श्री काली चालीसा — Word-by-Word Meaning

Hail Kali, remover of the impurities of the dark age, whose glory is unfathomable and boundless! O Kalika, slayer of the buffalo-demon Mahisha, grant me boundless fearlessness. You who destroy the pride and arrogance of the foe; a garland of skulls adorns your neck, O beloved Mother. Eight-armed Mother, giver of joy, renowned throughout the world as the crusher of the wicked. Upon your broad brow a crown shines in beauty; in one hand you hold the severed head of the enemy. In your second hand you hold a cup of wine; in your third hand gleams a spear. In the fourth a skull-bowl, in the fifth a sword; with the trident in the sixth you put the enemy's strength to the test. In your seventh hand glitters the beloved sword; wondrous is your splendour, O Mother. Your eighth hand bestows boons upon your devotees; this form of yours, O Mother, enchants the whole world. O Bhavani, devoted to your devotees, whom the sages, seers and the wise repeat by day and night. Great Power (Mahashakti), most mighty and holy, you alone are Kali and you alone are Sita. Redeemer of the fallen, O sustainer of the world; auspicious Kalyani, destroyer of the whole brood of sinners. Neither Shesha nor Indra, lord of the gods, can find your limit; once you assumed the fair form of Gauri. There is no other giver equal to you; your devotees worship you according to the sacred rites. When you assumed your terrifying form, you crushed the wicked and wrought their utter destruction. Many are your names, O Mother; you ward off every calamity of your devotees. Remover of the troubles and afflictions of the Kali age; releaser from the fear of worldly existence, doer of all that is auspicious. Your glory is unfathomable; the Vedas sing your fame; even Narada and Sharada (Saraswati) cannot reach your far shore. Whenever the burden upon the earth grew heavy, then and again you became manifest, O Mother. Beginning and beginningless, giver of the boon of fearlessness; known throughout the universe as the saviour from the perils of existence. Whoever took your name in a time of distress, to him you ever granted the boon of fearlessness. The Vedas, Shesha and Indra meditate upon you, beholding your guise in the very form of Time (Kala). Kalua and Bhairava are your companions; to destroy the enemy you assume a fearsome form. Your servant Langur (Hanuman) stands ever before you; the sixty-four Yoginis are obedient to your command. In the Treta age you came for the sake of Raghuvara (Rama), and destroyed the army of the ten-headed Ravana. You played the wondrous game of battle, and filled your bowl with flesh and marrow. Beholding your furious form, the demons fled, abandoning their own dwellings in flight. Then such a dark fury rose up in you that you forgot the difference between your own people and strangers. Seeing this, Shankara (Shiva) came and, blocking your path, threw himself down at your feet. Then your tongue shot out from your mouth (in startled shame at treading on Shiva); this is the form, O Mother, that is famed the world over. The buffalo-demon Mahishasura, swollen with great arrogance, tormented every man and woman. You heard the piteous cry of your devotees, to wipe away the suffering of each and every soul. Then you appeared together with your own host; and your name, O Mother, became 'Conqueror of Mahisha'. You slew Shumbha and Nishumbha in an instant; there is no other in the world equal to you. Crusher of the pride of the hosts of the wicked; ever the helper of the devotee in distress. The humble and destitute who serve you daily obtain the cherished fruit of their heart's desire. Those who remember you in calamity, their sufferings, O Mother, you take away. Those who sing your glory with love attain release from the bonds of worldly existence. Those who read the Kali Chalisa ascend to the heavenly realm, free of all bondage. Cast your glance of compassion upon me, O Jagadamba; for what reason, O Mother, do you delay? Protect your devotees, O Mother; victory, victory to Kali, the skeletal one (Kankali)! Your servant is humble, orphaned and helpless; with a heart full of devotion he takes refuge in you. Whoever recites the Kali Chalisa with love, all their desires are fulfilled, and the whole splendour of the world is theirs.