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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Jhulelal 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.
जय जय जल देवता, जय ज्योति स्वरूप । अमर उडेरो लाल जय, झुलेलाल अनूप ॥
jaya jaya jala devata, jaya jyoti svarupa | amara udero lala jaya, jhulelala anupa ||
Opening invocation – salutation to Bhagwan Jhulelal and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
रतनलाल रतनाणी नंदन । जयति देवकी सुत जग वंदन ॥
ratanalala ratanani namdana | jayati devaki suta jaga vamdana ||
Verse 1 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
दरियाशाह वरुण अवतारी । जय जय लाल साईं सुखकारी ॥
dariyashaha varuna avatari | jaya jaya lala saim sukhakari ||
Verse 2 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
जय जय होय धर्म की भीरा । जिन्दा पीर हरे जन पीरा ॥
jaya jaya hoya dharma ki bhira | jinda pira hare jana pira ||
Verse 3 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
संवत दस सौ सात मंझरा । चैत्र शुक्ल द्वितिया भगऊ वारा ॥
samvata dasa sau sata mamjhara | chaitra shukla dvitiya bhagau vara ||
Verse 4 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
ग्राम नसरपुर सिंध प्रदेशा । प्रभु अवतरे हरे जन कलेशा ॥
grama nasarapura simdha pradesha | prabhu avatare hare jana kalesha ||
Verse 5 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
सिन्धु वीर ठट्ठा राजधानी । मिरखशाह नऊप अति अभिमानी ॥
sindhu vira thattha rajadhani | mirakhashaha naupa ati abhimani ||
Verse 6 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
कपटी कुटिल क्रूर कूविचारी । यवन मलिन मन अत्याचारी ॥
kapati kutila krura kuvichari | yavana malina mana atyachari ||
Verse 7 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
धर्मान्तरण करे सब केरा । दुखी हुए जन कष्ट घनेरा ॥
dharmantarana kare saba kera | dukhi hue jana kashta ghanera ||
Verse 8 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
पिटवाया हाकिम ढिंढोरा । हो इस्लाम धर्म चाहुँओरा ॥
pitavaya hakima dhimdhora | ho islama dharma chahu.nora ||
Verse 9 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
सिन्धी प्रजा बहुत घबराई । इष्ट देव को टेर लगाई ॥
sindhi praja bahuta ghabarai | ishta deva ko tera lagai ||
Verse 10 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
वरुण देव पूजे बहुंभाती । बिन जल अन्न गए दिन राती ॥
varuna deva puje bahumbhati | bina jala anna gae dina rati ||
Verse 11 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
सिन्धी तीर सब दिन चालीसा । घर घर ध्यान लगाये ईशा ॥
sindhi tira saba dina chalisa | ghara ghara dhyana lagaye isha ||
Verse 12 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
गरज उठा नद सिन्धु सहसा । चारो और उठा नव हरषा ॥
garaja utha nada sindhu sahasa | charo aura utha nava harasha ||
Verse 13 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
वरुणदेव ने सुनी पुकारा । प्रकटे वरुण मीन असवारा ॥
varunadeva ne suni pukara | prakate varuna mina asavara ||
Verse 14 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
दिव्य पुरुष जल ब्रह्मा स्वरुपा । कर पुष्तक नवरूप अनूपा ॥
divya purusha jala brahma svarupa | kara pushtaka navarupa anupa ||
Verse 15 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
हर्षित हुए सकल नर नारी । वरुणदेव की महिमा न्यारी ॥
harshita hue sakala nara nari | varunadeva ki mahima nyari ||
Verse 16 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
जय जय कार उठी चाहुँओरा । गई रात आने को भौंरा ॥
jaya jaya kara uthi chahu.nora | gai rata ane ko bhaumra ||
Verse 17 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
मिरखशाह नऊप अत्याचारी । नष्ट करूँगा शक्ति सारी ॥
mirakhashaha naupa atyachari | nashta karu.nga shakti sari ||
Verse 18 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
दूर अधर्म, हरण भू भारा । शीघ्र नसरपुर में अवतारा ॥
dura adharma, harana bhu bhara | shighra nasarapura mem avatara ||
Verse 19 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
रतनराय रातनाणी आँगन । खेलूँगा, आऊँगा शिशु बन ॥
ratanaraya ratanani a.ngana | khelu.nga, au.nga shishu bana ||
Verse 20 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
रतनराय घर ख़ुशी आई । झुलेलाल अवतारे सब देय बधाई ॥
ratanaraya ghara kushi ai | jhulelala avatare saba deya badhai ||
Verse 21 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
घर घर मंगल गीत सुहाए । झुलेलाल हरन दुःख आए ॥
ghara ghara mamgala gita suhae | jhulelala harana duhkha ae ||
Verse 22 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
मिरखशाह तक चर्चा आई । भेजा मंत्री क्रोध अधिकाई ॥
mirakhashaha taka charcha ai | bheja mamtri krodha adhikai ||
Verse 23 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
मंत्री ने जब बाल निहारा । धीरज गया हृदय का सारा ॥
mamtri ne jaba bala nihara | dhiraja gaya hrridaya ka sara ||
Verse 24 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
देखि मंत्री साईं की लीला । अधिक विचित्र विमोहन शीला ॥
dekhi mamtri saim ki lila | adhika vichitra vimohana shila ||
Verse 25 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
बालक धीखा युवा सेनानी । देखा मंत्री बुद्धि चाकरानी ॥
balaka dhikha yuva senani | dekha mamtri buddhi chakarani ||
Verse 26 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
योद्धा रूप दिखे भगवाना । मंत्री हुआ विगत अभिमाना ॥
yoddha rupa dikhe bhagavana | mamtri hua vigata abhimana ||
Verse 27 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
झुलेलाल दिया आदेशा । जा तव नऊपति कहो संदेशा ॥
jhulelala diya adesha | ja tava naupati kaho samdesha ||
Verse 28 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
मिरखशाह नऊप तजे गुमाना । हिन्दू मुस्लिम एक समाना ॥
mirakhashaha naupa taje gumana | hindu muslima eka samana ||
Verse 29 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
बंद करो नित्य अत्याचारा । त्यागो धर्मान्तरण विचारा ॥
bamda karo nitya atyachara | tyago dharmantarana vichara ||
Verse 30 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
लेकिन मिरखशाह अभिमानी । वरुणदेव की बात न मानी ॥
lekina mirakhashaha abhimani | varunadeva ki bata na mani ||
Verse 31 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
एक दिवस हो अश्व सवारा । झुलेलाल गए दरबारा ॥
eka divasa ho ashva savara | jhulelala gae darabara ||
Verse 32 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
मिरखशाह नऊप ने आज्ञा दी । झुलेलाल बनाओ बन्दी ॥
mirakhashaha naupa ne aj~na di | jhulelala banao bandi ||
Verse 33 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
किया स्वरुप वरुण का धारण । चारो और हुआ जल प्लावन ॥
kiya svarupa varuna ka dharana | charo aura hua jala plavana ||
Verse 34 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
दरबारी डूबे उतराये । नऊप के होश ठिकाने आये ॥
darabari dube utaraye | naupa ke hosha thikane aye ||
Verse 35 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
नऊप तब पड़ा चरण में आई । जय जय धन्य जय साईं ॥
naupa taba pa.da charana mem ai | jaya jaya dhanya jaya saim ||
Verse 36 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
वापिस लिया नऊपति आदेशा । दूर दूर सब जन क्लेशा ॥
vapisa liya naupati adesha | dura dura saba jana klesha ||
Verse 37 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
संवत दस सौ बीस मंझारी । भाद्र शुक्ल चौदस शुभकारी ॥
samvata dasa sau bisa mamjhari | bhadra shukla chaudasa shubhakari ||
Verse 38 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
भक्तो की हर आधी व्याधि । जल में ली जलदेव समाधि ॥
bhakto ki hara adhi vyadhi | jala mem li jaladeva samadhi ||
Verse 39 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
जो जन धरे आज भी ध्याना । उनका वरुण करे कल्याणा ॥
jo jana dhare aja bhi dhyana | unaka varuna kare kalyana ||
Verse 40 of the Jhulelal Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Jhulelal in the Chalisa structure.
चालीसा चालीस दिन पाठ करे जो कोय । पावे मनवांछित फल अरु जीवन सुखमय होय ॥
chalisa chalisa dina patha kare jo koya | pave manavamchita phala aru jivana sukhamaya hoya ||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
श्रद्धा और भक्ति के साथ चालीसा का पाठ करें। पाठ पूरा होने के बाद भगवान झूलेलाल की आरती करें और प्रसाद सभी में बांट दें।
shraddha aura bhakti ke satha chalisa ka patha karem| patha pura hone ke bada bhagavana jhulelala ki arati karem aura prasada sabhi mem bamta dem|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Jhulelal Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Bhagwan Jhulelal-bhakti
Many homes recite the Jhulelal 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
Cheti Chand & daily and the major Bhagwan Jhulelal 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. Jhulelal is the Ishta-Devata of the Sindhi community; the river-water-form Varuna who saved Sindhis from forced conversion in the 10th century
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Bhagwan Jhulelal shrines.
For households where Bhagwan Jhulelal is the kuldevta
For households where Bhagwan Jhulelal is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Jhulelal Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Jhulelal. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Jhulelal is the Ishta-Devata of the Sindhi community; the river-water-form Varuna who saved Sindhis from forced conversion in the 10th century
Bhagwan Jhulelal is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Bhagwan Jhulelal-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 Jhulelal'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 Vishnu Chalisa, Ganga Chalisa, and Yamuna 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 Bhagwan Jhulelal: yellow flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Traditional offerings include yellow flowers, fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Specific to Bhagwan Jhulelal 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 Jhulelal 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 Jhulelal if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Cheti Chand & daily is auspicious. Cheti Chand (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), Sindhi New Year are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 paaths during festivals.