The Chitragupt Chalisa (चित्रगुप्त चालीसा) is the household hymn to Chitragupt. The Chalisa establishes Bhagwan Chitragupt's iconography, narrative, and devotional connection across 38 chaupais framed by an opening doha and 2 closing doha. Chitragupt is honoured as the Kayastha-community kuldevta; Bhai Dooj is the central Chitragupt-Puja day.

Many devotees recite the Chitragupt Chalisa on Bhai Dooj & Yama Dwitiya, with extra paaths during Bhai Dooj (Kartik Shukla Dwitiya), Chitragupt Puja. The Chalisa is the daily anchor for households where Bhagwan Chitragupt is the kuldevta or ishta-devata. The verses move through praise, narrative, and personal petition – the standard Chalisa structure.

This page has the full Chitragupt Chalisa with lyrics in Devanagari and Romanized English. Pair with related Chalisas like the Yama Chalisa, Hanuman Chalisa, and Shiv Chalisa for the wider household practice.

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Chitragupt Chalisa with Lyrics
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Lyrics with meaning

The complete Chitragupt 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.

Opening Doha

सुमिर चित्रगुप्त ईश को, सतत नवाऊ शीश। ब्रह्मा विष्णु महेश सह, रिनिहा भए जगदीश॥

sumira chitragupta isha ko, satata navau shisha| brahma vishnu mahesha saha, riniha bhae jagadisha||

Opening invocation – salutation to Bhagwan Chitragupt and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.

Chaupai 1

जय चित्रगुप्त ज्ञान रत्नाकर। जय यमेश दिगंत उजागर॥

jaya chitragupta j~nana ratnakara| jaya yamesha digamta ujagara||

Verse 1 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 2

अज सहाय अवतरेउ गुसांई। कीन्हेउ काज ब्रम्ह कीनाई॥

aja sahaya avatareu gusami| kinheu kaja bramha kinai||

Verse 2 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 3

श्रृष्टि सृजनहित अजमन जांचा। भांति-भांति के जीवन राचा॥

shrrrishti srrijanahita ajamana jamcha| bhamti-bhamti ke jivana racha||

Verse 3 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 4

अज की रचना मानव संदर। मानव मति अज होइ निरूत्तर॥

aja ki rachana manava samdara| manava mati aja hoi niruttara||

Verse 4 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 5

भए प्रकट चित्रगुप्त सहाई। धर्माधर्म गुण ज्ञान कराई॥

bhae prakata chitragupta sahai| dharmadharma guna j~nana karai||

Verse 5 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 6

राचेउ धरम धरम जग मांही। धर्म अवतार लेत तुम पांही॥

racheu dharama dharama jaga mamhi| dharma avatara leta tuma pamhi||

Verse 6 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 7

अहम विवेकइ तुमहि विधाता। निज सत्ता पा करहिं कुघाता॥

ahama vivekai tumahi vidhata| nija satta pa karahim kughata||

Verse 7 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 8

श्रष्टि संतुलन के तुम स्वामी। त्रय देवन कर शक्ति समानी॥

shrashti samtulana ke tuma svami| traya devana kara shakti samani||

Verse 8 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 9

पाप मृत्यु जग में तुम लाए। भयका भूत सकल जग छाए॥

papa mrrityu jaga mem tuma lae| bhayaka bhuta sakala jaga chae||

Verse 9 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 10

महाकाल के तुम हो साक्षी। ब्रम्हउ मरन न जान मीनाक्षी॥

mahakala ke tuma ho sakshi| bramhau marana na jana minakshi||

Verse 10 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 11

धर्म कृष्ण तुम जग उपजायो। कर्म क्षेत्र गुण ज्ञान करायो॥

dharma krrishna tuma jaga upajayo| karma kshetra guna j~nana karayo||

Verse 11 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 12

राम धर्म हित जग पगु धारे। मानवगुण सदगुण अति प्यारे॥

rama dharma hita jaga pagu dhare| manavaguna sadaguna ati pyare||

Verse 12 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 13

विष्णु चक्र पर तुमहि विराजें। पालन धर्म करम शुचि साजे॥

vishnu chakra para tumahi virajem| palana dharma karama shuchi saje||

Verse 13 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 14

महादेव के तुम त्रय लोचन। प्रेरकशिव अस ताण्डव नर्तन॥

mahadeva ke tuma traya lochana| prerakashiva asa tandava nartana||

Verse 14 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 15

सावित्री पर कृपा निराली। विद्यानिधि माँ सब जग आली॥

savitri para krripa nirali| vidyanidhi ma.n saba jaga ali||

Verse 15 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 16

रमा भाल पर कर अति दाया। श्रीनिधि अगम अकूत अगाया॥

rama bhala para kara ati daya| shrinidhi agama akuta agaya||

Verse 16 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 17

ऊमा विच शक्ति शुचि राच्यो। जाकेबिन शिव शव जग बाच्यो॥

uma vicha shakti shuchi rachyo| jakebina shiva shava jaga bachyo||

Verse 17 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 18

गुरू बृहस्पति सुर पति नाथा। जाके कर्म गहइ तव हाथा॥

guru brrihaspati sura pati natha| jake karma gahai tava hatha||

Verse 18 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 19

रावण कंस सकल मतवारे। तव प्रताप सब सरग सिधारे॥

ravana kamsa sakala matavare| tava pratapa saba saraga sidhare||

Verse 19 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 20

प्रथम् पूज्य गणपति महदेवा। सोउ करत तुम्हारी सेवा॥

pratham pujya ganapati mahadeva| sou karata tumhari seva||

Verse 20 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 21

रिद्धि सिद्धि पाय द्वैनारी। विघ्न हरण शुभ काज संवारी॥

riddhi siddhi paya dvainari| vighna harana shubha kaja samvari||

Verse 21 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 22

व्यास चहइ रच वेद पुराना। गणपति लिपिबध हितमन ठाना॥

vyasa chahai racha veda purana| ganapati lipibadha hitamana thana||

Verse 22 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 23

पोथी मसि शुचि लेखनी दीन्हा। असवर देय जगत कृत कीन्हा॥

pothi masi shuchi lekhani dinha| asavara deya jagata krrita kinha||

Verse 23 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 24

लेखनि मसि सह कागद कोरा। तव प्रताप अजु जगत मझोरा॥

lekhani masi saha kagada kora| tava pratapa aju jagata majhora||

Verse 24 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 25

विद्या विनय पराक्रम भारी। तुम आधार जगत आभारी॥

vidya vinaya parakrama bhari| tuma adhara jagata abhari||

Verse 25 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 26

द्वादस पूत जगत अस लाए। राशी चक्र आधार सुहाए॥

dvadasa puta jagata asa lae| rashi chakra adhara suhae||

Verse 26 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 27

जस पूता तस राशि रचाना। ज्योतिष केतुम जनक महाना॥

jasa puta tasa rashi rachana| jyotisha ketuma janaka mahana||

Verse 27 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 28

तिथी लगन होरा दिग्दर्शन। चारि अष्ट चित्रांश सुदर्शन॥

tithi lagana hora digdarshana| chari ashta chitramsha sudarshana||

Verse 28 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 29

राशी नखत जो जातक धारे। धरम करम फल तुमहि अधारे॥

rashi nakhata jo jataka dhare| dharama karama phala tumahi adhare||

Verse 29 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 30

राम कृष्ण गुरूवर गृह जाई। प्रथम गुरू महिमा गुण गाई॥

rama krrishna guruvara grriha jai| prathama guru mahima guna gai||

Verse 30 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 31

श्री गणेश तव बंदन कीना। कर्म अकर्म तुमहि आधीना॥

shri ganesha tava bamdana kina| karma akarma tumahi adhina||

Verse 31 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 32

देववृत जप तप वृत कीन्हा। इच्छा मृत्यु परम वर दीन्हा॥

devavrrita japa tapa vrrita kinha| ichcha mrrityu parama vara dinha||

Verse 32 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 33

धर्महीन सौदास कुराजा। तप तुम्हार बैकुण्ठ विराजा॥

dharmahina saudasa kuraja| tapa tumhara baikuntha viraja||

Verse 33 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 34

हरि पद दीन्ह धर्म हरि नामा। कायथ परिजन परम पितामा॥

hari pada dinha dharma hari nama| kayatha parijana parama pitama||

Verse 34 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 35

शुर शुयशमा बन जामाता। क्षत्रिय विप्र सकल आदाता॥

shura shuyashama bana jamata| kshatriya vipra sakala adata||

Verse 35 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 36

जय जय चित्रगुप्त गुसांई। गुरूवर गुरू पद पाय सहाई॥

jaya jaya chitragupta gusami| guruvara guru pada paya sahai||

Verse 36 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 37

जो शत पाठ करइ चालीसा। जन्ममरण दुःख कटइ कलेसा॥

jo shata patha karai chalisa| janmamarana duhkha katai kalesa||

Verse 37 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 38

विनय करैं कुलदीप शुवेशा। राख पिता सम नेह हमेशा॥

vinaya karaim kuladipa shuvesha| rakha pita sama neha hamesha||

Verse 38 of the Chitragupt Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Chitragupt in the Chalisa structure.

Closing Doha

ज्ञान कलम, मसि सरस्वती, अंबर है मसिपात्र। कालचक्र की पुस्तिका, सदा रखे दंडास्त्र॥

j~nana kalama, masi sarasvati, ambara hai masipatra| kalachakra ki pustika, sada rakhe damdastra||

Closing doha sealing the recitation.

Closing Doha 2

पाप पुन्य लेखा करन, धार्यो चित्र स्वरूप। श्रृष्टिसंतुलन स्वामीसदा, सरग नरक कर भूप॥

papa punya lekha karana, dharyo chitra svarupa| shrrrishtisamtulana svamisada, saraga naraka kara bhupa||

Closing doha sealing the recitation.

Why this chalisa

What the Chitragupt Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.

Daily anchor for Bhagwan Chitragupt-bhakti

Many homes recite the Chitragupt Chalisa as part of the morning paath. The 38-verse text takes about seven minutes at a comfortable pace and serves as the daily devotional anchor.

For festival days

Bhai Dooj & Yama Dwitiya and the major Bhagwan Chitragupt 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. Chitragupt is honoured as the Kayastha-community kuldevta; Bhai Dooj is the central Chitragupt-Puja day

For pilgrim recitation

The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Bhagwan Chitragupt shrines.

For households where Bhagwan Chitragupt is the kuldevta

For households where Bhagwan Chitragupt is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.

Origin

The Chitragupt Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Chitragupt. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Chitragupt is honoured as the Kayastha-community kuldevta; Bhai Dooj is the central Chitragupt-Puja day

Bhagwan Chitragupt is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Bhagwan Chitragupt-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 Chitragupt'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 Yama Chalisa, Hanuman Chalisa, and Shiv 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.

  1. Preparation

    Bathe and wear clean clothes. Sit facing South. Traditional offerings to Bhagwan Chitragupt: yellow flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Traditional offerings include yellow flowers, fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Specific to Bhagwan Chitragupt traditions.

  2. 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.

  3. Recitation

    Move through the chaupais without rushing. Read with attention to the meaning of each verse. Recite with attention to the Bhagwan Chitragupt devotional emphasis as outlined in the verses.

  4. After

    Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Bhagwan Chitragupt if known.

  5. Daily practice and special days

    Bhai Dooj & Yama Dwitiya is auspicious. Bhai Dooj (Kartik Shukla Dwitiya), Chitragupt Puja are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 paaths during festivals.

Common questions

Why is the Chitragupt Chalisa linked to Bhai Dooj & Yama Dwitiya?
Bhai Dooj & Yama Dwitiya is the traditional day for Bhagwan Chitragupt-bhakti. Many homes recite the Chalisa as part of the Bhai Dooj & Yama Dwitiya morning paath.
How many paaths should I do during a vow?
The traditional anushthan counts are 11, 21, 41, or 108 paaths over a fixed period (often 41 days). For daily practice, 1 paath is sufficient. Choose a count that fits your schedule and stick to it for the full period.
Can it help during exams or hard periods?
Many devotees recite it during stretches of difficulty. The Chalisa is a verse of devotional faith and steadying practice; it is not a replacement for medical, legal, or professional advice. Use it alongside the practical work, not instead of it.
How does this differ from the Yama Chalisa, Hanuman Chalisa, and Shiv Chalisa?
Each Chalisa addresses a specific deity. The Chitragupt Chalisa is dedicated to Bhagwan Chitragupt. Many homes recite multiple Chalisas across the week – one for each devata as appropriate to the day or family tradition.
Are there restrictions on who can recite?
No. The Chalisa is for everyday recitation by all householders. There is no menstrual restriction in mainstream practice, though some families follow this convention; the Chalisa text itself does not require it.
Does language matter? My pronunciation isn't perfect.
Devotion matters more than perfect pronunciation. The Chalisa is in Hindi, not Sanskrit, which makes it accessible. Reading the romanized version on this page is fine. Many devotees do manasik paath (silent recitation in the heart).
Can I recite silently or while travelling?
Yes. Manasik paath is valid and widely practised. You can do this on the commute, during a long flight, or in any setting where audible recitation isn't appropriate.
Is there a special connection to the temples of Ujjain?
Bhagwan Chitragupt has shrines and traditions across India; Mahakaleshwar Ujjain has the wider Shaiva-Shakta connection. Aastha can guide pilgrims with combined Mahakaleshwar-related sequences.

Talk to Aastha

Looking for a Vedic puja in Ujjain?

Aastha is a small family in Ujjain that arranges Vedic pujas at Mahakaleshwar, Kaal Bhairav, Ram Ghat and other sacred sites. If a chalisa isn't quite what you need, we're here to listen. No pressure, no sales.

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