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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Adinath Chalisa – two opening dohas, forty chaupais, and a closing doha. A short English meaning sits below every verse. Toggle the script to read in Devanagari, romanized, or both side-by-side.
शीश नवा अरिहंत को, सिद्धन को, करूं प्रणाम। उपाध्याय आचार्य का, ले सुखकारी नाम॥
shisha nava arihamta ko, siddhana ko, karum pranama| upadhyaya acharya ka, le sukhakari nama||
Opening invocation – salutation to Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जै जै आदिनाथ जिन स्वामी। तीनकाल तिहूं जग में नामी॥
jai jai adinatha jina svami| tinakala tihum jaga mem nami||
Verse 1 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
वेष दिगम्बर धार रहे हो। कर्मो को तुम मार रहे हो॥
vesha digambara dhara rahe ho| karmo ko tuma mara rahe ho||
Verse 2 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
हो सर्वज्ञ बात सब जानो। सारी दुनियां को पहचानो॥
ho sarvaj~na bata saba jano| sari duniyam ko pahachano||
Verse 3 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
नगर अयोध्या जो कहलाये। राजा नाभिराज बतलाये॥
nagara ayodhya jo kahalaye| raja nabhiraja batalaye||
Verse 4 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
मरुदेवी माता के उदर से। चैत वदी नवमी को जन्मे॥
marudevi mata ke udara se| chaita vadi navami ko janme||
Verse 5 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
तुमने जग को ज्ञान सिखाया। कर्मभूमी का बीज उपाया॥
tumane jaga ko j~nana sikhaya| karmabhumi ka bija upaya||
Verse 6 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
कल्पवृक्ष जब लगे बिछरने। जनता आई दुखड़ा कहने॥
kalpavrriksha jaba lage bicharane| janata ai dukha.da kahane||
Verse 7 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
खेती करना भी सिखलाया। न्याय दण्ड आदिक समझाया॥
kheti karana bhi sikhalaya| nyaya danda adika samajhaya||
Verse 8 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
तुमने राज किया नीति का। सबक आपसे जग ने सीखा॥
tumane raja kiya niti ka| sabaka apase jaga ne sikha||
Verse 9 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
पुत्र आपका भरत बताया। चक्रवर्ती जग में कहलाया॥
putra apaka bharata bataya| chakravarti jaga mem kahalaya||
Verse 10 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
बाहुबली जो पुत्र तुम्हारे। भरत से पहले मोक्ष सिधारे॥
bahubali jo putra tumhare| bharata se pahale moksha sidhare||
Verse 11 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
सुता आपकी दो बतलाई। ब्राह्मी और सुन्दरी कहलाई॥
suta apaki do batalai| brahmi aura sundari kahalai||
Verse 12 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
उनको भी विध्या सिखलाई। अक्षर और गिनती बतलाई॥
unako bhi vidhya sikhalai| akshara aura ginati batalai||
Verse 13 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
एक दिन राजसभा के अंदर। एक अप्सरा नाच रही थी॥
eka dina rajasabha ke amdara| eka apsara nacha rahi thi||
Verse 14 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
आयु उसकी बहुत अल्प थी। इसलिए आगे नहीं नाच रही थी॥
ayu usaki bahuta alpa thi| isalie age nahim nacha rahi thi||
Verse 15 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
विलय हो गया उसका सत्वर। झट आया वैराग्य उमड़कर॥
vilaya ho gaya usaka satvara| jhata aya vairagya uma.dakara||
Verse 16 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
बेटो को झट पास बुलाया। राज पाट सब में बंटवाया॥
beto ko jhata pasa bulaya| raja pata saba mem bamtavaya||
Verse 17 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
छोड़ सभी झंझट संसारी। वन जाने की करी तैयारी॥
cho.da sabhi jhamjhata samsari| vana jane ki kari taiyari||
Verse 18 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
राव हजारों साथ सिधाए। राजपाट तज वन को धाये॥
rava hajarom satha sidhae| rajapata taja vana ko dhaye||
Verse 19 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
लेकिन जब तुमने तप किना। सबने अपना रस्ता लीना॥
lekina jaba tumane tapa kina| sabane apana rasta lina||
Verse 20 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
वेष दिगम्बर तजकर सबने। छाल आदि के कपड़े पहने॥
vesha digambara tajakara sabane| chala adi ke kapa.de pahane||
Verse 21 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
भूख प्यास से जब घबराये। फल आदिक खा भूख मिटाये॥
bhukha pyasa se jaba ghabaraye| phala adika kha bhukha mitaye||
Verse 22 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
तीन सौ त्रेसठ धर्म फैलाये। जो अब दुनियां में दिखलाये॥
tina sau tresatha dharma phailaye| jo aba duniyam mem dikhalaye||
Verse 23 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
छै: महीने तक ध्यान लगाये। फिर भजन करने को धाये॥
chai: mahine taka dhyana lagaye| phira bhajana karane ko dhaye||
Verse 24 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
भोजन विधि जाने नहि कोय। कैसे प्रभु का भोजन होय॥
bhojana vidhi jane nahi koya| kaise prabhu ka bhojana hoya||
Verse 25 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
इसी तरह बस चलते चलते। छः महीने भोजन बिन बीते॥
isi taraha basa chalate chalate| chah mahine bhojana bina bite||
Verse 26 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
नगर हस्तिनापुर में आये। राजा सोम श्रेयांस बताए॥
nagara hastinapura mem aye| raja soma shreyamsa batae||
Verse 27 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
याद तभी पिछला भव आया। तुमको फौरन ही पड़धाया॥
yada tabhi pichala bhava aya| tumako phaurana hi pa.dadhaya||
Verse 28 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
रस गन्ने का तुमने पाया। दुनिया को उपदेश सुनाया॥
rasa ganne ka tumane paya| duniya ko upadesha sunaya||
Verse 29 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
जन्म दरिद्री होय जो। होय कुबेर समान॥
janma daridri hoya jo| hoya kubera samana||
Verse 30 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
नाम वंश जग में चले। जिनके नहीं संतान॥
nama vamsha jaga mem chale| jinake nahim samtana||
Verse 31 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
तप कर केवल ज्ञान पाया। मोक्ष गए सब जग हर्षाया॥
tapa kara kevala j~nana paya| moksha gae saba jaga harshaya||
Verse 32 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
अतिशय युक्त तुम्हारा मन्दिर। चांदखेड़ी भंवरे के अंदर॥
atishaya yukta tumhara mandira| chamdakhe.di bhamvare ke amdara||
Verse 33 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
उसका यह अतिशय बतलाया। कष्ट क्लेश का होय सफाया॥
usaka yaha atishaya batalaya| kashta klesha ka hoya saphaya||
Verse 34 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
मानतुंग पर दया दिखाई। जंजीरे सब काट गिराई॥
manatumga para daya dikhai| jamjire saba kata girai||
Verse 35 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
राजसभा में मान बढ़ाया। जैन धर्म जग में फैलाया॥
rajasabha mem mana baढ़aya| jaina dharma jaga mem phailaya||
Verse 36 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
मुझ पर भी महिमा दिखलाओ। कष्ट भक्त का दूर भगाओ॥
mujha para bhi mahima dikhalao| kashta bhakta ka dura bhagao||
Verse 37 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
पाठ करे चालीसा दिन, नित चालीसा ही बार। चांदखेड़ी में आय के, खेवे धूप अपार॥
patha kare chalisa dina, nita chalisa hi bara| chamdakhe.di mem aya ke, kheve dhupa apara||
Verse 38 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
जन्म दरिद्री होय जो, होय कुबेर समान। नाम वंश जग में चले, जिनके नहीं संतान॥
janma daridri hoya jo, hoya kubera samana| nama vamsha jaga mem chale, jinake nahim samtana||
Verse 39 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
प्रभु की इसी दिव्य जीवन यात्रा और उनके त्याग का एक भक्तिपूर्ण काव्यात्मक वर्णन है। आरती संग्रह
prabhu ki isi divya jivana yatra aura unake tyaga ka eka bhaktipurna kavyatmaka varnana hai| arati samgraha
Verse 40 of the Adinath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev in the Chalisa structure.
Why this chalisa
What the Adinath Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev-bhakti
Many homes recite the Adinath Chalisa as part of the morning paath. The 40-verse text takes about seven minutes at a comfortable pace and serves as the daily devotional anchor.
For festival days
Adinath Jayanti & Mahavira Jayanti and the major Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev festivals are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 or 21 paaths on these days.
For specific intentions
Many devotees take vows of 11, 21, 41, or 108 paaths over a fixed period for specific intentions – marriage, fertility, illness recovery, court matter. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical or professional advice.)
Companion to wider tradition worship
Pair with related Chalisas of the same family or sampradaya for the complete daily practice. Adinath (Rishabhdev) is the first Tirthankar in Jain tradition; central to Palitana, Sammed Shikhar, and Mount Abu pilgrimages
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev shrines.
For households where Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev is the kuldevta
For households where Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Adinath Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Bhagwan Adinath. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to Jain tradition. Adinath (Rishabhdev) is the first Tirthankar in Jain tradition; central to Palitana, Sammed Shikhar, and Mount Abu pilgrimages
Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev-bhakti accessible for daily householders without requiring extensive Sanskrit liturgy.
The Chalisa's narrative and iconography establish the central devotional connection. The verses move through praise of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev's form and qualities, narrative episodes from popular tradition, and personal petition – the standard Chalisa structure inherited from the Hanuman Chalisa.
The Chalisa's wider companions are Mahaveer Chalisa, Saraswati Chalisa, and Lakshmi Chalisa. Pair as appropriate for the daily practice.
How to recite
A simple, sustainable approach. Nothing here is a hard rule – devotion shapes the form, not the other way around.
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Preparation
Bathe and wear clean clothes. Sit facing East. Traditional offerings to Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev: white flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. White flowers, simple offerings, no animal-derived items per Jain tradition.
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Posture and start
Sit cross-legged with your spine straight. Bow once. Take a moment of silence. If reciting for a specific intention, offer a brief sankalp.
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Recitation
Move through the chaupais without rushing. Read with attention to the meaning of each verse. Adinath is honoured by Jains as the first Tirthankar; recite with attention to the Jain-Tirthankar tradition.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Bhagwan Adinath / Rishabhdev if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Adinath Jayanti & Mahavira Jayanti is auspicious. Adinath Jayanti is the central festival. Paryushana (annual fast period) is a major Jain observance.