Vishnu Chalisa — Lyrics with Meaning

Doha

Vishnu suniye vinay, sevak ki chitlay | Kirat kuchh varnan karun, dijai gyan batay ||

O Lord Vishnu, please listen closely to the prayer of your servant. I wish to sing a little of your glory, so grant me the understanding to do it.

Chaupai 1

Namo Vishnu Bhagwan Kharari | Kasht nashavan akhil Bihari ||

Salutations to Lord Vishnu, the slayer of the demon Khar. You remove all suffering and are present everywhere in the universe.

Chaupai 2

Prabal jagat mein shakti tumhari | Tribhuvan phail rahi ujiyari ||

Your power is the mightiest in the world, and your light spreads across all three worlds.

Chaupai 3

Sundar roop manohar surat | Saral swabhav mohani murat ||

Your form is beautiful and your face is charming. Your nature is gentle and your image captivates the heart.

Chaupai 4

Tan par pitambar ati sohat | Baijanti mala man mohat ||

The yellow silk on your body looks splendid, and the Vaijayanti garland delights the mind.

Chaupai 5

Shankh chakra kar gada biraje | Dekhat daitya asur dal bhaje ||

The conch, discus and mace shine in your hands; at the very sight of them the armies of demons run away.

Chaupai 6

Satya dharm mad lobh na gaje | Kaam krodh mad lobh na chhaje ||

You are truth and dharma itself. Pride, greed, desire and anger find no place in you.

Chaupai 7

Sant bhakt sajjan manranjan | Danuj asur dushtan dal ganjan ||

You bring joy to saints, devotees and good people, and you destroy the hosts of demons and the wicked.

Chaupai 8

Sukh upjay kasht sab bhanjan | Dosh mitay karat jan sajjan ||

You create happiness and break every hardship. You wipe away people's faults and make them good.

Chaupai 9

Paap kaat bhav sindhu utaran | Kasht nashkar bhakt ubaran ||

You cut away sin and carry people across the ocean of worldly life; you end suffering and rescue your devotees.

Chaupai 10

Karat anek roop Prabhu dharan | Kewal aap bhakti ke karan ||

O Lord, you take many forms, and you do so only for the sake of devotion and your devotees.

Chaupai 11

Dharani dhenu ban tumahin pukara | Tab tum roop Ram ka dhara ||

When Mother Earth took the form of a cow and called out to you, you took birth as Shri Ram.

Chaupai 12

Bhaar utaar asur dal mara | Ravan aadik ko sanhara ||

You lifted the burden from the Earth, struck down the demon armies and destroyed Ravan and the others.

Chaupai 13

Aap Varah roop banaya | Hiranyaksh ko maar giraya ||

You took the form of Varah, the divine boar, and struck down the demon Hiranyaksh.

Chaupai 14

Dhar matsya tan sindhu banaya | Chaudah ratanan ko niklaya ||

You took the form of a fish and moved through the ocean, and through the churning of the ocean you brought out the fourteen treasures.

Chaupai 15

Amilakh asuran dvand machaya | Roop Mohani aap dikhaya ||

When the demons started a fight over the nectar, you appeared as Mohini, the enchanting woman.

Chaupai 16

Devan ko amrit paan karaya | Asuran ko chhavi se bahlaya ||

You gave the nectar to the gods to drink, while your beauty kept the demons distracted.

Chaupai 17

Kurm roop dhar sindhu majhaya | Mandrachal giri turat uthaya ||

Taking the form of Kurma, the tortoise, you helped churn the ocean and at once held up Mount Mandarachal on your back.

Chaupai 18

Shankar ka tum phand chhudaya | Bhasmasur ko roop dikhaya ||

You freed Lord Shankar from danger by showing your Mohini form to the demon Bhasmasur.

Chaupai 19

Vedan ko jab asur dubaya | Kar prabandh unhen dhundhvaya ||

When a demon sank the Vedas into the waters, you made a way to find them and bring them back.

Chaupai 20

Mohit bankar khalahi nachaya | Us hi kar se bhasm karaya ||

As Mohini you made that wicked demon dance, and had him burn himself to ashes with his own hand.

Chaupai 21

Asur Jalandhar ati baldai | Shankar se un kinh ladai ||

The demon Jalandhar was extremely powerful, and he waged war against Lord Shankar.

Chaupai 22

Haar paar Shiv sakal banai | Kin Sati se chhal khal jai ||

Shiv tried every way but could not defeat him; then the wicked one went to deceive Goddess Parvati.

Chaupai 23

Sumiran kin tumhen Shivrani | Batlai sab vipat kahani ||

Then Parvati, Shiv's queen, remembered you and told you the whole story of her trouble.

Chaupai 24

Tab tum bane munishwar gyani | Vrinda ki sab surati bhulani ||

Then you took the form of a wise sage and clouded the awareness of Vrinda, Jalandhar's wife.

Chaupai 25

Dekhat teen danuj shaitani | Vrinda aay tumhen laptani ||

Seeing the illusion of the demons' downfall, Vrinda was shaken, and taking you for her husband she came and held on to you.

Chaupai 26

Ho sparsh dharm kshati maani | Hana asur ur Shiv shaitani ||

With that touch the protective power of Vrinda's vow was broken, and then Shiv struck the wicked demon in the chest and killed him.

Chaupai 27

Tumne Dhruv Prahlad ubare | Hiranakush aadik khal mare ||

You saved devotees like Dhruv and Prahlad, and destroyed the wicked like Hiranyakashipu.

Chaupai 28

Ganika aur Ajamil tare | Bahut bhakt bhav sindhu utare ||

You saved even Ganika and Ajamil, and carried many devotees across the ocean of worldly life.

Chaupai 29

Harahu sakal santap hamare | Kripa karahu Hari sirjan hare ||

O Hari, creator of the world, take away all our sorrows and be kind to us.

Chaupai 30

Dekhahun main nij darash tumhare | Deen bandhu bhaktan hitkare ||

O friend of the helpless and well-wisher of devotees, I long to see you with my own eyes.

Chaupai 31

Chahat aapka sevak darshan | Karahu daya apni Madhusudan ||

O Madhusudan, your servant longs for your darshan; please show me your mercy.

Chaupai 32

Janun nahin yogya jap poojan | Hoy yagya stuti anumodan ||

I do not know the proper way of chanting and worship, nor how sacrifice and praise become acceptable to you.

Chaupai 33

Sheel daya santosh sulakshan | Vidit nahin vratbodh vilakshan ||

I lack good qualities like modesty, kindness and contentment, and I have no special knowledge of vows.

Chaupai 34

Karahun aapka kis vidhi poojan | Kumati vilok hot dukh bhishan ||

In what way should I worship you? Seeing my own poor understanding, I feel deep sorrow.

Chaupai 35

Karahun pranam kaun vidhi sumiran | Kaun bhanti main karahu samarpan ||

How should I bow to you, how should I remember you, and how should I offer myself to you?

Chaupai 36

Sur muni karat sada sevkai | Harshit rahat param gati pai ||

Gods and sages always serve you, and having reached the highest state they live in joy.

Chaupai 37

Deen dukhin par sada sahai | Nij jan jaan lev apnai ||

You always help the poor and the suffering. Know me as your own and accept me too.

Chaupai 38

Paap dosh santap nashao | Bhav bandhan se mukt karao ||

Destroy my sins, faults and sorrows, and free me from the bonds of worldly life.

Chaupai 39

Sut sampati de sukh upjao | Nij charnan ka daas banao ||

Bless me with children and prosperity, fill my life with happiness, and make me a servant at your feet.

Chaupai 40

Nigam sada ye vinay sunavai | Padhai sunai so jan sukh pavai ||

The Vedas too always offer this prayer. Whoever reads or listens to this Chalisa finds happiness.