श्री गंगा चालीसा Meaning — Line by Line
श्री गंगा चालीसा
Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi
Meaning — Line by Line
Every verse of श्री गंगा चालीसा with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.
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- Doha 1. Jaya jaya jaya jaga pavani jayati devasari gamga
- Doha 2. Jaya jaga janani agha khani, ananda karani gamga maharani
- Chaupai 1. Jaya jaya jaya hanu suta agha anani, bhishama ki mata jaga janani
- Chaupai 2. Vahana makara vimala shuchi sohai, amiya kalasha kara lakhi mana mohai
- Chaupai 3. Jaga pavani traya tapa nasavani, tarala taramga tamga mana bhavani
- Chaupai 4. Brahma kamandala vasini devi shri prabhu pada pamkaja sukha sevi
- Chaupai 5. Agama taramga uthayo mana bhavana, lakhi tiratha haridvara suhavana
- Chaupai 6. Dhani dhani surasari svarga ki sidha़i, tarani amita pitri pada pidhi
- Chaupai 7. Jaba jaga janani chalyo laharai, shambhu jata maham rahyo samai
- Chaupai 8. Muni bhagiratha shambhuhim dhyayo, taba ika bumda jata se payo
- Chaupai 9. Gai patala prabhavati nama, mandakini gai gagana lalama
- Chaupai 10. Dhani maiya tava mahima bhari, dharma dhuri kali kalusha kuthari
- Chaupai 11. Pana karata nirmala gamgajala, pavata mana ichchhita ananta phala
- Chaupai 12. Jai pagu surasari hetu uthavahim, tai jagi ashvamedha phala pavahim
- Chaupai 13. Shata yojanahu se jo dhyavahim, nishchaya vishnu loka pada pavahim
- Chaupai 14. Jimi dhana mula dharma aru dana, dharma mula gamgajala pana
- Chaupai 15. Gamgahim nema sahita nija dhyavata, durjanahum sajjana pada pavata
- Chaupai 16. Gamga gamga jo nara kahahim, bhukhe namge kabahum na rahahim
- Chaupai 17. Maham adhina adhamana kaham tarem, bhae narka ke banda kivare
- Chaupai 18. Saba sukha bhoga parama pada pavahim, avagamana rahita hvai javahim
- Closing Doha. Kakara grama rishi durvasa, sundaradasa gamga kara dasa
Jaya jaya jaya jaga pavani jayati devasari gamga
जय जय जय जग पावनी जयति देवसरि गंग । जय शिव जटा निवासिनी अनुपम तुंग तरंग ॥
Jaya jaya jaya jaga pavani jayati devasari gamga Jaya shiva jata nivasini anupama tumga taramga
MeaningVictory, victory, victory to Ganga, purifier of the world, the river of the gods! Hail to her who dwells in Shiva's matted locks, with her peerless, soaring waves.
Jaya jaga janani agha khani, ananda karani gamga maharani
जय जग जननि अघ खानी, आनन्द करनि गंग महरानी । जय भागीरथि सुरसरि माता, कलिमल मूल दलनि विखयाता ।।
Jaya jaga janani agha khani, ananda karani gamga maharani Jaya bhagirathi surasari mata, kalimala mula dalani vikhayata
MeaningHail, Mother of the world, devourer of sins, Ganga the great queen who bestows bliss! Hail Bhagirathi, mother river of the gods, renowned as the destroyer of the very root of the sins of Kali.
Jaya jaya jaya hanu suta agha anani, bhishama ki mata jaga janani
जय जय जय हनु सुता अघ अननी, भीषम की माता जग जननी । धवल कमल दल मम तनु साजे, लखि शत शरद चन्द्र छवि लाजे ।।
Jaya jaya jaya hanu suta agha anani, bhishama ki mata jaga janani Dhavala kamala dala mama tanu saje, lakhi shata sharada chandra chhavi laje
MeaningHail, daughter of Jahnu, slayer of sin, mother of Bhishma and Mother of the world! Your form shines white as a cluster of lotuses; beholding it, the beauty of a hundred autumn moons is put to shame.
Vahana makara vimala shuchi sohai, amiya kalasha kara lakhi mana mohai
वाहन मकर विमल शुचि सोहै, अमिय कलश कर लखि मन मोहै । जडित रत्न कंचन आभूषण, हिय मणि हार, हरणितम दूषण ।।
Vahana makara vimala shuchi sohai, amiya kalasha kara lakhi mana mohai Jadita ratna kamchana abhushana, hiya mani hara, haranitama dushana
MeaningYour pure, bright crocodile-mount (makara) is resplendent; the nectar-pot in your hand entrances the mind. Adorned with gold and inlaid jewels, a gem-necklace upon your breast, you remove every blemish and the darkness of sin.
Jaga pavani traya tapa nasavani, tarala taramga tamga mana bhavani
जग पावनि त्रय ताप नसावनि, तरल तरंग तंग मन भावनि । जो गणपति अति पूज्य प्रधाना, तिहुं ते प्रथम गंग अस्नाना ।।
Jaga pavani traya tapa nasavani, tarala taramga tamga mana bhavani Jo ganapati ati pujya pradhana, tihum te prathama gamga asnana
MeaningPurifier of the world, destroyer of the three torments, your rippling, surging waves delight the heart. Even Ganapati, who is most worshipful and is honoured first of all, before him too comes the holy bath in the Ganga.
Brahma kamandala vasini devi shri prabhu pada pamkaja sukha sevi
ब्रह्म कमण्डल वासिनी देवी श्री प्रभु पद पंकज सुख सेवी । साठि सहत्र सगर सुत तारयो, गंगा सागर तीरथ धारयो ।।
Brahma kamandala vasini devi shri prabhu pada pamkaja sukha sevi Sathi sahatra sagara suta tarayo, gamga sagara tiratha dharayo
MeaningO Goddess who once dwelt in Brahma's water-pot, who blissfully served the lotus-feet of the Lord! You delivered the sixty thousand sons of Sagara and established the holy place of Gangasagar.
Agama taramga uthayo mana bhavana, lakhi tiratha haridvara suhavana
अगम तरंग उठयो मन भावन, लखि तीरथ हरिद्वार सुहावन । तीरथ राज प्रयाग अक्षैवट, धरयौ मातु पुनि काशी करवट ।।
Agama taramga uthayo mana bhavana, lakhi tiratha haridvara suhavana Tiratha raja prayaga akshaivata, dharayau matu puni kashi karavata
MeaningYour fathomless waves rise, delighting the heart; behold the lovely sacred town of Haridwar. The king of holy places, Prayag with its undying banyan (Akshayavat), and then, O Mother, you turned toward Kashi (Varanasi).
Dhani dhani surasari svarga ki sidha़i, tarani amita pitri pada pidhi
धनि धनि सुरसरि स्वर्ग की सीढ़ी, तारणि अमित पितृ पद पीढी । भागीरथ तप कियो अपारा, दियो ब्रह्म तब सुरसरि धारा ।।
Dhani dhani surasari svarga ki sidha़i, tarani amita pitri pada pidhi Bhagiratha tapa kiyo apara, diyo brahma taba surasari dhara
MeaningBlessed, blessed are you, river of the gods, the very stairway to heaven, who deliver countless generations of ancestors! Bhagiratha performed boundless penance, and then Brahma released the stream of the heavenly river.
Jaba jaga janani chalyo laharai, shambhu jata maham rahyo samai
जब जग जननी चल्यो लहराई, शंभु जटा महं रह्यो समाई । वर्ष पर्यन्त गंग महरानी, रहीं शंभु के जटा भुलानी ।।
Jaba jaga janani chalyo laharai, shambhu jata maham rahyo samai Varsha paryanta gamga maharani, rahim shambhu ke jata bhulani
MeaningWhen the Mother of the world flowed forth surging, she was held absorbed within Shambhu's (Shiva's) matted locks. For a whole year Ganga the great queen remained lost, forgotten, in Shiva's hair.
Muni bhagiratha shambhuhim dhyayo, taba ika bumda jata se payo
मुनि भागीरथ शंभुहिं ध्यायो, तब इक बूंद जटा से पायो । ताते मातु भई त्रय धारा, मृत्यु लोक, नभ अरु पातारा ।।
Muni bhagiratha shambhuhim dhyayo, taba ika bumda jata se payo Tate matu bhai traya dhara, mrityu loka, nabha aru patara
MeaningThe sage Bhagiratha meditated upon Shambhu, and then won a single drop from his locks. From that, O Mother, you became three streams, for the mortal world, the heavens, and the netherworld (Patala).
Gai patala prabhavati nama, mandakini gai gagana lalama
गई पाताल प्रभावति नामा, मन्दाकिनी गई गगन ललामा । मृत्यु लोक जाह्नवी सुहावनि, कलिमल हरणि अगम जग पावनि ।।
Gai patala prabhavati nama, mandakini gai gagana lalama Mrityu loka jahnavi suhavani, kalimala harani agama jaga pavani
MeaningTo Patala you went by the name Bhagavati; to the heavens you went as Mandakini, the ornament of the sky. In the mortal world you are lovely Jahnavi, remover of the impurities of Kali, the fathomless purifier of the world.
Dhani maiya tava mahima bhari, dharma dhuri kali kalusha kuthari
धनि मइया तव महिमा भारी, धर्म धुरि कलि कलुष कुठारी । मातु प्रभावति धनि मन्दाकिनी, धनि सुरसरित सकल भयनासिनी ।।
Dhani maiya tava mahima bhari, dharma dhuri kali kalusha kuthari Matu prabhavati dhani mandakini, dhani surasarita sakala bhayanasini
MeaningBlessed Mother, great is your glory, the axle of dharma, the axe that cleaves the sins of the Kali age. Blessed Bhagavati, blessed Mandakini; blessed river of the gods, destroyer of every fear.
Pana karata nirmala gamgajala, pavata mana ichchhita ananta phala
पान करत निर्मल गंगाजल, पावत मन इच्छित अनन्त फल । पूरब जन्म पुण्य जब जागत, तबहिं ध्यान गंगा महं लागत ।।
Pana karata nirmala gamgajala, pavata mana ichchhita ananta phala Puraba janma punya jaba jagata, tabahim dhyana gamga maham lagata
MeaningDrinking the pure water of Ganga, one gains endless fruit, the heart's every desire. Only when the merit of past births awakens does the mind become fixed in meditation upon Ganga.
Jai pagu surasari hetu uthavahim, tai jagi ashvamedha phala pavahim
जई पगु सुरसरि हेतु उठावहिं, तइ जगि अश्वमेध फल पावहिं । महा पतित जिन काहु न तारे, तिन तारे इक नाम तिहारे ।।
Jai pagu surasari hetu uthavahim, tai jagi ashvamedha phala pavahim Maha patita jina kahu na tare, tina tare ika nama tihare
MeaningWhatever steps one takes for the sake of the heavenly river, by them one gains in this world the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. The greatest sinners, whom none could deliver, even those your single name has delivered.
Shata yojanahu se jo dhyavahim, nishchaya vishnu loka pada pavahim
शत योजनहू से जो ध्यावहिं, निश्चय विष्णु लोक पद पावहिं । नाम भजत अगणित अघ नाशै, विमल ज्ञान बल बुद्धि प्रकाशै ।।
Shata yojanahu se jo dhyavahim, nishchaya vishnu loka pada pavahim Nama bhajata aganita agha nashai, vimala jnana bala buddhi prakashai
MeaningThose who meditate upon you even from a hundred yojanas away surely attain the abode of Vishnu. Chanting your name destroys countless sins and kindles pure knowledge, strength and intellect.
Jimi dhana mula dharma aru dana, dharma mula gamgajala pana
जिमि धन मूल धर्म अरु दाना, धर्म मूल गंगाजल पाना । तव गुण गुणन करत सुख भाजत, गृह गृह सम्पत्ति सुमति विराजत ।।
Jimi dhana mula dharma aru dana, dharma mula gamgajala pana Tava guna gunana karata sukha bhajata, griha griha sampatti sumati virajata
MeaningAs wealth is the root of dharma and charity, so the drinking of Ganga's water is the root of dharma. Reciting your virtues, sorrow takes flight; in home after home prosperity and good sense abide.
Gamgahim nema sahita nija dhyavata, durjanahum sajjana pada pavata
गंगहिं नेम सहित निज ध्यावत, दुर्जनहूं सज्जन पद पावत । बुद्धिहीन विद्या बल पावै, रोगी रोग मुक्त ह्वै जावै ।।
Gamgahim nema sahita nija dhyavata, durjanahum sajjana pada pavata Buddhihina vidya bala pavai, rogi roga mukta hvai javai
MeaningWhoever meditates upon Ganga with a steadfast vow, even the wicked attain the state of the virtuous. The witless gain the power of learning, and the sick are freed from their disease.
Gamga gamga jo nara kahahim, bhukhe namge kabahum na rahahim
गंगा गंगा जो नर कहहीं, भूखे नंगे कबहूं न रहहीं । निकसत की मुख गंगा माई, श्रवण दाबि यम चलहिं पराई ।।
Gamga gamga jo nara kahahim, bhukhe namge kabahum na rahahim Nikasata ki mukha gamga mai, shravana dabi yama chalahim parai
MeaningThose who say 'Ganga, Ganga' never remain hungry or destitute. The very moment 'Mother Ganga' leaves the lips, Yama (death) flees away, pressing his ears shut.
Maham adhina adhamana kaham tarem, bhae narka ke banda kivare
महां अधिन अधमन कहं तारें, भए नर्क के बन्द किवारे । जो नर जपै गंग शत नामा, सकल सिद्ध पूरण ह्वै कामा ।।
Maham adhina adhamana kaham tarem, bhae narka ke banda kivare Jo nara japai gamga shata nama, sakala siddha purana hvai kama
MeaningYou deliver even the lowest of the low and the most fallen; for them the doors of hell are shut fast. Whoever recites the hundred names of Ganga finds all his aims fulfilled and perfected.
Saba sukha bhoga parama pada pavahim, avagamana rahita hvai javahim
सब सुख भोग परम पद पावहिं, आवागमन रहित ह्वै जावहिं । धनि मइया सुरसरि सुखदैनी, धनि धनि तीरथ राज त्रिवेणी ।।
Saba sukha bhoga parama pada pavahim, avagamana rahita hvai javahim Dhani maiya surasari sukhadaini, dhani dhani tiratha raja triveni
MeaningThey enjoy every happiness and attain the supreme state, becoming free from the round of birth and death. Blessed Mother, river of the gods, giver of joy; blessed, blessed is the king of holy places, the Triveni confluence.
Kakara grama rishi durvasa, sundaradasa gamga kara dasa
ककरा ग्राम ऋषि दुर्वासा, सुन्दरदास गंगा कर दासा । जो यह पढ़ै गंगा चालीसा, मिलै भक्ति अविरल वागीसा ।।
Kakara grama rishi durvasa, sundaradasa gamga kara dasa Jo yaha padha़ai gamga chalisa, milai bhakti avirala vagisa
MeaningIn the village of Kakra, by the seat of the sage Durvasa, Sundardas is the servant of Ganga. Whoever reads this Ganga Chalisa gains unbroken devotion and the grace of the Lord of eloquence.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Origin & History
Source: Traditional Hindi devotional chalisa
Author: Sundardas (as named in the closing verse)
Period: Devotional era
Ganga is the sacred river worshipped as a goddess who flows through the three worlds: as Mandakini in heaven, as Bhagirathi-Jahnavi on earth, and as Bhagavati in the netherworld. The Chalisa recalls how, through the penance of Bhagiratha, she descended from heaven and was caught in Shiva's matted locks to spare the earth her force, then flowed on to liberate the ancestors of Sagara, becoming the eternal purifier of all who come to her.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ganga Chalisa?▼
Why is the Ganga worshipped as a mother and goddess?▼
When should the Ganga Chalisa be recited?▼
What is the story of Ganga's descent to earth?▼
What is the difference between the Ganga Chalisa and the Ganga Aarti?▼
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