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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Sita 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.
बन्दौ चरण सरोज निज जनक लली सुख धाम, राम प्रिय किरपा करें सुमिरौं आठों धाम ॥ कीरति गाथा जो पढ़ें सुधरैं सगरे काम, मन मन्दिर बासा करें दुःख भंजन सिया राम ॥
bandau charana saroja nija janaka lali sukha dhama, rama priya kirapa karem sumiraum athom dhama || kirati gatha jo paढ़em sudharaim sagare kama, mana mandira basa karem duhkha bhamjana siya rama ||
Hail to Sita. With folded hands, I make this Chalisa-prayer.
राम प्रिया रघुपति रघुराई बैदेही की कीरत गाई ॥
rama priya raghupati raghurai baidehi ki kirata gai ||
Verse 1 of the Sita Chalisa.
चरण कमल बन्दों सिर नाई, सिय सुरसरि सब पाप नसाई ॥
charana kamala bandom sira nai, siya surasari saba papa nasai ||
Verse 2 of the Sita Chalisa.
जनक दुलारी राघव प्यारी, भरत लखन शत्रुहन वारी ॥
janaka dulari raghava pyari, bharata lakhana shatruhana vari ||
Verse 3 of the Sita Chalisa.
दिव्या धरा सों उपजी सीता, मिथिलेश्वर भयो नेह अतीता ॥
divya dhara som upaji sita, mithileshvara bhayo neha atita ||
Verse 4 of the Sita Chalisa.
सिया रूप भायो मनवा अति, रच्यो स्वयंवर जनक महीपति ॥
siya rupa bhayo manava ati, rachyo svayamvara janaka mahipati ||
Verse 5 of the Sita Chalisa.
भारी शिव धनु खींचै जोई, सिय जयमाल साजिहैं सोई ॥
bhari shiva dhanu khimchai joi, siya jayamala sajihaim soi ||
Verse 6 of the Sita Chalisa.
भूपति नरपति रावण संगा, नाहिं करि सके शिव धनु भंगा ॥
bhupati narapati ravana samga, nahim kari sake shiva dhanu bhamga ||
Verse 7 of the Sita Chalisa.
जनक निराश भए लखि कारन , जनम्यो नाहिं अवनिमोहि तारन ॥
janaka nirasha bhae lakhi karana , janamyo nahim avanimohi tarana ||
Verse 8 of the Sita Chalisa.
यह सुन विश्वामित्र मुस्काए, राम लखन मुनि सीस नवाए ॥
yaha suna vishvamitra muskae, rama lakhana muni sisa navae ||
Verse 9 of the Sita Chalisa.
आज्ञा पाई उठे रघुराई, इष्ट देव गुरु हियहिं मनाई ॥
aj~na pai uthe raghurai, ishta deva guru hiyahim manai ||
Verse 10 of the Sita Chalisa.
जनक सुता गौरी सिर नावा, राम रूप उनके हिय भावा ॥
janaka suta gauri sira nava, rama rupa unake hiya bhava ||
Verse 11 of the Sita Chalisa.
मारत पलक राम कर धनु लै, खंड खंड करि पटकिन भू पै ॥
marata palaka rama kara dhanu lai, khamda khamda kari patakina bhu pai ||
Verse 12 of the Sita Chalisa.
जय जयकार हुई अति भारी, आनन्दित भए सबैं नर नारी ॥
jaya jayakara hui ati bhari, anandita bhae sabaim nara nari ||
Verse 13 of the Sita Chalisa.
सिय चली जयमाल सम्हाले, मुदित होय ग्रीवा में डाले ॥
siya chali jayamala samhale, mudita hoya griva mem dale ||
Verse 14 of the Sita Chalisa.
मंगल बाज बजे चहुँ ओरा, परे राम संग सिया के फेरा ॥
mamgala baja baje chahu.n ora, pare rama samga siya ke phera ||
Verse 15 of the Sita Chalisa.
लौटी बारात अवधपुर आई, तीनों मातु करैं नोराई ॥
lauti barata avadhapura ai, tinom matu karaim norai ||
Verse 16 of the Sita Chalisa.
कैकेई कनक भवन सिय दीन्हा, मातु सुमित्रा गोदहि लीन्हा ॥
kaikei kanaka bhavana siya dinha, matu sumitra godahi linha ||
Verse 17 of the Sita Chalisa.
कौशल्या सूत भेंट दियो सिय, हरख अपार हुए सीता हिय ॥
kaushalya suta bhemta diyo siya, harakha apara hue sita hiya ||
Verse 18 of the Sita Chalisa.
सब विधि बांटी बधाई, राजतिलक कई युक्ति सुनाई ॥
saba vidhi bamti badhai, rajatilaka kai yukti sunai ||
Verse 19 of the Sita Chalisa.
मंद मती मंथरा अडाइन, राम न भरत राजपद पाइन ॥
mamda mati mamthara adaina, rama na bharata rajapada paina ||
Verse 20 of the Sita Chalisa.
कैकेई कोप भवन मा गइली, वचन पति सों अपनेई गहिली ॥
kaikei kopa bhavana ma gaili, vachana pati som apanei gahili ||
Verse 21 of the Sita Chalisa.
चौदह बरस कोप बनवासा, भरत राजपद देहि दिलासा ॥
chaudaha barasa kopa banavasa, bharata rajapada dehi dilasa ||
Verse 22 of the Sita Chalisa.
आज्ञा मानि चले रघुराई, संग जानकी लक्षमन भाई ॥
aj~na mani chale raghurai, samga janaki lakshamana bhai ||
Verse 23 of the Sita Chalisa.
सिय श्री राम पथ पथ भटकैं , मृग मारीचि देखि मन अटकै ॥
siya shri rama patha patha bhatakaim , mrriga marichi dekhi mana atakai ||
Verse 24 of the Sita Chalisa.
राम गए माया मृग मारन, रावण साधु बन्यो सिय कारन ॥
rama gae maya mrriga marana, ravana sadhu banyo siya karana ||
Verse 25 of the Sita Chalisa.
भिक्षा कै मिस लै सिय भाग्यो, लंका जाई डरावन लाग्यो ॥
bhiksha kai misa lai siya bhagyo, lamka jai daravana lagyo ||
Verse 26 of the Sita Chalisa.
राम वियोग सों सिय अकुलानी, रावण सों कही कर्कश बानी ॥
rama viyoga som siya akulani, ravana som kahi karkasha bani ||
Verse 27 of the Sita Chalisa.
हनुमान प्रभु लाए अंगूठी, सिय चूड़ामणि दिहिन अनूठी ॥
hanumana prabhu lae amguthi, siya chu.damani dihina anuthi ||
Verse 28 of the Sita Chalisa.
अष्ठसिद्धि नवनिधि वर पावा, महावीर सिय शीश नवावा ॥
ashthasiddhi navanidhi vara pava, mahavira siya shisha navava ||
Verse 29 of the Sita Chalisa.
सेतु बाँधी प्रभु लंका जीती, भक्त विभीषण सों करि प्रीती ॥
setu ba.ndhi prabhu lamka jiti, bhakta vibhishana som kari priti ||
Verse 30 of the Sita Chalisa.
चढ़ि विमान सिय रघुपति आए, भरत भ्रात प्रभु चरण सुहाए ॥
chaढ़i vimana siya raghupati ae, bharata bhrata prabhu charana suhae ||
Verse 31 of the Sita Chalisa.
अवध नरेश पाई राघव से, सिय महारानी देखि हिय हुलसे ॥
avadha naresha pai raghava se, siya maharani dekhi hiya hulase ||
Verse 32 of the Sita Chalisa.
रजक बोल सुनी सिय बन भेजी, लखनलाल प्रभु बात सहेजी ॥
rajaka bola suni siya bana bheji, lakhanalala prabhu bata saheji ||
Verse 33 of the Sita Chalisa.
बाल्मीक मुनि आश्रय दीन्यो, लवकुश जन्म वहाँ पै लीन्हो ॥
balmika muni ashraya dinyo, lavakusha janma vaha.n pai linho ||
Verse 34 of the Sita Chalisa.
विविध भाँती गुण शिक्षा दीन्हीं, दोनुह रामचरित रट लीन्ही ॥
vividha bha.nti guna shiksha dinhim, donuha ramacharita rata linhi ||
Verse 35 of the Sita Chalisa.
लरिकल कै सुनि सुमधुर बानी,रामसिया सुत दुई पहिचानी ॥
larikala kai suni sumadhura bani,ramasiya suta dui pahichani ||
Verse 36 of the Sita Chalisa.
भूलमानि सिय वापस लाए, राम जानकी सबहि सुहाए ॥
bhulamani siya vapasa lae, rama janaki sabahi suhae ||
Verse 37 of the Sita Chalisa.
सती प्रमाणिकता केहि कारन, बसुंधरा सिय के हिय धारन ॥
sati pramanikata kehi karana, basumdhara siya ke hiya dharana ||
Verse 38 of the Sita Chalisa.
अवनि सुता अवनी मां सोई, राम जानकी यही विधि खोई ॥
avani suta avani mam soi, rama janaki yahi vidhi khoi ||
Verse 39 of the Sita Chalisa.
पतिव्रता मर्यादित माता, सीता सती नवावों माथा ॥
pativrata maryadita mata, sita sati navavom matha ||
Verse 40 of the Sita Chalisa.
चरणकमल जेहि उन बसै सीता सुमिरै प्रात ॥
charanakamala jehi una basai sita sumirai prata ||
Verse 41 of the Sita Chalisa.
Why this chalisa
What the Sita Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Sita-bhakti
Many homes recite the Chalisa as part of the morning paath. The 41-verse text takes about seven minutes to recite at a comfortable pace.
For festival days
Tuesday & Sita Navami and the major Sita festivals are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 or 21 paaths during festivals.
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.
Companion to wider tradition worship
Pair with related Chalisas of the same family or sampradaya for the complete daily practice.
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Sita shrines.
Daily devotional anchor
For households where Sita is the kuldevta, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer.
Origin
The Sita Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Sita. Many published copies attribute it simply to "tradition." The text is generally placed in the 18th-19th century CE by language and content.
Sita is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Sita-bhakti accessible for daily householders.
The Chalisa's narrative and iconography establish the central devotional connection. The verses move through praise, narrative, and personal petition – the standard Chalisa structure.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the related Chalisas of the same tradition. 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: flowers, akshat, fruits, ghee diya, dhoop.
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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.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Sita if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Sita Navami is auspicious. Major festival days draw extra recitations.