Hanuman Chalisa with Meaningश्री हनुमान चालीसा

Doha 2

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार।
बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार॥

Buddhiheen tanu janike, sumiraun Pavan-kumar.
Bal budhi bidya dehu mohin, harahu kalesa bikar.

Knowing myself to be without wisdom, I remember Hanuman, son of the Wind. Grant me strength, wisdom and knowledge, and take away my sorrows and flaws.

Notice the order: first he admits his own lack, then he asks.

Chaupai 2

राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा।
अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥

Ram doot atulit bal dhama.
Anjani-putra Pavansut nama.

You are Rama’s messenger, the home of matchless strength, known as the son of Anjani and the son of the Wind.

When everyone set out to search for Sita, Rama gave his ring to Hanuman alone. He trusted that Hanuman would be the one to reach her.

Chaupai 4

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा।
कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा॥

Kanchan baran biraj subesa.
Kanan kundal kunchit kesa.

Golden in colour and splendidly dressed, with earrings in your ears and curly hair.

This chaupai is a darshan, as if Tulsidas were seeing him with his own eyes.

Chaupai 5

हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै।
काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥

Haath bajra au dhvaja birajai.
Kandhe moonj janeu sajai.

In one hand shines the vajra, his mace, and in the other a flag; a sacred thread of munja grass adorns your shoulder.

The vajra stands for strength, the flag for victory and the sacred thread for discipline.

Chaupai 7

बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर।
राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥

Bidyavan guni ati chatur.
Ram kaj karibe ko atur.

Learned, virtuous and supremely wise, you are always eager to do Rama’s work.

All three words are about intelligence, and all of it is put to service.

Chaupai 8

प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया।
राम लखन सीता मन बसिया॥

Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya.
Ram Lakhan Sita man basiya.

You delight in hearing the Lord’s story, and Rama, Lakshmana and Sita dwell in your heart.

It is said that wherever Rama’s story is told, Hanuman is the first to arrive.

Read the story: Rama and Sita in Hanuman’s heart

Chaupai 9

सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा।
बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥

Sukshma roop dhari Siyahin dikhava.
Bikat roop dhari Lank jarava.

Taking a tiny form you appeared before Sita in the Ashoka grove and gave her Rama’s ring, and taking a vast, fearsome form you set Lanka ablaze.

The same Hanuman becomes small or vast, as the moment needs.

Chaupai 10

भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे।
रामचंद्र के काज सँवारे॥

Bheem roop dhari asur sanhare.
Ramachandra ke kaj sanvare.

Taking a terrible form you destroyed the demons, and you set right every task of Shri Ramachandra.

By the tenth chaupai the portrait is complete: wisdom, form, strength and service.

Chaupai 12

रघुपति कीन्ही बहुत बड़ाई।
तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई॥

Raghupati keenhi bahut badai.
Tum mam priya Bharatahi sam bhai.

Rama praised you greatly, saying: you are as dear to me as my brother Bharata.

Bharata ruled Ayodhya for fourteen years with Rama’s sandals on the throne; that is the love Rama compares Hanuman to.

Chaupai 13

सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं।
अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं॥

Sahas badan tumharo jas gavain.
As kahi Shripati kanth lagavain.

“Even the thousand-mouthed Shesha sings your glory,” said Rama, the lord of Shri, and embraced you.

Chaupai 14

सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा।
नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥

Sanakadik Brahmadi munisa.
Narad Sarad sahit Ahisa.

Sanaka and the other sages, Brahma and the gods, the great munis, Narada and Saraswati, with Shesha, king of serpents,

Chaupais 14 and 15 are a single sentence: the whole universe sings his glory.

Chaupai 15

जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहाँ ते।
कबि कोबिद कहि सके कहाँ ते॥

Jam Kuber Digpal jahan te.
Kabi kobid kahi sake kahan te.

Yama, Kubera and the guardians of the directions sing your glory too. When even they cannot tell it in full, how could poets and scholars?

Chaupai 16

तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा।
राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा॥

Tum upkar Sugrivahin keenha.
Ram milaye raj pad deenha.

You did Sugriva a great kindness: you brought him to Rama and won back his kingdom for him.

On Mount Rishyamuka it was Hanuman who first met Rama and Lakshmana, and he carried them on his back to Sugriva.

Chaupai 17

तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषन माना।
लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना॥

Tumharo mantra Bibhishan mana.
Lankeshvar bhae sab jag jana.

Vibhishana followed your counsel and became the king of Lanka, as the whole world knows.

In Lanka, Hanuman found Vibhishana chanting Rama’s name, and their friendship began there.

Chaupai 18

जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू।
लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥

Jug sahasra jojan par Bhanu.
Leelyo tahi madhur phal janu.

The sun, thousands of yojanas away, you swallowed, taking it for a sweet fruit.

As a child, Hanuman leapt at the rising sun, taking it for a ripe fruit.

Read the story: the child Hanuman and the sun

Chaupai 19

प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं।
जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं॥

Prabhu mudrika meli mukh mahin.
Jaladhi langhi gaye achraj nahin.

Holding the Lord’s ring in your mouth, you leapt across the ocean, and there is no wonder in that.

For one who leapt at the sun as a child, crossing the ocean is no surprise.

Read the story: the leap across the ocean

Chaupai 20

दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते।
सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥

Durgam kaj jagat ke jete.
Sugam anugrah tumhare tete.

However hard the tasks of this world, by your grace every one of them becomes easy.

Chaupai 21

राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे।
होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥

Ram duare tum rakhvare.
Hot na agya binu paisare.

You are the guardian at Rama’s door, and no one enters without your leave.

That is why devotees say: to reach Rama, go to Hanuman first.

Chaupai 22

सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना।
तुम रच्छक काहू को डर ना॥

Sab sukh lahai tumhari sarna.
Tum rachchhak kahu ko dar na.

Whoever takes refuge in you finds every joy; with you as protector, there is nothing to fear.

Chaupai 23

आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै।
तीनों लोक हाँक तें काँपै॥

Aapan tej samharo aapai.
Teenon lok hank te kanpai.

Only you can contain your own power; the three worlds tremble at your roar.

Chaupai 24

भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै।
महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥

Bhoot pisach nikat nahin aavai.
Mahabir jab naam sunavai.

Ghosts and evil spirits do not come near where the name of the great hero is spoken.

This is why the Chalisa is recited when one is afraid, especially at night.

Chaupai 25

नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा।
जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥

Nasai rog harai sab peera.
Japat nirantar Hanumat beera.

Illness is destroyed and every pain removed for those who chant the name of brave Hanuman without ceasing.

Chaupai 26

संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै।
मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै॥

Sankat te Hanuman chhudavai.
Man kram bachan dhyan jo lavai.

Hanuman frees from trouble everyone who remembers him in thought, deed and word.

Thought, deed and word, all three: remembrance that is only spoken is not the whole of it.

Chaupai 27

सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा।
तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा॥

Sab par Ram tapasvi raja.
Tin ke kaj sakal tum saja.

Rama, the ascetic king, is above all, and it was you who accomplished all his work.

Chaupai 28

और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै।
सोइ अमित जीवन फल पावै॥

Aur manorath jo koi lavai.
Soi amit jeevan phal pavai.

Whoever comes to you with any wish receives the boundless fruit of life.

Chaupai 29

चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा।
है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥

Charon jug partap tumhara.
Hai parsiddh jagat ujiyara.

Your glory shines through all four yugas, and your light is famous throughout the world.

Hanuman is held to be a chiranjivi, living on through every age; in the Dwapara yuga he sat on the flag of Arjuna’s chariot at Kurukshetra.

Chaupai 30

साधु संत के तुम रखवारे।
असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥

Sadhu sant ke tum rakhvare.
Asur nikandan Ram dulare.

You are the protector of saints and sages, the destroyer of demons and the beloved of Rama.

Chaupai 31

अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता।
अस बर दीन जानकी माता॥

Ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke data.
As bar deen Janaki mata.

You can grant the eight siddhis and the nine treasures; Mother Janaki gave you this boon.

Among the eight siddhis are anima, becoming tiny, and mahima, becoming vast: the two forms of chaupai 9.

Chaupai 32

राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा।
सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा॥

Ram rasayan tumhare pasa.
Sada raho Raghupati ke dasa.

You hold the elixir of Rama’s name, and you remain forever the servant of Raghupati.

Rasayan means an elixir; here, Rama’s name itself is that elixir.

Chaupai 33

तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै।
जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥

Tumhare bhajan Ram ko pavai.
Janam janam ke dukh bisravai.

Through devotion to you one reaches Rama and forgets the sorrows of many lifetimes.

Chaupai 34

अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई।
जहाँ जन्म हरि-भक्त कहाई॥

Ant kal Raghubar pur jai.
Jahan janma Hari-bhakt kahai.

At life’s end such a devotee goes to Rama’s abode, and wherever born again, is known as a devotee of Hari.

Chaupai 35

और देवता चित्त न धरई।
हनुमत सेइ सर्ब सुख करई॥

Aur devta chitt na dharai.
Hanumat sei sarb sukh karai.

Even one who holds no other deity in mind finds every joy by serving Hanuman.

Chaupai 36

संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा।
जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥

Sankat katai mitai sab peera.
Jo sumirai Hanumat balbeera.

Troubles are cut away and all pain ends for whoever remembers the mighty hero Hanuman.

Chaupai 37

जै जै जै हनुमान गोसाईं।
कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं॥

Jai jai jai Hanuman Gosain.
Kripa karahu gurudev ki nain.

Victory, victory, victory to you, lord Hanuman; be gracious to me as a Guru is.

The Chalisa began with the Guru; here Hanuman himself is asked to be the Guru.

Chaupai 38

जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई।
छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥

Jo sat bar path kar koi.
Chhutahi bandi maha sukh hoi.

Whoever recites this a hundred times is freed from bondage and finds great joy.

This is why many devotees take a vow of a hundred recitations.

Chaupai 39

जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा।
होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥

Jo yah padhai Hanuman Chalisa.
Hoy siddhi sakhi Gaurisa.

Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa attains success, and Shiva, the lord of Gauri, is witness to it.

Chaupai 40

तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा।
कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥

Tulsidas sada Hari chera.
Keejai nath hriday mahan dera.

Tulsidas is forever Hari’s servant. O Lord, make your home in my heart.

Closing doha

पवन तनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप।
राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥

Pavan tanay sankat haran, mangal moorati roop.
Ram Lakhan Sita sahit, hriday basahu sur bhoop.

O son of the Wind, remover of troubles, the very form of all that is auspicious, best among the gods: dwell in my heart with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.

In chaupai 8, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita lived in Hanuman’s heart; at the end, the devotee asks for them in his own.