Ganesh Chalisa — Lyrics with Meaning

Doha

Jai Ganpati sadgun sadan, kavivar badan kripal | Vighna haran mangal karan, jai jai Girijalal ||

Victory to Ganpati, home of all virtues, wise as the finest poet and full of kindness. Glory to Girija's son, who removes obstacles and brings good.

Chaupai 1

Jai jai jai Ganpati Ganraju | Mangal bharan karan shubh kaju ||

Glory to Ganpati, king of the ganas, who fills life with blessings and makes every task auspicious.

Chaupai 2

Jai Gajbadan sadan sukhdata | Vishva Vinayak buddhi vidhata ||

Glory to the elephant-faced one, home and giver of happiness, leader of the world and giver of wisdom.

Chaupai 3

Vakra tund shuchi shund suhavan | Tilak tripund bhaal man bhavan ||

Your curved, pure trunk is lovely, and the three-line tilak on your forehead delights the heart.

Chaupai 4

Rajat mani muktan ur mala | Swarna mukut shir nayan vishala ||

A garland of gems and pearls adorns your chest, a golden crown sits on your head, and your eyes are large.

Chaupai 5

Pustak pani kuthar trishulam | Modak bhog sugandhit phoolam ||

In your hands are a book, an axe and a trident; you are offered modaks and fragrant flowers.

Chaupai 6

Sundar pitambar tan sajit | Charan paduka muni man rajit ||

Beautiful yellow garments adorn your body, and your sandals are cherished in the hearts of sages.

Chaupai 7

Dhani Shiv suvan Shadanan bhrata | Gauri lalan vishva-vikhyata ||

Blessed are you — son of Shiv, brother of Kartikeya, darling of Gauri, famous throughout the world.

Chaupai 8

Riddhi Siddhi tav chanvar sudhare | Mooshak vahan sohat dvare ||

Riddhi and Siddhi wave the royal fan over you, and your mouse vehicle waits gracefully at the door.

Chaupai 9

Kahaun janm shubh katha tumhari | Ati shuchi pavan mangalkari ||

Now I tell the blessed story of your birth, which is very pure and brings good fortune.

Chaupai 10

Ek samay Giriraj kumari | Putra hetu tap keenha bhari ||

Once Parvati, daughter of the king of mountains, did great penance to have a son.

Chaupai 11

Bhayo yagya jab poorn anupa | Tab pahunchyo tum dhari dwij roopa ||

When her wonderful yagya was complete, you arrived there in the form of a Brahmin.

Chaupai 12

Atithi jaani kai Gauri sukhari | Bahuvidhi seva kari tumhari ||

Knowing you to be a guest, Gauri was happy and served you in many ways.

Chaupai 13

Ati prasann hvai tum var deenha | Matu putra hit jo tap keenha ||

Greatly pleased, you granted the Mother a boon, since she had done penance for a son.

Chaupai 14

Milahi putra tuhi buddhi vishala | Bina garbh dharan yahi kala ||

You said: you will have a son of great wisdom, right now, without carrying him in the womb.

Chaupai 15

Gannayak gun gyan nidhana | Poojit pratham roop Bhagwana ||

He will be the leader of the ganas, a treasure of virtue and knowledge, and will be worshipped first as the Lord.

Chaupai 16

As kahi antardhan roop hvai | Palna par balak swaroop hvai ||

Saying this, you vanished and appeared in the cradle as a baby.

Chaupai 17

Bani shishu rudan jabahin tum thana | Lakhi mukh sukh nahin Gauri samana ||

When you began to cry as a baby, Gauri saw your face and her joy knew no bounds.

Chaupai 18

Sakal magan sukhmangal gavahin | Nabh te suran suman varshavahin ||

Everyone sang songs of joy, and the gods showered flowers from the sky.

Chaupai 19

Shambhu Uma bahudan lutavahin | Sur munijan sut dekhan aavahin ||

Shiv and Uma gave gifts freely, and gods and sages came to see the child.

Chaupai 20

Lakhi ati anand mangal saja | Dekhan bhi aaye Shani raja ||

Seeing such joy and celebration, Lord Shani also came to see the child.

Chaupai 21

Nij avgun guni Shani man mahin | Balak dekhan chahat nahin ||

Remembering the flaw in his own gaze, Shani did not want to look at the child.

Chaupai 22

Girija kachhu man bhed badhayo | Utsav mor na Shani tuhi bhayo ||

Girija felt a little hurt and said: Shani, do you not like my celebration?

Chaupai 23

Kahan lage Shani man sakuchai | Ka karihau shishu mohi dikhai ||

Shani hesitantly replied: what good will it do to show me the baby?

Chaupai 24

Nahin vishvas Uma ur bhayau | Shani son balak dekhan kahau ||

Uma did not believe him and asked Shani to look at the child.

Chaupai 25

Padtahin Shani drig kon prakasha | Balak sir udi gayo akasha ||

As soon as Shani's sideways glance fell on him, the child's head flew off into the sky.

Chaupai 26

Girija girin vikal hvai dharani | So dukh dasha gayo nahin varani ||

Girija fell to the ground in anguish; that grief cannot be described.

Chaupai 27

Hahakar machyo Kailasha | Shani keenho lakhi sut ko nasha ||

Cries of grief filled Kailash, since Shani's glance had destroyed the son.

Chaupai 28

Turat Garud chadhi Vishnu sidhayo | Kaati chakra so gaj shir laaye ||

Then Vishnu went at once on Garud and brought back an elephant's head cut with his discus.

Chaupai 29

Balak ke dhad upar dharyo | Pran mantra padhi Shankar daryo ||

He placed it on the child's body, and Shankar recited a mantra and breathed life into him.

Chaupai 30

Naam Ganesh Shambhu tab keenhe | Pratham poojya buddhi nidhi var deenhe ||

Then Shiv named him Ganesh and blessed him to be worshipped first and to be a treasure of wisdom.

Chaupai 31

Buddhi pareeksha jab Shiv keenha | Prithvi kar pradakshina leenha ||

When Shiv set a test of wisdom, he asked the sons to go around the earth.

Chaupai 32

Chale Shadanan bharami bhulai | Rache baith tum buddhi upai ||

Kartikeya rushed off to circle the earth, but you sat and thought of a wise solution.

Chaupai 33

Charan matu-pitu ke dhar leenhen | Tinke saat pradakshin keenhen ||

You touched your parents' feet and walked around them seven times.

Chaupai 34

Dhani Ganesh kahi Shiv hiy harshe | Nabh te suran suman bahu barse ||

Shiv rejoiced, saying 'Blessed are you, Ganesh', and the gods showered flowers from the sky.

Chaupai 35

Tumhari mahima buddhi badai | Shesh sahas mukh sakai na gai ||

Even Sheshnag with a thousand mouths cannot fully sing your glory and wisdom.

Chaupai 36

Main matiheen maleen dukhari | Karahun kaun vidhi vinay tumhari ||

I am of little wisdom, impure and troubled; how can I pray to you as I should?

Chaupai 37

Bhajat Ramsundar Prabhudasa | Jag Prayag Kakra Durvasa ||

Ramsundar, the Lord's servant, who lives at Kakra Durvasa near Prayag, sings your praise.

Chaupai 38

Ab Prabhu daya deen par keejai | Apni bhakti shakti kachhu deejai ||

O Lord, now have mercy on this humble one and give me a little of your devotion and strength.

Doha

Shri Ganesh yah Chalisa, paath karai kar dhyan | Nit nav mangal grih basai, lahe jagat sanman ||

Whoever reads this Shri Ganesh Chalisa with attention finds new blessings at home each day and earns respect in the world — so this doha says.

Doha

Samvat apan sahasra dash, Rishi Panchami dinesh | Pooran Chalisa bhayo, mangal murti Ganesh ||

The poet records that this Chalisa was completed on Rishi Panchami, a Sunday, in the year of his era; glory to Ganesh, the embodiment of blessings.