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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Ram 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.
श्री रघुवीर भक्त हितकारी। सुनि लीजै प्रभु अरज हमारी॥
Shri Raghuvir bhakt hitkari. Suni lijai Prabhu araj hamari.
O Shri Raghuvir – benefactor of devotees. Lord, please listen to our plea.
निशि दिन ध्यान धरै जो कोई। ता सम भक्त और नहिं होई॥
Nishi din dhyan dharai jo koi. Ta sam bhakt aur nahin hoi.
Whoever holds you in meditation, night and day. There is no other devotee like them.
ध्यान धरे शिवजी मन माहीं। ब्रह्मा इन्द्र पार नहिं पाहीं॥
Dhyan dhare Shivji man mahin. Brahma Indra paar nahin pahin.
Even Shiva holds you in meditation in his mind. Brahma and Indra cannot reach the limit of your greatness.
जय जय जय रघुनाथ कृपाला। सदा करो सन्तन प्रतिपाला॥
Jai jai jai Raghunath kripala. Sada karo santan pratipala.
Hail, hail, hail – compassionate Raghunath. Always be the protector of the saintly.
दूत तुम्हार वीर हनुमाना। जासु प्रभाव तिहूँ पुर जाना॥
Doot tumhar veer Hanumana. Jasu prabhav tihun pur jana.
Your messenger is the brave Hanuman. Whose power is known across all three worlds.
तव भुज दण्ड प्रचण्ड कृपाला। रावण मारि सुरन प्रतिपाला॥
Tav bhuj-dand prachand kripala. Ravan maari suran pratipala.
Your arms are mighty staffs of compassion. You slew Ravana and protected the gods.
तुम अनाथ के नाथ गोसाईं। दीनन के हो सदा सहाई॥
Tum anath ke nath Gosain. Dinan ke ho sada sahai.
You are the lord of those without a lord, O Gosain. You are always the helper of the helpless.
ब्रह्मादिक तव पार न पावैं। सदा ईश तुम्हरो यश गावैं॥
Brahmadik tav paar na pavain. Sada ish tumharo yash gavain.
Even Brahma and the great gods cannot reach the limit of you. Yet they always sing your fame, O Lord.
चारिउ वेद भरत हैं साखी। तुम भक्तन की लज्जा राखी॥
Chariu Ved bharat hain sakhi. Tum bhaktan ki lajja rakhi.
All four Vedas of Bharat stand witness. You have always preserved the honour of your devotees.
गुण गावत शारद मन माहीं। सुरपति ताको पार न पाहीं॥
Gun gavat Sharad man mahin. Surpati tako paar na pahin.
Saraswati sings your virtues in her heart. Even Indra, lord of gods, cannot reach the limit of you.
नाम तुम्हार लेत जो कोई। ता सम धन्य और नहिं होई॥
Naam tumhar let jo koi. Ta sam dhanya aur nahin hoi.
Whoever takes your name. There is no one as blessed as them.
राम नाम है अपरम्पारा। चारिउ वेदन जाहि पुकारा॥
Ram naam hai aparampara. Chariu vedan jahi pukara.
The name Ram is beyond all measure. The four Vedas themselves call out to it.
गणपति नाम तुम्हारो लीन्हौ। तिनको प्रथम पूज्य तुम कीन्हौ॥
Ganpati naam tumharo linho. Tinko pratham pujya tum kinho.
Ganpati took your name first. And so you made him the first to be worshipped.
शेष रटत नित नाम तुम्हारा। महि को भार शीश पर धारा॥
Shesh ratat nit naam tumhara. Mahi ko bhaar shish par dhara.
Sheshnag chants your name continuously. And so bears the weight of the earth on his head.
फूल समान रहत सो भारा। पाव न कोउ तुम्हारो पारा॥
Phool saman rahat so bhara. Paav na kou tumharo para.
That weight rests on him as light as a flower. None can find the limit of you.
भरत नाम तुम्हरो उर धारो। तासों कबहु न रण में हारो॥
Bharat naam tumharo ur dharo. Tason kabahu na ran mein haaro.
Bharat held your name in his heart. And because of that, never lost in any battle.
नाम शत्रुहन हृदय प्रकाशा। सुमिरत होत शत्रु कर नाशा॥
Naam Shatruhan hriday prakasha. Sumirat hot shatru kar nasha.
Your name shines in Shatrughna's heart. Remembering it brings the destruction of enemies.
लषन तुम्हारे आज्ञाकारी। सदा करत सन्तन रखवारी॥
Lashan tumhare aagyakari. Sada karat santan rakhvari.
Lakshman is your obedient one. He always guards the saintly.
ताते रण जीते नहिं कोई। युद्ध जुरे यमहूँ किन होई॥
Tate ran jite nahin koi. Yuddha jure Yamhun kin hoi.
And so no one defeats him in battle. Even if Yama himself joins the fight against him.
महालक्ष्मी धर अवतारा। सब विधि करत पाप को छारा॥
Mahalakshmi dhar avtara. Sab vidhi karat paap ko chhara.
Mahalakshmi descended as your consort. In every way she turns sin to dust.
सीता नाम पुनीता गायो। भुवनेश्वरी प्रभाव दिखायो॥
Sita naam punita gayo. Bhuvaneshvari prabhav dikhayo.
She is sung by the holy name Sita. She showed the power of Bhuvaneshvari – mistress of the worlds.
घट सों प्रकट भई सो आई। जाको देखत चन्द्र लजाई॥
Ghat son prakat bhai so aai. Jako dekhat chandra lajai.
She emerged from a clay pot and came forth. Seeing whom, even the moon felt put to shame.
सो तुमरे नित पाँव पलोटत। नवों निद्धि चरणन में लोटत॥
So tumare nit panv palotat. Navon niddhi charanan mein lotat.
She daily presses your feet in service. The nine treasures roll at your feet.
सिद्धि अठारह मंगलकारी। सो तुम पर जावै बलिहारी॥
Siddhi atharah mangalkari. So tum par javai balihari.
The eighteen auspicious siddhis. They offer themselves in sacrifice to you.
औरहु जो अनेक प्रभुताई। सो सीतापति तुमहिं बनाई॥
Aurhu jo anek prabhutai. So Sita-pati tumahin banai.
And whatever other lordly powers exist. All these too, O Sita-pati, are made by you.
इच्छा ते कोटिन संसारा। रचत न लागत पल की वारा॥
Iccha te kotin sansara. Rachat na lagat pal ki vara.
By your will, ten million worlds. Are created without a moment's pause.
जो तुम्हरे चरणन चित लावै। ताकी मुक्ति अवसि हो जावै॥
Jo tumhare charanan chit lavai. Taki mukti avasi ho javai.
Whoever fixes their mind on your feet. Their liberation is certain.
सुनहु राम तुम तात हमारे। तुहिं भरत कुल पूज्य प्रचारे॥
Sunhu Ram tum taat hamare. Tuhin Bharat-kul pujya prachare.
Hear, Ram – you are our father. You are honoured as the worshipful one of the Bharata lineage.
तुमहिं देव कुल देव हमारे। तुम गुरुदेव प्राण के प्यारे॥
Tumhin dev kul-dev hamare. Tum Gurudev pran ke pyare.
You are our family deity, the kuldev. You are our Guru, dearer than life itself.
जो कुछ हो सो तुम ही राजा। जय जय जय प्रभु राखो लाजा॥
Jo kuchh ho so tum hi raja. Jai jai jai Prabhu rakho laja.
Whatever exists, it is you alone, O King. Hail, hail, hail – Lord, preserve our honour.
राम आत्मा पोषण हारे। जय जय जय दशरथ दुलारे॥
Ram atma poshan hare. Jai jai jai Dasharath dulare.
Ram, you are the nourisher of the soul. Hail, hail, hail – beloved son of Dasharatha.
जय जय जय प्रभु ज्योति स्वरूपा। निर्गुण ब्रह्म अखण्ड अनूपा॥
Jai jai jai Prabhu jyoti svarupa. Nirgun Brahma akhand anupa.
Hail, hail, hail – Lord of the form of pure light. Formless Brahma, indivisible, beyond compare.
सत्य सत्य व्रत स्वामी। सत्य सनातन अन्तर्यामी॥
Satya satya vrat svami. Satya sanatan antaryami.
Lord of truth, of the truth-vow. Eternal truth, the inner-knower of all.
सत्य भजन तुम्हरो जो गावै। सो निश्चय चारों फल पावै॥
Satya bhajan tumharo jo gavai. So nishchay charon phal pavai.
Whoever truthfully sings your bhajan. Surely receives the four fruits of life. (The four purusharthas: dharma, artha, kama, moksha.)
सत्य शपथ गौरिपति कीन्हीं। तुमने भक्तिहिं सब सिद्धि दीन्हीं॥
Satya shapath Gauri-pati kinhin. Tumne bhaktihin sab siddhi dinhin.
Gauri-pati (Shiva) himself swore by your truth. That you have given every siddhi to your devotees.
ज्ञान हृदय दो ज्ञान स्वरूपा। नमो नमो जय जगपति भूपा॥
Gyan hriday do gyan svarupa. Namo namo jai jagpati bhupa.
Grant wisdom to my heart, O wisdom-form. Salutations, salutations – hail, lord of the world.
धन्य धन्य तुम धन्य प्रतापा। नाम तुम्हार हरत संतापा॥
Dhanya dhanya tum dhanya pratapa. Naam tumhar harat santapa.
Blessed, blessed – blessed is your majesty. Your name removes all suffering.
सत्य शुद्ध देवन मुख गाया। बजी दुन्दुभी शंख बजाया॥
Satya shuddha devan mukh gaya. Baji dundubhi shankh bajaya.
The pure truth was sung from the mouths of the gods. Drums sounded and conches were blown.
सत्य सत्य तुम सत्य सनातन। तुम ही हो हमारे तन मन धन॥
Satya satya tum satya sanatan. Tum hi ho hamare tan man dhan.
Truth, truth – you are eternal truth. You alone are our body, mind, and wealth.
याको पाठ करे जो कोई। ज्ञान प्रकट ताके उर होई॥
Yako paath kare jo koi. Gyan prakat take ur hoi.
Whoever recites this paath. Wisdom rises in their heart.
सात दिवस जो नेम कर, पाठ करे चित लाय। हरिदास हरि कृपा से, अवसि भक्ति को पाय॥
Saat divas jo nem kar, paath kare chit laay. Haridas Hari-kripa se, avasi bhakti ko paay.
Whoever keeps a seven-day vow, reciting the paath with focused mind. By Hari's grace, says Haridas, will surely receive devotion. (The composer's signature line – the verse that names the author and prescribes the seven-day nem.)
राम चालीसा जो पढ़े, राम चरण चित लाय। जो इच्छा मन में करै, सकल सिद्ध हो जाय॥
Ram chalisa jo padhe, Ram-charan chit laay. Jo iccha man mein karai, sakal siddh ho jaay.
Whoever reads the Ram Chalisa, fixing the mind on Ram's feet. Whatever wish is in their heart, becomes wholly fulfilled.
Why this chalisa
What the Ram Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Steady refuge in Ram-naam
Verses 11-13 are the heart of the Chalisa's teaching: that the name Ram is beyond all measure, that the four Vedas themselves call out to it, and that Ganpati became the first to be worshipped because he took Ram-naam first. Many devotees keep the Chalisa as the daily anchor of their Ram-naam practice – seven minutes that reminds the household why this name has held the tradition together for centuries. The Hanuman Chalisa is its natural pair (Hanuman is named in verse 5).
The seven-day nem
The closing doha itself prescribes a seven-day nem – one paath a day, with focused attention, for seven consecutive days. This is the most accessible Ram anushthan in the tradition. Many people commit to it before a major undertaking: a job interview, a court hearing, a marriage decision, a journey. Begin on a Tuesday or on Ram Navami, keep the same time and same place each morning, and read the closing doha as a reminder of the vow.
Ram Navami and Vivah Panchami
The Chalisa anchors the two major Ram festivals. Ram Navami in Chaitra (March-April) marks Ram's birth – households install or wash the Ram murti, decorate it, and recite eleven or twenty-one paaths through the day. Vivah Panchami in Margashirsha (November-December) marks the wedding of Ram and Sita – many households recite the Ram Chalisa together with the Sita Chalisa on this day. Akshaya Tritiya in April-May, when Ram is said to have begun his vanvas, is another recitation day.
Family worship and kuldev practice
Verses 28-29 name Ram explicitly as taat (father), kul-dev (family deity), and Gurudev – making the Chalisa a natural foundation for family worship. Many households where Ram is the kuldev recite it daily before the morning aarti. Pairing it with the Hanuman Chalisa is the most common household sequence – Hanuman first because he is the gateway to Ram, then the Ram Chalisa itself.
Help during difficulty and difficult phases
Verses 6, 19, 35-37 name the Lord as the slayer of Ravana, as the protector who keeps Lakshman undefeated even against Yama, as the one whose name removes all suffering. Many devotees recite the Chalisa daily through stretches of difficulty – illness in the family, court proceedings, a long Saturn transit, or any phase of household instability. The teaching is not magic; it is that taking shelter in Ram's name gives the inner steadiness that the difficult phase actually needs. Pair with the Hanuman Chalisa for added strength and the Shani Chalisa if a sade sati is the underlying issue.
Companion to the wider Vishnu and Avatar tradition
Verse 20 explicitly identifies Sita as Mahalakshmi-dhar avatara – Mahalakshmi descended in human form. This ties the Ram-Sita household worship to the wider Vaishnava tradition. The Chalisa pairs naturally with the Vishnu Chalisa (Ram is Vishnu's seventh avatar), the Krishna Chalisa (the eighth avatar), and the Lakshmi Chalisa (Sita as Mahalakshmi). Many homes recite all four during major life events and on important Vaishnava festivals.
Origin
The Ram Chalisa is signed in its first closing doha by Haridas – a saint-poet whose name appears in the colophon: "Haridas Hari-kripa se avasi bhakti ko paay." Beyond this signature, very little is known about Haridas with certainty. The name Haridas ("servant of Hari") was a common saint-name in north India between the 16th and 19th centuries – the great musician Swami Haridas of Vrindavan, the Bhakti poets associated with the Nimbarka and Vallabha sampradayas, and several lesser-known Vaishnava poets all bore the name. The colophon of the Ram Chalisa cannot be tied to any one of them with confidence. Many published copies attribute the Chalisa simply to "tradition" – an honesty worth preserving.
The text does not record a date of composition. By language and style the Ram Chalisa is generally placed in the 17th-19th century CE, written in a Hindi with strong Awadhi influence – the everyday idiom of north India in that period and, importantly, the language of Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas. The Chalisa is shorter than the Hanuman Chalisa (forty-three verses by Tulsidas, set to a different rhythmic structure) but follows the same forty-verse form. The closing doha's instruction of a seven-day nem is unusual – most Chalisas recommend forty paaths over forty days; the Ram Chalisa's seven-day frame makes it especially suited to weekly vows.
Ram himself is the seventh avatar of Vishnu, prince of Ayodhya, son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, husband of Sita, brother of Lakshman-Bharat-Shatrughna, and devotee-companion of Hanuman. The Ramayana of Valmiki and the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas are the two great epics that shape Ram's worship across India. The Chalisa's verses move through this iconography directly – verse 5 names Hanuman as messenger, verses 16-19 name Bharat-Shatrughna-Lakshman, verses 20-23 name Sita as Mahalakshmi-Bhuvaneshvari emerging from the earth (a reference to Sita's appearance from the furrowed field of King Janak). Verses 30-39 turn from narrative to philosophy – Ram as nirgun Brahma, formless and eternal, indivisible truth – tying the household worship of Ram to the Upanishadic teaching that the personal and the impersonal are one.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the Hanuman Chalisa (Tulsidas's forty-verse hymn to Ram's greatest devotee, the most-recited Hindu prayer; Hanuman is the gateway to Ram and is paired with him in nearly every household), the Sita Chalisa (the consort, completing the household worship of the Ram-Sita murti), the Vishnu Chalisa (the wider cosmic form of which Ram is the seventh avatar), and the Bajrang Baan (Hanuman's warrior hymn, often recited together with the Ram Chalisa for protection and courage during difficult phases).
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 if you can – traditionally yellow, the colour of Vishnu and his avatars. Sit in a clean space facing east, or before your home Ram murti or picture (the standard household image is Ram-Sita-Lakshman-Hanuman together). The traditional offerings are a tulsi leaf or a tulsi mala (Vishnu's sacred plant), a small ghee diya, a few grains of rice with akshat, a piece of fruit or a small sweet, and an incense stick of sandalwood or camphor. None of this is strictly required. The Chalisa was written for everyday recitation, with or without samagri – many people recite it standing in front of the home altar before the morning chai.
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Posture and start
Sit cross-legged on a mat, or in a chair, with your spine comfortably straight. Bow once – traditionally three times to Ram-Sita-Lakshman-Hanuman in turn. Take a moment of silence to settle the mind. If you are reciting before a specific event – an interview, a court hearing, a journey, the start of a seven-day nem – offer a brief sankalp naming the date, the place, and the matter at hand. Begin with the first chaupai (Shri Raghuvir bhakt hitkari...) slowly. Saying it aloud has its own merit because the sound itself is an offering, but silent reciting works just as well during travel or at the desk.
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Recitation
Move through the forty chaupais without rushing. The verses have a steady rhythm – let the rhythm carry you. Verses 5-9 name Ram's closest companions (Hanuman, the four brothers, the Vedas) and are often read with a small pause for each name. Verses 11-15 are the Ram-naam verses – often slowed down particularly. Verses 30-39 are the philosophical verses (nirgun Brahma, eternal truth) and are often read with the eyes closed. End with the two closing dohas (the first names Haridas and prescribes the seven-day nem). The full recitation takes about seven minutes spoken aloud at a comfortable pace. Devotion matters more than perfect pronunciation.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. Many people end with the bija mantra Om Shri Ramaya Namah recited 11, 21, or 108 times on a tulsi mala. If you have a wish or a difficulty in mind, mentally offer the punya of the recitation toward it before getting up. Some traditions add the closing line Ram Ram Ram three times in remembrance, and a closing namaskar to one's own guru and family deity (kuldevta). On the seventh day of a seven-day nem, many households also recite the Hanuman Chalisa at the end as the completion of the vow.
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Daily practice and special days
One paath a day – morning at sunrise, or at evening sandhya – is enough for steady daily practice. Tuesdays are especially auspicious, often paired with the Hanuman Chalisa. Ram Navami in Chaitra (March-April) is the major festival – households install or wash the Ram murti, light a row of diyas, and recite 11 or 21 paaths through the day. Vivah Panchami in Margashirsha (November-December) marks the Ram-Sita wedding – the Ram Chalisa is recited together with the Sita Chalisa. Akshaya Tritiya, Hanuman Jayanti, and the start of the financial year are other recitation days. For specific wishes, the seven-day nem prescribed by the closing doha is the most common Ram anushthan – seven paaths over seven consecutive days, ideally starting on a Tuesday.