Krishna Chalisa

(English translation in bold italics)

Jai Sri Krishna
Glory to you, O Lord Krishna!
Bansi shobhit kar madhur, neel jalaj tanu shyam.
The sweet sounding flute embellishes your hands,your body dark of hue is like the blue lotus.
Arun adhar janu bimba phal, nayan kamal abhiraam.
Your crimson lips are like the bimba fruit,
and your eyes are like the pleasing lotuses.
Puran indu Arvind mukha, pitaambar suchi saaj.
Your face is like a fresh- blossoming lotus and radiating like the full moon, and you are beautifully attired in your yellow silken costume.
Jai Man Mohan Madan chhavi, Shree Krishnachandra Maharaj.
Jai Man-Mohan Madan-(Mohan), Sri Krishnachandra Maharaj ki jai
Jai jai Yadunandan jag vandan, Jai Vasudev Devki nandan.
Glory, glory to the son of the Yadav race, glory to one who is universally adored; glory to the son of Vasudeva and Devaki.
Jai Yashoda sut Nanda dulaare, Jai prabhu bhaktan ke rakhavaare.
Glory to the beloved son of Yashoda and Nanda, glory to you,O Lord, the protector of your devotees.
Jai Natanaagar Naag nathaiyaa, Krishna Kanhaiya dhenu charaiya.
Glory to the most accomplished player, the subduer of the Naag (cobra snake, you are indeed Kanhaiya, the cowherd.
Puni nakh par Prabhu girivar dhaaro, Aavo deenan-kasht nivaaro.
O Lord! You uplifted the Govardhan mountain on the nail of your small finger, Pray come and free the helpless from their distress.
Bansi madhur adhar-dhari tero, Hove puran manorath mero.
O Lord, you have the sweet flute touching
your lips, Pray fulfil our wishes.
Aao Hari puni maakhan khaao, aaj laaj bhaktan ki raakho.
Come again, O Lord to eat makkhan (cream),
And protect your devotee’s honour this day.
Gol kapol chibuk arunaare, mridu muskaan mohini daare.
With reddish chubby cheeks, Your smile
is gentle (soft and sweet) and bewitching.
Raajit Raajiv nayan vishaalaa, mor mukut vaijayantimaalaa.
You have large lotus-like eyes, you wear crown adorned with peacock feather and you wear Vaijayanti garland.
Kundal shravan peet pat aache, kati kinkini kaachhani kaachhe.
Your ears are elegantly adorned with gold ear-rings, while the trinkets on your corset and the lovely kachani are looking graceful.
Neel jalaj sundar tan sohe, chhavi lakhi sur nar muni mana mohai.
Gods and humans and sages are entranced at the sight of your beautiful and magnificent body which is like the blue lotus.
Mastak tilak alak ghunghraale, Aao Shyaam bansuri vaale.
Your forehead is decorated with tilak with lovely braided hair on your head ; Please come, O Shyam, the flute player.
Kari pai paan putanaahin taaryo, Akaa-Bakaa Kaagaasur maaryo.
You liberated the demoness Putana when as a baby, you sucked the dreadful breast of Putana drawing out poison along with her life. Also you killed many a demons like Akaasur, Bakaasur and Kagaasur.
Madhuvan jalat agin jab jvaala, bhei sheetal lakhatahin Nandalala.
When wild fire broke out in the forest Madhuvan, Nandalala swallowed up
that fierce conflagaration and restored the cool
Jab surpati Brij chadhyo risaai, Musardhaar baari barsaai.
The ruler of gods, Indra, was angered, and Indra produced over Vraj a deluge causing the rains to come down in torrents of cataclysmic and violent downpour.
Lakhat lakhat Brij chahat bahaayo, Govardhan nakh dhari bachaayo.
When entire Vraj was being drowned, the Lord saved Vraj by uprooting with one hand Mount Govardhan and sheltering Vraj under it.
Lakhi Yashodaa mana bhram adhikaai, Mukh mahan chaudah bhuvan dikhaai.
For removing doubts in mother Yashoda's mind, you
displayed, within your mouth, the fourteen spheres.
Dusht Kansa ati udham machaayo, Koti kamal kahan phul mangaayo.
When wicked Kansa was causing great havoc, and demanded that a crore of lotus flowers be sent to him.
Naathi kaaliyahin ko tum linhyo, Charan chinh dai nirbhay kinho.
By overpowering and subduing Kaliya, you provided safety for all.
Kari gopin sang raas bilaasa, sab ki pur kari abhilashaa.
You fulfilled the desires of all the Gopis by playing Raas with them.
Aganit mahaa asur sanhaaryo, Kansahi kesh pakada dai maaryo.
You eliminated innumerable powerful demons, and with Kansa, grasping him tightly by the hair, you dragged him hard and killed him.
Maatu pitaa ki bandi chhudaayo, Ugrasen kahan raaj dilaayo.
Having secured the release of his mother and father from bondage, you restored to Ugrasen his lost kingdom.
Mahi se mritak chhaho sut laayo, Matu Devaki shok mitaayo.
You brought back the six dead sons of Devaki from the underworld and freed her from grief.
Narkaasur mura khal sanhaari, Laaye shatdash sahas kumaari.
You killed the demon Narkasur and also the demon Mura; and freed sixteen thousand maidens who were kept in bondage by Narkasur.
Dai Bhima trin chir ishaaraa, Jaraasandh raakshas kahan maaraa
By a cryptic signal by splitting a twig you instructed Bhima as to how Jarasandha can be slain.
Asur vrikaasur aadik maaryo, Nij bhaktan kar kasht nivaaryo.
By killing many demons like Vrikaasur, you eased the distress of your devotees.
Deen Sudaamaa ke dukh taaryo, Tandul teen muthi mukh daaryo.
You removed poor Sudama's poverty, and you ate with relish three handfuls of beaten rice.
Duryodhan ke tyaagyo mevaa, Kiyo Vidur ghar shaak kalevaa.
You ate simple vegetables at the house of devotees like Vidur in preference to the rich fare at Duryodhan's palace.
Lakhi prem tuhin mahimaa bhaari, Naumi Shyam deenan hitkaari.
O Shyama! O compassionate to the poor! Having witnessed your abounding grace and glory, I bow to you.
Bhaarat mein paarath-rath haanke, Liye chakra kar nahin bal thaake.
You drove chariot during the battle of Mahabharata; you remained unwearied with the discus in your hand.
Nij Gitaa ke gyaan sunaaye, bhaktan hriday sudhaa sarsaaye.
You communicated the wisdom of the Gita and let the hearts of your devotees abound with the nectar of love.
Meera aisi matvaali, vish pi gayi bajaakar taali
Mira, your devotee, was so totally engrossed with unbounded devotion to you, that brimming with joy she even drank poison
Raanaa bhejaa saamp pitaari, shaaligraam bane banvaari.
When O Banavaari, the Rana sent a basket containing a snake, you assumed the form of a Shaligram stone.
Nij maayaa tum vidhihin dikhaayo, ura te sanshay sakal mitaayo
By revealing your illusory powers to Brahma, you dispelled all his misgivings.
Tav shatnindaa kari tatkaalaa, jivan mukt bhayo shishupaalaa.
When Shishupala reviled you, you terminated his life.
Jabahin Draupadi ter lagaai, Deenaanaath laaj ab jaai.
When Draupadi sought your help by pleading, 'O Lord of the distressed! My honour is at stake!'
Turata hi basan bane Nandlala, badhyo chir bhe ari mukh kaalaa.
O Nandalala! You instantly supplied cloth, and the assembly members became ashen faced with disbelief.
Asa anaatha ke naath Kanhaiyaa, dubat bhanvar bachaavahi naiya
You are, O Kanhaiya, so great a guardian of the helpless orphan that you rescue every sinking boat from the whirlpool of life.
Sundardaas vaas Durvaasaa, karat vinay Prabhu pujahu aasaa
O Lord! Sundardas, an inmate of the hermitage of Durvasa, beseeches You to grant his wishes.
Naath sakal ur kumati nivaaro, chhamo vegi apraadh hamaaro.
O Lord! Dispel all ignorance from his heart and forgive him his faults.
Kholo pat ab darshan deeje, Bolo Krishna Kanhaiya ki jai
May you reveal yourself to him by opening the door of his heart. May we all sing 'Victory, victory to you, Lord Krishna, glory to Kanhaiya!'

Doha
Krishna chandra ke naam Se, hot praphullit gaay,
tan ghaatak paatak tarat, rog duri hoy jaay.
Chaalisaa jo nit padhai, Kathin kasht kati jaai,
dhan jan bal vidyaa badhaai, nit nar sukh sarsai.
Yah chalisa Krishna ka, path kare ur dhaari,
asht siddhi nav niddhi phal, lahe padaarath chaari.

Whoever with cheerfulness sings this song will have his (or her) three types of troubles removed and will be freed from sins and diseases.

Those who recite this Krishna Chalisa with faith and devotion can acquire eight siddhis (supernatural powers through Yoga, viz., anima, mahima, garima, laghima, prapti, prakamya, ishitva and vashitva) and the nine types of treasures.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay