Shri Ganesh Chalisa

जय गणपति सदगुण सदन, कविवर बदन कृपाल।
विघ्न हरण मंगल करण, जय जय गिरिजालाल॥

jaya gaṇapati sadaguṇa sadana, kavivara badana kr̥pāla. vighna haraṇa maṁgala karaṇa, jaya jaya girijālāla.

Victory to Ganapati, home of every virtue, gracious of face, first among poets; remover of obstacles, maker of all that is auspicious — victory, victory to Girija's beloved son.

जय जय जय गणपति गणराजू।
मंगल भरण करण शुभ काजू॥

jaya jaya jaya gaṇapati gaṇarājū. maṁgala bharaṇa karaṇa śubha kājū.

Victory to Ganapati, king of the ganas, who fills life with blessing and makes every work auspicious.

जय गजबदन सदन सुखदाता।
विश्व विनायक बुद्धि विधाता॥

jaya gajabadana sadana sukhadātā. viśva vināyaka buddhi vidhātā.

Victory to the elephant-faced, home and giver of happiness, leader of the world and bestower of wisdom.

वक्र तुण्ड शुचि शुण्ड सुहावन।
तिलक त्रिपुण्ड भाल मन भावन॥

vakra tuṇḍa śuci śuṇḍa suhāvana. tilaka tripuṇḍa bhāla mana bhāvana.

Your curved trunk is pure and lovely; the three-lined tilak on your brow delights the heart.

राजत मणि मुक्तन उर माला।
स्वर्ण मुकुट शिर नयन विशाला॥

rājata maṇi muktana ura mālā. svarṇa mukuṭa śira nayana viśālā.

A garland of gems and pearls shines on your chest; a golden crown is on your head, and your eyes are wide.

पुस्तक पाणि कुठार त्रिशूलं।
मोदक भोग सुगन्धित फूलं॥

pustaka pāṇi kuṭhāra triśūlaṁ. modaka bhoga sugandhita phūlaṁ.

A book, an axe and a trident are in your hands; modak are your bhog, with fragrant flowers.

सुन्दर पीताम्बर तन साजित।
चरण पादुका मुनि मन राजित॥

sundara pītāmbara tana sājita. caraṇa pādukā muni mana rājita.

Your body is adorned in beautiful yellow silk; your sandalled feet reign in the hearts of sages.

धनि शिवसुवन षडानन भ्राता।
गौरी ललन विश्व-विख्याता॥

dhani śivasuvana ṣaḍānana bhrātā. gaurī lalana viśva-vikhyātā.

Blessed son of Shiva, brother of six-faced Kartikeya, Gauri's darling, renowned through all the world.

ऋद्धि सिद्धि तव चँवर सुधारे।
मूषक वाहन सोहत द्वारे॥

r̥ddhi siddhi tava cam̐vara sudhāre. mūṣaka vāhana sohata dvāre.

Riddhi and Siddhi wave the chamara for you; the mouse, your vahana, graces your door.

कहौं जन्म शुभ कथा तुम्हारी।
अति शुचि पावन मंगलकारी॥

kahauṁ janma śubha kathā tumhārī. ati śuci pāvana maṁgalakārī.

Let me tell the auspicious story of your birth — most pure, sanctifying and full of blessing.

एक समय गिरिराज कुमारी।
पुत्र हेतु तप कीन्हों भारी॥

eka samaya girirāja kumārī. putra hetu tapa kīnhoṁ bhārī.

Once, the daughter of the mountain king undertook great austerities for a son.

भयो यज्ञ जब पूर्ण अनूपा।
तब पहुँच्यो तुम धरि द्विज रूपा॥

bhayo yajña jaba pūrṇa anūpā. taba pahum̐cyo tuma dhari dvija rūpā.

When her matchless sacrifice was complete, you came to her in the form of a brahmin.

अतिथि जानि कै गौरी सुखारी।
बहु विधि सेवा करी तुम्हारी॥

atithi jāni kai gaurī sukhārī. bahu vidhi sevā karī tumhārī.

Knowing you for a guest, Gauri rejoiced, and served you in every way.

अति प्रसन्न ह्वै तुम वर दीन्हा।
मातु पुत्र हित जो तप कीन्हा॥

ati prasanna hvai tuma vara dīnhā. mātu putra hita jo tapa kīnhā.

Greatly pleased, you gave her a boon: 'Mother, for the son you have done these austerities for —

मिलहि पुत्र तुहि बुद्धि विशाला।
बिना गर्भ धारण यहि काला॥

milahi putra tuhi buddhi viśālā. binā garbha dhāraṇa yahi kālā.

you shall have a son of vast wisdom, at this very time, without carrying him in the womb —

गणनायक गुण ज्ञान निधाना।
पूजित प्रथम रूप भगवाना॥

gaṇanāyaka guṇa jñāna nidhānā. pūjita prathama rūpa bhagavānā.

leader of the ganas, a treasury of virtue and knowledge, honoured first of all, the divine in form.'

अस कहि अन्तर्ध्यान रूप ह्वै।
पलना पर बालक स्वरूप ह्वै॥

asa kahi antardhyāna rūpa hvai. palanā para bālaka svarūpa hvai.

Saying this you vanished, and appeared as an infant in the palna.

बनि शिशु रुदन जबहिं तुम ठाना।
लखि मुख सुख नहिं गौरि समाना॥

bani śiśu rudana jabahiṁ tuma ṭhānā. lakhi mukha sukha nahiṁ gauri samānā.

When, as an infant, you began to cry, Gauri's joy at the sight of your face knew no bounds.

सकल मगन सुख मंगल गावहिं।
नभ ते सुरन सुमन वर्षावहिं॥

sakala magana sukha maṁgala gāvahiṁ. nabha te surana sumana varṣāvahiṁ.

Everyone, overjoyed, sang songs of blessing; the gods showered flowers from the sky.

शम्भु उमा बहुदान लुटावहिं।
सुर मुनि जन सुत देखन आवहिं॥

śambhu umā bahudāna luṭāvahiṁ. sura muni jana suta dekhana āvahiṁ.

Shambhu and Uma gave gifts in abundance; gods, sages and people came to see the child.

लखि अति आनन्द मंगल साजा।
देखन भी आए शनि राजा॥

lakhi ati ānanda maṁgala sājā. dekhana bhī āe śani rājā.

Seeing such joy and celebration, Shani, the king, also came to see him.

निज अवगुण गुनि शनि मन माहीं।
बालक देखन चाहत नाहीं॥

nija avaguṇa guni śani mana māhīṁ. bālaka dekhana cāhata nāhīṁ.

Mindful of the harm his own gaze could do, Shani did not wish to look at the child.

गिरिजा कछु मन भेद बढ़ायो।
उत्सव मोर न शनि तुहि भायो॥

girijā kachu mana bheda baṛhāyo. utsava mora na śani tuhi bhāyo.

Girija was hurt, and said: 'Shani, does my celebration not please you?'

कहन लगे शनि मन सकुचाई।
का करिहौ शिशु मोहि दिखाई॥

kahana lage śani mana sakucāī. kā karihau śiśu mohi dikhāī.

Shani replied, hesitating: 'What good will come of showing me the child?'

नहिं विश्वास उमा उर भयऊ।
शनि सों बालक देखन कह्यऊ॥

nahiṁ viśvāsa umā ura bhayaū. śani soṁ bālaka dekhana kahyaū.

Uma did not believe him, and asked Shani to look at the child.

पड़तहिं शनि दृग कोण प्रकाशा।
बालक शिर उड़ि गयो आकाशा॥

paṛatahiṁ śani dr̥ga koṇa prakāśā. bālaka śira uṛi gayo ākāśā.

The moment Shani's glance fell upon him, the child's head flew off into the sky.

गिरिजा गिरीं विकल ह्वै धरणी।
सो दुख दशा गयो नहिं वरणी॥

girijā girīṁ vikala hvai dharaṇī. so dukha daśā gayo nahiṁ varaṇī.

Girija fell to the ground in anguish; her grief was beyond words.

हाहाकार मच्यो कैलाशा।
शनि कीन्ह्यों लखि सुत को नाशा॥

hāhākāra macyo kailāśā. śani kīnhyoṁ lakhi suta ko nāśā.

Cries of sorrow filled Kailash: Shani's glance had destroyed the son.

तुरत गरुड़ चढ़ि विष्णु सिधाए।
काटि चक्र सो गज शिर लाए॥

turata garuṛa caṛhi viṣṇu sidhāe. kāṭi cakra so gaja śira lāe.

At once Vishnu set out on Garuda, and with his chakra brought back an elephant's head.

बालक के धड़ ऊपर धारयो।
प्राण मन्त्र पढ़ि शंकर डारयो॥

bālaka ke dhaṛa ūpara dhārayo. prāṇa mantra paṛhi śaṁkara ḍārayo.

It was placed upon the child's body, and Shankar, saying the mantra of life, breathed life into him.

नाम गणेश शम्भु तब कीन्हे।
प्रथम पूज्य बुद्धि निधि वर दीन्हे॥

nāma gaṇeśa śambhu taba kīnhe. prathama pūjya buddhi nidhi vara dīnhe.

Shambhu then named him Ganesh, and blessed him to be honoured first, a treasury of wisdom.

बुद्धि परीक्षा जब शिव कीन्हा।
पृथ्वी की प्रदक्षिणा लीन्हा॥

buddhi parīkṣā jaba śiva kīnhā. pr̥thvī kī pradakṣiṇā līnhā.

When Shiva set a test of wisdom — a pradakshina of the whole earth —

चले षडानन भरमि भुलाई।
रचि बैठ तुम बुद्धि उपाई॥

cale ṣaḍānana bharami bhulāī. raci baiṭha tuma buddhi upāī.

six-faced Kartikeya set off wandering, while you sat and found a wiser way.

चरण मातु-पितु के धर लीन्हें।
तिनके सात प्रदक्षिण कीन्हें॥

caraṇa mātu-pitu ke dhara līnheṁ. tinake sāta pradakṣiṇa kīnheṁ.

You placed your mother and father before you and went round them seven times.

धनि गणेश कहि शिव हिय हरषे।
नभ ते सुरन सुमन बहु बरसे॥

dhani gaṇeśa kahi śiva hiya haraṣe. nabha te surana sumana bahu barase.

'Blessed is Ganesh,' said Shiva, his heart glad; and the gods showered flowers from the sky.

तुम्हरी महिमा बुद्धि बड़ाई।
शेष सहस मुख सकै न गाई॥

tumharī mahimā buddhi baṛāī. śeṣa sahasa mukha sakai na gāī.

Your glory and the greatness of your wisdom cannot be sung even by thousand-mouthed Shesha.

मैं मति हीन मलीन दुखारी।
करहुँ कौन बिधि विनय तुम्हारी॥

maiṁ mati hīna malīna dukhārī. karahum̐ kauna bidhi vinaya tumhārī.

I am of little understanding, impure and troubled — how can I rightly praise you?

भजत रामसुन्दर प्रभुदासा।
लख प्रयाग ककरा दुर्वासा॥

bhajata rāmasundara prabhudāsā. lakha prayāga kakarā durvāsā.

So sings Ramsundar, your servant, of Kakra near Prayag, the place of Durvasa.

अब प्रभु दया दीन पर कीजै।
अपनी शक्ति भक्ति कुछ दीजै॥

aba prabhu dayā dīna para kījai. apanī śakti bhakti kucha dījai.

Now, O master, have mercy on this humble one, and grant me a little of your strength and devotion.

श्री गणेश यह चालीसा, पाठ करें धर ध्यान।
नित नव मंगल गृह बसै, लहे जगत सन्मान॥

śrī gaṇeśa yaha cālīsā, pāṭha kareṁ dhara dhyāna. nita nava maṁgala gr̥ha basai, lahe jagata sanmāna.

Whoever reads this Ganesh Chalisa with attention — fresh blessings dwell in their home each day, and they are honoured in the world.

संवत् अपन सहस्र दश, ऋषि पंचमी दिनेश।
पूरण चालीसा भयो, मंगल मूर्ति गणेश॥

saṁvat apana sahasra daśa, r̥ṣi paṁcamī dineśa. pūraṇa cālīsā bhayo, maṁgala mūrti gaṇeśa.

It was completed on Rishi Panchami, a Sunday, in the poet's own year — this Chalisa of Ganesh, the embodiment of blessing.