The Govardhan Chalisa (गोवर्धन चालीसा) is the household hymn to Govardhan Parvat. The Chalisa establishes Giriraj Govardhan's iconography, narrative, and devotional connection across 40 chaupais framed by an opening doha and 2 closing doha. Govardhan is the sacred mountain in Vraj that Krishna lifted on his finger; central to Pushti Marg (Nathdwara), and the day after Diwali (Annakut).

Many devotees recite the Govardhan Chalisa on Govardhan Puja (Kartik Shukla Pratipada), with extra paaths during Govardhan Puja (Kartik Shukla Pratipada) and Annakut. The Chalisa is the daily anchor for households where Giriraj Govardhan is the kuldevta or ishta-devata. The verses move through praise, narrative, and personal petition – the standard Chalisa structure.

This page has the full Govardhan Chalisa with lyrics in Devanagari and Romanized English. Pair with related Chalisas like the Krishna Chalisa, Giriraj Chalisa, and Radha Chalisa for the wider household practice.

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Govardhan Chalisa with Lyrics
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Lyrics with meaning

The complete Govardhan 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

बन्दहुँ वीणा वादिनी, धरि गणपति को ध्यान। महाशक्ति राधा सहित, कृष्ण करौ कल्याण॥

bandahu.n vina vadini, dhari ganapati ko dhyana| mahashakti radha sahita, krrishna karau kalyana||

Opening invocation – salutation to Giriraj Govardhan and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.

Chaupai 1

जय हो जय बंदित गिरिराजा। ब्रज मण्डल के श्री महाराजा॥

jaya ho jaya bamdita giriraja| braja mandala ke shri maharaja||

Verse 1 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 2

विष्णु रूप तुम हो अवतारी। सुन्दरता पै जग बलिहारी॥

vishnu rupa tuma ho avatari| sundarata pai jaga balihari||

Verse 2 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 3

स्वर्ण शिखर अति शोभा पामें। सुर मुनि गण दरशन कूं आमें॥

svarna shikhara ati shobha pamem| sura muni gana darashana kum amem||

Verse 3 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 4

शांत कन्दरा स्वर्ग समाना। जहाँ तपस्वी धरते ध्याना॥

shamta kandara svarga samana| jaha.n tapasvi dharate dhyana||

Verse 4 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 5

द्रोणगिरि के तुम युवराजा। भक्तन के साधौ हौ काजा॥

dronagiri ke tuma yuvaraja| bhaktana ke sadhau hau kaja||

Verse 5 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 6

मुनि पुलस्त्य जी के मन भाये। जोर विनय कर तुम कूँ लाये॥

muni pulastya ji ke mana bhaye| jora vinaya kara tuma ku.n laye||

Verse 6 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 7

मुनिवर संघ जब ब्रज में आये। लखि ब्रजभूमि यहाँ ठहराये॥

munivara samgha jaba braja mem aye| lakhi brajabhumi yaha.n thaharaye||

Verse 7 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 8

विष्णु धाम गौलोक सुहावन। यमुना गोवर्धन वृन्दावन॥

vishnu dhama gauloka suhavana| yamuna govardhana vrrindavana||

Verse 8 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 9

देख देव मन में ललचाये। बास करन बहु रूप बनाये॥

dekha deva mana mem lalachaye| basa karana bahu rupa banaye||

Verse 9 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 10

कोउ बानर कोउ मृग के रूपा। कोउ वृक्ष कोउ लता स्वरूपा॥

kou banara kou mrriga ke rupa| kou vrriksha kou lata svarupa||

Verse 10 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 11

आनन्द लें गोलोक धाम के। परम उपासक रूप नाम के॥

ananda lem goloka dhama ke| parama upasaka rupa nama ke||

Verse 11 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 12

द्वापर अंत भये अवतारी। कृष्णचन्द्र आनन्द मुरारी॥

dvapara amta bhaye avatari| krrishnachandra ananda murari||

Verse 12 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 13

महिमा तुम्हरी कृष्ण बखानी। पूजा करिबे की मन ठानी॥

mahima tumhari krrishna bakhani| puja karibe ki mana thani||

Verse 13 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 14

ब्रजवासी सब के लिये बुलाई। गोवर्द्धन पूजा करवाई॥

brajavasi saba ke liye bulai| govarddhana puja karavai||

Verse 14 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 15

पूजन कूँ व्यञ्जन बनवाये। ब्रजवासी घर घर ते लाये॥

pujana ku.n vya~njana banavaye| brajavasi ghara ghara te laye||

Verse 15 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 16

ग्वाल बाल मिलि पूजा कीनी। सहस भुजा तुमने कर लीनी॥

gvala bala mili puja kini| sahasa bhuja tumane kara lini||

Verse 16 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 17

स्वयं प्रकट हो कृष्ण पूजा में। माँग माँग के भोजन पामें॥

svayam prakata ho krrishna puja mem| ma.nga ma.nga ke bhojana pamem||

Verse 17 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 18

लखि नर नारि मन हरषामें। जै जै जै गिरिवर गुण गामें॥

lakhi nara nari mana harashamem| jai jai jai girivara guna gamem||

Verse 18 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 19

देवराज मन में रिसियाए। नष्ट करन ब्रज मेघ बुलाए॥

devaraja mana mem risiyae| nashta karana braja megha bulae||

Verse 19 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 20

छाँया कर ब्रज लियौ बचाई। एकउ बूँद न नीचे आई॥

cha.nya kara braja liyau bachai| ekau bu.nda na niche ai||

Verse 20 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 21

सात दिवस भई बरसा भारी। थके मेघ भारी जल धारी॥

sata divasa bhai barasa bhari| thake megha bhari jala dhari||

Verse 21 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 22

कृष्णचन्द्र ने नख पै धारे। नमो नमो ब्रज के रखवारे॥

krrishnachandra ne nakha pai dhare| namo namo braja ke rakhavare||

Verse 22 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 23

करि अभिमान थके सुरसाई। क्षमा माँग पुनि अस्तुति गाई॥

kari abhimana thake surasai| kshama ma.nga puni astuti gai||

Verse 23 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 24

त्राहि माम् मैं शरण तिहारी। क्षमा करो प्रभु चूक हमारी॥

trahi mam maim sharana tihari| kshama karo prabhu chuka hamari||

Verse 24 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 25

बार बार बिनती अति कीनी। सात कोस परिकम्मा दीनी॥

bara bara binati ati kini| sata kosa parikamma dini||

Verse 25 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 26

संग सुरभि ऐरावत लाये। हाथ जोड़ कर भेंट गहाये॥

samga surabhi airavata laye| hatha jo.da kara bhemta gahaye||

Verse 26 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 27

अभय दान पा इन्द्र सिहाये। करि प्रणाम निज लोक सिधाये॥

abhaya dana pa indra sihaye| kari pranama nija loka sidhaye||

Verse 27 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 28

जो यह कथा सुनैं चित लावें। अन्त समय सुरपति पद पावें॥

jo yaha katha sunaim chita lavem| anta samaya surapati pada pavem||

Verse 28 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 29

गोवर्द्धन है नाम तिहारौ। करते भक्तन कौ निस्तारौ॥

govarddhana hai nama tiharau| karate bhaktana kau nistarau||

Verse 29 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 30

जो नर तुम्हरे दर्शन पावें। तिनके दुःख दूर ह्वै जावें॥

jo nara tumhare darshana pavem| tinake duhkha dura hvai javem||

Verse 30 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 31

कुण्डन में जो करें आचमन। धन्य धन्य वह मानव जीवन॥

kundana mem jo karem achamana| dhanya dhanya vaha manava jivana||

Verse 31 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 32

मानसी गंगा में जो न्हावें। सीधे स्वर्ग लोक कूँ जावें॥

manasi gamga mem jo nhavem| sidhe svarga loka ku.n javem||

Verse 32 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 33

दूध चढ़ा जो भोग लगावें। आधि व्याधि तेहि पास न आवें॥

dudha cha.dha jo bhoga lagavem| adhi vyadhi tehi pasa na avem||

Verse 33 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 34

जल फल तुलसी पत्र चढ़ावें। मन वांछित फल निश्चय पावें॥

jala phala tulasi patra cha.dhavem| mana vamchita phala nishchaya pavem||

Verse 34 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 35

जो नर देत दूध की धारा। भरौ रहे ताकौ भण्डारा॥

jo nara deta dudha ki dhara| bharau rahe takau bhandara||

Verse 35 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 36

करें जागरण जो नर कोई। दुख दरिद्र भय ताहि न होई॥

karem jagarana jo nara koi| dukha daridra bhaya tahi na hoi||

Verse 36 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 37

'श्याम' शिलामय निज जन त्राता। भक्ति मुक्ति सरबस के दाता॥

'shyama' shilamaya nija jana trata| bhakti mukti sarabasa ke data||

Verse 37 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 38

पुत्र हीन जो तुम कूँ ध्यावें। ताकूँ पुत्र प्राप्ति ह्वै जावें॥

putra hina jo tuma ku.n dhyavem| taku.n putra prapti hvai javem||

Verse 38 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 39

दंडौती परिकम्मा करहीं। ते सहजहि भवसागर तरहीं॥

damdauti parikamma karahim| te sahajahi bhavasagara tarahim||

Verse 39 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 40

कलि में तुम सम देव न दूजा। सुर नर मुनि सब करते पूजा॥

kali mem tuma sama deva na duja| sura nara muni saba karate puja||

Verse 40 of the Govardhan Chalisa – praise of Giriraj Govardhan in the Chalisa structure.

Closing Doha

जो यह चालीसा पढ़ै, सुनै शुद्ध चित्त लाय। सत्य सत्य यह सत्य है, गिरिवर करै सहाय॥

jo yaha chalisa pa.dhai, sunai shuddha chitta laya| satya satya yaha satya hai, girivara karai sahaya||

Closing doha sealing the recitation.

Closing Doha 2

क्षमा करहुँ अपराध मम, त्राहि माम् गिरिराज। श्याम बिहारी शरण में, गोवर्द्धन महाराज॥

kshama karahu.n aparadha mama, trahi mam giriraja| shyama bihari sharana mem, govarddhana maharaja||

Closing doha sealing the recitation.

Why this chalisa

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

Daily anchor for Giriraj Govardhan-bhakti

Many homes recite the Govardhan 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

Govardhan Puja (Kartik Shukla Pratipada) and the major Giriraj Govardhan 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. Govardhan is the sacred mountain in Vraj that Krishna lifted on his finger; central to Pushti Marg (Nathdwara), and the day after Diwali (Annakut)

For pilgrim recitation

The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Giriraj Govardhan shrines.

For households where Giriraj Govardhan is the kuldevta

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

Origin

The Govardhan Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Govardhan Parvat. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Govardhan is the sacred mountain in Vraj that Krishna lifted on his finger; central to Pushti Marg (Nathdwara), and the day after Diwali (Annakut)

Giriraj Govardhan is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Giriraj Govardhan-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 Giriraj Govardhan'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, Giriraj Chalisa, and Radha 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 East. Traditional offerings to Giriraj Govardhan: yellow flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Yellow flowers, makhan-mishri, butter, chappan-bhog (56 traditional offerings) on Annakut.

  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. Govardhan is honoured especially in Pushti Marg (Nathdwara) and Mathura-Vrindavan tradition; recite with the Krishna-Vraj devotional emphasis.

  4. After

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

  5. Daily practice and special days

    Govardhan Puja (Kartik Shukla Pratipada) is auspicious. Govardhan Puja is the central festival, with families building Govardhan-shapes from cow-dung and offering Annakut.

Common questions

Why is the Govardhan Chalisa linked to Govardhan Puja (Kartik Shukla Pratipada)?
Govardhan Puja is the day after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Pratipada). Krishna lifted Govardhan to shelter Vraj from Indra's fury. Many homes recite the Chalisa as part of the Govardhan Puja (Kartik Shukla Pratipada) 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 Krishna Chalisa, Giriraj Chalisa, and Radha Chalisa?
Each Chalisa addresses a specific deity. The Govardhan Chalisa is dedicated to Giriraj Govardhan. 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?
Govardhan parvat at Vraj is the central pilgrimage; Mahakaleshwar Ujjain has the wider Shaiva-Vaishnav connection through the Mahakal-Vrajaraj link. 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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