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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Karni Mata 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 गणेश जय गज बदन, करण सुमंगल मूल।
jaya ganesha jaya gaja badana, karana sumamgala mula|
Opening invocation – salutation to Karni Mata and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
सूमिरौ जय जगदम्ब भवानी। महिमा अकथन जाय बखानी॥
sumirau jaya jagadamba bhavani| mahima akathana jaya bakhani||
Verse 1 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
नमो नमो मेहाई करणी। नमो नमो अम्बे दुःख हरणी॥
namo namo mehai karani| namo namo ambe duhkha harani||
Verse 2 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
आदि शक्ति जगदम्बे माता। दुःख को हरणि सुख कि दाता॥
adi shakti jagadambe mata| duhkha ko harani sukha ki data||
Verse 3 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी। तिहूं लोक फैलि उजियारो॥
niramkara hai jyoti tumhari| tihum loka phaili ujiyaro||
Verse 4 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जो जेहि रूप से ध्यान लगावे। मन वांछित सोई फल पावे॥
jo jehi rupa se dhyana lagave| mana vamchita soi phala pave||
Verse 5 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
धौलागढ़ में आप विराजो। सिंह सवारी सन्मुख साजो॥
dhaulaga.dha mem apa virajo| simha savari sanmukha sajo||
Verse 6 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
भैरो वीर रहे अगवानी। मारे असुर सकल अभिमानी॥
bhairo vira rahe agavani| mare asura sakala abhimani||
Verse 7 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
ग्राम सुआप नाम सुखकारी। चारण वंश करणी अवतारी॥
grama suapa nama sukhakari| charana vamsha karani avatari||
Verse 8 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
मुख मण्डल की सुन्दरताई। जाकी महिमा कही न जाई॥
mukha mandala ki sundaratai| jaki mahima kahi na jai||
Verse 9 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जब भक्तों ने सुमिरण कीन्हा। ताही समय अभय करि दीन्हा॥
jaba bhaktom ne sumirana kinha| tahi samaya abhaya kari dinha||
Verse 10 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
साहूकार की करी सहाई। डूबत जल में नाव बचाई॥
sahukara ki kari sahai| dubata jala mem nava bachai||
Verse 11 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जब कान्हे न कुमति बिचारी। केहरि रूप धरयो महतारी॥
jaba kanhe na kumati bichari| kehari rupa dharayo mahatari||
Verse 12 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
मारयो ताहि एक छन मांई। जाकी कथा जगत में छाई॥
marayo tahi eka chana mami| jaki katha jagata mem chai||
Verse 13 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
नेड़ी जी शुभ धाम तुम्हारो। दर्शन करि मन होय सुखारो॥
ne.di ji shubha dhama tumharo| darshana kari mana hoya sukharo||
Verse 14 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
कर सौहै त्रिशूल विशाल। गल राजे पुष्प की माला॥
kara sauhai trishula vishala| gala raje pushpa ki mala||
Verse 15 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
शेखोजी पर किरपा कीन्ही। क्षुधा मिटाय अभय कर दीन्हा॥
shekhoji para kirapa kinhi| kshudha mitaya abhaya kara dinha||
Verse 16 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
निर्बल होई जब सुमिरन कीन्हा। कारज सबि सुलभ कर दीन्हा॥
nirbala hoi jaba sumirana kinha| karaja sabi sulabha kara dinha||
Verse 17 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
देशनोक पावन थल भारी। सुन्दर मंदिर की छवि न्यारी॥
deshanoka pavana thala bhari| sundara mamdira ki chavi nyari||
Verse 18 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
मढ़ में ज्योति जले दिन राती। निखरत ही त्रय ताप नशाती॥
ma.dha mem jyoti jale dina rati| nikharata hi traya tapa nashati||
Verse 19 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
कीन्ही यहाँ तपस्या आकर। नाम उजागर सब सुख सागर॥
kinhi yaha.n tapasya akara| nama ujagara saba sukha sagara||
Verse 20 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जय करणी दुःख हरणी मइया। भव सागर से पार करइया॥
jaya karani duhkha harani maiya| bhava sagara se para karaiya||
Verse 21 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
बार बार ध्याऊं जगदम्बा। कीजे दया करो न विलम्बा॥
bara bara dhyaum jagadamba| kije daya karo na vilamba||
Verse 22 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
धर्मराज नै जब हठ कीन्हा। निज सुत को जीवित करि लीन्हा॥
dharmaraja nai jaba hatha kinha| nija suta ko jivita kari linha||
Verse 23 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
ताहि समय मर्याद बनाई। तुम पह मम वंशज नहि आई॥
tahi samaya maryada banai| tuma paha mama vamshaja nahi ai||
Verse 24 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
मूषक बन मंदिर में रहि है। मूषक ते पुनि मानुष तन धरि है॥
mushaka bana mamdira mem rahi hai| mushaka te puni manusha tana dhari hai||
Verse 25 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
दिपोजी को दर्शन दीन्हा। निज लिला से अवगत कीन्हा॥
dipoji ko darshana dinha| nija lila se avagata kinha||
Verse 26 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
बने भक्त पर कृपा कीन्ही। दो नैनन की ज्योति दीन्ही॥
bane bhakta para krripa kinhi| do nainana ki jyoti dinhi||
Verse 27 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
चरित अमित अति कीन्ह अपारा। जाको यश छायो संसारा॥
charita amita ati kinha apara| jako yasha chayo samsara||
Verse 28 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
भक्त जनन को मात तारती। मगन भक्त जन करत आरती॥
bhakta janana ko mata tarati| magana bhakta jana karata arati||
Verse 29 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
भीड़ पड़ी भक्तों पर जब ही। भई सहाय भवानी तब ही॥
bhi.da pa.di bhaktom para jaba hi| bhai sahaya bhavani taba hi||
Verse 30 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
मातु दया अब हम पर कीजै। सब अपराध क्षमा कर दीजे॥
matu daya aba hama para kijai| saba aparadha kshama kara dije||
Verse 31 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
मोको मातु कष्ट अति घेरो। तुम बिन कौन हरे दुःख मेरो॥
moko matu kashta ati ghero| tuma bina kauna hare duhkha mero||
Verse 32 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जो नर धरे मात कर ध्यान। ताकर सब विधि हो कल्याण॥
jo nara dhare mata kara dhyana| takara saba vidhi ho kalyana||
Verse 33 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
निशि वासर पूजहिं नर-नारी। तिनको सदा करहूं रखवारी॥
nishi vasara pujahim nara-nari| tinako sada karahum rakhavari||
Verse 34 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
भव सागर में नाव हमारी। पार करहु करणी महतारी॥
bhava sagara mem nava hamari| para karahu karani mahatari||
Verse 35 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
कंह लगी वर्णऊ कथा तिहारी। लिखत लेखनी थकत हमारी॥
kamha lagi varnau katha tihari| likhata lekhani thakata hamari||
Verse 36 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
पुत्र जानकर कृपा कीजै। सुख सम्पत्ति नव निधि कर दीजै॥
putra janakara krripa kijai| sukha sampatti nava nidhi kara dijai||
Verse 37 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जो यह पाठ करे हमेशा। ताके तन नहि रहे कलेशा॥
jo yaha patha kare hamesha| take tana nahi rahe kalesha||
Verse 38 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
संकट में जो सुमिरन करई। उनके ताप मात सब हरई॥
samkata mem jo sumirana karai| unake tapa mata saba harai||
Verse 39 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
गुण गाथा गाऊं कर जोरे। हरह मात सब संकट मोरे॥
guna gatha gaum kara jore| haraha mata saba samkata more||
Verse 40 of the Karni Mata Chalisa – praise of Karni Mata in the Chalisa structure.
आदि शक्ति अम्बा सुमिर, धरि करणी का ध्यान।
adi shakti amba sumira, dhari karani ka dhyana|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
मन मंदिर में बास करो मैया, दूर करो अज्ञान॥
mana mamdira mem basa karo maiya, dura karo aj~nana||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Karni Mata Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Karni Mata-bhakti
Many homes recite the Karni Mata 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
Tuesday & Friday, Karni Mata Jayanti and the major Karni Mata 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. Karni Mata is honoured at Deshnok (near Bikaner) where her temple houses the famous white-rats; kuldevi for the Bikaner royal family
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Karni Mata shrines.
For households where Karni Mata is the kuldevta
For households where Karni Mata is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Karni Mata Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Karni Mata. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Karni Mata is honoured at Deshnok (near Bikaner) where her temple houses the famous white-rats; kuldevi for the Bikaner royal family
Karni Mata is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Karni Mata-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 Karni Mata'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 Rani Sati Chalisa, Salasar Balaji Chalisa, and Khatu Shyam 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 Karni Mata: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Red flowers, red cloth, milk for the temple's white-rats (kabas). Many devotees offer a small dhwaja (saffron flag).
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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. Karni Mata is honoured by Charans, Rathore Rajputs, and Bikaner-tradition families; recite with the kuldevi devotional emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Karni Mata if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Friday, Karni Mata Jayanti is auspicious. Karni Mata Jayanti is the central festival. The Deshnok temple has two annual melas (Ashwin and Chaitra).