Saraswati Chalisa
Saraswati Chalisa in English · English
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional hymn · Traditional (signed 'Ramsagar') · Devotional era
The Saraswati Chalisa is a forty-verse Hindi hymn to the goddess of learning, music and speech. It celebrates how, whenever sinful thinking clouds the world, the Mother descends to restore the light of dharma, and how by her grace alone the murderer Valmiki became the Adi Kavi and poets like Kalidasa, Tulsidas and Surdas attained their genius — a promise of wisdom to every devotee who seeks her.
✦ As told in scripture
The Chalisa recounts Saraswati's power not only over learning but over every danger — the angry king, the beasts of the forest, the ship breaking in the storm, the bonds of the prisoner — declaring that whoever chants her name finds all turned to auspiciousness. Above all it remembers her supreme gift: she made a forest bandit into Valmiki, the first poet, proof that her grace can transform anyone.
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Complete Text with Meaning
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Janaka janani pada kamala raja, nija mastaka para dhari Bandaum matu sarasvati, buddhi bala de datari
Meaning:Placing on my head the dust of the lotus-feet of my parents, I bow to Mother Saraswati — grant me, O giver, intellect and strength.
Purna jagata mem vyapta tava, mahima amita anamtu Ramasagara ke papa ko, matu tuhi aba hantu
Meaning:Your glory pervades the whole world, boundless and infinite; O Mother, now destroy the sins of (the poet) Ramsagar.
Jaya shri sakala buddhi balarasi Jaya sarvajna amara avinasi
Meaning:Victory, O glorious one, the store of all intellect and strength; victory, O all-knowing, immortal and imperishable.
Jaya jaya jaya vinakara dhari Karati sada suhamsa savari
Meaning:Victory, victory, victory, O bearer of the veena; ever riding upon the graceful swan.
Rupa chaturbhujadhari mata Sakala vishva andara vikhyata
Meaning:O four-armed Mother, renowned throughout the entire world.
Jaga mem papa buddhi jaba hoti Jabahi dharma ki phiki jyoti
Meaning:When sinful thinking arises in the world, and the light of dharma grows dim —
Tabahi matu le nija avatara Papa hina karati mahi tara
Meaning:— then the Mother takes her own incarnation, and freeing it of sin, delivers the earth.
Balmiki ji the hatyara Tava prasada janai samsara
Meaning:Valmiki was a murderer; by your grace the world now knows him —
Ramayana jo rache banai Adi kavi ki padavi pai
Meaning:— for he composed the Ramayana and attained the rank of the first poet (Adi Kavi).
Kalidasa jo bhaye vikhyata Teri kripa drishti se mata
Meaning:Kalidasa became renowned, O Mother, through your gracious glance.
Tulasi sura adi viddhana Bhaye aura jo jnani nana
Meaning:Tulsidas, Surdas and other scholars, and many another wise one, came to be —
Tinhahim na aura raheu avalamba Kevala kripa apaki amba
Meaning:— they had no other support, O Mother Amba, but only your grace.
Karahu kripa soi matu bhavani Dukhita dina nija dasahi jani
Meaning:Show such grace, O Mother Bhavani, knowing your servant to be sorrowful and lowly.
Putra karai aparadha bahuta Tehi na dharai chita sundara mata
Meaning:Though the child commits many a fault, the gracious Mother does not take it to heart.
Rakhu laja janani aba meri Vinaya karum bahu bhamti ghaneri
Meaning:Preserve my honour now, O Mother; in many ways I offer abundant prayer.
Maim anatha teri avalamba Kripa karau jaya jaya jagadamba
Meaning:I am an orphan, you are my support; show grace — victory, victory, O Jagadamba.
Madhu kaitabha jo ati balavana Bahuyuddha vishnu te thana
Meaning:Madhu and Kaitabha, exceedingly mighty, engaged Vishnu in hand-to-hand combat.
Samara hajara pamcha mem ghora Phira bhi mukha unase nahim mora
Meaning:For five thousand years the dreadful battle raged, yet he turned not his face from them.
Matu sahaya bhai tehi kala Buddhi viparita kari khalahala
Meaning:The Mother became his help at that hour, deranging the wits of the wicked pair.
Tehi te mrityu bhai khala keri Puravahu matu manoratha meri
Meaning:By that their death came about; fulfil my heart's desire, O Mother.
Chamda munda jo the vikhyata Chhana mahum samhareu tehi mata
Meaning:Chanda and Munda, who were renowned, the Mother destroyed in an instant.
Raktabija se samaratha papi Sura-muni hridaya dhara saba kampi
Meaning:Raktabija, the mighty sinner, at whom the hearts of gods and sages all trembled —
Kateu sira jima kadali khamba Bara bara binavaum jagadamba
Meaning:— you struck off his head as one fells a plantain trunk; again and again I pray, O Jagadamba.
Jaga prasiddha jo shumbha nishumbha Chhina mem badhe tahi tu amba
Meaning:The world-famed Shumbha and Nishumbha — in a moment you slew them, O Amba.
Bharata-matu budhi phereu jai Ramachamdra banavasa karai
Meaning:You turned the mind of Bharata's mother (Kaikeyi), bringing about Ramachandra's exile to the forest.
Ehi vidhi ravana vadha tuma kinha Sura nara muni saba kahum sukha dinha
Meaning:In this way you brought about Ravana's slaying, giving joy to gods, men and sages alike.
Ko samaratha tava yasha guna gana Nigama anadi anamta bakhana
Meaning:Who is able to sing your glory and virtues? The Vedas proclaim you beginningless and endless.
Vishnu rudra aja sakahim na mari Jinaki ho tuma rakshakari
Meaning:Vishnu, Rudra and Brahma (the unborn) cannot be slain — they whose protector you are.
Rakta dantika aura shatakshi Nama apara hai danava bhakshi
Meaning:Raktadantika and Shatakshi — your names are countless, O devourer of demons.
Durgama kaja dhara para kinha Durga nama sakala jaga linha
Meaning:You accomplished impossible deeds upon the earth; the whole world took up the name 'Durga'.
Durga adi harani tu mata Kripa karahu jaba jaba sukhadata
Meaning:You are the Mother who removes every difficulty (durga); show grace whenever needed, O giver of joy.
Nripa kopita jo marana chahai Kanana mem ghere mriga nahai
Meaning:When an angry king seeks to kill, or one is hemmed in by beasts in the forest —
Sagara madhya pota ke bhamge Ati tuphana nahim kou samge
Meaning:— when a ship breaks in mid-ocean amid a great storm, with no companion near —
Bhuta preta badha ya duhkha mem Ho daridra athava samkata mem
Meaning:— in the affliction of ghosts and spirits, in poverty or in calamity —
Nama jape mamgala saba hoi Samshaya isamem karai na koi
Meaning:— chanting your name, all becomes auspicious; let none harbour any doubt in this.
Putrahina jo atura bhai Sabai chhamड़i pujem ehi mai
Meaning:The sonless one, the anxious one — abandoning all else, let them worship this Mother.
Karai patha nita yaha chalisa Hoya putra sundara guna isa
Meaning:Whoever recites this Chalisa daily obtains a son, beautiful and virtuous as Isha.
Dhupadika naivedya chadhavai Samkata rahita avashya ho javai
Meaning:Offering incense and food-offerings, one surely becomes free of calamity.
Bhakti matu ki karai hamesha Nikata na avai tahi kalesha
Meaning:Whoever ever performs devotion to the Mother — no affliction comes near them.
Bamdi patha karem shata bara Bamdi pasha dura ho sara
Meaning:The prisoner who recites it a hundred times has every bond of captivity loosed.
Karahu kripa bhavamukti bhavani Mo kaham dasa sada nija jani
Meaning:Show grace and grant liberation, O Bhavani, ever knowing me as your own servant.
Mata suraja kanti tava, amdhakara mama rupa Dubana te raksha karahu, parum na maim bhava-kupa
Meaning:O Mother, yours is the radiance of the sun, mine the form of darkness; save me from drowning, that I fall not into the well of existence.
Bala buddhi vidya dehum mohi, sunahu sarasvati matu Adhama ramasagarahim tuma, ashraya deu punatu
Meaning:Grant me strength, intellect and learning; hear me, O Mother Saraswati; O purifier, give shelter to the lowly Ramsagar.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Saraswati Chalisa
Recitation of the Saraswati Chalisa invokes the grace of Goddess Saraswati for knowledge, intellect, memory and eloquence.
Especially beloved by students, scholars, artists and musicians; recited before exams and study.
Most auspicious on Vasant Panchami, the festival of Saraswati, and on Wednesdays.
The Chalisa recalls how her grace made Valmiki the first poet and inspired Kalidasa, Tulsidas and Surdas.
Said to remove dullness of mind, grant clear understanding, and bring success in learning and the arts.
Recited a hundred times, it is said even to loosen the bonds of the captive.
How to Chant Saraswati Chalisa
Sit before an image of Goddess Saraswati, ideally in white, with books or instruments placed before her. Offer white flowers, light a lamp, and recite the opening dohas and the forty chaupais with a calm, focused mind. Students recite it before study and examinations; Vasant Panchami is the most auspicious day.
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Read the full Saraswati Chalisa with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts