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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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. Govardhan is honoured especially in Pushti Marg (Nathdwara) and Mathura-Vrindavan tradition; recite with the Krishna-Vraj devotional emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Giriraj Govardhan if known.
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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.