hanumān chālīsā is a beloved forty-verse devotional hymn to Sri Hanuman, composed in the Awadhi/Hindi bhakti tradition by Goswami Tulsidas. It praises Hanuman as the servant of Sri Rama, the ocean of strength and wisdom, the remover of distress, and the ideal devotee whose power is completely aligned with dharma.
Its author is Tulsidas, the great Rama-bhakta and author of the rāmacharitamānasa. The Shankaracharya tradition still helps us read Hanuman with depth: devotion purifies the mind, and a purified mind becomes ready for knowledge. Where Shankara emphasizes knowledge of the Self, Hanuman embodies the servant-heart that makes strength humble, disciplined, and useful.
dōhā
śrī guru charaṇa sarōja raja nijamana mukura sudhāri ।
varaṇau raghuvara vimalayaśa jō dāyaka phalachāri ॥
buddhihīna tanujānikai sumirau pavana kumāra ।
bala buddhi vidyā dēhu mōhi harahu kalēśa vikāra ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Having polished the mirror of my heart with the dust of my Guru's lotus feet, I recite the divine fame of the greatest king of Raghukul dynasty, which bestows us with the fruit of all the four efforts. Knowing that this mind of mine has less intelligence, I remember the 'Son of Wind' who, granting me strength, wisdom and all kinds of knowledge, removes all my suffering and shortcomings.
dhyānam
atulita baladhāmaṃ svarṇa śailābha dēham ।
danuja vana kṛśānuṃ jñāninā magragaṇyam ॥
sakala guṇa nidhānaṃ vānarāṇā madhīśam ।
raghupati priya bhaktaṃ vātajātaṃ namāmi ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
This passage praises Hanuman as the strong, wise, fearless servant of Rama, asking for courage, right understanding, protection, and devotion.
gōṣpadīkṛta vārāśiṃ maśakīkṛta rākṣasam ।
rāmāyaṇa mahāmālā ratnaṃ vandē-(a)nilātmajam ॥
yatra yatra raghunātha kīrtanaṃ tatra tatra kṛtamastakāñjalim ।
bhāṣpavāri paripūrṇa lōchanaṃ mārutiṃ namata rākṣasāntakam ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
This passage praises Hanuman as the strong, wise, fearless servant of Rama, asking for courage, right understanding, protection, and devotion.
manōjavaṃ māruta tulyavēgam ।
jitēndriyaṃ buddhi matāṃ variṣṭam ॥
vātātmajaṃ vānarayūtha mukhyam ।
śrī rāma dūtaṃ śirasā namāmi ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
This passage praises Hanuman as the strong, wise, fearless servant of Rama, asking for courage, right understanding, protection, and devotion.
chaupāī
jaya hanumāna jñāna guṇa sāgara ।
jaya kapīśa tihu lōka ujāgara ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to Lord Hanuman, the ocean of wisdom and virtue. Victory to the Lord who is supreme among the monkeys, illuminator of the three worlds.
rāmadūta atulita baladhāmā ।
añjani putra pavanasuta nāmā ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You are Lord Rama's emissary, the abode of matchless power, Mother Anjani's son and also popular as the 'Son of the Wind'.
mahāvīra vikrama bajaraṅgī ।
kumati nivāra sumati kē saṅgī ॥3 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Great hero, You are as mighty as a thunderbolt. You remove evil intellect and are the companion of those having good ones.
kañchana varaṇa virāja suvēśā ।
kānana kuṇḍala kuñchita kēśā ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Your skin is golden in color and You are adorned with beautiful clothes. You have adorning earrings in Your ears and Your hair is curly and thick.
hāthavajra au dhvajā virājai । [auru]
kānthē mūñja janēvū sājai ॥ 5॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
In Your hands, shine a mace and a flag of righteousness. A sacred thread adorns Your right shoulder.
śaṅkara suvana kēsarī nandana । [śaṅkara svayaṃ]
tēja pratāpa mahājaga vandana ॥ 6 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You are the embodiment of Lord Shiva and vanar-raj Kesari's son. There is no limit or end to Your glory, Your magnificence. The whole Universe worships You.
vidyāvāna guṇī ati chātura ।
rāma kāja karivē kō ātura ॥ 7 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You are the wisest of the wise, virtuous and (morally) clever. You are always eager to do Lord Rama's works.
prabhu charitra sunivē kō rasiyā ।
rāmalakhana sītā mana basiyā ॥ 8॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You feel extremely delighted in listening to Lord Rama's doings and conduct. Lord Rama, Mother Sita, and Lord Laxmana dwell forever in Your heart.
sūkṣma rūpadhari siyahi dikhāvā ।
vikaṭa rūpadhari laṅka jalāvā ॥ 9 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Taking the subtle form, You appeared in front of Mother Sita. And, taking the formidable form, You burnt the Lanka (Ravana's kingdom).
bhīma rūpadhari asura saṃhārē ।
rāmachandra kē kāja saṃvārē ॥ 10 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Taking the massive form (like that of Bheema), You slaughtered the demons. This is how, You completed Lord Rama's tasks, successfully.
lāya sañjīvana lakhana jiyāyē ।
śrī raghuvīra haraṣi uralāyē ॥ 11 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Bringing the magic-herb (sanjivani), You revived Lord Laxmana, bringing joy to Sri Rama.
raghupati kīnhī bahuta baḍāyī (ī) ।
tuma mama priya bharata sama bhāyī ॥ 12 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
This passage praises Hanuman as the strong, wise, fearless servant of Rama, asking for courage, right understanding, protection, and devotion.
sahasra vadana tumharō yaśagāvai ।
asa kahi śrīpati kaṇṭha lagāvai ॥ 13 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Saying this, Lord Rama drew You to Himself and embraced you. Sages like Sanaka, Gods like Brahma and sages like Narada and even the thousand-mouthed serpent sing Your fame!
sanakādika brahmādi munīśā ।
nārada śārada sahita ahīśā ॥ 14 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Sanak, Sanandan and the other Rishis and great saints; Brahma - the god, Narada, Saraswati - the Mother Divine and the King of serpents sing Your glory.
yama kubēra digapāla jahāṃ tē ।
kavi kōvida kahi sakē kahāṃ tē ॥ 15 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Yama, Kubera and the guardians of the four quarters; poets and scholars - none can express Your glory.
tuma upakāra sugrīvahi kīnhā ।
rāma milāya rājapada dīnhā ॥ 16 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You helped Sugriva by introducing Him to Lord Rama and regaining his crown. Therefore, You gave Him the Kingship (the dignity of being called a king).
tumharō mantra vibhīṣaṇa mānā ।
laṅkēśvara bhayē saba jaga jānā ॥ 17 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Likewise, complying with Your preachings, even Vibhishana became the King of Lanka.
yuga sahasra yōjana para bhānū ।
līlyō tāhi madhura phala jānū ॥ 18 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You swallowed the sun, located thousands of miles away, mistaking it to be a sweet, red fruit!
prabhu mudrikā mēli mukha māhī ।
jaladhi lāṅghi gayē acharaja nāhī ॥ 19 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Keeping the ring in Your mouth, which was given to You by Lord Rama, you crossed over the Ocean, to no astonishment, whatsoever.
durgama kāja jagata kē jētē ।
sugama anugraha tumharē tētē ॥ 20 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
All difficult tasks of this world become easy, with Your grace.
rāma duārē tuma rakhavārē ।
hōta na ājñā binu paisārē ॥ 21 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You are the guardian at Lord Rama's door. Nobody can move forward without Your permission which means that Lord Rama's darshans (to get the sight of) are possible only with Your blessings.
saba sukha lahai tumhārī śaraṇā ।
tuma rakṣaka kāhū kō ḍara nā ॥ 22 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Those who take refuge in You, find all the comforts and happiness. When we have a protector like You, we do not need to get scared of anybody or anything.
āpana tēja samhārō āpai ।
tīnōṃ lōka hāṅka tē kāmpai ॥ 23 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You alone can withstand Your magnificence. All the three worlds start trembling at one roar of Yours.
bhūta piśācha nikaṭa nahi āvai ।
mahavīra jaba nāma sunāvai ॥ 24 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Mahaveer! No ghosts or evil spirits come near the ones who remember Your name. Therefore, just remembering Your name does everything!
nāsai rōga harai saba pīrā ।
japata nirantara hanumata vīrā ॥ 25 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Hanuman! All diseases and all kinds of pain get eradicated when one recites or chants Your name. Therefore, chanting Your name regularly is considered to be very significant.
saṅkaṭa sē hanumāna Chuḍāvai ।
mana krama vachana dhyāna jō lāvai ॥ 26 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Whoever meditates upon or worships You with thought, word, and deed, gets freedom from all kinds of crisis and affliction.
saba para rāma tapasvī rājā ।
tinakē kāja sakala tuma sājā ॥ 27 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Lord Rama is the greatest Ascetic amongst all the Kings. But, it's only You who carried out all the tasks of Lord Sri Rama.
aura manōratha jō kōyi lāvai ।
tāsu amita jīvana phala pāvai ॥ 28 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
This passage praises Hanuman as the strong, wise, fearless servant of Rama, asking for courage, right understanding, protection, and devotion.
chārō yuga pratāpa tumhārā ।
hai parasiddha jagata ujiyārā ॥ 29 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
This passage praises Hanuman as the strong, wise, fearless servant of Rama, asking for courage, right understanding, protection, and devotion.
sādhu santa kē tuma rakhavārē ।
asura nikandana rāma dulārē ॥ 30 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You are the guardian of saints and sages; the destroyer of demons and adored by Lord Rama.
aṣṭhasiddhi nava nidhi kē dātā ।
asa vara dīnha jānakī mātā ॥ 31 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You have been blessed by Mother Janaki to give boon further, to the deserving ones, wherein You can grant the siddhis (eight different powers) and the nidhis (nine different kinds of wealth).
rāma rasāyana tumhārē pāsā ।
sadā rahō raghupati kē dāsā ॥ 32 ॥ [sāda rahō]
Translation (bhāvārtha):
You have the essence of Ram bhakti, may you always remain the humble and devoted servant of Raghupati.
tumharē bhajana rāmakō pāvai ।
janma janma kē dukha bisarāvai ॥ 33 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
When one sings Your praise, Your name, He gets to meet Lord Rama and finds relief from the sorrows of many lifetimes.
anta kāla raghupati purajāyī । [raghuvara]
jahāṃ janma haribhakta kahāyī ॥ 34 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
By your grace, one will go to the immortal abode of Lord Rama after death and remain devoted to Him.
aura dēvatā chitta na dharayī ।
hanumata sēyi sarva sukha karayī ॥ 35 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
It is not needed to serve any other Deity or God. Service to Lord Hanuman gives all the comforts.
saṅkaṭa ka(ha)ṭai miṭai saba pīrā ।
jō sumirai hanumata bala vīrā ॥ 36 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
All troubles cease for the one who remembers the powerful lord, Lord Hanuman and all his pains also come to an end.
jai jai jai hanumāna gōsāyī ।
kṛpā karahu gurudēva kī nāyī ॥ 37 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Lord Hanuman! Praises and glory to you O mighty Lord, please bestow your grace as our Supreme Guru.
yaha śata vāra pāṭha kara kōyī । [jō]
Chūṭahi bandi mahā sukha hōyī ॥ 38 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
This passage praises Hanuman as the strong, wise, fearless servant of Rama, asking for courage, right understanding, protection, and devotion.
jō yaha paḍai hanumāna chālīsā ।
hōya siddhi sākhī gaurīśā ॥ 39 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who reads and recites this Hanuman Chalisa, all his works get accomplished. Lord Shiva, Himself, is the witness to it.
tulasīdāsa sadā hari chērā ।
kījai nātha hṛdaya maha ḍērā ॥ 40 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Lord Hanuman, May I always remain a servant, a devotee to Lord Sri Ram, says Tulsidas. And, May You always reside in my heart.
dōhā
pavana tanaya saṅkaṭa haraṇa - maṅgaḻa mūrati rūp ।
rāma lakhana sītā sahita - hṛdaya basahu surabhūp ॥
siyāvara rāmachandrakī jaya । pavanasuta hanumānakī jaya । bōlō bhāyī saba santanakī jaya ।
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O the Son of Wind, You are the destroyer of all sorrows. You are the embodiment of fortune and prosperity. With Lord Rama, Laxmana and Mother Sita, dwell in my heart, always.
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