhavan || Sparsh karne se paap kate hain | Sabhi rog dukh se vo hate hain ||

Tulsi's leaves are sacred. Merely beholding her removes sorrow. Touching her cuts away sins and all disease and pain are removed.

Chaupai 6

Tulsi jal se karen snaan | Milta hai Hari ka varadaan || Tulsi patra mrit mukh dhare | Vaikuntha lok ko vo sudhare ||

Bathing with Tulsi-water earns Hari's boon. Placing Tulsi leaves in the mouth at the time of death leads the soul to Vaikuntha.

Chaupai 7

Tulsi van mein aata Ram | Bhakton ki sunte hain Ram || Tulsi ki maala jo jape | Ram naam man mein vo thape ||

Ram comes to the forest of Tulsi and listens to devotees. Whoever chants on Tulsi beads, Ram's name settles in their heart.

Chaupai 8

Kartik mein pooja karo | Dwadashi ko deepak jalao || Vivaah Tulsi-Shaligram ka | Mite dosh har janam-janam ka ||

Worship in the month of Kartik and light lamps on Dwadashi. The wedding of Tulsi and Shaligram removes sins from many lifetimes.

Chaupai 9

Tulsi ghar mein lagayen jo | Lakshmi ghar mein aayen jo || Ghar mein kabhi kalah na hogi | Shaanti aur sukh ki dhaara hogi ||

Whoever plants Tulsi in their home, Lakshmi enters that home. There is never quarrel in that home; a stream of peace and happiness flows.

Chaupai 10

Tulsi ke tale baithkar jo | Ram naam japte raho jo || Mukti ka dvaar khul jaayega | Vishnu-pad jeev paayega ||

Whoever sits beneath the Tulsi and continuously chants Ram's name — the door of liberation opens for them and the soul attains the abode of Vishnu.

Chaupai 11

Tulsi ki seva jo kare | Bhav-saagar se vo tar jaaye || Roz paani dekar pooje | Kripa Vishnu ki vo paave ||

Whoever serves Tulsi crosses the ocean of existence. Watering and worshipping her daily earns Vishnu's grace.

Chaupai 12

Dev gandharva rishi muni aate | Tulsi darshan karke jaate || Shiv bhi karte Tulsi poojan | Sabhi Dev maante Tulsi jan ||

Gods, gandharvas, sages and saints all come to behold Tulsi. Even Shiva worships Tulsi and all gods honour Tulsi devotees.

Chaupai 13

Tulsi ki maala manka maala | Ram bhakton ki jap-maala || Ek-ek manka japte jaayen | Ram lok mein sthaan paayen ||

The Tulsi mala is the japa-rosary of Ram devotees. Count each bead and chant; a place in Ram's abode awaits.

Chaupai 14

Tulsi chalisa jo padhe | Vishnu-kripa se rahe badhe || Ghar mein aave sukh-samriddhi | Tulsi de man ko buddhi ||

Whoever reads the Tulsi Chalisa, they grow with Vishnu's grace. May happiness and prosperity come to the home and may Tulsi give wisdom to the mind.

Doha

Tulsi charan namo namo, karo sada kalyan | Hari-kripa ka dvaar ho, do moksha ka varadaan ||

I bow and bow at Tulsi's feet; always bless us. Be the door of Hari's grace and grant the boon of liberation.