Hanuman Chalisa

Introductory Dohas

श्री गुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुर सूधारि ।
बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि ॥
shrī guru charan saroj ruj, nij man mukuru sudhari ।
baranau raghuber bimal jasu, jo dayaku phal chari ॥
Cleansing the mirror in the form of my mind with the pollen of the lotus-feet of the Guru, I describe the unblemished glory of Rama, which bestows the four fruits: Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values) and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values).
बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार ।
बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस विकार ॥
budhiheen tanu janike, sumirau pavan-kumar ।
bal budhi vidya dehu mohi, harahu kales vikaar ॥
Knowing my body to be devoid of intelligence, I remember Hanuman, the son of Vāyu. Give me strength, intelligence and knowledge and remove all ailments (kalesa) and impurities (bikāra).

Hanuman Chalisa

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर ।
जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर ॥ १ ॥
jaya hanumāna gnyāna guna sāgara ।
jaya kapīsa tihu loka ujāgara ॥ 1 ॥
O Hanuman, the ocean of knowledge and virtues, may you be victorious. O the chief amongst Vanaras famous across the three Lokas (Pātāla, Prithvi (earth) and Svarga), may you be victorious.
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा ।
अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा ॥ २ ॥
rāma dūta atulita bala dhāmā ।
anjani putra pavanasuta nāmā ॥ 2 ॥
You are the trusted messenger of Rama and you are the abode of incomparable strength. You are known by the names of Anjaniputra (son of Anjana) and Pavanasuta (son of Vāyu).
महावीर विक्रम बजरंगी ।
कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी ॥ ३ ॥
mahāvīra vikrama bajarangī ।
kumati nivāra sumati ke sangī ॥ 3 ॥
You are the great hero, you are endowed with valour, your body is as strong as Indra's Vajra. You are the destroyer of vile intellect, and you are the companion of one whose intellect is pure.
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा ।
कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा ॥ ४ ॥
kanchana barana birāja subesā ।
kānana kundala kunchita kesā ॥ 4 ॥
Your complexion is that of molten gold, and you are resplendent in your handsome form. You wear Kundalas (small earrings worn in old times by Hindus) in your ears and your hair is curly.
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै ।
काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै ॥ ५ ॥
hātha bajra au dhvajā birājai ।
kādhe mūnja janeū sājai ॥ 5 ॥
You have the Vajra and the flag in your hands, and the sacred-thread (Yajnopavita) made of the Munja grass adorns your shoulder.
शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन ।
तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन ॥ ६ ॥
shankara suvan kesarī nandana ।
teja pratāpa mahā jaga bandana ॥ 6 ॥
O embodiment of Shiva (or son of Vāyu carrying the power of Shiva), the delighter of Kesari, your aura and majesty is great and is revered by the whole world.
विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर ।
राम काज करिबे को आतुर ॥ ७ ॥
vidyāvāna gunī ati chātura ।
rāma kāja karibe ko ātura ॥ 7 ॥
You are the praiseworthy abode of the eighteen types of Vidyā (knowledge), all virtues reside in you, and you are exceedingly clever. You are ever eager to perform tasks for Rama.
प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया ।
राम लखन सीता मन बसिया ॥ ८ ॥
prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyā ।
rāma lakhana sītā mana basiyā ॥ 8 ॥
You delight in listening to the acts of Rama (Ramayana). Rama, Lakshmana and Sita reside in your mind. Alternately, you reside in the minds of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita [owing to their affection towards you].
सूक्ष्म रूप धरी सियहिं दिखावा ।
बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा ॥ ९ ॥
sūkshma rūpa dhari siyahi dikhāvā ।
bikata rūpa dhari lanka jarāvā ॥ 9 ॥
You assumed an extremely minute form and appeared to Sita in the Ashok Vatika. You assumed a very large and scary form and burnt the city of Lanka.
भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे ।
रामचन्द्र के काज सँवारे ॥ १० ॥
bhīma rūpa dhari asura sahāre ।
rāmachandra ke kāja savāre ॥ 10 ॥
You assumed a frightening form and destroyed the demons [in the army of Ravana]. You carried out all the tasks of Rama.
लाय सँजीवनि लखन जियाए ।
श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाए ॥ ११ ॥
lāya sanjīvani lakhana jiyāe ।
shrī raghubīra harashi ura lāe ॥ 11 ॥
You brought the Sanjivini, the life saving herb from Dronagiri in Himalayas, and revitalized Lakshman. Out of elation, Rama embraced you.
रघुपति कीन्हीं बहुत बड़ाई ।
तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई ॥ १२ ॥
raghupati kīnhī bahut barāī ।
tuma mama priya bharatahi sama bhāī ॥ 12 ॥
Rama, the chief among Raghu's descendants, praised you profusely saying "You are dear to me like my brother Bharata."
सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं ।
अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं ॥ १३ ॥
sahasa badana tumharo jasa gāvai ।
asa kahi shrīpati kantha lagāvai ॥ 13 ॥

Rao and Mehta's translation – Rama also added that a thousand people will praise Hanuman's glory and embraced him again.

Rambhadracharya interprets sahasa badana as the thousand-hooded serpent Shesha. His translation is The serpent Shesha, who has a thousand mouths, sings and will sing your glory, saying thus Rama embraces Hanuman again and again.

सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा ।
नारद सारद सहित अहीसा ॥ १४ ॥
जम कुबेर दिक्पाल जहाँ ते ।
कबी कोबिद कहि सकैं कहाँ ते ॥ १५ ॥
sanakādika brahmādi munīsā ।
nārada sārada sahita ahīsā ॥ 14 ॥
jama kubera dikpāla jahā te ।
kabi kobida kahi sakai kahā te ॥ 15 ॥
Rao and Mehta translate the two verses as Saints like Sanka, Bramha, Munisa, Narad, Sarad, Sahit and Ahisa have blessed Hanuman; Yama (God of death), Kubera (God of wealth), Dikpala (Gods of eight directions), Kavis (poets), Kovidas (folk singers) cannot describe Hanuman's reputation. Rambhadracharya associates the verb gāvai in verse 13 with verse 14 and first half of verse 15 also, interprets ahīsā as standing for both Shiva and Vishnu, and kovida as one who knows Vedas. His translation reads The celibate Rishis like Sanaka, the Devatas like Brahma, Narada the best among Munis (sages), Saraswati with Shiva and Vishnu, the eight Dikpalas including Yama and Kubera – all these will sing your glory. To what extent can the mortal poets and scholars of Vedas speak about your infinite glory?
तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा ।
राम मिलाय राजपद दीन्हा ॥ १६ ॥
tuma upakāra sugrīvahi kīnhā ।
rāma milāya rājapada dīnhā ॥ 16 ॥
You did Sugriva a great favour by making him meet Rama and bestowing on him the kingdom of Kishkindha.
तुम्हरो मन्त्र बिभीषन माना ।
लंकेश्वर भए सब जग जाना ॥ १७ ॥
tumharo mantra bibhīshana mānā ।
lankeshvara bhae saba jaga jānā ॥ 17 ॥
Your Mantra was accepted by Vibishana, as a result of which he became the king of Lanka. The whole world knows this.
जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू ।
लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू ॥ १८ ॥
juga sahasra jojana para bhānū ।
līlyo tāhi madhura phala jānū ॥ 18 ॥
On your own you dashed upon the sun, Surya, which is 96,000,000 miles away, thinking it to be a sweet fruit.
प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं ।
जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं ॥ १९ ॥
prabhu mudrikā meli mukha māhī ।
jaladhi lāghi gaye acharaja nāhī ॥ 19 ॥
O Lord, placing the ring given by Rama in your mouth, you leaped across the ocean – there is no wonder here.
दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते ।
सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते ॥ २० ॥
durgama kāja jagata ke jete ।
sugama anugraha tumhare tete ॥ 20 ॥
All the unattainable tasks in the world become easily attainable with your grace.
राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे ।
होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे ॥ २१ ॥
rāma duāre tuma rakhavāre ।
hota na āgnyā binu paisāre ॥ 21 ॥
You are the doorkeeper and protector of the door to Rama's court. Without your command, nobody can enter the abode of Rama.
सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी शरना ।
तुम रक्षक काहू को डरना ॥ २२ ॥
saba sukha lahai tumhārī saranā ।
tuma rakshaka kāhū ko daranā ॥ 22 ॥
Once in your refuge, a Sādhaka obtains all the pleasures. You are the protector, and there is nothing to be afraid of.
आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै ।
तीनौं लोक हाँक ते काँपे ॥ २३ ॥
āpana teja samhāro āpai ।
tinau loka hāka te kāpai ॥ 23 ॥
When you roar, after remembering your powers, the three worlds tremble with fear.
भूत पिशाच निकट नहिं आवै ।
महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै ॥ २४ ॥
bhūta pishācha nikata nahi āvai ।
mahābīra jaba nāma sunāvai ॥ 24 ॥
Evil spirits (bhūta) and meat-eating ghosts (pishācha) do not come near those chant the Mahāvira name of yours.
नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा ।
जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा ॥ २५ ॥
nāsai roga harai saba pīrā ।
japata nirantara hanumata bīrā ॥ 25 ॥
The brave Hanuman, when invoked incessantly by the means of Japa, destroys all ailments and removes all sufferings.
संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै ।
मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै ॥ २६ ॥
sankata te hanumāna chhudāvai ।
mana krama bachana dhyāna jo lāvai ॥ 26 ॥
Hanuman extricates those from all adversities who remember him (or contemplate upon him) in their heart, by their actions and by their words.
सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा ।
तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा ॥ २७ ॥
saba para rāma tapasvī rājā ।
tina ke kāja sakala tuma sājā ॥ 27 ॥
Rama is the supreme God and a king with Tapas, and yet you executed all his tasks.
और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै ।
सोहि अमित जीवन फल पावै ॥ २८ ॥
aura manoratha jo koī lāvai ।
Sohi amita jīvana phala pāvai ॥ 28 ॥
And whoever comes to you with any wish, that wish is fulfilled beyond limits (literally, "they obtain the unlimited fruit of the wish") in this very birth.
चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा ।
है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा ॥ २९ ॥
chāro juga para tāpa tumhārā ।
hai parasiddha jagata ujiyyārā ॥ 29 ॥
Your glory is famous in all the four Yugas, and illuminates the whole world.
साधु संत के तुम रखवारे ।
असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे ॥ ३० ॥
sādhu santa ke tuma rakhavāre ।
asura nikandana rāma dulāre ॥ 30 ॥
You are the protector of Sadhus (good people or ascetics) and Sants (saints). You are the destroyer of demons and dear as a son to Rama.
अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता ।
अस बर दीन्ह जानकी माता ॥ ३१ ॥
ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke dātā ।
asa bara dīnha jānakī mātā ॥ 31 ॥
You are the bestower the eight Siddhis (supernatural powers named Aṇimā, Garimā, Mahimā, Laghimā, Prāpti, Prākāmya, Īśitva, and Vaśitva) and the nine Nidhis (divine treasures named Mahāpadma, Padma, Śaṅkha, Makara, Kacchapa, Mukunda, Kunda, Nīla and Kharva). Mother Sita, the daughter of Janaka, has granted you this boon.
राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा ।
सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा ॥ ३२ ॥
rāma rasāyana tumhare pāsā ।
sadā raho raghupati ke dāsā ॥ 32 ॥
You have the treasure of Rama's Bhakti (rāma rasāyana) with you. You are, respectfully, the servant of Raghupati (Shri Raam).
तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै ।
जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै ॥ ३३ ॥
tumhare bhajana rāma ko pāvai ।
janama janama ke dukha bisarāvai ॥ 33 ॥
Singing of you (Hanuman), a Bhakta obtains Rama and forgets the adversities and afflictions of many births.
अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई ।
जहाँ जन्म हरिभक्त कहाई ॥ ३४ ॥
anta kāla raghubara pura jāī ।
jahā janma hari bhakta kahāī ॥ 34 ॥
As a result of devotion to you, a Bhakta goes to Sāketa Loka (raghubara pura) at the time of their end (physical death). Once the Bhakta reaches Sāketa, wherever they take birth, they are known as the Bhaktas of Hari.
और देवता चित्त न धरई ।
हनुमत सेइ सर्व सुख करई ॥ ३५ ॥
aura devatā chitta na dharaī ।
hanumata sei sarba sukha karaī ॥ 35 ॥
Even one who does not contemplate on any other Devatas in their mind and only serves Hanuman, achieves all favourable bliss in this world and the next.
संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा ।
जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा ॥ ३६ ॥
sankata katai mitai saba pīrā ।
jo sumirai hanumata balabīrā ॥ 36 ॥
Whoever remembers the brave and mighty Hanuman gets free of all adversities and relief from all pains.
जय जय जय हनुमान गोसाईं ।
कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं ॥ ३७ ॥
jaya jaya jaya hanumāna gosāī ।
kripā karahu gurudeva kī nāī ॥ 37 ॥
O Hanuman, the master of senses, may you be victorious, may you be victorious, may you be victorious. May you shower your grace lovingly, as a Guru does, and reveal to me the knowledge of devotion to Rama.
जो शत बार पाठ कर कोई ।
छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई ॥ ३८ ॥
jo shata bāra pātha kara koī ।
chhūtahi bandi mahā sukha hoī ॥ 38 ॥
One who recites Hanuman Chalisa a hundred times (or for hundred days) is released from bondage and obtains great bliss".
जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा ।
होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा ॥ ३९ ॥
jo yaha parhai hanumāna chālīsā ।
hoya siddha sākhī gaurīsā ॥ 39 ॥
One who reads this Hanuman Chalisa obtains Siddhi (accomplishment or liberation). Shiva himself bears witness to this statement.
तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा ।
कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा ॥ ४० ॥
tulasīdāsa sadā hari cherā ।
kījai nātha hridaya maha derā ॥ 40 ॥
Tulsidas is always a devotee of Hari. O Lord, make my heart your abode.

Concluding Doha

पवनतनय संकट हरन मंगल मूरति रूप ।
राम लखन सीता सहित हृदय बसहु सुर भूप ॥
pavantanaya sankata harana mangala mūrati rūpa ।
rāma lakhan sītā sahita hridaya basahu sura bhūpa ॥
O Son of Vāyu, remover of adversities, one with an auspicious form, and the chief among all Devas, may you reside in our hearts along with Rama, Lakshman and Sita.