Hanuman Chalisa - Tulsidas

Hanuman Chalisa: Forty chaupais

Hanuman Chalisa (हनुमान चालीसा; literally Forty chaupais on Hanuman) is a Hindu devotional hymn (stotra) addressed to Hanuman. It is traditionally believed to have been authored by 16th-century poet Tulsidas in the Awadhi language, and is his best known text apart from the Ramcharitmanas. The word “chalisa” is derived from “chālīs”, which means the number forty in Hindi, as the Hanuman Chalisa has 40 verses (excluding the couplets at the beginning and at the end).

Hanuman Chalisa: Introductory Dohas

Cleansing the mirror in the form of my mind with the pollen of the lotus-feet of the Guru, I describe the unblemished glory of Rama, which bestows the four fruits.
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मन मुकुर सुधारि।
बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि॥
Knowing my body to be devoid of intelligence, I remember Hanuman, the son of Vayu. Give me strength, intelligence and knowledge and remove all ailments (kalesa) and impurities (bikara)
बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिकै सुमिरौं पवनकुमार।
बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार॥

Hanuman Chalisa:

O Hanuman, the ocean of knowledge and virtues, may you be victorious. O the chief amongst Vanaras famous across the three Lokas (Pātāla, Prithvi (earth) and Svarga), may you be victorious.
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर।
जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥ १ ॥
You are the trusted messenger of Rama and you are the abode of incomparable strength. You are known by the names of Anjaniputra (son of Anjana) and Pavanasuta (son of Vāyu).
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा।
अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥ २ ॥
You are the great hero, you are endowed with valour, your body is as strong as Indra’s Vajra. You are the destroyer of vile intellect, and you are the companion of one whose intellect is pure.
महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी।
कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥ ३ ॥
Your complexion is that of molten gold, and you are resplendent in your handsome form. You wear Kundalas (small earrings worn in old times by Hindus) in your ears and your hair is curly.
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा।
कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा॥ ४ ॥
You have the Vajra and the flag in your hands, and the sacred-thread (Yajnopavita) made of the Munja grass adorns your shoulder.
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै।
काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥ ५ ॥
O son of Shiva (or son of Vāyu carrying the power of Shiva), the delighter of Kesari, your aura and majesty is great and is revered by the whole world.
शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन।
तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन॥ ६ ॥
You are the praiseworthy abode of the eighteen types of Vidyā (knowledge), all virtues reside in you, and you are exceedingly clever. You are ever eager to perform tasks for Rama.
बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर।
राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥ ७ ॥

You delight in listening to the acts of Rama (Ramayana). Rama, Lakshmana and Sita reside in your mind. Alternately, you reside in the minds of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita [owing to their affection towards you].

प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया।
राम लखन सीता मन बसिया॥ ८ ॥

You assumed an extremely minute form and saw Sita in the Ashok Vatika. You assumed a very large and scary form and burnt the city of Lanka.

सूक्ष्म रूप धरी सियहिं दिखावा।
बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥ ९ ॥

You assumed a frightening form and destroyed the demons in the army of Ravana. You carried out all the tasks of Rama.

भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे।
रामचन्द्र के काज सँवारे॥ १० ॥

You brought the Sanjivini, the life saving herb from Dronagiri in Himalayas, and revitalized Lakshman. Out of elation, Rama embraced you.

लाय सँजीवनि लखन जियाए।
श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाए॥ ११ ॥

Rama, the chief among Raghu’s descendants, praised you profusely saying “You are dear to me like my brother Bharata.

रघुपति कीन्हीं बहुत बड़ाई।
तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई॥ १२ ॥
Rao and Mehta’s translation – Rama also added that a thousand people will praise Hanuman’s glory and embraced him again.
सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं।
अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं॥ १३ ॥
Saints like Sanka, Bramha, Munisa, Narad, Sarad, Sahit and Ahisa have blessed Hanuman;
सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा।
नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥ १४ ॥
Yama (God of death), Kubera (God of wealth), Dikpala (Gods of eight directions), Kavis (poets), Kovidas (folk singers) cannot describe Hanuman’s reputation.
जम कुबेर दिक्पाल जहाँ ते।
कबी कोबिद कहि सकैं कहाँ ते॥ १५ ॥
You did Sugriva a great favour by making him meet Rama and bestowing on him the kingdom of Kishkindha.
तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा।
राम मिलाय राजपद दीन्हा॥ १६ ॥
Your Mantra was accepted by Vibishana, as a result of which he became the king of Lanka. The whole world knows this.
तुम्हरो मन्त्र बिभीषन माना।
लंकेश्वर भए सब जग जाना॥ १७ ॥
The Surya, situated many thousands of Yojanas from the earth, was swallowed by you after you assumed him to be a sweet fruit.
जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू।
लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥ १८ ॥
O Lord, placing the ring given by Rama in your mouth, you leaped across the ocean – there is no wonder here.
प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं।
जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं॥ १९ ॥
All the unattainable tasks in the world become easily attainable with your grace.
दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते ।
सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥ २० ॥
You are the doorkeeper and protector of the door to Rama’s court. Without your command, nobody can enter the abode of Rama.
राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे।
होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥ २१ ॥
Once in your refuge, a Sādhaka obtains all the pleasures. You are the protector, and there is nothing to be afraid of.
सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी शरना।
तुम रक्षक काहू को डर ना॥ २२ ॥
When you roar, after remembering your powers, the three worlds tremble with fear.
आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै।
तीनौं लोक हाँक ते काँपे॥ २३ ॥
Evil spirits (bhūta) and meat-eating ghosts (pishācha) do not come near those chant the Mahāvira name of yours.
भूत पिशाच निकट नहिं आवै।
महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥ २४ ॥
The brave Hanuman, when invoked incessantly by the means of Japa, destroys all ailments and removes all sufferings.
नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा।
जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥ २५ ॥
Hanuman extricates those from all adversities who remember him (or contemplate upon him) in their heart, by their actions and by their words.
संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै।
मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै॥ २६ ॥
Rama is the supreme God and a king with Tapas, and yet you executed all his tasks.
सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा।
तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा॥ २७ ॥
And whoever comes to you with any wish, that wish is fulfilled beyond limits (literally, “they obtain the unlimited fruit of the wish”) in this very birth.
और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै।
तासु अमित जीवन फल पावै॥ २८ ॥
Your glory is famous in all the four Yugas, and illuminates the whole world.
चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा।
है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥ २९ ॥
You are the protector of Sadhus (mendicants) and Sants (saints). You are the destroyer of demons and dear as a son to Rama.
साधु संत के तुम रखवारे।
असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥ ३० ॥
You are the bestower the eight Siddhis (supernatural powers named Aṇimā, Garimā, Mahimā, Laghimā, Prāpti, Prākāmya, Īśitva, and Vaśitva) and the nine Nidhis (divine treasures named Mahāpadma, Padma, Śaṅkha, Makara, Kacchapa, Mukunda, Kunda, Nīla and Kharva). Mother Sita, the daughter of Janaka, has granted you this boon.
अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता।
अस बर दीन्ह जानकी माता॥ ३१ ॥
You have the treasure of Rama’s Bhakti (rāma rasāyana) with you. You are, respectfully, the servant of Raghupati (Shri Raam).
राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा।
सादर हो रघुपति के दासा॥ ३२ ॥
Singing of you (Hanuman), a Bhakta obtains Rama and forgets the adversities and afflictions of many births.
तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै।
जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥ ३३ ॥
As a result of devotion to you, a Bhakta goes to Sāketa Loka (raghubara pura) at the time of their end (physical death). Once the Bhakta reaches Sāketa, wherever they take birth, they are known as the Bhaktas of Hari.
अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई।
जहाँ जन्म हरिभक्त कहाई॥ ३४ ॥
Even one who does not contemplate on any other Devatas in their mind and only serves Hanuman, achieves all favourable bliss in this world and the next.
और देवता चित्त न धरई।
हनुमत सेइ सर्व सुख करई॥ ३५ ॥
Whoever remembers the brave and mighty Hanuman gets free of all adversities and relief from all pains.
संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा।
जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥ ३६ ॥
O Hanuman, the master of senses, may you be victorious, may you be victorious, may you be victorious. May you shower your grace lovingly, as a Guru does, and reveal to me the knowledge of devotion to Rama.
जय जय जय हनुमान गोसाईं।
कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं॥ ३७ ॥
One who recites Hanuman Chalisa a hundred times (or for hundred days) is released from bondage and obtains great bliss”.
जो शत बार पाठ कर कोई।
छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥ ३८ ॥
One who reads this Hanuman Chalisa obtains Siddhi (accomplishment or liberation). Shiva himself bears witness to this statement.
जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा।
होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥ ३९ ॥
Tulsidas is always a devotee of Hari. O Lord, make my heart your abode.
तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा।
कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥ ४० ॥

Concluding Doha

O Son of Vāyu, remover of adversities, one with an auspicious form, and the chief among all Devas, may you reside in our hearts along with Ram, Lakshman and Sita.
पवनतनय संकट हरन मंगल मूरति रूप।
राम लखन सीता सहित हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥

∼ Tulsidas

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