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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Kunthunath 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.
दयासिन्धु कुन्थु जिनराज, भवसिन्धु तिरने को जहाज ।
dayasindhu kunthu jinaraja, bhavasindhu tirane ko jahaja |
Opening invocation – salutation to Bhagwan Kunthunath and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जय श्री कुन्युनाथ गुणखान, परम यशस्वी महिमावान ।
jaya shri kunyunatha gunakhana, parama yashasvi mahimavana |
Verse 1 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
हस्तिनापुर नगरी के भूपति, शूरसेन कुरुवंशी अधिपति ।
hastinapura nagari ke bhupati, shurasena kuruvamshi adhipati |
Verse 2 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
महारानी थी श्रीमति उनकी, वर्षा होती थी रतनन की ।
maharani thi shrimati unaki, varsha hoti thi ratanana ki |
Verse 3 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
प्रतिपदा बैसाख उजियारी, जन्मे तीर्थकर बलधारी ।
pratipada baisakha ujiyari, janme tirthakara baladhari |
Verse 4 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
गहन भक्ति अपने उर धारे, हस्तिनापुर आए सुर सारे ।
gahana bhakti apane ura dhare, hastinapura ae sura sare |
Verse 5 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
इन्द्र प्रभु को गोद में लेकर, गए सुमेरु हर्षित होकर ।
indra prabhu ko goda mem lekara, gae sumeru harshita hokara |
Verse 6 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
न्हवन करें निर्मल जल लेकर, कुन्थुनाथ नाम शुभ देकर,
nhavana karem nirmala jala lekara, kunthunatha nama shubha dekara,
Verse 7 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
इन्द्र करें स्तवन मनोहर । दिव्य-वस्त्र- भूषण पहनाए,
indra karem stavana manohara | divya-vastra- bhushana pahanae,
Verse 8 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
वापिस हस्तिनापुर को आए । कम-क्रम से बढे बालेन्दु सम,
vapisa hastinapura ko ae | kama-krama se badhe balendu sama,
Verse 9 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
यौवन शोभा धारे हितकार । धनु पैंतालीस उन्नत प्रभु- तन,
yauvana shobha dhare hitakara | dhanu paimtalisa unnata prabhu- tana,
Verse 10 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
उत्तम शोभा धारें अनुपम । आयु पिंचानवे वर्ष हजार,
uttama shobha dharem anupama | ayu pimchanave varsha hajara,
Verse 11 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
लक्षण ‘अज’ धारे हितकार । राज्याभिषेक हुआ विधिपूर्वक,
lakshana ‘aja’ dhare hitakara | rajyabhisheka hua vidhipurvaka,
Verse 12 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
शासन करें सुनीति पूर्वक । चक्ररत्तन शुभ प्राप्त हुआ जब,
shasana karem suniti purvaka | chakrarattana shubha prapta hua jaba,
Verse 13 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
चक्रवर्ती कहलाए प्रभु तब । एक दिन गए प्रभु उपवन मेँ,
chakravarti kahalae prabhu taba | eka dina gae prabhu upavana me.n,
Verse 14 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
शान्त मुनि इक देखे मग में । इंगिन किया तभी अंगुलिसे,
shanta muni ika dekhe maga mem | imgina kiya tabhi amgulise,
Verse 15 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
“देखो मुनिको’ -कहा मंत्री से । मंत्री ने पूछा जब कारण,
“dekho muniko’ -kaha mamtri se | mamtri ne pucha jaba karana,
Verse 16 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
“किया मोक्षहित मुनिपद धारण’ । कारण करें और स्पष्ट,
“kiya mokshahita munipada dharana’ | karana karem aura spashta,
Verse 17 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
“मुनिपद से ही कर्म हों नष्ट’ । मंत्रो का तो हुआ बहाना,
“munipada se hi karma hom nashta’ | mamtro ka to hua bahana,
Verse 18 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
किया वस्तुतः निज कल्याणा । चिन विरक्त हुआ विषयों से,
kiya vastutah nija kalyana | china virakta hua vishayom se,
Verse 19 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
तत्व चिन्तन करते भावों से । निज सुत को सौंपा सब राज,
tatva chintana karate bhavom se | nija suta ko saumpa saba raja,
Verse 20 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
गए सहेतुक वन जिनराज । पंचमुष्टि से कैशलौंचकर,
gae sahetuka vana jinaraja | pamchamushti se kaishalaumchakara,
Verse 21 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
धार लिया पद नगन दिगम्बर । तीन दिन बाद गए गजपुर को,
dhara liya pada nagana digambara | tina dina bada gae gajapura ko,
Verse 22 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
धर्ममित्र पड़गाहें प्रभु को । मौन रहे सोलह वर्षों तक,
dharmamitra pa.dagahem prabhu ko | mauna rahe solaha varshom taka,
Verse 23 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
सहे शीत-वर्षा और आतप । स्थिर हुए तिलक तरु- जल में,
sahe shita-varsha aura atapa | sthira hue tilaka taru- jala mem,
Verse 24 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
मगन हुए निज ध्यान अटल में । आतम ने बढ़ गई विशुद्धि,
magana hue nija dhyana atala mem | atama ne baढ़ gai vishuddhi,
Verse 25 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
कैवलज्ञान की हो गई सिद्धि । सूर्यप्रभा सम सोहें आप्त,
kaivalaj~nana ki ho gai siddhi | suryaprabha sama sohem apta,
Verse 26 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
दिग्मण्डल शोभा हुई व्याप्त । समोशरण रचना सुखकार,
digmandala shobha hui vyapta | samosharana rachana sukhakara,
Verse 27 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
ज्ञाननृपित बैठे नर- नार । विषय-भोग महा विषमय है,
j~nananrripita baithe nara- nara | vishaya-bhoga maha vishamaya hai,
Verse 28 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
मन को कर देते तन्मय हैं । विष से मरते एक जनम में,
mana ko kara dete tanmaya haim | visha se marate eka janama mem,
Verse 29 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
भोग विषाक्त मरें भव- भव में । क्षण भंगुर मानब का जीवन,
bhoga vishakta marem bhava- bhava mem | kshana bhamgura manaba ka jivana,
Verse 30 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
विद्युतवन विनसे अगले क्षण । सान्ध्य ललिमा के सदृश्य ही,
vidyutavana vinase agale kshana | sandhya lalima ke sadrrishya hi,
Verse 31 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
यौवन हो जाता अदृश्य ही । जब तक आतम बुद्धि नही हो,
yauvana ho jata adrrishya hi | jaba taka atama buddhi nahi ho,
Verse 32 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
तब तक दरश विशुद्धि नहीं हौं । पहले विजित करो पंचेन्द्रिय,
taba taka darasha vishuddhi nahim haum | pahale vijita karo pamchendriya,
Verse 33 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
आत्तमबल से बनो जितेन्द्रिय । भव्य भारती प्रभु की सुनकर,
attamabala se bano jitendriya | bhavya bharati prabhu ki sunakara,
Verse 34 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
श्रावकजन आनन्दित को कर । श्रद्धा से व्रत धारण करते,
shravakajana anandita ko kara | shraddha se vrata dharana karate,
Verse 35 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
शुभ भावों का अर्जन करते । शुभायु एक मास रही जब,
shubha bhavom ka arjana karate | shubhayu eka masa rahi jaba,
Verse 36 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
शैल सम्मेद पे वास किया तब । धारा प्रतिमा रोग वहॉ पर,
shaila sammeda pe vasa kiya taba | dhara pratima roga vahaॉ para,
Verse 37 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
काटा क्रर्मबन्ध्र सब प्रभुवर । मोक्षकल्याणक करते सुरगण,
kata krarmabandhra saba prabhuvara | mokshakalyanaka karate suragana,
Verse 38 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
कूट ज्ञानधर करते पूजन । चक्री… कामदेव… तीर्थंकर,
kuta j~nanadhara karate pujana | chakri… kamadeva… tirthamkara,
Verse 39 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
कुंन्धुनाथ थे परम हितंकर । चालीसा जो पढे भाव से,
kumndhunatha the parama hitamkara | chalisa jo padhe bhava se,
Verse 40 of the Kunthunath Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kunthunath in the Chalisa structure.
Why this chalisa
What the Kunthunath Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Bhagwan Kunthunath-bhakti
Many homes recite the Kunthunath 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
Vaishakha Krishna Chaturdashi (Kunthunath Jayanti) and the major Bhagwan Kunthunath 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. Kunthunath is the 17th Tirthankar in Jain tradition; was the sixth Chakravarti emperor before becoming a Tirthankar; symbol is the goat
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Bhagwan Kunthunath shrines.
For households where Bhagwan Kunthunath is the kuldevta
For households where Bhagwan Kunthunath is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Kunthunath Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Bhagwan Kunthunath. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to Jain tradition. Kunthunath is the 17th Tirthankar in Jain tradition; was the sixth Chakravarti emperor before becoming a Tirthankar; symbol is the goat
Bhagwan Kunthunath is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Bhagwan Kunthunath-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 Kunthunath'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 Shantinath 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 Kunthunath: white flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. White flowers, simple Jain-tradition offerings (no animal products), pure water, akshat.
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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. Kunthunath is honoured by Jains as one of the 24 Tirthankars; recite with the Jain-tradition emphasis on Ahimsa.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Bhagwan Kunthunath if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Vaishakha Krishna Chaturdashi (Kunthunath Jayanti) is auspicious. Kunthunath Jayanti is the central festival. Paryushana draws extra recitations.