Krishna Chalisa
Krishna Chalisa in English · English
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional hymn · Traditional (signed 'Sundardas') · Devotional era
The Krishna Chalisa is a forty-verse Hindi hymn in the popular chalisa tradition. It garlands the dark, flute-playing Lord of Vrindavan, recalling pastime after pastime — lifting Govardhan on a fingertip, dancing upon the serpent Kaliya, multiplying Draupadi's sari, and accepting Sudama's humble handful of rice — as proof that Krishna is ever the friend and saviour of the lowly.
✦ As told in scripture
Verse after verse recalls Krishna's saving grace: he turned the Rana's snake into a sacred Shaligrama to protect Mira, liberated the reviling Shishupala in the very moment of death, and made Draupadi's single sari endless so her honour was never lost. The Chalisa promises the devotee who recites it the eight siddhis, nine treasures and the four aims of life.
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Complete Text with Meaning
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Bamshi shobhita kara madhura, nila jalada tana shyama Aruna adhara janu bimba phala, pitambara shubha saja
Meaning:The flute graces his sweet hands; his body is dark as a blue rain-cloud; his red lips are like the bimba fruit, and the yellow silk adorns him beautifully.
Jaya manamohana madana chhavi, krishnachandra maharaja Karahu kripa he ravi tanaya, rakhahu jana ki laja
Meaning:Victory to the mind-enchanting one, lovely as Kamadeva, Krishnachandra the great king! Show your grace, O son of the Sun's realm, and protect the honour of your devotees.
Jaya yadunandana jaya jagavandana Jaya vasudeva devaki nandana
Meaning:Victory, O delight of the Yadus, adored by the world; victory, O son of Vasudeva and Devaki!
Jaya yashuda suta nanda dulare Jaya prabhu bhaktana ke driga tare
Meaning:Victory, O cherished son of Yashoda and Nanda; victory, O Lord, the very pupils of your devotees' eyes!
Jaya nata-nagara naga nathaiya Krishna kanhaiya dhenu charaiya
Meaning:Victory, O graceful actor who subdued the serpent (Kaliya); Krishna Kanhaiya, the cowherd who tends the cattle!
Puni nakha para prabhu girivara dharo Ao dinana kashta nivaro
Meaning:Again, O Lord, you bore the great mountain on your fingernail; come and remove the suffering of the lowly.
Vamshi madhura adhara dhari teri Hove purna manoratha mero
Meaning:Your sweet flute rests upon your lips; let my heart's desire be fulfilled.
Ao hari puni makhana chakho Aja laja bharata ki rakho
Meaning:Come, O Hari, and once more taste the butter; today preserve the honour of Bharata.
Gola kapola, chibuka arunare Mridu muskana mohini dare
Meaning:Round cheeks, a reddish chin, and a tender, enchanting smile;
Ramjita rajiva nayana vishala Mora mukuta vaijayamti mala
Meaning:— wide, lovely lotus-like eyes, a peacock-feather crown and the Vaijayanti garland.
Kundala shravana pitapata achhe Kati kimkani kachhana kachhe
Meaning:Earrings at your ears, fine yellow silk, a girdle of tiny bells at your waist;
Nila jalaja sundara tanu sohe Chhavi lakhi, sura nara munimana mohe
Meaning:— your beautiful dark-blue body shines so that gods, men and sages are all enchanted at the sight.
Mastaka tilaka, alaka ghumgharale Ao krishna bamsuri vale
Meaning:A tilak on your brow and curling locks — come, O flute-bearing Krishna!
Kari paya pana, putanahi tarayo Aka baka kagasura marayo
Meaning:Drinking her poisoned milk, you delivered Putana; you slew Aghasura, Bakasura and Kakasura.
Madhuvana jalata agni jaba jvala Bhai shitala, lakhitahim nandalala
Meaning:When the forest of Madhuvan blazed with fire, it grew cool the moment Nandalala looked upon it.
Surapati jaba braja chadha़yo risai Masura dhara vari varshai
Meaning:When Indra, lord of the gods, rose in anger over Braj and poured down torrents of rain,
Lagata-lagata braja chahana bahayo Govardhana nakhadhari bachayo
Meaning:— as Braj was about to be washed away, you saved it by holding up Govardhan on your fingertip.
Lakhi yasuda mana bhrama adhikai Mukha maham chaudaha bhuvana dikhai
Meaning:Seeing this, Yashoda's mind filled with wonder — and you showed the fourteen worlds within your mouth.
Dushta kamsa ati udhama machayo Koti kamala jaba phula mamgayo
Meaning:When the wicked Kamsa raised great turmoil and demanded a crore of lotus blooms,
Nathi kaliyahim taba tuma linhem Charanachinha dai nirbhaya kinhem
Meaning:— you then subdued the serpent Kaliya, and set your footprints upon him, making all fearless.
Kari gopina samga rasa vilasa Sabaki purana kari abhilasha
Meaning:Sporting the Rasa dance with the gopis, you fulfilled the longing of every one of them.
Ketika maha asura samharayo Kamsahi kesa pakaड़i dai marayo
Meaning:You destroyed so many great demons, and seizing Kamsa by the hair, struck him dead.
Mata-pita ki bandi chhuड़ai Ugrasena kaham raja dilai
Meaning:You freed your mother and father from prison and bestowed the kingdom upon Ugrasena.
Mahi se mritaka chhahom suta layo Matu devaki shoka mitayo
Meaning:You brought back the six dead sons from the realm of death and ended mother Devaki's grief.
Bhaumasura mura daitya samhari Laye shata dasha sahasakumari
Meaning:Slaying the demons Bhaumasura and Mura, you brought back the sixteen thousand maidens.
Dai bhinhim trina chira sahara Jarasimdhu rakshasa kaham mara
Meaning:Giving even a blade of grass and a piece of cloth as refuge, you slew the demon-king Jarasandha.
Asura bakasura adika marayo Bhaktana ke taba kashta nivariyo
Meaning:You slew Bakasura and other demons, and so removed the sufferings of your devotees.
Dina sudama ke duhkha tarayo Tamdula tina mumtha mukha darayo
Meaning:You dispelled the sorrow of the poor Sudama, accepting three handfuls of his humble beaten rice.
Prema ke saga vidura ghara mamge Duryodhana ke meva tyage
Meaning:You begged for simple greens at Vidura's home and refused Duryodhana's rich delicacies;
Lakhi prema ki mahima bhari Aise shyama dina hitakari
Meaning:— seeing the greatness of love, such is Shyama, the benefactor of the lowly.
Bharata ke paratha ratha hamke Lie chakra kara nahim bala take
Meaning:In the war of the Bharatas you drove Partha's (Arjuna's) chariot, taking up the discus though needing no strength.
Nija gita ke jnana sunaye Bhaktana hridaya sudha varshaye
Meaning:You expounded the wisdom of your Gita, raining nectar upon the hearts of devotees.
Mira thi aisi matavali Visha pi gai bajakara tali
Meaning:Mira was so intoxicated with your love that she drank poison clapping in joy;
Rana bheja sampa pitari Shaligrama bane banavari
Meaning:— the Rana sent a snake in a basket, but it became, by your grace, a Shaligrama stone.
Nija maya tuma vidhihim dikhayo Ura te samshaya sakala mitayo
Meaning:You showed your divine power (Maya) to all, and wiped away every doubt from the heart.
Taba shata ninda kari tatkala Jivana mukta bhayo shishupala
Meaning:When Shishupala had hurled a hundred insults, he was at once liberated and freed in life.
Jabahim draupadi tera lagai Dinanatha laja aba jai
Meaning:The moment Draupadi cried out, 'O Lord of the helpless, now my honour goes!' —
Turatahim vasana bane nanandalala Baढ़e chira bhai ari munha kala
Meaning:— at once you, Nandalala, became her endless cloth; the garment grew and grew, blackening the faces of her enemies.
Asa natha ke natha kanhaiya Dubata bhamvara bachavata naiya
Meaning:Such is Kanhaiya, the Lord of lords, who steers the sinking boat through the whirlpool.
Sundaradasa asa ura dhari Dayadrishti kijai banavari
Meaning:Sundardas, holding hope in his heart, prays: cast your merciful glance, O Banwari.
Natha sakala mama kumati nivaro Kshamahu begi aparadha hamaro
Meaning:O Lord, dispel all my dull-witted ways and quickly forgive my offences.
Kholo pata aba darshana dijai Bolo krishna kanhaiya ki jai
Meaning:Open the doors and grant me your darshan now; proclaim the victory of Krishna Kanhaiya!
Ashta siddhi navanidhi phala, lahai padaratha chari
Meaning:Whoever recites this attains the eight siddhis, the nine treasures (navanidhi) and the four aims of human life.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Krishna Chalisa
Recitation of the Krishna Chalisa fills the heart with love (prema-bhakti) for Lord Krishna and recalls his enchanting childhood pastimes.
It narrates Krishna's miracles — lifting Govardhan, subduing Kaliya, saving Draupadi — strengthening faith and surrender.
Said to bring love, peace, prosperity and protection, and to remove fear and sorrow.
Especially powerful on Janmashtami, Wednesdays and during the Krishna paksha Ekadashi.
Soothes the restless mind and draws it into the sweet remembrance of Krishna.
A simple 40-verse hymn ideal for daily family recitation and for children.
How to Chant Krishna Chalisa
Sit before an image of Sri Krishna, offer tulsi, butter or makhan and flowers, and light a lamp. Recite the opening dohas and the forty chaupais with loving attention to his pastimes. Conclude with 'Hare Krishna' or 'Jai Shri Krishna' and aarti. Janmashtami midnight is especially auspicious.
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Read the full Krishna Chalisa with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts