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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Gopal 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.
सिर धरि यमुना कूल। सकल सुमंगल मूल॥
sira dhari yamuna kula| sakala sumamgala mula||
Opening invocation – salutation to Bal Gopal and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जय जय पूरण ब्रह्म बिहारी। दुष्ट दलन लीला अवतारी॥
jaya jaya purana brahma bihari| dushta dalana lila avatari||
Verse 1 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
जो कोई तुम्हरी लीला गावै। बिन श्रम सकल पदारथ पावै॥
jo koi tumhari lila gavai| bina shrama sakala padaratha pavai||
Verse 2 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
श्री वसुदेव देवकी माता। प्रकट भये संग हलधर भ्राता॥
shri vasudeva devaki mata| prakata bhaye samga haladhara bhrata||
Verse 3 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
मथुरा सों प्रभु गोकुल आये। नन्द भवन में बजत बधाये॥
mathura som prabhu gokula aye| nanda bhavana mem bajata badhaye||
Verse 4 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
जो विष देन पूतना आई। सो मुक्ति दै धाम पठाई॥
jo visha dena putana ai| so mukti dai dhama pathai||
Verse 5 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
तृणावर्त राक्षस संहार्यौ। पग बढ़ाय सकटासुर मार्यौ॥
trrinavarta rakshasa samharyau| paga baढ़aya sakatasura maryau||
Verse 6 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
खेल खेल में माटी खाई। मुख में सब जग दियो दिखाई॥
khela khela mem mati khai| mukha mem saba jaga diyo dikhai||
Verse 7 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
गोपिन घर घर माखन खायो। जसुमति बाल केलि सुख पायो॥
gopina ghara ghara makhana khayo| jasumati bala keli sukha payo||
Verse 8 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
ऊखल सों निज अंग बँधाई। यमलार्जुन जड़ योनि छुड़ाई॥
ukhala som nija amga ba.ndhai| yamalarjuna ja.da yoni chu.dai||
Verse 9 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
बका असुर की चोंच विदारी। विकट अघासुर दियो सँहारी॥
baka asura ki chomcha vidari| vikata aghasura diyo sa.nhari||
Verse 10 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
ब्रह्मा बालक वत्स चुराये। मोहन को मोहन हित आये॥
brahma balaka vatsa churaye| mohana ko mohana hita aye||
Verse 11 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
बाल वत्स सब बने मुरारी। ब्रह्मा विनय करी तब भारी॥
bala vatsa saba bane murari| brahma vinaya kari taba bhari||
Verse 12 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
काली नाग नाथि भगवाना। दावानल को कीन्हों पाना॥
kali naga nathi bhagavana| davanala ko kinhom pana||
Verse 13 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
सखन संग खेलत सुख पायो। श्रीदामा निज कन्ध चढ़ायो॥
sakhana samga khelata sukha payo| shridama nija kandha chaढ़ayo||
Verse 14 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
चीर हरन करि सीख सिखाई। नख पर गिरवर लियो उठाई॥
chira harana kari sikha sikhai| nakha para giravara liyo uthai||
Verse 15 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
दरश यज्ञ पत्निन को दीन्हों। राधा प्रेम सुधा सुख लीन्हों॥
darasha yaj~na patnina ko dinhom| radha prema sudha sukha linhom||
Verse 16 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
नन्दहिं वरुण लोक सों लाये। ग्वालन को निज लोक दिखाये॥
nandahim varuna loka som laye| gvalana ko nija loka dikhaye||
Verse 17 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
शरद चन्द्र लखि वेणु बजाई। अति सुख दीन्हों रास रचाई॥
sharada chandra lakhi venu bajai| ati sukha dinhom rasa rachai||
Verse 18 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
अजगर सों पितु चरण छुड़ायो। शंखचूड़ को मूड़ गिरायो॥
ajagara som pitu charana chu.dayo| shamkhachu.da ko mu.da girayo||
Verse 19 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
हने अरिष्टा सुर अरु केशी। व्योमासुर मार्यो छल वेषी॥
hane arishta sura aru keshi| vyomasura maryo chala veshi||
Verse 20 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
व्याकुल ब्रज तजि मथुरा आये। मारि कंस यदुवंश बसाये॥
vyakula braja taji mathura aye| mari kamsa yaduvamsha basaye||
Verse 21 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
मात पिता की बन्दि छुड़ाई। सान्दीपनि गृह विद्या पाई॥
mata pita ki bandi chu.dai| sandipani grriha vidya pai||
Verse 22 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
पुनि पठयौ ब्रज ऊधौ ज्ञानी। प्रेम देखि सुधि सकल भुलानी॥
puni pathayau braja udhau j~nani| prema dekhi sudhi sakala bhulani||
Verse 23 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
कीन्हीं कुबरी सुन्दर नारी। हरि लाये रुक्मिणि सुकुमारी॥
kinhim kubari sundara nari| hari laye rukmini sukumari||
Verse 24 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
भौमासुर हनि भक्त छुड़ाये। सुरन जीति सुरतरु महि लाये॥
bhaumasura hani bhakta chu.daye| surana jiti surataru mahi laye||
Verse 25 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
दन्तवक्र शिशुपाल संहारे। खग मृग नृग अरु बधिक उधारे॥
dantavakra shishupala samhare| khaga mrriga nrriga aru badhika udhare||
Verse 26 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
दीन सुदामा धनपति कीन्हों। पारथ रथ सारथि यश लीन्हों॥
dina sudama dhanapati kinhom| paratha ratha sarathi yasha linhom||
Verse 27 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
गीता ज्ञान सिखावन हारे। अर्जुन मोह मिटावन हारे॥
gita j~nana sikhavana hare| arjuna moha mitavana hare||
Verse 28 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
केला भक्त बिदुर घर पायो। युद्ध महाभारत रचवायो॥
kela bhakta bidura ghara payo| yuddha mahabharata rachavayo||
Verse 29 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
द्रुपद सुता को चीर बढ़ायो। गर्भ परीक्षित जरत बचायो॥
drupada suta ko chira baढ़ayo| garbha parikshita jarata bachayo||
Verse 30 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
कच्छ मच्छ वाराह अहीशा। बावन कल्की बुद्धि मुनीशा॥
kachcha machcha varaha ahisha| bavana kalki buddhi munisha||
Verse 31 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
ह्वै नृसिंह प्रह्लाद उबार्यो। राम रुप धरि रावण मार्यो॥
hvai nrrisimha prahlada ubaryo| rama rupa dhari ravana maryo||
Verse 32 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
जय मधु कैटभ दैत्य हनैया। अम्बरीय प्रिय चक्र धरैया॥
jaya madhu kaitabha daitya hanaiya| ambariya priya chakra dharaiya||
Verse 33 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
ब्याध अजामिल दीन्हें तारी। शबरी अरु गणिका सी नारी॥
byadha ajamila dinhem tari| shabari aru ganika si nari||
Verse 34 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
गरुड़ासन गज फन्द निकन्दन। देहु दरश ध्रुव नयनानन्दन॥
garu.dasana gaja phanda nikandana| dehu darasha dhruva nayananandana||
Verse 35 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
देहु शुद्ध सन्तन कर सङ्गा। बाढ़ै प्रेम भक्ति रस रङ्गा॥
dehu shuddha santana kara sa~nga| baढ़ai prema bhakti rasa ra~nga||
Verse 36 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
देहु दिव्य वृन्दावन बासा। छूटै मृग तृष्णा जग आशा॥
dehu divya vrrindavana basa| chutai mrriga trrishna jaga asha||
Verse 37 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हरो ध्यान धरत शिव नारद। शुक सनकादिक ब्रह्म विशारद॥
tumharo dhyana dharata shiva narada| shuka sanakadika brahma visharada||
Verse 38 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
जय जय राधारमण कृपाला। हरण सकल संकट भ्रम जाला॥
jaya jaya radharamana krripala| harana sakala samkata bhrama jala||
Verse 39 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
बिनसैं बिघन रोग दुःख भारी। जो सुमरैं जगपति गिरधारी॥
binasaim bighana roga duhkha bhari| jo sumaraim jagapati giradhari||
Verse 40 of the Gopal Chalisa – praise of Bal Gopal in the Chalisa structure.
करुणा-सिन्धु ब्रजेश। अपनावहु प्राणेश॥
karuna-sindhu brajesha| apanavahu pranesha||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
को अभिव्यक्त करता है। श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की।
ko abhivyakta karata hai| shri giridhara krrishna murari ki|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Gopal Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Bal Gopal-bhakti
Many homes recite the Gopal 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 Bal Gopal 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. Gopal is the bal-Krishna form, central to Pushti-Marg, Gaudiya Vaishnav, and Nimbarka traditions
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Bal Gopal shrines.
For households where Bal Gopal is the kuldevta
For households where Bal Gopal is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Gopal Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Gopal Krishna. The text is generally placed in the 19th century CE by language and content; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Gopal is the bal-Krishna form, central to Pushti-Marg, Gaudiya Vaishnav, and Nimbarka traditions
Bal Gopal is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Bal Gopal-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 Bal Gopal'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 Vishnu 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 Bal Gopal: yellow flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Yellow flowers, butter and makhan (Krishna's favourite offering), tulsi leaves, small ghee diya. Many homes offer a small swing-cradle (jhula) on Janmashtami.
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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. Gopal is the bal-Krishna form; recite with the playful, child-form devotional emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Bal Gopal if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Wednesday & Janmashtami is auspicious. Krishna Janmashtami is the central festival; recite at midnight with the murti-jagran. Govardhan Puja and Holi are also central Gopal-days.