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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Gyan 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.
पानी पीवे छान कर, जीव जन्तु बच जाय !
pani pive chana kara, jiva jantu bacha jaya !
Opening invocation – salutation to Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
झूठे पुरुषो से कभी, कोई न करता प्रीत!
jhuthe purusho se kabhi, koi na karata prita!
Verse 1 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
सच्चे आदर पाते है, जग जस लेते जीत !!
sachche adara pate hai, jaga jasa lete jita !!
Verse 2 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
चोर नित्य चोरी करे, रहे न कुछ भी पास !
chora nitya chori kare, rahe na kucha bhi pasa !
Verse 3 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
वनों पहाड़ो भागते, दुःख पावे दिन रात !!
vanom paha.do bhagate, duhkha pave dina rata !!
Verse 4 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
सेय पराई नार को, तन मन धन को खोत !
seya parai nara ko, tana mana dhana ko khota !
Verse 5 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
फिर भी सुख मिला नहीं, मौत भयानक लेत !!
phira bhi sukha mila nahim, mauta bhayanaka leta !!
Verse 6 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
जोड़ जोड़ संचय करे, परिग्रह अपरम्पार !
jo.da jo.da samchaya kare, parigraha aparampara !
Verse 7 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
कितने दिन है जीवना, क्यों नित ढोते भार!!
kitane dina hai jivana, kyom nita dhote bhara!!
Verse 8 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
कुटुम्ब मोह का जाल है, कोई न जावे साथ!
kutumba moha ka jala hai, koi na jave satha!
Verse 9 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
भला बुरा जो कर गया, बनी रहेगी गाथ !!
bhala bura jo kara gaya, bani rahegi gatha !!
Verse 10 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
बीड़ी मदिरा पीवना, नहीं भलो का काम !
bi.di madira pivana, nahim bhalo ka kama !
Verse 11 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
भंग आदि की लत बुरी, क्यों होते बदनाम !!
bhamga adi ki lata buri, kyom hote badanama !!
Verse 12 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
रोगी तन को ठीक कर, ब्रह्मचर्य को पाल !
rogi tana ko thika kara, brahmacharya ko pala !
Verse 13 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
बिन पैसों की यह दवा, दूर भगावे काल !!
bina paisom ki yaha dava, dura bhagave kala !!
Verse 14 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
मरा कौन सब पूछते, पूछ भुलाते बात !
mara kauna saba puchate, pucha bhulate bata !
Verse 15 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
चाल चूक शतरंज की, हो जाती है मात !!
chala chuka shataramja ki, ho jati hai mata !!
Verse 16 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
सुख दुःख नित ही देखते, क्यों न लगावे ध्यान !
sukha duhkha nita hi dekhate, kyom na lagave dhyana !
Verse 17 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
चिन्ता को अब छोड़कर, धारो सम्यक ज्ञान !!
chinta ko aba cho.dakara, dharo samyaka j~nana !!
Verse 18 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
कितने दिन का जीवना, कितने दिन की चाह !
kitane dina ka jivana, kitane dina ki chaha !
Verse 19 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
ज्ञानी लेखा सोच ले, मौलिक जीवन जांह !!
j~nani lekha socha le, maulika jivana jamha !!
Verse 20 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
ऊपर से धर्मी बने, भीतर शुद्ध न एक !
upara se dharmi bane, bhitara shuddha na eka !
Verse 21 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
रात दिवस इत उत फिरे, किस विधि रहती टेक !!
rata divasa ita uta phire, kisa vidhi rahati teka !!
Verse 22 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
कारज को करते चलो, तन मन वश में राख !
karaja ko karate chalo, tana mana vasha mem rakha !
Verse 23 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
होगी निश्चय ही विजय, विपदा आवे लाख !!
hogi nishchaya hi vijaya, vipada ave lakha !!
Verse 24 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
पाप अनेको ही किये, मुक्ति किस विधि होय !
papa aneko hi kiye, mukti kisa vidhi hoya !
Verse 25 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
छुटेंगे जंजाल सब, पाप मैल सब धोय !!
chutemge jamjala saba, papa maila saba dhoya !!
Verse 26 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
झूठे स्वार्थ को छोडकर, सत को उर में धार !
jhuthe svartha ko chodakara, sata ko ura mem dhara !
Verse 27 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
इस भव में शोभा बढे, आगे बेडा पार !!
isa bhava mem shobha badhe, age beda para !!
Verse 28 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
पहले निज हो शुद्ध कर, पीछे पर उपदेश !
pahale nija ho shuddha kara, piche para upadesha !
Verse 29 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
जो कहते करते नहीं, वे पाते हैं क्लेश !!
jo kahate karate nahim, ve pate haim klesha !!
Verse 30 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
भीतर देह घिनावनी, रोगों का हैं धाम !
bhitara deha ghinavani, rogom ka haim dhama !
Verse 31 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
जब तक परदा ठीक है, करले अपना काम !!
jaba taka parada thika hai, karale apana kama !!
Verse 32 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
देख बुढ़ापे की दशा, थर थर कांपे गात !
dekha bu.dhape ki dasha, thara thara kampe gata !
Verse 33 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
बुरे बुरे दिन बीतते, कोई न सुनता बात !!
bure bure dina bitate, koi na sunata bata !!
Verse 34 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
पता किसी को न पड़े, कब आयेगा काल !
pata kisi ko na pa.de, kaba ayega kala !
Verse 35 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
क्यों माया में उलझता, हैं मकड़ी का जाल !!
kyom maya mem ulajhata, haim maka.di ka jala !!
Verse 36 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
क्यों आया क्या कर गया, ज्ञानी पूछे बात !
kyom aya kya kara gaya, j~nani puche bata !
Verse 37 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
लेखा कैसे देयगा, क्या ले जाता हाथ !!
lekha kaise deyaga, kya le jata hatha !!
Verse 38 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
पापी तू तिर जाएगा, निश्चय ही यह मान !
papi tu tira jaega, nishchaya hi yaha mana !
Verse 39 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
पीछे की मत याद कर, आगे को पहचान !!
piche ki mata yada kara, age ko pahachana !!
Verse 40 of the Gyan Chalisa – praise of Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan in the Chalisa structure.
Why this chalisa
What the Gyan Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan-bhakti
Many homes recite the Gyan 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
Jnan Panchami (Kartik Shukla Panchami) and the major Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan 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. Jain Chalisa praising knowledge (gyan); central to the Jnan Panchami observance
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan shrines.
For households where Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan is the kuldevta
For households where Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Gyan Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Bhagwan Gyan-svaroop. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Jain Chalisa praising knowledge (gyan); central to the Jnan Panchami observance
Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan-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 Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan'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 Adinath Chalisa, Mahaveer Jain Chalisa, and Saraswati 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 Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan: white flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Traditional offerings include white flowers, fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Specific to Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan 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 Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan 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 Gyan-svaroop Bhagwan if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Jnan Panchami (Kartik Shukla Panchami) is auspicious. Jnan Panchami (Kartik Shukla Panchami) is the central recitation period. Many devotees do 11 paaths during festivals.