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Saraswati Chalisa

जनक जननि पद्मरज, निज मस्तक पर धारि । बन्दौं मातु सरस्वती, बुद्धि बल दे दातारि ॥

Also known as Jai Shri Sakal Buddhi Balrasi

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

What the Saraswati Chalisa is

The Saraswati Chalisa, printed in Hindi booklets as Shri Saraswati Chalisa or Sharada Chalisa, is a devotional hymn to Saraswati signed by a poet who calls himself Ramsagar. Two opening dohas ask her for intellect and strength, and Chaupai 1 begins 'jaya shri sakala buddhi balarasi', hailing her as a treasury of both. Chaupais 2 to 5 picture her with the vina, riding the swan, four-armed, and taking form whenever dharma grows dim. Chaupais 6 to 10 name the poets she is said to have made: Valmiki, Kalidasa, Tulsi and Sur. After a son's plea to his mother (11 to 14), Chaupais 15 to 29 credit her with the Devi's victories over Madhu and Kaitabha, Chanda and Munda, Raktabija and Shumbha, and with Rama's exile. Chaupais 30 to 38 list the dangers and the rewards the verse speaks of, and the poet signs his name in Chaupai 39 and in the last doha.

Valmiki, Kalidasa and the borrowed voice

Nothing is recorded of Ramsagar beyond his name, which he sets into the second doha, the last chaupai and the closing doha, and the hymn offers no scene of its own composition. Its centre of gravity is a roll call of poets in Chaupais 6 to 10, each of whom, it says, had no support but her grace. The first is Valmiki. In the second sarga of the Bala Kanda, a verse of grief breaks from him unbidden when he sees a hunter kill one of a pair of cranes, and he is troubled that such measured speech came out of him. Brahma then appears and tells him that this speech, the word used is sarasvati, came forth by Brahma's own will, and bids him tell the whole story of Rama. The chalisa reads that moment as Saraswati's gift, and adds that Valmiki earned the title adi kavi, the first poet. Kalidasa follows. Popular legend makes him an unlettered young man married to a learned princess, Vidyottama, who was ashamed of his ignorance; he turned to the goddess in despair, and the poet of Shakuntala emerged. Most tellings name Kali as the goddess who blessed him, which the chalisa does not contradict, since its middle verses treat Saraswati as the one Devi. Tulsidas and Surdas close the list, the two great Hindi poets of Rama and Krishna.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiजनक जननि पद्मरज, निज मस्तक पर धारि । बन्दौं मातु सरस्वती, बुद्धि बल दे दातारि ॥

Tamilஜநக ஜநநி பத்மரஜ, நிஜ மஸ்தக பர தாரி । பந்தௌம் மாது ஸரஸ்வதீ, புத்தி பல தே தாதாரி ॥

Teluguజనక జనని పద్మరజ, నిజ మస్తక పర ధారి । బన్దౌం మాతు సరస్వతీ, బుద్ధి బల దే దాతారి ॥

Kannadaಜನಕ ಜನನಿ ಪದ್ಮರಜ, ನಿಜ ಮಸ್ತಕ ಪರ ಧಾರಿ । ಬನ್ದೌಂ ಮಾತು ಸರಸ್ವತೀ, ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಬಲ ದೇ ದಾತಾರಿ ॥

Malayalamജനക ജനനി പദ്മരജ, നിജ മസ്തക പര ധാരി । ബന്ദൌം മാതു സരസ്വതീ, ബുദ്ധി ബല ദേ ദാതാരി ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationjanaka janani padmaraja, nija mastaka para dhāri | bandauṃ mātu sarasvatī, buddhi bala de dātāri ||

“Placing on my head the dust of the lotus feet of my father and mother, I bow to Mother Saraswati, the giver of intellect and strength.”

जनक: janaka — father
जननि: janani — mother
पद्मरज: padmaraja — dust of the lotus feet
निज: nija — my own
मस्तक: mastaka — head
पर: para — upon
धारि: dhāri — placing
बन्दौं: bandauṃ — I bow to
मातु: mātu — Mother
सरस्वती: sarasvatī — Saraswati
बुद्धि: buddhi — intellect
बल: bala — strength
दे: de — giving
दातारि: dātāri — giver

Saraswati Chalisa lyrics in full

Two opening dohas, 39 chaupais and two closing dohas, in the wording that carries the poet Ramsagar's name.

All 43 verses, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Saraswati Chalisa PDFAll 43 verses with their meanings, in Hindi. Free to print and keep.

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Doha 1

जनक जननि पद्मरज, निज मस्तक पर धारि ।
बन्दौं मातु सरस्वती, बुद्धि बल दे दातारि ॥

Placing on my head the dust of the lotus feet of my father and mother, I bow to Mother Saraswati, the giver of intellect and strength.

Doha 2

पूर्ण जगत में व्याप्त तव, महिमा अमित अनंतु ।
रामसागर के पाप को, मातु तुही अब हन्तु ॥

Your glory fills the whole world, measureless and without end. Mother, you alone now destroy the sins of Ramsagar (the poet).

Chaupai 1

जय श्रीसकल बुद्धि बलरासी ।
जय सर्वज्ञ अमर अविनाशी ॥

Victory to you, treasury of all intellect and strength; victory to the all-knowing, deathless, imperishable one.

Chaupai 2

जय जय जय वीणाकर धारी ।
करती सदा सुहंस सवारी ॥

Victory, victory, victory to her who holds the vina in her hand, who always rides the beautiful swan.

Chaupai 3

रूप चतुर्भुज धारी माता ।
सकल विश्व अन्दर विख्याता ॥

Mother, you bear a four-armed form and are renowned throughout the whole universe.

Chaupai 4

जग में पाप बुद्धि जब होती ।
तबही धर्म की फीकी ज्योति ॥

Whenever sinful thinking arises in the world, the light of dharma grows dim.

Chaupai 5

तबहि मातु का निज अवतारा ।
पाप हीन करती महि तारा ॥

Then the Mother takes form herself, frees the earth of sin and carries it across.

Chaupai 6

बाल्मीकिजी जो थे ज्ञानी ।
तव प्रसाद महिमा जन जानी ॥

Valmiki, who was wise, came to know your glory through your grace.

Chaupai 7

रामायण जो रचे बनाई ।
आदि कवि पदवी को पाई ॥

He who composed the Ramayana gained the title of the first poet.

Chaupai 8

कालिदास जो भये विख्याता ।
तेरी कृपा दृष्टि से माता ॥

Kalidasa, who became famous, did so through your kind glance, Mother.

Chaupai 9

तुलसी सूर आदि विद्वाना ।
भये और जो ज्ञानी नाना ॥

Tulsi, Sur and other learned poets, and the many others who became wise -

Chaupai 10

तिन्ह न और रहेउ अवलम्बा ।
केवल कृपा आपकी अम्बा ॥

- they had no other support; only your grace, Mother.

Chaupai 11

करहु कृपा सोई मातु भवानी ।
दुखित दीन निज दासहि जानी ॥

Mother Bhavani, show me that same grace, knowing me as your own suffering and humble servant.

Chaupai 12

पुत्र करई अपराध बहूता ।
तेहि न धरइ चित सुन्दर माता ॥

A son commits many faults, but a good mother does not keep them in her mind.

Chaupai 13

राखु लाज जननि अब मेरी ।
विनय करुँ भाँति बहुतेरी ॥

Mother, protect my honour now; I entreat you in many ways.

Chaupai 14

मैं अनाथ तेरी अवलंबा ।
कृपा करऊ जय जय जगदंबा ॥

I am without a protector and you are my support; show mercy, victory, victory to the Mother of the world.

Chaupai 15

मधु कैटभ जो अति बलवाना ।
बाहुयुद्ध विष्णु से ठाना ॥

Madhu and Kaitabha, who were very mighty, took up hand-to-hand combat with Vishnu.

Chaupai 16

समर हजार पांच में घोरा ।
फिर भी मुख उनसे नहीं मोरा ॥

Through a terrible battle of five thousand years, still they did not turn their faces away.

Chaupai 17

मातु सहाय कीन्ह तेहि काला ।
बुद्धि विपरीत भई खलहाला ॥

Mother, you gave help at that time, and the minds of the wicked pair were turned against themselves.

Chaupai 18

तेहि ते मृत्यु भई खल केरी ।
पुरवहु मातु मनोरथ मेरी ॥

From that came the death of the wicked ones. Mother, fulfil my wishes too.

Chaupai 19

चण्ड मुण्ड जो थे विख्याता ।
छण महु संहारेउ तेहि माता ॥

Chanda and Munda, who were renowned, you destroyed in a moment, Mother.

Chaupai 20

रक्तबीज से समरथ पापी ।
सुरमुनि हृदय धरा सब काँपी ॥

Before a mighty sinner like Raktabija the gods, the sages and the whole earth trembled.

Chaupai 21

काटेउ सिर जिम कदली खम्बा ।
बार बार बिनऊँ जगदंबा ॥

You cut off his head like a banana stem. Again and again I pray to you, Mother of the world.

Chaupai 22

जगप्रसिद्ध जो शुंभ निशुंभा ।
छण में वधे ताहि तू अम्बा ॥

The world-famous Shumbha and Nishumbha - you slew them in a moment, Mother.

Chaupai 23

भरत-मातु बुद्धि फेरेऊ जाई ।
रामचन्द्र बनवास कराई ॥

You went and turned the mind of Bharata's mother, and so brought about Ramachandra's exile to the forest.

Chaupai 24

एहिविधि रावन वध तू कीन्हा ।
सुर नर मुनि सबको सुख दीन्हा ॥

In this way you brought about the slaying of Ravana and gave happiness to gods, men and sages alike.

Chaupai 25

को समरथ तव यश गुन गाना ।
निगम अनादि अनंत बखाना ॥

Who is able to sing your fame and virtues? The Vedas describe you as without beginning and without end.

Chaupai 26

विष्णु रुद्र अज सकहिं न मारी ।
जिनकी हो तुम रक्षाकारी ॥

Those whom you protect cannot be slain even by Vishnu, Rudra or Brahma.

Chaupai 27

रक्त दन्तिका और शताक्षी ।
नाम अपार है दानव भक्षी ॥

Raktadantika and Shatakshi - your names are countless, O devourer of demons.

Chaupai 28

दुर्गम काज धरा पर कीन्हा ।
दुर्गा नाम सकल जग लीन्हा ॥

You did a hard deed on earth, and so the whole world took up your name Durga.

Chaupai 29

दुर्ग आदि हरनी तू माता ।
कृपा करहु जब जब सुखदाता ॥

Mother, you remove hardship and every other trouble; giver of happiness, show your grace each time we call.

Chaupai 30

नृप कोपित को मारन चाहै ।
कानन में घेरे मृग नाहै ॥

If an angry king seeks to kill someone, or lions surround him in the forest,

Chaupai 31

सागर मध्य पोत के भंजे ।
अति तूफान नहिं कोऊ संगे ॥

if his ship breaks up in mid-ocean in a great storm with no one beside him,

Chaupai 32

भूत प्रेत बाधा या दुःख में ।
हो दरिद्र अथवा संकट में ॥

if he is troubled by ghosts and spirits or by sorrow, or is in poverty or in danger -

Chaupai 33

नाम जपे मंगल सब होई ।
संशय इसमें करइ न कोई ॥

The verse says that by repeating her name all becomes well; let no one doubt this.

Chaupai 34

पुत्रहीन जो आतुर भाई ।
सबै छाँडि पूजें एहि माई ॥

Brother, one who longs for a son and has none should set all else aside and worship this Mother.

Chaupai 35

करै पाठ नित यह चालीसा ।
होय पुत्र सुन्दर गुण ईशा ॥

The verse says that whoever recites this Chalisa daily will have a handsome son, rich in virtues.

Chaupai 36

धूपादिक नैवेद्य चढ़ावै ।
संकट रहित अवश्य हो जावै ॥

The verse says that one who offers incense, food and the like will surely be freed from distress.

Chaupai 37

भक्ति मातु की करैं हमेशा ।
निकट न आवै ताहि कलेशा ॥

The verse says that suffering does not come near those who always worship the Mother with devotion.

Chaupai 38

बंदी पाठ करे सत बारा ।
बंदी पाश दूर हो सारा ॥

The verse says that if a prisoner recites it a hundred times, all the bonds of his captivity are removed.

Chaupai 39

रामसागर बाधि हेतु भवानी ।
कीजै कृपा दास निज जानी ॥

Bhavani, Ramsagar has composed this for you; show him grace, knowing him as your own servant.

Doha 3

मातु सूर्य कान्ति तव, अन्धकार मम रूप ।
डूबन से रक्षा करहु, परूँ न मैं भव कूप ॥

Mother, your radiance is like the sun, and my form is darkness. Save me from drowning, so that I do not fall into the well of worldly existence.

Doha 4

बल बुद्धि विद्या देहु मोहि, सुनहु सरस्वती मातु ।
राम सागर अधम को आश्रय तू ही ददातु ॥

Give me strength, intellect and learning; hear me, Mother Saraswati. May you alone give refuge to the lowly Ramsagar.

The syllable people get wrong

In Chaupai 27, śatākṣī, the hundred-eyed goddess, joins śata, 'hundred', and akṣi, 'eye', so the vowel at the join is long and the kṣ is a single 'ksh' cluster: say 'sha-TAAK-shee', not 'SHA-ta-kshi'.

When the Saraswati Chalisa is chanted

Weekday. Friday

Festival. Vasant Panchami

Questions

Every edition of both wording families of this hymn has 39 chaupais, framed by two dohas at the start and two at the end, 43 lines in all. The title follows the custom of calling such hymns chalisas, from chalis, 'forty', and this one keeps the name although its chaupais stop at 39. No edition supplies a fortieth chaupai, so none is added here, and the poet's signature in Chaupai 39 marks it as the intended close.

Chaupais 15 to 29 follow the Devi Mahatmya. Its first chapter has Vishnu wrestle Madhu and Kaitabha for five thousand years until Mahamaya bewilders them into offering him a boon; Chaupai 17 credits that bewilderment to Saraswati. The names Raktadantika and Shatakshi in Chaupai 27, and the name Durga won by slaying the demon Durgama, come from its eleventh chapter. The chalisa honours Saraswati as the whole Goddess, so every victory is hers.

Chaupai 23 says that she turned the mind of Bharata's mother and so sent Ramachandra into exile, and Chaupai 24 adds that this led to Ravana's death. The idea comes from the Ayodhya Kanda of Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, where the gods, seeing that a crowned Rama would never meet Ravana, ask Sharada to block the coronation. There she turns the mind of the maid Manthara, who then sways Queen Kaikeyi. The chalisa shortens the chain to Kaikeyi herself.

Two wording families circulate. The one printed here, found in Haridwar booklet editions, keeps the poet's name in its closing lines: Chaupai 39 reads 'ramasagara badhi hetu bhavani' and the last doha asks refuge for 'the lowly Ramsagar'. The other family rewrites Chaupai 39 as 'karahu kripa bhavamukti bhavani' and varies many spellings, though it keeps Ramsagar in its last doha. Both have the same 39 chaupais in the same order.

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Saraswati Chalisa

What the Saraswati Chalisa is

Valmiki, Kalidasa and the borrowed voice

The mantra, in six scripts

Saraswati Chalisa lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Saraswati Chalisa is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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