Shri Ganesh Chalisa Roman

jay ganapati sadagun sadan, kavivar badan kripaal. vighn haran mangal karan, jay jay girijaalaal.

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.

jay jay jay ganapati ganaraajoo. mangal bharan karan shubh kaajoo.

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

jay gajabadan sadan sukhadaataa. vishv vinaayak buddhi vidhaataa.

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

vakr tund shuchi shund suhaavan. tilak tripund bhaal man bhaavan.

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

raajat mani muktan ur maalaa. svarn mukut shir nayan vishaalaa.

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

pustak paani kuthaar trishoolan. modak bhog sugandhit phoolan.

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

sundar peetaambar tan saajit. charan paadukaa muni man raajit.

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

dhani shivasuvan shadaanan bhraataa. gauree lalan vishv-vikhyaataa.

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

riddhi siddhi tav chanvar sudhaare. mooshak vaahan sohat dvaare.

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

kahaun janm shubh kathaa tumhaaree. ati shuchi paavan mangalakaaree.

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

ek samay giriraaj kumaaree. putr hetu tap keenhon bhaaree.

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

bhayo yajn jab poorn anoopaa. tab pahunchyo tum dhari dvij roopaa.

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

atithi jaani kai gauree sukhaaree. bahu vidhi sevaa karee tumhaaree.

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

ati prasann hvai tum var deenhaa. maatu putr hit jo tap keenhaa.

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

milahi putr tuhi buddhi vishaalaa. binaa garbh dhaaran yahi kaalaa.

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

gananaayak gun jnaan nidhaanaa. poojit pratham roop bhagavaanaa.

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

as kahi antardhyaan roop hvai. palanaa par baalak svaroop hvai.

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

bani shishu rudan jabahin tum thaanaa. lakhi mukh sukh nahin gauri samaanaa.

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

sakal magan sukh mangal gaavahin. nabh te suran suman varshaavahin.

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

shambhu umaa bahudaan lutaavahin. sur muni jan sut dekhan aavahin.

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

lakhi ati aanand mangal saajaa. dekhan bhee aae shani raajaa.

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

nij avagun guni shani man maaheen. baalak dekhan chaahat naaheen.

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

girijaa kachhu man bhed badhaayo. utsav mor n shani tuhi bhaayo.

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

kahan lage shani man sakuchaaee. kaa karihau shishu mohi dikhaaee.

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

nahin vishvaas umaa ur bhayaoo. shani son baalak dekhan kahyaoo.

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

padatahin shani drig kon prakaashaa. baalak shir udi gayo aakaashaa.

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

girijaa gireen vikal hvai dharanee. so dukh dashaa gayo nahin varanee.

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

haahaakaar machyo kailaashaa. shani keenhyon lakhi sut ko naashaa.

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

turat garud chadhi vishnu sidhaae. kaati chakr so gaj shir laae.

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

baalak ke dhad oopar dhaarayo. praan mantr padhi shankar daarayo.

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

naam ganesh shambhu tab keenhe. pratham poojy buddhi nidhi var deenhe.

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

buddhi pareekshaa jab shiv keenhaa. prithvee kee pradakshinaa leenhaa.

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

chale shadaanan bharami bhulaaee. rachi baith tum buddhi upaaee.

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

charan maatu-pitu ke dhar leenhen. tinake saat pradakshin keenhen.

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

dhani ganesh kahi shiv hiy harashe. nabh te suran suman bahu barase.

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

tumharee mahimaa buddhi badaaee. shesh sahas mukh sakai n gaaee.

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

main mati heen maleen dukhaaree. karahun kaun bidhi vinay tumhaaree.

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

bhajat raamasundar prabhudaasaa. lakh prayaag kakaraa durvaasaa.

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

ab prabhu dayaa deen par keejai. apanee shakti bhakti kuchh deejai.

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

shree ganesh yah chaaleesaa, paath karen dhar dhyaan. nit nav mangal grih basai, lahe jagat sanmaan.

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

sanvat apan sahasr dash, rishi panchamee dinesh. pooran chaaleesaa bhayo, mangal moorti ganesh.

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