Saraswati Chalisa — Lyrics with Meaning

Doha

Janak janani padmaraj, nij mastak par dhari | Bandaun matu Saraswati, buddhi bal de datari ||

Placing the dust of my parents' lotus feet on my head, I bow to Mother Saraswati; O giver, grant me wisdom and strength.

Doha

Poorn jagat mein vyapt tav, mahima amit anantu | Dushtajanon ke paap ko, matu tu hi ab hantu ||

Your boundless, endless glory fills the whole world; O Mother, you alone can now destroy the wrongs of the wicked.

Chaupai 1

Jai Shri sakal buddhi balrasi | Jai sarvagya amar avinashi ||

Glory to you, store of all wisdom and strength; glory to you, all-knowing, immortal and undying Mother.

Chaupai 2

Jai jai jai veenakar dhari | Karti sada suhans savari ||

Glory to the Mother who holds the veena and always rides a graceful swan.

Chaupai 3

Roop chaturbhuj dhari Mata | Sakal vishva andar vikhyata ||

O four-armed Mother, you are known throughout the whole world.

Chaupai 4

Jag mein paap buddhi jab hoti | Tab hi dharm ki pheeki jyoti ||

When wrong thinking spreads in the world, the light of dharma grows dim.

Chaupai 5

Tab hi matu ka nij avtari | Paap heen karti mahtari ||

Then the Mother herself appears and frees the world from wrongdoing.

Chaupai 6

Valmikiji the hatyara | Tav prasad jaanai sansara ||

Valmiki was once a violent robber; by your grace the whole world now knows him.

Chaupai 7

Ramcharit jo rache banai | Aadi kavi ki padvi pai ||

He composed the Ramayan and earned the title of 'first poet'.

Chaupai 8

Kalidas jo bhaye vikhyata | Teri kripa drishti se Mata ||

Kalidas became famous, O Mother, only through your kind glance.

Chaupai 9

Tulsi Sur aadi vidvana | Bhaye aur jo gyani nana ||

Tulsidas, Surdas and many other scholars and wise people,

Chaupai 10

Tinh na aur raheu avlamba | Keval kripa aapki Amba ||

had no other support; O Mother, your grace alone was their strength.

Chaupai 11

Karahu kripa soi matu Bhavani | Dukhit deen nij dasahi jaani ||

O Mother Bhavani, knowing me as your troubled and humble servant, show me the same grace.

Chaupai 12

Putra karahin apradh bahuta | Tehi na dharai chit Mata ||

A child makes many mistakes, but a mother does not hold them in her heart.

Chaupai 13

Rakhu laaj janani ab meri | Vinay karaun bhanti bahu teri ||

O Mother, protect my honour now; I pray to you in many ways.

Chaupai 14

Main anath teri avlamba | Kripa karau jai jai Jagdamba ||

I am without support and lean only on you; be kind, O Mother of the world, glory to you.

Chaupai 15

Madhukaitabh jo ati balvana | Bahuyuddh Vishnu se thana ||

The mighty demons Madhu and Kaitabh began a wrestling fight with Vishnu.

Chaupai 16

Samar hajar paanch mein ghora | Phir bhi mukh unse nahin mora ||

The terrible battle went on for five thousand years, yet they did not turn back.

Chaupai 17

Matu sahay keenh tehi kala | Buddhi vipreet bhai khalhala ||

Then the Mother helped, and the minds of those wicked ones were turned upside down.

Chaupai 18

Tehi te mrityu bhai khal keri | Puravahu matu manorath meri ||

That is how the wicked ones met their end; O Mother, fulfil my wish too.

Chaupai 19

Chand Mund jo the vikhyata | Kshan mahu sanhare un Mata ||

The well-known demons Chand and Mund were slain by the Mother in an instant.

Chaupai 20

Rakt Beej se samarath paapi | Surmuni hriday dhara sab kanpi ||

Before a powerful sinner like Raktabeej, gods, sages and the whole earth trembled.

Chaupai 21

Kateu sir jimi kadli khamba | Baarbaar binvaun Jagdamba ||

The Mother cut off his head like a banana stem; O Jagdamba, I bow to you again and again.

Chaupai 22

Jagprasiddh jo Shumbh-Nishumbha | Kshan mein baandhe tahi tu Amba ||

Even the world-famous Shumbh and Nishumbh, O Mother, you overcame in a moment.

Chaupai 23

Bharatmatu buddhi phereu jaai | Ramchandra banvas karai ||

You turned the mind of Kaikeyi, Bharat's mother, which led to Shri Ram's exile to the forest.

Chaupai 24

Ehividhi Ravan vadh tu keenha | Sur narmuni sabko sukh deenha ||

In this way you brought about Ravan's end and gave joy to gods, humans and sages alike.

Chaupai 25

Ko samarath tav yash gun gana | Nigam anadi anant bakhana ||

Who is able to sing your glory and virtues? The Vedas call you without beginning and without end.

Chaupai 26

Vishnu Rudra jas kahin maari | Jinki ho tum rakshakari ||

Even Vishnu and Rudra, whom you yourself protect, cannot fully describe your glory.

Chaupai 27

Rakt Dantika aur Shatakshi | Naam apar hai danav bhakshi ||

Raktadantika and Shatakshi — O destroyer of demons, your names are countless.

Chaupai 28

Durgam kaaj dhara par keenha | Durga naam sakal jag leenha ||

You did the hardest of deeds on earth, so the whole world calls you Durga.

Chaupai 29

Durg aadi harni tu Mata | Kripa karahu jab jab sukhdata ||

O Mother, you take away hardships; O giver of happiness, be kind whenever I call.

Chaupai 30

Nrip kopit ko maaran chahe | Kanan mein ghere mrig nahe ||

When an angry king wants to kill someone, or when lions surround one in the forest,

Chaupai 31

Sagar madhya pot ke bhanje | Ati toofan nahin kou sange ||

when a boat breaks apart in a fierce storm at sea and no one is there to help,

Chaupai 32

Bhoot pret badha ya dukh mein | Ho daridra athva sankat mein ||

in fear of spirits, in sorrow, in poverty or in any danger,

Chaupai 33

Naam jape mangal sab hoi | Sanshay ismein karai na koi ||

chanting the Mother's name brings all good — let no one doubt this, says the Chalisa.

Chaupai 34

Putraheen jo aatur bhai | Sabai chhandi poojen ehi bhai ||

Those who long for a child may set all else aside and worship the Mother in this way.

Chaupai 35

Karai paath nit yah Chalisa | Hoy putra sundar gun eesha ||

Whoever reads this Chalisa daily is blessed with a fine and virtuous child — so it is believed.

Chaupai 36

Dhoopadik naivedya chadhavai | Sankat rahit avashya ho javai ||

Whoever offers incense and food is freed from troubles — so the Chalisa says.

Chaupai 37

Bhakti matu ki karain hamesha | Nikat na aavai tahi kalesha ||

Sorrow does not come near those who always worship the Mother.

Chaupai 38

Bandi paath karen sat bara | Bandi paash door ho sara ||

A prisoner who recites it a hundred times is freed from all bonds — so the Chalisa says.

Chaupai 39

Ramsagar baandhi hetu Bhavani | Keejai kripa daas nij jaani ||

O Bhavani, knowing Ramsagar, bound by worldly ties, as your own servant, be kind to him.

Doha

Matu Surya kanti tav, andhkar mam roop | Dooban se raksha karahu, parun na main bhav koop ||

O Mother, you shine like the sun and I am like darkness; save me from drowning, so I do not fall into the well of worldly life.

Doha

Bal buddhi vidya dehu mohi, sunahu Saraswati matu | Ram Sagar adham ko, aashray tu hi dedatu ||

Hear me, Mother Saraswati — give me strength, wisdom and learning. Give shelter to this lowly Ramsagar; you alone can.