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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Narmada 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.
देवि पूजिता नर्मदा, महिमा बड़ी अपार। चालीसा वर्णन करत, कवि अरु भक्त उदार॥
Devi pujita Narmada, mahima badi apar. Chalisa varnan karat, kavi aru bhakt udaar.
Goddess Narmada, much-worshipped, your glory is unfathomable. The Chalisa describes it; both poets and devotees are generous in praise.
इनकी सेवा से सदा, मिटते पाप महान। तट पर कर जप दान नर, पाते हैं नित ज्ञान॥
Inki seva se sada, mitte paap mahan. Tat par kar jap daan nar, pate hain nit gyan.
By her service, great sins are forever destroyed. Performing japa and dana on her banks, the human attains continuous wisdom.
जय-जय-जय नर्मदा भवानी। तुम्हरी महिमा सब जग जानी॥
Jai-jai-jai Narmada Bhavani. Tumhari mahima sab jag jani.
Hail, hail, hail Narmada Bhavani. Your glory is known across the world.
अमरकण्ठ से निकलीं माता। सर्व सिद्धि नव निधि की दाता॥
Amarkanth se niklin mata. Sarv siddhi nav nidhi ki data.
Mother, you emerged from Amarkantak. You are the giver of every siddhi and the nine treasures.
कन्या रूप सकल गुण खानी। जब प्रकटीं नर्मदा भवानी॥
Kanya roop sakal gun khani. Jab pragatin Narmada Bhavani.
In the form of a young girl, treasury of every quality. When you manifested as Narmada Bhavani.
सप्तमी सूर्य मकर रविवारा। अश्विनी माघ मास अवतारा॥
Saptami Surya Makar ravivara. Ashvani Magh maas avtara.
On the seventh, with the sun in Makar (winter solstice), on a Sunday. In the Ashwini constellation, in the month of Magh, you took avatar. (The exact astrological signature of Narmada Jayanti.)
वाहन मकर आपको साजें। कमल पुष्प पर आप विराजैं॥
Vahan makar aapko sajein. Kamal pushp par aap virajein.
The makara (water-creature) is your vehicle. You sit upon a lotus.
ब्रह्मा हरि हर तुमको ध्यावै। तब ही मनवांछित फल पावै॥
Brahma Hari Har tumko dhyavai. Tab hi man-vanchhit phal pavai.
Brahma, Hari (Vishnu), and Hara (Shiva) all meditate upon you. Then they too receive the fruit of their heart's wish.
दर्शन करत पाप कटि जाते। कोटि भक्तगण नित्य नहाते॥
Darshan karat paap kati jate. Koti bhaktagan nitya nahate.
On taking your darshan, sins are cut away. Crores of devotees daily bathe in you.
जो नर तुमको नित ही ध्यावै। वह नर रुद्र लोक को जावैं॥
Jo nar tumko nit hi dhyavai. Vah nar Rudra-lok ko javein.
Whoever meditates on you daily. That person goes to Rudra-loka (Shiva's realm).
मगरमच्छ तुम में सुख पावै। अन्तिम समय परमपद पावें॥
Magar-machchh tum mein sukh pavai. Antim samay param-pad pavein.
Even crocodiles and fish find joy in your waters. At the last moment, they attain the supreme state.
मस्तक मुकुट सदा ही साजे। पांव पैंजनी निज ही राजैं॥
Mastak mukut sada hi saje. Paanv painjani nij hi rajein.
A crown always adorns your head. Your own anklets shine on your feet.
कल-कल ध्वनि करती हो माता। पाप ताप हरती हो माता॥
Kal-kal dhvani karti ho mata. Paap taap harti ho mata.
Mother, you make the kal-kal sound (of flowing water). Mother, you lift sin and the three afflictions.
पूरब से पश्चिम की ओरा। बहती माता नाचत मोरा॥
Purab se pashchim ki ora. Bahti mata nachat mora.
From east to west, towards the setting sun. Mother flows, with peacocks dancing on the banks. (Narmada flows uniquely east-to-west, opposite the Ganga-Yamuna direction.)
शौनक ऋषि तुम्हरौ गुण गावैं। सूत आदि तुम्हरौ यश गावैं॥
Shaunak rishi tumharau gun gavain. Sut aadi tumharau yash gavain.
The sage Shaunaka sings your virtues. Suta and the others sing your fame. (The Sutapurana dialogue, framed at the Naimisharanya hermitage.)
शिव गणेश भी तेरे गुण गावैं। सकल देव गण तुमको ध्यावै॥
Shiv Ganesh bhi tere gun gavain. Sakal dev gan tumko dhyavai.
Even Shiva and Ganesh sing your virtues. All the gods meditate upon you.
कोटि तीर्थ नर्मदा किनारे। ये सब कहलाते दुःख हारे॥
Koti tirth Narmada kinare. Ye sab kehlate dukh hare.
Crores of tirthas line the banks of Narmada. They are all called the lifters of sorrow.
मनोकामना पूरण करती। सर्व दुःख माँ नित ही हरतीं॥
Manokamna puran karti. Sarv dukh maa nit hi hartin.
Fulfilling every heart's wish. Mother, you daily lift every sorrow.
कनखल में गंगा की महिमा। कुरुक्षेत्र में सरसुति महिमा॥
Kankhal mein Ganga ki mahima. Kurukshetra mein Sarasuti mahima.
At Kankhal, the glory of Ganga. At Kurukshetra, the glory of Saraswati.
पर नर्मदा ग्राम जंगल में। नित रहती माता मंगल में॥
Par Narmada gram jangal mein. Nit rehti mata mangal mein.
But Narmada, in every village and forest. Mother dwells eternally in auspiciousness.
एक बार करके अस्नाना। तरत पीढ़ी है नर नाना॥
Ek baar karke asnana. Tarat peedhi hai nar nana.
Bathing in you even once. Liberates the human and seven generations of his ancestors.
मेकल कन्या तुम ही रेवा। तुम्हरी भजन करें नित देवा॥
Mekal kanya tum hi Reva. Tumhari bhajan karein nit deva.
Daughter of Mekal, you are Reva. The gods daily sing your bhajan.
जटा शंकरी नाम तुम्हारा। तुमने कोटि जनों को तारा॥
Jata Shankari naam tumhara. Tumne koti janon ko tara.
Jata-Shankari is your name (born from Shiva's matted locks). You have liberated countless people.
समोद्भवा नर्मदा तुम हो। पाप मोचनी रेवा तुम हो॥
Samodbhava Narmada tum ho. Paap mochani Reva tum ho.
You are Samodbhava (self-arising) Narmada. You are Paap-mochani (sin-liberator) Reva.
तुम महिमा कहि नहिं जाई। करत न बनती मातु बड़ाई॥
Tum mahima kahi nahin jai. Karat na banti matu badai.
Your glory cannot be described. Mother, the greatness cannot be sung.
जल प्रताप तुममें अति माता। जो रमणीय तथा सुखदाता॥
Jal pratap tum mein ati mata. Jo ramaniya tatha sukh-data.
Mother, the splendour of your waters is great. Beautiful and joy-giving.
चाल सर्पिणी सम है तुम्हारी। महिमा अति अपार है तुम्हारी॥
Chaal sarpini sam hai tumhari. Mahima ati apar hai tumhari.
Your gait is like a serpent's. Your glory is utterly unfathomable.
तुम में पड़ी अस्थि भी भारी। छुवत पाषाण होत वर वारी॥
Tum mein padi asthi bhi bhari. Chhuvat pashan hot var vari.
Even bones placed in your water. On touching, become precious stones (Shivlings). (The famous Narmada-stone tradition – every pebble from the Narmada is a self-existent Shivling, especially the baan-ling stones.)
यमुना में जो मनुज नहाता। सात दिनों में वह फल पाता॥
Yamuna mein jo manuj nahata. Saat dinon mein vah phal pata.
Whoever bathes in Yamuna. Receives the fruit in seven days.
सरसुति तीन दिनों में देतीं। गंगा तुरत बाद ही देतीं॥
Sarasuti teen dinon mein detin. Ganga turat baad hi detin.
Saraswati gives the fruit in three days. Ganga gives it immediately after.
पर रेवा का दर्शन करके। मानव फल पाता मन भर के॥
Par Reva ka darshan karke. Manav phal pata man bhar ke.
But on taking the very darshan of Reva. The human receives the fruit – full to the brim of the heart. (The unique speed-of-grace claim of Narmada-bhakti.)
तुम्हारी महिमा है अति भारी। जिसको गाते हैं नर-नारी॥
Tumhari mahima hai ati bhari. Jisko gate hain nar-nari.
Your glory is very heavy. Which men and women sing.
जो नर तुम में नित्य नहाता। रुद्र लोक में पूजा जाता॥
Jo nar tum mein nitya nahata. Rudra lok mein puja jata.
Whoever bathes in you daily. Is worshipped in Rudra-loka.
जड़ी बूटियां तट पर राजें। मोहक दृश्य सदा ही साजें॥
Jadi-butiyan tat par rajein. Mohak drishya sada hi sajein.
Healing herbs flourish on your banks. Captivating views always adorn them.
वायु सुगन्धित चलती तीरा। जो हरती नर तन की पीरा॥
Vayu sugandhit chalti tira. Jo harti nar tan ki pira.
A fragrant wind blows on your shore. Which lifts the body-pain of humans.
घाट-घाट की महिमा भारी। कवि भी गा नहिं सकते सारी॥
Ghaat-ghaat ki mahima bhari. Kavi bhi ga nahin sakte sari.
The glory of every ghat is great. Even poets cannot sing it all.
नहिं जानूँ मैं तुम्हरी पूजा। और सहारा नहीं मम दूजा॥
Nahin janun main tumhari puja. Aur sahara nahin mam duja.
I do not know your proper worship. And I have no other refuge.
हो प्रसन्न ऊपर मम माता। तुम ही मातु मोक्ष की दाता॥
Ho prasanna upar mam mata. Tum hi matu moksh ki data.
Be pleased with me, Mother. You alone, Mother, are the giver of moksha.
जो मानव यह नित है पढ़ता। उसका मान सदा ही बढ़ता॥
Jo manav yah nit hai padhta. Uska maan sada hi badhta.
Whoever recites this daily. Their honour always grows.
जो शत बार इसे है गाता। वह विद्या धन दौलत पाता॥
Jo shat baar ise hai gata. Vah vidya dhan daulat pata.
Whoever sings it a hundred times. Receives learning, wealth, and prosperity.
अगणित बार पढ़े जो कोई। पूरण मनोकामना होई॥
Aganit baar padhe jo koi. Puran manokamna hoi.
Whoever reads it countless times. Their heart's wishes are fulfilled.
सबके उर में बसत नर्मदा। यहां वहां सर्वत्र नर्मदा॥
Sabke ur mein basat Narmada. Yahan vahan sarvatra Narmada.
Narmada dwells in every heart. Here, there, everywhere – Narmada.
भक्ति भाव उर आनि के, जो करता है जाप। माता जी की कृपा से, दूर होत सन्ताप॥
Bhakti bhav ur aani ke, jo karta hai jaap. Mata ji ki kripa se, door hot santaap.
Bringing devotion into the heart, whoever performs the jap. By Mother's grace, every sorrow is lifted away.
Why this chalisa
What the Narmada Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Anchor for the Narmada Parikrama
The Narmada Parikrama is the only full-river circumambulation in Hinduism – a 3,300 km journey on foot from the river's source at Amarkantak in eastern Madhya Pradesh, down the south bank to its mouth at Bharuch on the Arabian Sea, and back up the north bank, traditionally completed in three years and three months. Many parikrama-pilgrims recite the Chalisa daily through the journey. Verse 19 promises: "ek baar karke asnana, tarat peedhi hai nar nana" – 'bathing once liberates seven generations.' The full parikrama is said to liberate countless generations.
Centrepiece of Narmada Jayanti and Mahashivratri at Omkareshwar
Narmada Jayanti falls on Magh Shukla Saptami (January-February) – verse 4 of the Chalisa names this exact astrological signature. Mahashivratri at Omkareshwar (one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on a Narmada island) is the second major occasion. Many devotees recite eleven or twenty-one paaths during these festivals at the Narmada ghats.
Companion to Shiva worship – every pebble is a Shivling
Verse 26 names the famous teaching: every stone in the Narmada becomes a Shivling on touching the water. This is the source of the Narmada baan-ling tradition – the self-existent stones from the Narmada that millions of households across India keep as their primary Shivling. Pair with the Shiv Chalisa for the complete daily practice. The Maheshwar and Omkareshwar Jyotirlingas on the Narmada are major pilgrimage destinations.
Rapid grace – verses 27-29
The Chalisa's most quoted teaching is the comparison of the four sacred rivers (verses 27-29): Yamuna gives results in seven days, Saraswati in three, Ganga immediately, but Narmada's very darshan alone gives the full fruit. This unique claim makes the Narmada Chalisa especially central for devotees seeking quick relief from any major life difficulty. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a magic formula.)
For the 100-paath vidya-dhan anushthan
Verse 38 names the specific 100-paath anushthan: "jo shat baar ise hai gata, vah vidya dhan daulat pata" – 'whoever recites it 100 times receives learning, wealth, and prosperity.' Many students preparing for major exams undertake the 100-paath anushthan over 21-41 days. Pair with the Saraswati Chalisa for vidya, and the Lakshmi Chalisa for dhan.
Companion to the wider river-goddess tradition
Verses 17-18 contrast Narmada with Ganga (at Kankhal/Haridwar) and Saraswati (at Kurukshetra). Pair with the Ganga Chalisa, the Yamuna Chalisa, and the wider river worship. The Narmada-Yamuna-Ganga-Saraswati-Godavari-Kaveri-Sindhu form the sapta-sindhu (seven sacred rivers) of classical Hindu cosmology.
Origin
The Narmada Chalisa carries no clear signature line. Many published copies attribute it simply to "tradition" – an honesty worth preserving. The text is generally placed in the 18th-19th century CE by language and content. Verse 13 names the Shaunaka rishi and Suta as singers of Narmada's glory – the same dialogue framework as the Shaunak-Suta katha-sequence that opens the major Puranas (the Shrimad Bhagavata, the Skanda Purana, and the Vayu Purana all contain Narmada-mahatmya sections that the Chalisa draws from).
Narmada herself is the river-goddess of central India, named in her two primary forms: Narmada (the joy-giver) and Reva (the leaping one – verse 20 names her as Mekal-kanya tum hi Reva). She is also called Jata-Shankari (verse 21 – 'born from Shiva's matted locks') and Samodbhava (verse 22 – 'self-arising'). She flows uniquely east-to-west (verse 12) – opposite the Ganga-Yamuna direction – which makes her geographically distinctive and theologically precious. She rises from the Mekal hills at Amarkantak in eastern Madhya Pradesh and flows 1,312 km westward to enter the Arabian Sea at Bharuch in Gujarat.
The Narmada is one of the seven holy rivers of India and the only one with a complete parikrama tradition. The 3,300 km Narmada Parikrama – walked on foot, traditionally taking three years and three months – is the most sustained physical pilgrimage in Hindu practice. The two major Shaiva sites on the Narmada are Omkareshwar (one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on an island shaped like the syllable Om) and Maheshwar (Mahishmati of the Mahabharata). The river's self-existent stones, the Narmada baan-lingas, are kept as primary Shivlings in millions of households across India.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the Ganga Chalisa and Yamuna Chalisa (sister-rivers), the Shiv Chalisa (Narmada is Shiva's daughter), and the Durga Chalisa (the wider Devi tradition).
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 south (the Narmada flows east-to-west, distinct from other rivers) or facing the river if you have access. The traditional offerings: a Narmada baan-ling stone (if available – the most precious offering from any Narmada pilgrimage), white or saffron flowers, a small ghee diya, akshat, and a piece of fruit. Many homes keep a small bottle of Narmada-jal from a previous pilgrimage.
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Posture and start
Sit cross-legged with your spine straight. Bow once. Take a moment of silence. If reciting on Narmada Jayanti, before a Narmada Parikrama, or for a specific intention, offer a brief sankalp.
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Recitation
Move through the forty chaupais without rushing. Verses 4-9 establish her descent and iconography. Verses 17-18 contrast her with Ganga and Saraswati. Verses 27-29 carry the rapid-grace teaching. Verse 26 names the Narmada-stone tradition. End with the closing doha.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed. Many people end with the bija mantra Om Narmadayai Namah recited 11 or 21 times. If a baan-ling stone is at the altar, perform a simple abhisheka with Narmada-jal.
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Daily practice and special days
One paath a day – morning – is enough for steady daily practice. Mondays are auspicious. The major festivals: Narmada Jayanti on Magh Shukla Saptami (January-February); Mahashivratri at Omkareshwar; Kartik Purnima at Maheshwar. Before undertaking the Narmada Parikrama, the older practice is a 41-day daily Chalisa nem.