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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Banke Bihari 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.
बांकी चितवन कटि लचक, बांके चरन रसाल । स्वामी श्री हरिदास के बांके बिहारी लाल॥
bamki chitavana kati lachaka, bamke charana rasala | svami shri haridasa ke bamke bihari lala||
Opening invocation – salutation to Banke Bihari ji and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
हम आये हैं शरण तिहारी॥ स्वामी श्री हरिदास के प्यारे ।
hama aye haim sharana tihari|| svami shri haridasa ke pyare |
Verse 1 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
भक्तजनन के नित रखवारे॥ श्याम स्वरूप मधुर मुसिकाते ।
bhaktajanana ke nita rakhavare|| shyama svarupa madhura musikate |
Verse 2 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
बड़े-बड़े नैन नेह बरसाते॥ पटका पाग पीताम्बर शोभा ।
ba.de-ba.de naina neha barasate|| pataka paga pitambara shobha |
Verse 3 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
सिर सिरपेच देख मन लोभा॥ तिरछी पाग मोती लर बाँकी ।
sira sirapecha dekha mana lobha|| tirachi paga moti lara ba.nki |
Verse 4 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
सीस टिपारे सुन्दर झाँकी॥ मोर पाँख की लटक निराली ।
sisa tipare sundara jha.nki|| mora pa.nkha ki lataka nirali |
Verse 5 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
कानन कुण्डल लट घुँघराली॥ नथ बुलाक पै तन-मन वारी ।
kanana kundala lata ghu.ngharali|| natha bulaka pai tana-mana vari |
Verse 6 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
मंद हसन लागै अति प्यारी॥ तिरछी ग्रीव कण्ठ मनि माला ।
mamda hasana lagai ati pyari|| tirachi griva kantha mani mala |
Verse 7 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
उर पै गुंजा हार रसाला॥ काँधे साजे सुन्दर पटका ।
ura pai gumja hara rasala|| ka.ndhe saje sundara pataka |
Verse 8 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
गोटा किरन मोतिन के लटका॥ भुज में पहिर अँगरखा झीनौ ।
gota kirana motina ke lataka|| bhuja mem pahira a.ngarakha jhinau |
Verse 9 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
कटि काछनी अंग ढक लीनौ॥ कमर-बांध की लटकन न्यारी ।
kati kachani amga dhaka linau|| kamara-bamdha ki latakana nyari |
Verse 10 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
चरन छुपाये श्री बाँकेबिहारी॥ इकलाई पीछे ते आई ।
charana chupaye shri ba.nkebihari|| ikalai piche te ai |
Verse 11 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
दूनी शोभा दई बढाई॥ गद्दी सेवा पास बिराजै ।
duni shobha dai badhai|| gaddi seva pasa birajai |
Verse 12 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
श्री हरिदास छवी अतिराजै॥ घंटी बाजे बजत न आगै ।
shri haridasa chavi atirajai|| ghamti baje bajata na agai |
Verse 13 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
झाँकी परदा पुनि-पुनि लागै॥ सोने-चाँदी के सिंहासन ।
jha.nki parada puni-puni lagai|| sone-cha.ndi ke simhasana |
Verse 14 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
छत्र लगी मोती की लटकन॥ बांके तिरछे सुधर पुजारी ।
chatra lagi moti ki latakana|| bamke tirache sudhara pujari |
Verse 15 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
तिनकी हू छवि लागे प्यारी॥ अतर फुलेल लगाय सिहावैं ।
tinaki hu chavi lage pyari|| atara phulela lagaya sihavaim |
Verse 16 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
गुलाब जल केशर बरसावै॥ दूध-भात नित भोग लगावैं ।
gulaba jala keshara barasavai|| dudha-bhata nita bhoga lagavaim |
Verse 17 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
छप्पन-भोग भोग में आवैं॥ मगसिर सुदी पंचमी आई ।
chappana-bhoga bhoga mem avaim|| magasira sudi pamchami ai |
Verse 18 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
सो बिहार पंचमी कहाई॥ आई बिहार पंचमी जबते ।
so bihara pamchami kahai|| ai bihara pamchami jabate |
Verse 19 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
उड़त गुलाल कुमकुमा लावैं॥ फूल डोल बैठे पिय प्यारी ।
u.data gulala kumakuma lavaim|| phula dola baithe piya pyari |
Verse 20 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
कुंज विहारिन कुंज बिहारी॥ जुगल सरूप एक मूरत में ।
kumja viharina kumja bihari|| jugala sarupa eka murata mem |
Verse 21 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
लखौ बिहारी जी मूरत में॥ श्याम सरूप हैं बाँकेबिहारी ।
lakhau bihari ji murata mem|| shyama sarupa haim ba.nkebihari |
Verse 22 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
श्री राधा प्यारी॥
shri radha pyari||
Verse 23 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
डोल-एकादशी डोल सजावैं । फूल फल छवी चमकावैं॥
dola-ekadashi dola sajavaim | phula phala chavi chamakavaim||
Verse 24 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
अखैतीज पै चरन दिखावैं । दूर-दूर के प्रेमी आवैं॥
akhaitija pai charana dikhavaim | dura-dura ke premi avaim||
Verse 25 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
गर्मिन भर फूलन के बँगला । पटका हार फुलन के झँगला॥
garmina bhara phulana ke ba.ngala | pataka hara phulana ke jha.ngala||
Verse 26 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
शीतल भोग , फुहारें चलते । गोटा के पंखा नित झूलते॥
shitala bhoga , phuharem chalate | gota ke pamkha nita jhulate||
Verse 27 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
हरियाली तीजन का झूला । बड़ी भीड़ प्रेमी मन फूला॥
hariyali tijana ka jhula | ba.di bhi.da premi mana phula||
Verse 28 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
जन्माष्टमी मंगला आरती ।
janmashtami mamgala arati |
Verse 29 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
राधा अष्टमी की चाव सवारी॥ शरद चाँदनी मुकट धरावैं ।
radha ashtami ki chava savari|| sharada cha.ndani mukata dharavaim |
Verse 30 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
मुरलीधर के दर्शन पावैं॥
muralidhara ke darshana pavaim||
Verse 31 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
दीप दीवारी हटरी दर्शन । निरखत सुख पावै प्रेमी मन॥
dipa divari hatari darshana | nirakhata sukha pavai premi mana||
Verse 32 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
जो कोई तुम्हें प्रेम ते ध्यावें। सोई सुख वांछित फल पावैं॥
jo koi tumhem prema te dhyavem| soi sukha vamchita phala pavaim||
Verse 33 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
तुम हो दिनबन्धु ब्रज-नायक । मैं हूँ दीन सुनो सुखदायक॥
tuma ho dinabandhu braja-nayaka | maim hu.n dina suno sukhadayaka||
Verse 34 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
मैं आया तेरे द्वार भिखारी । कृपा करो श्री बाँकेबिहारी॥
maim aya tere dvara bhikhari | krripa karo shri ba.nkebihari||
Verse 35 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
दिन दुःखी संकट हरते । भक्तन पै अनुकम्पा करते॥
dina duhkhi samkata harate | bhaktana pai anukampa karate||
Verse 36 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
मैं हूँ सेवक नाथ तुम्हारो । बालक के अपराध बिसारो॥
maim hu.n sevaka natha tumharo | balaka ke aparadha bisaro||
Verse 37 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
मोकूँ जग संकट ने घेरौ । तुम बिन कौन हरै दुख मेरौ॥
moku.n jaga samkata ne gherau | tuma bina kauna harai dukha merau||
Verse 38 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
विपदा ते प्रभु आप बचाऔ । कृपा करो मोकूँ अपनाऔ॥
vipada te prabhu apa bachaau | krripa karo moku.n apanaau||
Verse 39 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
श्री अज्ञान मंद-मति भारि । दया करो श्रीबाँकेबिहारी॥
shri aj~nana mamda-mati bhari | daya karo shriba.nkebihari||
Verse 40 of the Banke Bihari Chalisa – praise of Banke Bihari ji in the Chalisa structure.
ऐसी मन कर देउ मैं , निरखूँ श्याम-श्याम ।
aisi mana kara deu maim , nirakhu.n shyama-shyama |
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
प्रेम बिन्दु दृग ते झरें, वृन्दावन विश्राम॥
prema bindu drriga te jharem, vrrindavana vishrama||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Banke Bihari Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Banke Bihari ji-bhakti
Many homes recite the Banke Bihari 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
Wednesday & Janmashtami and the major Banke Bihari ji 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. Banke Bihari is the Krishna-form at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan; the swyambhu murti revealed by Swami Haridas in the 16th century
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Banke Bihari ji shrines.
For households where Banke Bihari ji is the kuldevta
For households where Banke Bihari ji is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Banke Bihari Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Banke Bihari. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Banke Bihari is the Krishna-form at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan; the swyambhu murti revealed by Swami Haridas in the 16th century
Banke Bihari ji is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Banke Bihari ji-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 Banke Bihari ji'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 Krishna Chalisa, Radha Chalisa, and Gopal 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 Banke Bihari ji: yellow flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Yellow flowers, makhan, mishri, tulsi leaves, peacock feathers. Banke Bihari is offered nitya bhoga.
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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. Banke Bihari is the central Vrindavan-Krishna form; recite with the Brij-bhakti devotional emphasis. Note: at Banke Bihari mandir, no bell is rung as the murti is considered too lively.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Banke Bihari ji if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Wednesday & Janmashtami is auspicious. Krishna Janmashtami is the central festival. Holi at Banke Bihari mandir is famous worldwide.