Shri Ganesh Chalisa IAST

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

r̥ddhi siddhi tava cam̐vara sudhāre. mūṣaka vāhana sohata dvāre.

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

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.

eka samaya girirāja kumārī. putra hetu tapa kīnhoṁ bhārī.

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

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.

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

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

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 —

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 —

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.'

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

paḍatahiṁ śani dr̥ga koṇa prakāśā. bālaka śira uḍi gayo ākāśā.

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

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

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

hāhākāra macyo kailāśā. śani kīnhyoṁ lakhi suta ko nāśā.

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

turata garuḍa caḍhi 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.

bālaka ke dhaḍa ūpara dhārayo. prāṇa mantra paḍhi śaṁkara ḍārayo.

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

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.

buddhi parīkṣā jaba śiva kīnhā. pr̥thvī kī pradakṣiṇā līnhā.

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

cale ṣaḍānana bharami bhulāī. raci baiṭha tuma buddhi upāī.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

bhajata rāmasundara prabhudāsā. lakha prayāga kakarā durvāsā.

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

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.

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.

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.