On this page
Lyrics with meaning
The complete Pitra 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.
हे पितरेश्वर आपको, दे दियो आशीर्वाद।
he pitareshvara apako, de diyo ashirvada|
Opening invocation – salutation to Pitra-gan and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
पितरेश्वर करो मार्ग उजागर। चरण रज की मुक्ति सागर॥
pitareshvara karo marga ujagara| charana raja ki mukti sagara||
Verse 1 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
परम उपकार पित्तरेश्वर कीन्हा। मनुष्य योणि में जन्म दीन्हा॥
parama upakara pittareshvara kinha| manushya yoni mem janma dinha||
Verse 2 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
मातृ-पितृ देव मनजो भावे। सोई अमित जीवन फल पावे॥
matrri-pitrri deva manajo bhave| soi amita jivana phala pave||
Verse 3 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
जै-जै-जै पित्तर जी साईं। पितृ ऋण बिन मुक्ति नाहिं॥
jai-jai-jai pittara ji saim| pitrri rrina bina mukti nahim||
Verse 4 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
चारों ओर प्रताप तुम्हारा। संकट में तेरा ही सहारा॥
charom ora pratapa tumhara| samkata mem tera hi sahara||
Verse 5 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
नारायण आधार सृष्टि का। पित्तरजी अंश उसी दृष्टि का॥
narayana adhara srrishti ka| pittaraji amsha usi drrishti ka||
Verse 6 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
प्रथम पूजन प्रभु आज्ञा सुनाते। भाग्य द्वार आप ही खुलवाते॥
prathama pujana prabhu aj~na sunate| bhagya dvara apa hi khulavate||
Verse 7 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
झुंझुनू में दरबार है साजे। सब देवों संग आप विराजे॥
jhumjhunu mem darabara hai saje| saba devom samga apa viraje||
Verse 8 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
प्रसन्न होय मनवांछित फल दीन्हा। कुपित होय बुद्धि हर लीन्हा॥
prasanna hoya manavamchita phala dinha| kupita hoya buddhi hara linha||
Verse 9 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
पित्तर महिमा सबसे न्यारी। जिसका गुणगावे नर नारी॥
pittara mahima sabase nyari| jisaka gunagave nara nari||
Verse 10 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
तीन मण्ड में आप बिराजे। बसु रुद्र आदित्य में साजे॥
tina manda mem apa biraje| basu rudra aditya mem saje||
Verse 11 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
नाथ सकल संपदा तुम्हारी। मैं सेवक समेत सुत नारी॥
natha sakala sampada tumhari| maim sevaka sameta suta nari||
Verse 12 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
छप्पन भोग नहीं हैं भाते। शुद्ध जल से ही तृप्त हो जाते॥
chappana bhoga nahim haim bhate| shuddha jala se hi trripta ho jate||
Verse 13 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हारे भजन परम हितकारी। छोटे बड़े सभी अधिकारी॥
tumhare bhajana parama hitakari| chote ba.de sabhi adhikari||
Verse 14 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
भानु उदय संग आप पुजावै। पांच अँजुलि जल रिझावे॥
bhanu udaya samga apa pujavai| pamcha a.njuli jala rijhave||
Verse 15 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
ध्वज पताका मण्ड पे है साजे। अखण्ड ज्योति में आप विराजे॥
dhvaja pataka manda pe hai saje| akhanda jyoti mem apa viraje||
Verse 16 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
सदियों पुरानी ज्योति तुम्हारी। धन्य हुई जन्म भूमि हमारी॥
sadiyom purani jyoti tumhari| dhanya hui janma bhumi hamari||
Verse 17 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
शहीद हमारे यहाँ पुजाते। मातृ भक्ति सन्देश सुनाते॥
shahida hamare yaha.n pujate| matrri bhakti sandesha sunate||
Verse 18 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
जगत पित्तरो सिद्धान्त हमारा। धर्म जाति का नहीं है नारा॥
jagata pittaro siddhanta hamara| dharma jati ka nahim hai nara||
Verse 19 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
हिन्दु, मुस्लिम, सिख, ईसाई। सब पूजे पित्तर भाई॥
hindu, muslima, sikha, isai| saba puje pittara bhai||
Verse 20 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
हिन्दु वंश वृक्ष है हमारा। जान से ज्यादा हमको प्यारा॥
hindu vamsha vrriksha hai hamara| jana se jyada hamako pyara||
Verse 21 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
गंगा ये मरुप्रदेश की। पितृ तर्पण अनिवार्य परिवेश की॥
gamga ye marupradesha ki| pitrri tarpana anivarya parivesha ki||
Verse 22 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
बन्धु छोड़ना इनके चरणाँ। इन्हीं की कृपा से मिले प्रभु शरणा॥
bandhu cho.dana inake charana.n| inhim ki krripa se mile prabhu sharana||
Verse 23 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
चौदस को जागरण करवाते। अमावस को हम धोक लगाते॥
chaudasa ko jagarana karavate| amavasa ko hama dhoka lagate||
Verse 24 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
जात जडूला सभी मनाते। नान्दीमुख श्राद्ध सभी करवाते॥
jata jadula sabhi manate| nandimukha shraddha sabhi karavate||
Verse 25 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
धन्य जन्म भूमि का वो फूल है। जिसे पितृ मण्डल की मिली धूल है॥
dhanya janma bhumi ka vo phula hai| jise pitrri mandala ki mili dhula hai||
Verse 26 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
श्री पित्तर जी भक्त हितकारी। सुन लीजे प्रभु अरज हमारी॥
shri pittara ji bhakta hitakari| suna lije prabhu araja hamari||
Verse 27 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
निशदिन ध्यान धरे जो कोई। ता सम भक्त और नहीं कोई॥
nishadina dhyana dhare jo koi| ta sama bhakta aura nahim koi||
Verse 28 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
तुम अनाथ के नाथ सहाई। दीनन के हो तुम सदा सहाई॥
tuma anatha ke natha sahai| dinana ke ho tuma sada sahai||
Verse 29 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
चारिक वेद प्रभु के साखी। तुम भक्तन की लज्जा राखी॥
charika veda prabhu ke sakhi| tuma bhaktana ki lajja rakhi||
Verse 30 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
नाम तुम्हारो लेत जो कोई। ता सम धन्य और नहीं कोई॥
nama tumharo leta jo koi| ta sama dhanya aura nahim koi||
Verse 31 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
जो तुम्हारे नित पाँव पलोटत। नवों सिद्धि चरणा में लोटत॥
jo tumhare nita pa.nva palotata| navom siddhi charana mem lotata||
Verse 32 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
सिद्धि तुम्हारी सब मंगलकारी। जो तुम पे जावे बलिहारी॥
siddhi tumhari saba mamgalakari| jo tuma pe jave balihari||
Verse 33 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
जो तुम्हारे चरणा चित्त लावे। ताकी मुक्ति अवसी हो जावे॥
jo tumhare charana chitta lave| taki mukti avasi ho jave||
Verse 34 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
सत्य भजन तुम्हारो जो गावे। सो निश्चय चारों फल पावे॥
satya bhajana tumharo jo gave| so nishchaya charom phala pave||
Verse 35 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
तुमहिं देव कुलदेव हमारे। तुम्हीं गुरुदेव प्राण से प्यारे॥
tumahim deva kuladeva hamare| tumhim gurudeva prana se pyare||
Verse 36 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
सत्य आस मन में जो होई। मनवांछित फल पावें सोई॥
satya asa mana mem jo hoi| manavamchita phala pavem soi||
Verse 37 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हरी महिमा बुद्धि बड़ाई। शेष सहस्र मुख सके न गाई॥
tumhari mahima buddhi ba.dai| shesha sahasra mukha sake na gai||
Verse 38 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
मैं अतिदीन मलीन दुखारी। करहु कौन विधि विनय तुम्हारी॥
maim atidina malina dukhari| karahu kauna vidhi vinaya tumhari||
Verse 39 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
अब पित्तर जी दया दीन पर कीजै। अपनी भक्ति शक्ति कछु दीजै॥
aba pittara ji daya dina para kijai| apani bhakti shakti kachu dijai||
Verse 40 of the Pitra Chalisa – praise of Pitra-gan in the Chalisa structure.
पित्तरौं को स्थान दो, तीरथ और स्वयं ग्राम।
pittaraum ko sthana do, tiratha aura svayam grama|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
श्रद्धा सुमन चढ़ें वहां, पूरण हो सब काम॥
shraddha sumana cha.dhem vaham, purana ho saba kama||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Pitra Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Pitra-gan-bhakti
Many homes recite the Pitra 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
Pitru Paksha & Amavasya and the major Pitra-gan 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. The Pitra Chalisa honours family ancestors; central to the Pitru Paksha 16-day shraddha period and Amavasya tarpan
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Pitra-gan shrines.
For households where Pitra-gan is the kuldevta
For households where Pitra-gan is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Pitra Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Pitra Dev. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. The Pitra Chalisa honours family ancestors; central to the Pitru Paksha 16-day shraddha period and Amavasya tarpan
Pitra-gan is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Pitra-gan-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 Pitra-gan'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 Hanuman Chalisa, Vishnu Chalisa, and Shiv 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.
-
Preparation
Bathe and wear clean clothes. Sit facing South. Traditional offerings to Pitra-gan: white flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Traditional offerings include white flowers, fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Specific to Pitra-gan traditions.
-
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.
-
Recitation
Move through the chaupais without rushing. Read with attention to the meaning of each verse. Recite with attention to the Pitra-gan devotional emphasis as outlined in the verses.
-
After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Pitra-gan if known.
-
Daily practice and special days
Pitru Paksha & Amavasya is auspicious. Pitru Paksha (Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha), Amavasya are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 paaths during festivals.