Shri Krishna Chalisa is a powerful devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Krishna, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. This sacred composition of forty verses serves as a means for devotees to connect with the divine essence of Krishna, invoking his blessings and grace in their lives.
॥ दोहा ॥
बंशी शोभित कर मधुर,नील जलद तन श्याम।
अरुण अधर जनु बिम्बा फल,पिताम्बर शुभ साज॥
जय मनमोहन मदन छवि,कृष्णचन्द्र महाराज।
करहु कृपा हे रवि तनय,राखहु जन की लाज॥
॥ चौपाई ॥
जय यदुनन्दन जय जगवन्दन।जय वसुदेव देवकी नन्दन॥
जय यशुदा सुत नन्द दुलारे।जय प्रभु भक्तन के दृग तारे॥
जय नट-नागर नाग नथैया।कृष्ण कन्हैया धेनु चरैया॥
पुनि नख पर प्रभु गिरिवर धारो।आओ दीनन कष्ट निवारो॥
वंशी मधुर अधर धरी तेरी।होवे पूर्ण मनोरथ मेरो॥
आओ हरि पुनि माखन चाखो।आज लाज भारत की राखो॥
गोल कपोल, चिबुक अरुणारे।मृदु मुस्कान मोहिनी डारे॥
रंजित राजिव नयन विशाला।मोर मुकुट वैजयंती माला॥
कुण्डल श्रवण पीतपट आछे।कटि किंकणी काछन काछे॥
नील जलज सुन्दर तनु सोहे।छवि लखि, सुर नर मुनिमन मोहे॥
मस्तक तिलक, अलक घुंघराले।आओ कृष्ण बाँसुरी वाले॥
करि पय पान, पुतनहि तारयो।अका बका कागासुर मारयो॥
मधुवन जलत अग्नि जब ज्वाला।भै शीतल, लखितहिं नन्दलाला॥
सुरपति जब ब्रज चढ़यो रिसाई।मसूर धार वारि वर्षाई॥
लगत-लगत ब्रज चहन बहायो।गोवर्धन नखधारि बचायो॥
लखि यसुदा मन भ्रम अधिकाई।मुख महं चौदह भुवन दिखाई॥
दुष्ट कंस अति उधम मचायो।कोटि कमल जब फूल मंगायो॥
नाथि कालियहिं तब तुम लीन्हें।चरणचिन्ह दै निर्भय किन्हें॥
करि गोपिन संग रास विलासा।सबकी पूरण करी अभिलाषा॥
केतिक महा असुर संहारयो।कंसहि केस पकड़ि दै मारयो॥
मात-पिता की बन्दि छुड़ाई।उग्रसेन कहं राज दिलाई॥
महि से मृतक छहों सुत लायो।मातु देवकी शोक मिटायो॥
भौमासुर मुर दैत्य संहारी।लाये षट दश सहसकुमारी॥
दै भिन्हीं तृण चीर सहारा।जरासिंधु राक्षस कहं मारा॥
असुर बकासुर आदिक मारयो।भक्तन के तब कष्ट निवारियो॥
दीन सुदामा के दुःख टारयो।तंदुल तीन मूंठ मुख डारयो॥
प्रेम के साग विदुर घर मांगे।दुर्योधन के मेवा त्यागे॥
लखि प्रेम की महिमा भारी।ऐसे श्याम दीन हितकारी॥
भारत के पारथ रथ हांके।लिए चक्र कर नहिं बल ताके॥
निज गीता के ज्ञान सुनाये।भक्तन ह्रदय सुधा वर्षाये॥
मीरा थी ऐसी मतवाली।विष पी गई बजाकर ताली॥
राना भेजा सांप पिटारी।शालिग्राम बने बनवारी॥
निज माया तुम विधिहिं दिखायो।उर ते संशय सकल मिटायो॥
तब शत निन्दा करी तत्काला।जीवन मुक्त भयो शिशुपाला॥
जबहिं द्रौपदी टेर लगाई।दीनानाथ लाज अब जाई॥
तुरतहिं वसन बने नन्दलाला।बढ़े चीर भै अरि मुँह काला॥
अस नाथ के नाथ कन्हैया।डूबत भंवर बचावत नैया॥
सुन्दरदास आस उर धारी।दयादृष्टि कीजै बनवारी॥
नाथ सकल मम कुमति निवारो।क्षमहु बेगि अपराध हमारो॥
खोलो पट अब दर्शन दीजै।बोलो कृष्ण कन्हैया की जै॥
॥ दोहा ॥
यह चालीसा कृष्ण का,पाठ करै उर धारि।
अष्ट सिद्धि नवनिधि फल,लहै पदारथ चारि॥
॥ Doha ॥
Banshi Shobhita Kara Madhura,Nila Jalada Tana Shyama।
Aruna Adhara Janu Bimba Phala,Pitambara Shubha Saja॥
Jai Manamohana Madana Chhavi,Krishnachandra Maharaja।
Karahu Kripa He Ravi Tanaya,Rakhahu Jana Ki Laja॥
॥ Chaupai ॥
Jai Yadunandana Jai Jagavandana।Jai Vasudeva Devaki Nandana॥
Jai Yashuda Suta Nanda Dulare।Jai Prabhu Bhaktana Ke Driga Tare॥
Jai Natnagara Naga Nathaiya।Krishna Kanhaiya Dhenu Charaiya॥
Puni Nakha Para Prabhu Girivara Dharo।Ao Dinana Kashta Nivaro॥
Vanshi Madhura Adhara Dhari Teri।Hove Purna Manoratha Mero॥
Ao Hari Puni Makhana Chakho।Aja Laja Bharata Ki Rakho॥
Gola Kapola, Chibuka Arunare।Mridu Muskana Mohini Dare॥
Ranjita Rajiva Nayana Vishala।Mora Mukuta Vaijayanti Mala॥
Kundala Shravana Pitapata Achhe।Kati Kinkani Kachhana Kachhe॥
Nila Jalaja Sundara Tanu Sohe।Chhavi Lakhi, Sura Nara Munimana Mohe॥
Mastaka Tilaka, Alaka Ghungharale।Ao Krishna Bansuri Wale॥
Kari Paya Pana, Putanahi Tarayo।Aka Baka Kagasura Marayo॥
Madhuvana Jalata Agni Jaba Jwala।Bhai Shitala, Lakhitahin Nandalala॥
Surapati Jaba Braja Chadhayo Risai।Masura Dhara Vari Varshai॥
Lagata Lagata Braja Chahana Bahayo।Govardhana Nakhadhari Bachayo॥
Lakhi Yasuda Mana Bhrama Adhikai।Mukha Maham Chaudaha Bhuvana Dikhai॥
Dushta Kansa Ati Udhama Machayo।Koti Kamala Jaba Phula Mangayo॥
Nathi Kaliyahin Taba Tuma Linhein।Charanachinha Dai Nirbhaya Kinhein॥
Kari Gopina Sanga Rasa Vilasa।Sabaki Purana Kari Abhilasha॥
Ketika Maha Asura Sanharayo।Kansahi Kesa Pakadi Dai Marayo॥
Matapita Ki Bandi Chhudai।Ugrasena Kahan Raja Dilai॥
Mahi Se Mritaka Chhahon Suta Layo।Matu Devaki Shoka Mitayo॥
Bhaumasura Mura Daitya Sanhari।Laye Shata Dasha Sahasakumari॥
Dai Bhimahin Trina Chira Sahara।Jarasindhu Rakshasa Kaham Mara॥
Asura Bakasura Adika Marayo।Bhaktana Ke Taba Kashta Nivariyo॥
Dina Sudama Ke Duhkha Tarayo।Tandula Tina Muntha Mukha Darayo॥
Prema Ke Saga Vidura Ghara Mange।Duryodhana Ke Meva Tyage॥
Lakhi Prema Ki Mahima Bhari।Aise Shyama Dina Hitakari॥
Bharata Ke Paratha Ratha Hanke।Lie Chakra Kara Nahin Bala Take॥
Nija Gita Ke Gyana Sunaye।Bhaktana Hridaya Sudha Varshaye॥
Mira Thi Aisi Matavali।Visha Pi Gai Bajakara Tali॥
Rana Bheja Sanpa Pitari।Shaligrama Bane Banavari॥
Nija Maya Tuma Vidhihin Dikhayo।Ura Te Sanshaya Sakala Mitayo॥
Taba Shata Ninda Kari Tatkala।Jivana Mukta Bhayo Shishupala॥
Jabahin Draupadi Tera Lagai।Dinanatha Laja Aba Jai॥
Turatahin Vasana Bane Nandalala।Badhe Chira Bhai Ari Munha Kala॥
Asa Natha Ke Natha Kanhaiya।Dubata Bhamvara Bachavata Naiya॥
Sundaradasa Asa Ura Dhari।Dayadrishti Kijai Banavari॥
Natha Sakala Mama Kumati Nivaro।Kshamahu Begi Aparadha Hamaro॥
Kholo Pata Aba Darshana Dijai।Bolo Krishna Kanhaiya Ki Jai॥
॥ Doha ॥
Yaha Chalisa Krishna Ka,Patha Karai Ura Dhari।
Ashta Siddhi Navanidhi Phala,Lahai Padaratha Chari॥
Significance and Benefits
Reciting the Krishna Chalisa is believed to bring numerous spiritual and material benefits to the devotee. It is said to purify the mind, remove negativity, and bring divine love and happiness into one’s life. Regular recitation is thought to:
- Promote devotion and strengthen one’s connection with Lord Krishna
- Protect from harm and negative influences
- Fulfill desires and bring prosperity
- Grant inner peace and spiritual growth
- Enhance love and harmony in relationships
Many devotees choose to recite the Krishna Chalisa on auspicious days such as Ekadashi and Janmashtami, believing that the power of the prayer is amplified during these times.
Structure of the Chalisa
The Krishna Chalisa follows a traditional structure common to many Hindu devotional hymns:
- Doha: The prayer begins with two introductory couplets that set the tone and invoke Lord Krishna’s presence.
- Chaupai: The main body of the Chalisa consists of forty verses in the Chaupai meter, each describing various aspects of Krishna’s divine personality, his heroic deeds, and his transcendental qualities.
- Concluding Doha: The prayer ends with a final couplet that summarizes the benefits of reciting the Chalisa.
How to Recite Shri Krishna Chalisa
To fully benefit from the recitation of Shri Krishna Chalisa, consider following these guidelines:
- Choose a quiet, clean place for recitation, preferably in the morning after bathing.
- Set up a small altar with an image or idol of Lord Krishna.
- Light a lamp and incense as offerings.
- Begin with a sincere prayer, asking for Lord Krishna’s blessings.
- Recite the Chalisa with full concentration and devotion.
- After completion, offer some sweets (preferably made with butter or milk) to Lord Krishna.
- Distribute the offered sweets as prasad among family members.
Remember, the power of the Chalisa lies not just in the words, but in the devotion and sincerity with which it is recited.
Importance in Hindu Festivals
The Krishna Chalisa holds special significance during Janmashtami, the festival celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth. Devotees often recite the Chalisa as part of their spiritual practices during this time, believing it to be particularly auspicious. The recitation during Krishna Puja Vidhi is thought to bring one closer to the divine essence of Krishna and invoke his blessings for the coming year.
In conclusion, the Shri Krishna Chalisa is a beautiful expression of devotion that allows believers to connect with the playful, loving, and divine aspects of Lord Krishna. Whether recited daily or on special occasions, it serves as a powerful tool for spiritual growth and inner transformation.