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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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. Recite with attention to the Bhagwan Chitragupt devotional emphasis as outlined in the verses.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Bhagwan Chitragupt if known.
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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.