Vishnu Chalisa — Complete Lyrics

विष्णु चालीसा

Sanskrit text with English transliteration and translation

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Verse 1

विष्णु सुनिए विनय, सेवक की चितलाय। कीरत कुछ वर्णन करूँ, दीजै ज्ञान बताय॥

Vishnu sunie vinaya, sevaka ki chitalaya Kirata kuchha varnana karun, dijai jnana bataya

Hear my prayer, O Vishnu, and turn your mind to your servant; I shall sing a little of your glory — grant me, I pray, the wisdom to do so.

Verse 2

नमो विष्णु भगवान खरारी। कष्ट नशावन अखिल बिहारी॥

Namo vishnu bhagavana kharari Kashta nashavana akhila bihari

Salutations to Lord Vishnu, the slayer of Khara (the foe of demons), remover of suffering, who pervades and sports through all the worlds.

Verse 3

प्रबल जगत में शक्ति तुम्हारी। त्रिभुवन फैल रही उजियारी॥

Prabala jagata mem shakti tumhari Tribhuvana phaila rahi ujiyari

Mighty is your power throughout the world; your radiance has spread across the three realms.

Verse 4

सुन्दर रूप मनोहर सूरत। सरल स्वभाव मोहनी मूरत॥

Sundara rupa manohara surata Sarala svabhava mohani murata

Beautiful is your form and enchanting your face; gentle your nature and captivating your image.

Verse 5

तन पर पीताम्बर अति सोहत। बैजन्ती माला मन मोहत॥

Tana para pitambara ati sohata Baijanti mala mana mohata

Yellow silk (pitambara) shines splendidly upon your body, and the Vaijayanti garland steals the heart.

Verse 6

शंख चक्र कर गदा बिराजे। देखत दैत्य असुर दल भाजे॥

Shamkha chakra kara gada biraje Dekhata daitya asura dala bhaje

Conch, discus and mace gleam in your hands; at the very sight the hosts of demons flee.

Verse 7

सत्य धर्म मद लोभ न गाजे। काम क्रोध मद लोभ न छाजे॥

Satya dharma mada lobha na gaje Kama krodha mada lobha na chhaje

Where there is truth and dharma, pride and greed cannot roar; lust, anger, arrogance and greed find no place.

Verse 8

सन्तभक्त सज्जन मनरंजन। दनुज असुर दुष्टन दल गंजन॥

Santabhakta sajjana manaramjana Danuja asura dushtana dala gamjana

You delight the hearts of saints, devotees and the good, and crush the ranks of demons, asuras and the wicked.

Verse 9

सुख उपजाय कष्ट सब भंजन। दोष मिटाय करत जन सज्जन॥

Sukha upajaya kashta saba bhamjana Dosha mitaya karata jana sajjana

You give rise to joy and shatter every sorrow; you wipe away faults and make people virtuous.

Verse 10

पाप काट भव सिन्धु उतारण। कष्ट नाशकर भक्त उबारण॥

Papa kata bhava sindhu utarana Kashta nashakara bhakta ubarana

You cut away sin and ferry souls across the ocean of existence; destroying distress, you save your devotees.

Verse 11

करत अनेक रूप प्रभु धारण। केवल आप भक्ति के कारण॥

Karata aneka rupa prabhu dharana Kevala apa bhakti ke karana

The Lord assumes many and various forms — solely for the sake of his devotees' love.

Verse 12

धरणि धेनु बन तुमहिं पुकारा। तब तुम रूप राम का धारा॥

Dharani dhenu bana tumahim pukara Taba tuma rupa rama ka dhara

When the Earth, as a cow, cried out to you, you took the form of Rama;

Verse 13

भार उतार असुर दल मारा। रावण आदिक को संहारा॥

Bhara utara asura dala mara Ravana adika ko samhara

— and lightening her burden, you destroyed the demon hordes and slew Ravana and the rest.

Verse 14

आप वाराह रूप बनाया। हिरण्याक्ष को मार गिराया॥

Apa varaha rupa banaya Hiranyaksha ko mara giraya

You took the form of the Boar (Varaha) and struck down the demon Hiranyaksha.

Verse 15

धर मत्स्य तन सिन्धु बनाया। चौदह रतनन को निकलाया॥

Dhara matsya tana sindhu banaya Chaudaha ratanana ko nikalaya

Assuming the Fish (Matsya) form you moved through the ocean, and drew out the fourteen jewels.

Verse 16

अमिलख असुरन द्वन्द मचाया। रूप मोहनी आप दिखाया॥

Amilakha asurana dvanda machaya Rupa mohani apa dikhaya

When the demons stirred up endless strife, you displayed the enchanting Mohini form;

Verse 17

देवन को अमृत पान कराया। असुरन को छबि से बहलाया॥

Devana ko amrita pana karaya Asurana ko chhabi se bahalaya

— you made the gods drink the nectar (amrita), while diverting the demons with your beauty.

Verse 18

कूर्म रूप धर सिन्धु मझाया। मन्द्राचल गिरि तुरत उठाया॥

Kurma rupa dhara sindhu majhaya Mandrachala giri turata uthaya

Taking the Tortoise (Kurma) form you steadied the ocean, instantly bearing up Mount Mandara.

Verse 19

शंकर का तुम फन्द छुड़ाया। भस्मासुर को रूप दिखाया॥

Shamkara ka tuma phanda chhuda़aya Bhasmasura ko rupa dikhaya

You freed Shankara from the snare and exposed the demon Bhasmasura;

Verse 20

वेदन को जब असुर डुबाया। कर प्रबन्ध उन्हें ढुँढवाया॥

Vedana ko jaba asura dubaya Kara prabandha unhem dhundhavaya

— when the asura had hidden the Vedas in the deep, you contrived to have them found.

Verse 21

मोहित बनकर खलहि नचाया। उसही कर से भस्म कराया॥

Mohita banakara khalahi nachaya Usahi kara se bhasma karaya

Becoming enchanting (Mohini), you set the wicked one dancing, and by his own hand reduced him to ashes.

Verse 22

असुर जलंधर अति बलदाई। शंकर से उन कीन्ह लड़ाई॥

Asura jalamdhara ati baladai Shamkara se una kinha lada़ai

The demon Jalandhara, mighty in strength, waged war against Shankara;

Verse 23

हार पार शिव सकल बनाई। कीन सती से छल खल जाई॥

Hara para shiva sakala banai Kina sati se chhala khala jai

— Shiva was hard-pressed on every side, for the villain had deceived Sati through trickery.

Verse 24

सुमिरन कीन तुम्हें शिवरानी। बतलाई सब विपत कहानी॥

Sumirana kina tumhem shivarani Batalai saba vipata kahani

Shiva's queen (Parvati) remembered you and told you the whole tale of the calamity.

Verse 25

तब तुम बने मुनीश्वर ज्ञानी। वृन्दा की सब सुरति भुलानी॥

Taba tuma bane munishvara jnani Vrinda ki saba surati bhulani

Then you became a wise sage and caused Vrinda (Jalandhara's wife) to forget her vigilance;

Verse 26

देखत तीन दनुज शैतानी। वृन्दा आय तुम्हें लपटानी॥

Dekhata tina danuja shaitani Vrinda aya tumhem lapatani

— seeing the demon's three-fold deceit, Vrinda came and clung to you.

Verse 27

हो स्पर्श धर्म क्षति मानी। हना असुर उर शिव शैतानी॥

Ho sparsha dharma kshati mani Hana asura ura shiva shaitani

When she felt her chastity was touched, the demon's power was broken and the villain slain by Shiva.

Verse 28

तुमने धुरू प्रहलाद उबारे। हिरणाकुश आदिक खल मारे॥

Tumane dhuru prahalada ubare Hiranakusha adika khala mare

You delivered Dhruva and Prahlada, and slew the wicked Hiranyakashipu and his kind.

Verse 29

गणिका और अजामिल तारे। बहुत भक्त भव सिन्धु उतारे॥

Ganika aura ajamila tare Bahuta bhakta bhava sindhu utare

You redeemed Ganika (the courtesan) and Ajamila, and ferried countless devotees across the sea of existence.

Verse 30

हरहु सकल संताप हमारे। कृपा करहु हरि सिरजन हारे॥

Harahu sakala samtapa hamare Kripa karahu hari sirajana hare

Remove all our afflictions; show your grace, O Hari, O creator of all.

Verse 31

देखहुँ मैं निज दरश तुम्हारे। दीन बन्धु भक्तन हितकारे॥

Dekhahun maim nija darasha tumhare Dina bandhu bhaktana hitakare

Let me behold your own vision, O kinsman of the lowly, O benefactor of devotees.

Verse 32

चहत आपका सेवक दर्शन। करहु दया अपनी मधुसूदन॥

Chahata apaka sevaka darshana Karahu daya apani madhusudana

Your servant longs for your darshan; show your mercy, O Madhusudana.

Verse 33

जानूं नहीं योग्य जप पूजन। होय यज्ञ स्तुति अनुमोदन॥

Janum nahim yogya japa pujana Hoya yajna stuti anumodana

I know not the worthy way of chanting and worship; may my praise be accepted as if it were a sacrifice.

Verse 34

शीलदया सन्तोष सुलक्षण। विदित नहीं व्रतबोध विलक्षण॥

Shiladaya santosha sulakshana Vidita nahim vratabodha vilakshana

Good conduct, compassion, contentment and noble traits — the secret of vows and knowledge — I do not truly know.

Verse 35

करहुँ आपका किस विधि पूजन। कुमति विलोक होत दुख भीषण॥

Karahun apaka kisa vidhi pujana Kumati viloka hota dukha bhishana

By what method shall I worship you? Beholding my dull wit, dreadful sorrow arises.

Verse 36

करहुँ प्रणाम कौन विधिसुमिरण। कौन भांति मैं करहुँ समर्पण॥

Karahun pranama kauna vidhisumirana Kauna bhamti maim karahun samarpana

How shall I bow, by what means remember you, in what manner offer myself?

Verse 37

सुर मुनि करत सदा सिवकाई। हर्षित रहत परम गति पाई॥

Sura muni karata sada sivakai Harshita rahata parama gati pai

Gods and sages ever serve Shiva (and you), and remain joyful, having attained the supreme state.

Verse 38

दीन दुखिन पर सदा सहाई। निज जन जान लेव अपनाई॥

Dina dukhina para sada sahai Nija jana jana leva apanai

You are ever the helper of the poor and suffering; know us as your own and make us yours.

Verse 39

पाप दोष संताप नशाओ। भव बन्धन से मुक्त कराओ॥

Papa dosha samtapa nashao Bhava bandhana se mukta karao

Destroy our sin, faults and affliction, and free us from the bondage of existence.

Verse 40

सुत सम्पति दे सुख उपजाओ। निज चरनन का दास बनाओ॥

Suta sampati de sukha upajao Nija charanana ka dasa banao

Grant children and prosperity and give rise to happiness; make us the servants of your own feet.

Verse 41

निगम सदा ये विनय सुनावै। पढ़ै सुनै सो जन सुख पावै॥

Nigama sada ye vinaya sunavai Padha़ai sunai so jana sukha pavai

Thus does Nigam (the devotee/scripture) ever offer this prayer: whoever reads or hears it gains happiness.

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