Vishnu Chalisa
Vishnu Chalisa in English · English
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional hymn · Traditional · Medieval / modern devotional era
The Vishnu Chalisa belongs to the beloved 'chalisa' tradition of forty-verse Hindi hymns — the same tradition as the Hanuman Chalisa. It garlands Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the cosmos, recalling how in age after age he descends in many forms to lighten the Earth's burden, destroy evil and rescue his devotees, from Dhruva and Prahlada to Ajamila and the courtesan Ganika.
✦ As told in scripture
The Chalisa itself recounts Vishnu's endless rescues — drawing the Earth from the depths as the Boar, saving the boy Prahlada from his demon father, redeeming even the sinner Ajamila who merely called out the name 'Narayana' at death. Its closing promise is simple and sweet: whoever reads or hears this prayer with devotion gains happiness.
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Complete Text with Meaning
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Vishnu sunie vinaya, sevaka ki chitalaya Kirata kuchha varnana karun, dijai jnana bataya
Meaning:Hear my prayer, O Vishnu, and turn your mind to your servant; I shall sing a little of your glory — grant me, I pray, the wisdom to do so.
Namo vishnu bhagavana kharari Kashta nashavana akhila bihari
Meaning:Salutations to Lord Vishnu, the slayer of Khara (the foe of demons), remover of suffering, who pervades and sports through all the worlds.
Prabala jagata mem shakti tumhari Tribhuvana phaila rahi ujiyari
Meaning:Mighty is your power throughout the world; your radiance has spread across the three realms.
Sundara rupa manohara surata Sarala svabhava mohani murata
Meaning:Beautiful is your form and enchanting your face; gentle your nature and captivating your image.
Tana para pitambara ati sohata Baijanti mala mana mohata
Meaning:Yellow silk (pitambara) shines splendidly upon your body, and the Vaijayanti garland steals the heart.
Shamkha chakra kara gada biraje Dekhata daitya asura dala bhaje
Meaning:Conch, discus and mace gleam in your hands; at the very sight the hosts of demons flee.
Satya dharma mada lobha na gaje Kama krodha mada lobha na chhaje
Meaning:Where there is truth and dharma, pride and greed cannot roar; lust, anger, arrogance and greed find no place.
Santabhakta sajjana manaramjana Danuja asura dushtana dala gamjana
Meaning:You delight the hearts of saints, devotees and the good, and crush the ranks of demons, asuras and the wicked.
Sukha upajaya kashta saba bhamjana Dosha mitaya karata jana sajjana
Meaning:You give rise to joy and shatter every sorrow; you wipe away faults and make people virtuous.
Papa kata bhava sindhu utarana Kashta nashakara bhakta ubarana
Meaning:You cut away sin and ferry souls across the ocean of existence; destroying distress, you save your devotees.
Karata aneka rupa prabhu dharana Kevala apa bhakti ke karana
Meaning:The Lord assumes many and various forms — solely for the sake of his devotees' love.
Dharani dhenu bana tumahim pukara Taba tuma rupa rama ka dhara
Meaning:When the Earth, as a cow, cried out to you, you took the form of Rama;
Bhara utara asura dala mara Ravana adika ko samhara
Meaning:— and lightening her burden, you destroyed the demon hordes and slew Ravana and the rest.
Apa varaha rupa banaya Hiranyaksha ko mara giraya
Meaning:You took the form of the Boar (Varaha) and struck down the demon Hiranyaksha.
Dhara matsya tana sindhu banaya Chaudaha ratanana ko nikalaya
Meaning:Assuming the Fish (Matsya) form you moved through the ocean, and drew out the fourteen jewels.
Amilakha asurana dvanda machaya Rupa mohani apa dikhaya
Meaning:When the demons stirred up endless strife, you displayed the enchanting Mohini form;
Devana ko amrita pana karaya Asurana ko chhabi se bahalaya
Meaning:— you made the gods drink the nectar (amrita), while diverting the demons with your beauty.
Kurma rupa dhara sindhu majhaya Mandrachala giri turata uthaya
Meaning:Taking the Tortoise (Kurma) form you steadied the ocean, instantly bearing up Mount Mandara.
Shamkara ka tuma phanda chhuda़aya Bhasmasura ko rupa dikhaya
Meaning:You freed Shankara from the snare and exposed the demon Bhasmasura;
Vedana ko jaba asura dubaya Kara prabandha unhem dhundhavaya
Meaning:— when the asura had hidden the Vedas in the deep, you contrived to have them found.
Mohita banakara khalahi nachaya Usahi kara se bhasma karaya
Meaning:Becoming enchanting (Mohini), you set the wicked one dancing, and by his own hand reduced him to ashes.
Asura jalamdhara ati baladai Shamkara se una kinha lada़ai
Meaning:The demon Jalandhara, mighty in strength, waged war against Shankara;
Hara para shiva sakala banai Kina sati se chhala khala jai
Meaning:— Shiva was hard-pressed on every side, for the villain had deceived Sati through trickery.
Sumirana kina tumhem shivarani Batalai saba vipata kahani
Meaning:Shiva's queen (Parvati) remembered you and told you the whole tale of the calamity.
Taba tuma bane munishvara jnani Vrinda ki saba surati bhulani
Meaning:Then you became a wise sage and caused Vrinda (Jalandhara's wife) to forget her vigilance;
Dekhata tina danuja shaitani Vrinda aya tumhem lapatani
Meaning:— seeing the demon's three-fold deceit, Vrinda came and clung to you.
Ho sparsha dharma kshati mani Hana asura ura shiva shaitani
Meaning:When she felt her chastity was touched, the demon's power was broken and the villain slain by Shiva.
Tumane dhuru prahalada ubare Hiranakusha adika khala mare
Meaning:You delivered Dhruva and Prahlada, and slew the wicked Hiranyakashipu and his kind.
Ganika aura ajamila tare Bahuta bhakta bhava sindhu utare
Meaning:You redeemed Ganika (the courtesan) and Ajamila, and ferried countless devotees across the sea of existence.
Harahu sakala samtapa hamare Kripa karahu hari sirajana hare
Meaning:Remove all our afflictions; show your grace, O Hari, O creator of all.
Dekhahun maim nija darasha tumhare Dina bandhu bhaktana hitakare
Meaning:Let me behold your own vision, O kinsman of the lowly, O benefactor of devotees.
Chahata apaka sevaka darshana Karahu daya apani madhusudana
Meaning:Your servant longs for your darshan; show your mercy, O Madhusudana.
Janum nahim yogya japa pujana Hoya yajna stuti anumodana
Meaning:I know not the worthy way of chanting and worship; may my praise be accepted as if it were a sacrifice.
Shiladaya santosha sulakshana Vidita nahim vratabodha vilakshana
Meaning:Good conduct, compassion, contentment and noble traits — the secret of vows and knowledge — I do not truly know.
Karahun apaka kisa vidhi pujana Kumati viloka hota dukha bhishana
Meaning:By what method shall I worship you? Beholding my dull wit, dreadful sorrow arises.
Karahun pranama kauna vidhisumirana Kauna bhamti maim karahun samarpana
Meaning:How shall I bow, by what means remember you, in what manner offer myself?
Sura muni karata sada sivakai Harshita rahata parama gati pai
Meaning:Gods and sages ever serve Shiva (and you), and remain joyful, having attained the supreme state.
Dina dukhina para sada sahai Nija jana jana leva apanai
Meaning:You are ever the helper of the poor and suffering; know us as your own and make us yours.
Papa dosha samtapa nashao Bhava bandhana se mukta karao
Meaning:Destroy our sin, faults and affliction, and free us from the bondage of existence.
Suta sampati de sukha upajao Nija charanana ka dasa banao
Meaning:Grant children and prosperity and give rise to happiness; make us the servants of your own feet.
Nigama sada ye vinaya sunavai Padha़ai sunai so jana sukha pavai
Meaning:Thus does Nigam (the devotee/scripture) ever offer this prayer: whoever reads or hears it gains happiness.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Vishnu Chalisa
Daily recitation of the Vishnu Chalisa invokes the grace of Lord Vishnu, the preserver, removing obstacles, sorrow and danger.
It recounts Vishnu's ten incarnations (Dashavatar) — Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Rama, Krishna and more — strengthening faith and devotion.
Said to bring wealth, strength, fame and peace, and to help relieve planetary doshas (Shani, Rahu, Ketu).
Especially powerful on Thursdays (Guruvar) and Ekadashi, the days dedicated to Vishnu.
Calms the mind, dissolves fear, and frees the devotee from the bondage of worldly existence.
A simple, accessible 40-verse hymn that the whole family can recite together.
How to Chant Vishnu Chalisa
After bathing, sit before an image of Vishnu/Narayana wearing clean (ideally yellow) clothes. Light a lamp, offer tulsi leaves and sandal, and recite the opening doha followed by the forty chaupais with devotion. Conclude with 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya' and aarti. Thursday is the most auspicious day.
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Read the full Vishnu Chalisa with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts