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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Vishnu 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.
विष्णु सुनिए विनय सेवक की चित लाय। कीरत कुछ वर्णन करूँ दीजै ज्ञान बताय॥
Vishnu sunie vinay sevak ki chit laay. Kirat kuchh varnan karun dijai gyan bataay.
Vishnu, hear the prayer of your servant with attention. Grant me wisdom that I may sing some part of your glory.
नमो विष्णु भगवान खरारी। कष्ट नशावन अखिल बिहारी॥
Namo Vishnu Bhagwan Khrari. Kasht nashavan akhil bihari.
Salutations to Lord Vishnu, slayer of the demon Khara. Destroyer of all suffering, who pervades the entire universe.
प्रबल जगत में शक्ति तुम्हारी। त्रिभुवन फैल रही उजियारी॥
Prabal jagat mein shakti tumhari. Tribhuvan phail rahi ujiyari.
Mighty is your power in the world. Your radiance spreads across all three worlds.
सुन्दर रूप मनोहर सूरत। सरल स्वभाव मोहनी मूरत॥
Sundar roop manohar surat. Saral svabhav mohani murat.
Beautiful form, captivating face. Gentle nature, an enchanting image.
तन पर पीताम्बर अति सोहत। बैजन्ती माला मन मोहत॥
Tan par pitambar ati sohat. Vaijanti mala man mohat.
On your body the yellow silk shines beautifully. The Vaijanti garland captivates the mind.
शंख चक्र कर गदा बिराजे। देखत दैत्य असुर दल भाजे॥
Shankh chakra kar gada biraje. Dekhat daitya asur dal bhaje.
The conch, discus, and mace adorn your hands. Seeing them, the armies of demons flee.
सत्य धर्म मद लोभ न गाजे। काम क्रोध मद लोभ न छाजे॥
Satya dharma mad lobh na gaaje. Kaam krodh mad lobh na chhaaje.
Where truth and dharma reign, pride and greed do not roar. Lust, anger, intoxication, and greed cannot enter.
सन्तभक्त सज्जन मनरंजन। दनुज असुर दुष्टन दल गंजन॥
Sant-bhakt sajjan man-ranjan. Danuj asur dushtan dal ganjan.
You delight the hearts of saints, devotees, and the noble. You are the destroyer of the armies of demons and the wicked.
सुख उपजाय कष्ट सब भंजन। दोष मिटाय करत जन सज्जन॥
Sukh upjaay kasht sab bhanjan. Dosh mitaay karat jan sajjan.
You give rise to happiness and break every suffering. You wipe away faults and turn ordinary people into the noble.
पाप काट भव सिन्धु उतारण। कष्ट नाशकर भक्त उबारण॥
Paap kaat bhav-sindhu utaran. Kasht nashkar bhakt ubaran.
You cut sin and ferry beings across the ocean of worldly existence. You destroy suffering and lift up devotees.
करत अनेक रूप प्रभु धारण। केवल आप भक्ति के कारण॥
Karat anek roop Prabhu dharan. Keval aap bhakti ke karan.
You take on many forms, O Lord. All for the sake of your devotees alone.
धरणि धेनु बन तुमहिं पुकारा। तब तुम रूप राम का धारा॥
Dharani dhenu ban tumahin pukara. Tab tum roop Ram ka dhara.
When the earth, in the form of a cow, called out to you. You took on the form of Ram. (Earth-as-cow approaching the gods, asking for relief from Ravana's tyranny – the trigger for the Ram avatar.)
भार उतार असुर दल मारा। रावण आदिक को संहारा॥
Bhaar utaar asur dal mara. Ravan aadik ko sanhara.
You lifted the burden of the earth and slew the demon armies. You destroyed Ravana and the rest.
आप वाराह रूप बनाया। हिरण्याक्ष को मार गिराया॥
Aap Varah roop banaya. Hiranyaksh ko maar giraya.
You took the Varaha (boar) form. And killed the demon Hiranyaksha. (The third avatar – Vishnu lifting the earth from the cosmic ocean on his tusks after Hiranyaksha had submerged it.)
धर मत्स्य तन सिन्धु बनाया। चौदह रतनन को निकलाया॥
Dhar Matsya tan sindhu banaya. Chaudah ratnan ko niklaya.
Taking the Matsya (fish) form, you traversed the cosmic ocean. And brought forth the fourteen jewels. (The first avatar – Matsya rescuing Manu and the Vedas from the great flood.)
अमिलख असुरन द्वन्द मचाया। रूप मोहनी आप दिखाया॥
Amilakh asuran dvand machaya. Roop Mohini aap dikhaya.
When the asuras created conflict over the nectar. You showed your Mohini form. (The Mohini avatar – Vishnu as the enchantress who tricked the asuras out of the amrit.)
देवन को अमृत पान कराया। असुरन को छबि से बहलाया॥
Devan ko amrit paan karaya. Asuran ko chhabi se bahlaya.
You made the gods drink the nectar of immortality. And distracted the asuras with your beauty.
कूर्म रूप धर सिन्धु मझाया। मन्द्राचल गिरि तुरत उठाया॥
Kurma roop dhar sindhu majhaya. Mandrachal giri turat uthaya.
Taking the Kurma (tortoise) form, you went into the ocean. And immediately lifted Mount Mandara on your back. (The second avatar – Kurma supporting the churning mountain during Samudra Manthan.)
शंकर का तुम फन्द छुड़ाया। भस्मासुर को रूप दिखाया॥
Shankar ka tum phand chhudaya. Bhasmasur ko roop dikhaya.
You freed Shankar (Shiva) from the trap. By showing your Mohini form to the demon Bhasmasura. (Bhasmasura had received a boon from Shiva to burn anyone with a touch on the head; Vishnu-as-Mohini tricked him into placing his own hand on his own head.)
वेदन को जब असुर डुबाया। कर प्रबन्ध उन्हें ढुँढवाया॥
Vedan ko jab asur dubaya. Kar prabandh unhen dhundhwaya.
When the demons submerged the Vedas. You arranged for them to be searched out and recovered.
मोहित अनकर खलहि नचाया। उसही कर से भस्म कराया॥
Mohit ankar khalhi nachaya. Usahi kar se bhasm karaya.
Bewitching the wicked one (Bhasmasura), you made him dance. And had him reduced to ashes by his own hand.
असुर जलंधर अति बलदाई। शंकर से उन कीन्ह लड़ाई॥
Asur Jalandhar ati bal-dai. Shankar se un kinh lardai.
The demon Jalandhara was extremely powerful. He even challenged Shankar (Shiva) to battle.
हार पार शिव सकल बनाई। कीन सती से छल खल जाई॥
Haar paar Shiv sakal banai. Kin Sati se chhal khal jai.
Shiva's defeat seemed close. The wicked one then attempted deceit upon Vrinda, Jalandhara's wife. (Vrinda's chastity was the source of Jalandhara's strength.)
सुमिरन कीन तुम्हें शिवरानी। बतलाई सब विपत कहानी॥
Sumiran kin tumhen Shiv-rani. Batlai sab vipat kahani.
Shiva's queen (Parvati) remembered you. And told you the whole story of the calamity.
तब तुम बने मुनीश्वर ज्ञानी। वृन्दा की सब सुरति भुलानी॥
Tab tum bane muneshvar gyani. Vrinda ki sab surati bhulani.
You then took the form of a wise sage. And caused Vrinda to forget her awareness.
देखत तीन दनुज शैतानी। वृन्दा आय तुम्हें लपटानी॥
Dekhat teen danuj shaitani. Vrinda aay tumhen laptani.
Seeing the demon's three deceits unfolding. Vrinda came and embraced you (mistaking you for her husband).
हो स्पर्श धर्म क्षति मानी। हना असुर उर शिव शैतानी॥
Ho sparsh dharma kshati mani. Hana asur ur Shiv shaitani.
By that touch, her dharma was breached. And so the demon's wickedness against Shiva was destroyed.
तुमने ध्रुव प्रहलाद उबारे। हिरणाकुश आदिक खल मारे॥
Tumne Dhruv Prahlad ubare. Hiranakush aadik khal mare.
You uplifted Dhruv and Prahlad. You killed the wicked Hiranyakashipu and others. (Dhruv – the prince who became the pole star through his unwavering devotion. Prahlad – the asura prince saved when Vishnu took the Narasimha form to slay his father Hiranyakashipu.)
गणिका और अजामिल तारे। बहुत भक्त भव सिन्धु उतारे॥
Ganika aur Ajamil tare. Bahut bhakt bhav-sindhu utare.
You lifted the courtesan Ganika and Ajamila across. You ferried many devotees across the ocean of worldly existence. (Ganika who attained moksha through chanting Ram-naam, Ajamila through calling out his son's name Narayan at the moment of death.)
हरहु सकल संताप हमारे। कृपा करहु हरि सिरजन हारे॥
Harahu sakal santap hamare. Kripa karahu Hari sirjan-hare.
Lift away all our sufferings. Show grace, Hari, creator-destroyer.
देखहुँ मैं निज दरश तुम्हारे। दीन बन्धु भक्तन हितकारे॥
Dekhahun main nij darash tumhare. Deen bandhu bhaktan hitkare.
Let me see your own form. Friend of the helpless, benefactor of devotees.
चहत आपका सेवक दर्शन। करहु दया अपनी मधुसूदन॥
Chahat aapka sevak darshan. Karahu daya apni Madhusudan.
Your servant longs for your darshan. Show your grace, O Madhusudan.
जानूं नहीं योग्य जप पूजन। होय यज्ञ स्तुति अनुमोदन॥
Janun nahin yogya jap pujan. Hoy yagya stuti anumodan.
I do not know the proper japa or worship. May my offerings, hymns, and prayers be accepted as they are.
शीलदया सन्तोष सुलक्षण। विदित नहीं व्रतबोध विलक्षण॥
Shil-daya santosh sulakshan. Vidit nahin vrat-bodh vilakshan.
I do not know the great virtues – patience, mercy, contentment. The deeper teaching of vows is unknown to me.
करहुँ आपका किस विधि पूजन। कुमति विलोक होत दुख भीषण॥
Karahun aapka kis vidhi pujan. Kumati vilok hot dukh bhishan.
How should I worship you? Looking at my own poor wisdom, I feel terrible sorrow.
करहुँ प्रणाम कौन विधि सुमिरण। कौन भाँति मैं करहु समर्पण॥
Karahun pranam kaun vidhi sumiran. Kaun bhanti main karahu samarpan.
How should I bow, how should I remember you? In what way can I make my surrender to you?
सुर मुनि करत सदा सेवकाई। हर्षित रहत परम गति पाई॥
Sur muni karat sada sevkai. Harshit rahat param gati pai.
Gods and sages always serve you. They remain joyful, having attained the highest state.
दीन दुखिन पर सदा सहाई। जिन जन जान लेव अपनाई॥
Deen dukhin par sada sahai. Jin jan jan lev apnai.
You are always the helper of the helpless and the suffering. You take to yourself those who turn to you.
पाप दोष संताप नशाओ। भव बन्धन से मुक्त कराओ॥
Paap dosh santap nashao. Bhav bandhan se mukt karao.
Destroy our sins, faults, and torments. Liberate us from the bondage of worldly existence.
सुत सम्पति दे सुख उपजाओ। निज चरनन का दास बनाओ॥
Sut sampati de sukh upjao. Nij charanan ka das banao.
Grant children and wealth, give rise to happiness. Make me a servant of your own feet.
निगम सदा ये विनय सुनावै। पढै सुनै सो जन सुख पावै॥
Nigam sada ye vinay sunavai. Padhai sunai so jan sukh pavai.
The scriptures always sing this prayer. Whoever reads or hears it receives happiness.
Why this chalisa
What the Vishnu Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Anchor for the Vaishnava household
The Chalisa is the simplest entry into Vishnu-bhakti for any household. It moves through the ten avatars – Ram, Varaha, Matsya, Kurma, Mohini, Narasimha, and the rescue of devotees – in seven minutes, giving even those new to the tradition the cosmic frame within which the avatars take their place. Many homes recite it as the morning paath alongside the Lakshmi Chalisa (the consort) on Thursdays and Fridays.
Thursday vrat anchor
Thursday belongs to Brihaspati (Jupiter), the planet of wisdom and dharmic order, and to Vishnu. Many households keep a weekly Brihaspativar vrat – fasting through the day, offering yellow flowers and turmeric water to a Vishnu murti or a banana plant (Vishnu's sacred form), and reciting the Chalisa eleven times in the morning. The fast is broken in the evening with a yellow meal: chana dal, banana, jaggery, kheer. The vrat is often kept for sixteen consecutive Thursdays for a specific intention.
Ekadashi recitation
The two monthly Ekadashi days – the eleventh of each fortnight – are the major Vishnu fasts. Vaikuntha Ekadashi in Margashirsha (December-January) is when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open, and many devotees recite the Chalisa repeatedly through the day alongside the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Anant Chaturdashi in Bhadrapad (August-September), Devshayani Ekadashi in Ashadh, and Devuthani Ekadashi in Kartik are other major recitation days. The Chalisa is shorter than the Sahasranamam and easier to keep up alongside the fast.
Help during major life crises
Verses 27-28 name Dhruva, Prahlad, Ganika, and Ajamila – the four classical examples in the bhakti tradition of devotees rescued from impossible situations. Dhruva – a five-year-old prince exiled by his stepmother. Prahlad – an asura prince whose own father tried to kill him. Ganika – a courtesan with no apparent path to dharma. Ajamila – a sinner who called out his son's name Narayan at the moment of death and was redeemed. Many devotees recite the Chalisa daily during stretches of major life difficulty, holding to this teaching: that Vishnu rescues those who turn to him from any starting point. Pair with the Hanuman Chalisa for added strength.
Foundation for the avatar-specific Chalisas
The Vishnu Chalisa is the cosmic frame; the avatar-specific Chalisas are the close-up. Many devotees recite the Vishnu Chalisa as their daily anchor and use the avatar Chalisas on the relevant days – the Ram Chalisa on Tuesdays and Ram Navami, the Krishna Chalisa on Wednesdays and Janmashtami. The pairing makes the entire Vaishnava liturgical year accessible without requiring formal sampradaya initiation.
Companion to Lakshmi worship and household prosperity
Vishnu and Lakshmi are inseparable in household worship – Lakshmi resides where Vishnu is honoured. Many households recite the Vishnu Chalisa first and the Lakshmi Chalisa second, especially on Thursdays, Fridays, and through Diwali week. The pairing is the older idiom for the wish that prosperity should rest on a foundation of dharma, not on greed. Pairing with the Saraswati Chalisa brings in the third Devi for the Tridevi-Vishnu sequence used at major life events.
Origin
The Vishnu Chalisa carries no signature line in the verses themselves – which is unusual for a Chalisa, since most have a closing verse naming the composer (e.g., Tulsidas for the Hanuman Chalisa, Sundardas for the Krishna Chalisa, Haridas for the Ram Chalisa). The Vishnu Chalisa is generally attributed simply to "tradition" – an honesty worth preserving. Some published editions speculate authorship by various 17th-19th century saint-poets, but none can be tied to the text with confidence. Many bhakti scholars place it slightly later than the avatar-specific Chalisas, suggesting it was composed when devotees wanted a single hymn covering all the avatars in one short text.
The text does not record a date of composition. By language and content the Vishnu Chalisa is generally placed in the 17th-19th century CE, written in a Hindi with Awadhi influence – the everyday idiom of north India in that period, not Sanskrit kept aside for scholars. The Chalisa is shorter than the Hanuman Chalisa (forty-three verses by Tulsidas) and roughly the same length as the Lakshmi Chalisa and Saraswati Chalisa – the same forty-verse form, framed by an opening doha. The absence of a closing doha is unusual and matches other older "tradition-only" Chalisas.
Vishnu himself is the cosmic preserver – the second deity of the Hindu Trimurti, alongside Brahma the creator and Shiva the destroyer (see the Shiv Chalisa). His role is to descend into the world repeatedly as the ten avatars whenever dharma is threatened: Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashurama, Ram, Krishna, the Buddha (in some traditions), and the future avatar Kalki. Iconographically Vishnu is depicted four-armed, holding a conch (shankh), discus (chakra), mace (gada), and lotus (padma) – named in chaupai 5. He rests on the cosmic serpent Sheshnag, on the milk ocean Ksheer Sagar, with Lakshmi at his feet. The Chalisa's verses move systematically through these descents – each avatar named with the specific demon defeated or the specific cosmic crisis resolved.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the Lakshmi Chalisa (the consort, recited together on Thursdays and Fridays), the Ram Chalisa (the seventh avatar – the most popular avatar in north India), the Krishna Chalisa (the eighth avatar – the avatar-pair to Ram), the Hanuman Chalisa (Ram's greatest devotee, who in some traditions is also Vishnu's eternal sevak), and the Satyanarayan Chalisa (a specific Vishnu form worshipped at Satyanarayan Vrat ceremonies for household prosperity).
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's pitambar. Sit in a clean space facing east or north, or before your home Vishnu murti or picture (the standard household image is Vishnu reclining on Shesh-naag with Lakshmi at his feet, or the Lakshmi-Narayan murti). The traditional offerings are a tulsi leaf or tulsi mala (Vishnu's sacred plant – he is said to be especially pleased by even a single tulsi leaf), a small ghee diya, a few yellow flowers (marigold, kanak champa) or a banana, a piece of rock sugar (mishri) or a banana-based sweet, and an incense stick of sandalwood, kewra, or champa. None of this is strictly required. The Chalisa was written for everyday recitation, with or without samagri.
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Posture and start
Sit cross-legged on a mat, or in a chair, with your spine comfortably straight. Bow once. Take a moment of silence to settle the mind. If you are reciting on a Thursday with an intention – the start of a Brihaspativar vrat, before a journey, before a court matter, on Vaikuntha Ekadashi or Anant Chaturdashi – offer a brief sankalp naming the date, the place, and the matter at hand. Begin with the opening doha (Vishnu sunie vinay sevak ki...) 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. Verses 1-10 establish the iconography and the scope (Vishnu's form, the four ayudhas, his role as preserver). Verses 11-20 narrate the avatar episodes (Ram, Varaha, Matsya, Mohini, Kurma, Bhasmasura) – often read with a small pause at each avatar. Verses 21-26 narrate the Jalandhar-Vrinda episode (the most extended single episode in the Chalisa). Verses 27-28 name the four classical devotees (Dhruv, Prahlad, Ganika, Ajamila) – often slowed down particularly. Verses 29-40 turn from narrative to personal prayer. 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 Namo Narayanaya or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya recited 11, 21, or 108 times on a tulsi mala. Others recite a single chapter of the Vishnu Sahasranamam if time permits, or the Vishnu Stuti. Offer the bhog (mishri or a banana-based sweet) and take a small portion as prasad. Some traditions add a closing line of namaskar to one's own guru and family deity (kuldevta), and a final tulsi-leaf offering at Vishnu's feet. On Ekadashi, the recitation is followed by reading a chapter of the Bhagavata Purana.
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Daily practice and special days
One paath a day – morning at sunrise – is enough for steady daily practice. Thursdays are especially auspicious. Ekadashi (twice a month) is the major Vishnu fast – many homes do 11 paaths on Ekadashi alongside the fast. Vaikuntha Ekadashi in Margashirsha (December-January), Anant Chaturdashi in Bhadrapad (August-September), Devshayani Ekadashi in Ashadh (Vishnu's sleep), Devuthani Ekadashi in Kartik (Vishnu's waking) are the four biggest Vishnu days. Ram Navami and Krishna Janmashtami are also Vishnu festivals (his seventh and eighth avatars). For specific wishes, the older practice is 16 consecutive Thursdays of Brihaspativar vrat with the Chalisa as the central recitation – paired with the Lakshmi Chalisa for household prosperity.