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Ganesh Chalisa

श्री गणेश चालीसा

ChalisaGaneshaRamsundar DasHindi

The forty verses in praise of Lord Ganesha — his beautiful form, the story of his birth to Gauri, Shani's glance and the elephant head, and the test of wisdom that made him first among the worshipped.

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Doha

जय गणपति सदगुण सदन, कविवर बदन कृपाल । विघ्न हरण मंगल करण, जय जय गिरिजालाल ॥

jaya ganapati sadguna sadana, kavivara badana kripala vighna harana mamgala karana, jaya jaya girijalala

jaya gaṇapati sadguṇa sadana, kavivara badana kṛpāla vighna haraṇa maṃgala karaṇa, jaya jaya girijālāla

Victory to Ganapati, abode of virtues, gracious lord with the poet's face! Remover of obstacles, maker of auspiciousness — victory, victory to Girija's beloved son!

Chaupai 1–2

जय जय जय गणपति गणराजू । मंगल भरण करण शुभः काजू ॥ जै गजबदन सदन सुखदाता । विश्व विनायका बुद्धि विधाता ॥

jaya jaya jaya ganapati ganaraju mamgala bharana karana shubhah kaju jai gajabadana sadana sukhadata vishva vinayaka buddhi vidhata

jaya jaya jaya gaṇapati gaṇarājū maṃgala bharaṇa karaṇa śubhaḥ kājū jai gajabadana sadana sukhadātā viśva vināyakā buddhi vidhātā

Victory, victory, victory to Ganapati, king of the ganas, filler of auspiciousness, doer of good works! Victory to the elephant-faced, home and giver of happiness — Vinayaka of the universe, ordainer of wisdom.

Chaupai 3–4

वक्र तुण्ड शुची शुण्ड सुहावना । तिलक त्रिपुण्ड भाल मन भावन ॥ राजत मणि मुक्तन उर माला । स्वर्ण मुकुट शिर नयन विशाला ॥

vakra tunda shuci shunda suhavana tilaka tripunda bhala mana bhavana rajata mani muktana ura mala svarna mukuta shira nayana vishala

vakra tuṇḍa śucī śuṇḍa suhāvanā tilaka tripuṇḍa bhāla mana bhāvana rājata maṇi muktana ura mālā svarṇa mukuṭa śira nayana viśālā

The curved trunk, pure and graceful; the threefold tilak on the brow enchants the mind. A garland of gems and pearls shines on his chest; a golden crown on his head, and vast, wide eyes.

Chaupai 5–6

पुस्तक पाणि कुठार त्रिशूलं । मोदक भोग सुगन्धित फूलं ॥ सुन्दर पीताम्बर तन साजित । चरण पादुका मुनि मन राजित ॥

pustaka pani kuthara trishulam modaka bhoga sugandhita phulam sundara pitambara tana sajita carana paduka muni mana rajita

pustaka pāṇi kuṭhāra triśūlaṃ modaka bhoga sugandhita phūlaṃ sundara pītāmbara tana sājita caraṇa pādukā muni mana rājita

Book in hand, with axe and trident; modakas for his feast and fragrant flowers. His body adorned in beautiful yellow silk, his sandalled feet enthroned in the hearts of sages.

Chaupai 7–8

धनि शिव सुवन षडानन भ्राता । गौरी लालन विश्व-विख्याता ॥ ऋद्धि-सिद्धि तव चंवर सुधारे । मुषक वाहन सोहत द्वारे ॥

dhani shiva suvana shadanana bhrata gauri lalana vishva-vikhyata riddhi-siddhi tava camvara sudhare mushaka vahana sohata dvare

dhani śiva suvana ṣaḍānana bhrātā gaurī lālana viśva-vikhyātā ṛddhi-siddhi tava caṃvara sudhāre muṣaka vāhana sohata dvāre

Blessed son of Shiva, brother of the six-faced Kartikeya, Gauri's darling, renowned through the universe. Riddhi and Siddhi wave the chamara beside you, and the mouse, your mount, adorns the door.

Chaupai 9–10

कहौ जन्म शुभ कथा तुम्हारी । अति शुची पावन मंगलकारी ॥ एक समय गिरिराज कुमारी । पुत्र हेतु तप कीन्हा भारी ॥

kahau janma shubha katha tumhari ati shuci pavana mamgalakari eka samaya giriraja kumari putra hetu tapa kinha bhari

kahau janma śubha kathā tumhārī ati śucī pāvana maṃgalakārī eka samaya girirāja kumārī putra hetu tapa kīnhā bhārī

Let me tell the blessed story of your birth — utterly pure, sanctifying, auspicious. Once the mountain-king's daughter performed great tapas for the sake of a son.

Chaupai 11–12

भयो यज्ञ जब पूर्ण अनूपा । तब पहुंच्यो तुम धरी द्विज रूपा ॥ अतिथि जानी के गौरी सुखारी । बहुविधि सेवा करी तुम्हारी ॥

bhayo yajna jaba purna anupa taba pahumcyo tuma dhari dvija rupa atithi jani ke gauri sukhari bahuvidhi seva kari tumhari

bhayo yajña jaba pūrṇa anūpā taba pahuṃcyo tuma dharī dvija rūpā atithi jānī ke gaurī sukhārī bahuvidhi sevā karī tumhārī

When the incomparable yajna was complete, you arrived wearing a brahmin's form. Knowing you as her guest, Gauri rejoiced and served you in every way.

Chaupai 13–14

अति प्रसन्न हवै तुम वर दीन्हा । मातु पुत्र हित जो तप कीन्हा ॥ मिलहि पुत्र तुहि, बुद्धि विशाला । बिना गर्भ धारण यहि काला ॥

ati prasanna havai tuma vara dinha matu putra hita jo tapa kinha milahi putra tuhi, buddhi vishala bina garbha dharana yahi kala

ati prasanna havai tuma vara dīnhā mātu putra hita jo tapa kīnhā milahi putra tuhi, buddhi viśālā binā garbha dhāraṇa yahi kālā

Greatly pleased, you granted the boon: "Mother, for the son you have done tapas for — a son of vast wisdom shall come to you, and in this very age, without bearing him in the womb."

Chaupai 15–16

गणनायक गुण ज्ञान निधाना । पूजित प्रथम रूप भगवाना ॥ अस कही अन्तर्धान रूप हवै । पालना पर बालक स्वरूप हवै ॥

gananayaka guna jnana nidhana pujita prathama rupa bhagavana asa kahi antardhana rupa havai palana para balaka svarupa havai

gaṇanāyaka guṇa jñāna nidhānā pūjita prathama rūpa bhagavānā asa kahī antardhāna rūpa havai pālanā para bālaka svarūpa havai

"Leader of the ganas, treasury of virtue and knowledge, the Lord's form worshipped first of all." So saying, the form vanished — and appeared as an infant upon the cradle.

Chaupai 17–18

बनि शिशु रुदन जबहिं तुम ठाना । लखि मुख सुख नहिं गौरी समाना ॥ सकल मगन, सुखमंगल गावहिं । नाभ ते सुरन, सुमन वर्षावहिं ॥

bani shishu rudana jabahim tuma thana lakhi mukha sukha nahim gauri samana sakala magana, sukhamamgala gavahim nabha te surana, sumana varshavahim

bani śiśu rudana jabahiṃ tuma ṭhānā lakhi mukha sukha nahiṃ gaurī samānā sakala magana, sukhamaṃgala gāvahiṃ nābha te surana, sumana varṣāvahiṃ

The moment you, become a baby, set up your cry, Gauri beheld your face and her joy knew no bounds. All were enraptured, singing songs of happiness, while from the sky the gods rained down flowers.

Chaupai 19–20

शम्भु, उमा, बहुदान लुटावहिं । सुर मुनिजन, सुत देखन आवहिं ॥ लखि अति आनन्द मंगल साजा । देखन भी आये शनि राजा ॥

shambhu, uma, bahudana lutavahim sura munijana, suta dekhana avahim lakhi ati ananda mamgala saja dekhana bhi aye shani raja

śambhu, umā, bahudāna luṭāvahiṃ sura munijana, suta dekhana āvahiṃ lakhi ati ānanda maṃgala sājā dekhana bhī āye śani rājā

Shambhu and Uma showered gifts without measure; gods and sages came to see the son. Seeing the great festival of joy prepared, King Shani too came to look.

Chaupai 21–22

निज अवगुण गुनि शनि मन माहीं । बालक, देखन चाहत नाहीं ॥ गिरिजा कछु मन भेद बढायो । उत्सव मोर, न शनि तुही भायो ॥

nija avaguna guni shani mana mahim balaka, dekhana cahata nahim girija kachu mana bheda badhayo utsava mora, na shani tuhi bhayo

nija avaguṇa guni śani mana māhīṃ bālaka, dekhana cāhata nāhīṃ girijā kachu mana bheda baḍhāyo utsava mora, na śani tuhī bhāyo

Mindful in his heart of his own fateful flaw, Shani did not wish to look upon the child. But Girija took some offence within: "My festival does not please you, Shani?"

Chaupai 23–24

कहत लगे शनि, मन सकुचाई । का करिहौ, शिशु मोहि दिखाई ॥ नहिं विश्वास, उमा उर भयऊ । शनि सों बालक देखन कहयऊ ॥

kahata lage shani, mana sakucai ka karihau, shishu mohi dikhai nahim vishvasa, uma ura bhayau shani som balaka dekhana kahayau

kahata lage śani, mana sakucāī kā karihau, śiśu mohi dikhāī nahiṃ viśvāsa, umā ura bhayaū śani soṃ bālaka dekhana kahayaū

Shani spoke with a hesitant heart: "What will you do, showing the baby to me?" But Uma's heart would not believe him, and she bade Shani look upon the child.

Chaupai 25–26

पदतहिं शनि दृग कोण प्रकाशा । बालक सिर उड़ि गयो अकाशा ॥ गिरिजा गिरी विकल हवै धरणी । सो दुःख दशा गयो नहीं वरणी ॥

padatahim shani driga kona prakasha balaka sira udi gayo akasha girija giri vikala havai dharani so duhkha dasha gayo nahim varani

padatahiṃ śani dṛga koṇa prakāśā bālaka sira uḍi gayo akāśā girijā girī vikala havai dharaṇī so duḥkha daśā gayo nahīṃ varaṇī

The instant the corner of Shani's glance fell, the child's head flew up into the sky. Girija collapsed senseless to the earth — that state of grief cannot be described.

Chaupai 27–28

हाहाकार मच्यौ कैलाशा । शनि कीन्हों लखि सुत को नाशा ॥ तुरत गरुड़ चढ़ि विष्णु सिधायो । काटी चक्र सो गज सिर लाये ॥

hahakara macyau kailasha shani kinhom lakhi suta ko nasha turata garuda cadhi vishnu sidhayo kati cakra so gaja sira laye

hāhākāra macyau kailāśā śani kīnhoṃ lakhi suta ko nāśā turata garuḍa caḍhi viṣṇu sidhāyo kāṭī cakra so gaja sira lāye

A great cry arose on Kailasa at the ruin Shani's glance had brought upon the son. At once Vishnu set out mounted on Garuda, and with his chakra cut and brought an elephant's head.

Chaupai 29–30

बालक के धड़ ऊपर धारयो । प्राण मन्त्र पढ़ि शंकर डारयो ॥ नाम गणेश शम्भु तब कीन्हे । प्रथम पूज्य बुद्धि निधि, वर दीन्हे ॥

balaka ke dhada upara dharayo prana mantra padhi shamkara darayo nama ganesha shambhu taba kinhe prathama pujya buddhi nidhi, vara dinhe

bālaka ke dhaḍa ūpara dhārayo prāṇa mantra paḍhi śaṃkara ḍārayo nāma gaṇeśa śambhu taba kīnhe prathama pūjya buddhi nidhi, vara dīnhe

He set it upon the child's body, and Shankara, reciting the life-mantra, breathed the breath back in. Then Shambhu gave him the name Ganesha, and the boons: first to be worshipped, treasury of wisdom.

Chaupai 31–32

बुद्धि परीक्षा जब शिव कीन्हा । पृथ्वी कर प्रदक्षिणा लीन्हा ॥ चले षडानन, भरमि भुलाई । रचे बैठ तुम बुद्धि उपाई ॥

buddhi pariksha jaba shiva kinha prithvi kara pradakshina linha cale shadanana, bharami bhulai race baitha tuma buddhi upai

buddhi parīkṣā jaba śiva kīnhā pṛthvī kara pradakṣiṇā līnhā cale ṣaḍānana, bharami bhulāī race baiṭha tuma buddhi upāī

When Shiva set the test of wisdom — to circle the whole earth — the six-faced one sped off, lost in the illusion of distance; you sat and devised the way of wisdom.

Chaupai 33–34

चरण मातु-पितु के धर लीन्हें । तिनके सात प्रदक्षिण कीन्हें ॥ धनि गणेश कही शिव हिये हरषे । नभ ते सुरन सुमन बहु बरसे ॥

carana matu-pitu ke dhara linhem tinake sata pradakshina kinhem dhani ganesha kahi shiva hiye harashe nabha te surana sumana bahu barase

caraṇa mātu-pitu ke dhara līnheṃ tinake sāta pradakṣiṇa kīnheṃ dhani gaṇeśa kahī śiva hiye haraṣe nabha te surana sumana bahu barase

You took hold of your mother's and father's feet and walked around them seven times. "Blessed Ganesha!" said Shiva, his heart delighted, and from the sky the gods rained flowers in plenty.

Chaupai 35–36

तुम्हरी महिमा बुद्धि बड़ाई । शेष सहसमुख सके न गाई ॥ मैं मतिहीन मलीन दुखारी । करहूं कौन विधि विनय तुम्हारी ॥

tumhari mahima buddhi badai shesha sahasamukha sake na gai maim matihina malina dukhari karahum kauna vidhi vinaya tumhari

tumharī mahimā buddhi baḍāī śeṣa sahasamukha sake na gāī maiṃ matihīna malīna dukhārī karahūṃ kauna vidhi vinaya tumhārī

Your glory and the greatness of your wisdom even Shesha with his thousand mouths cannot sing. I, dull of mind, impure and sorrowing — in what manner shall I offer you my prayer?

Chaupai 37–38

भजत रामसुन्दर प्रभुदासा । जग प्रयाग, ककरा, दुर्वासा ॥ अब प्रभु दया दीना पर कीजै । अपनी शक्ति भक्ति कुछ दीजै ॥

bhajata ramasundara prabhudasa jaga prayaga, kakara, durvasa aba prabhu daya dina para kijai apani shakti bhakti kuchu dijai

bhajata rāmasundara prabhudāsā jaga prayāga, kakarā, durvāsā aba prabhu dayā dīnā para kījai apanī śakti bhakti kuchu dījai

So sings Ramsundar, the Lord's servant, at Prayag in Kakra, by Durvasa's seat. Now, Lord, show mercy upon the lowly — grant some measure of your power and your devotion.

Doha

श्री गणेश यह चालीसा, पाठ करै कर ध्यान । नित नव मंगल गृह बसै, लहे जगत सन्मान ॥ सम्बन्ध अपने सहस्र दश, ऋषि पंचमी दिनेश । पूरण चालीसा भयो, मंगल मूर्ती गणेश ॥

shri ganesha yaha calisa, patha karai kara dhyana nita nava mamgala griha basai, lahe jagata sanmana sambandha apane sahasra dasha, rishi pamcami dinesha purana calisa bhayo, mamgala murti ganesha

śrī gaṇeśa yaha cālīsā, pāṭha karai kara dhyāna nita nava maṃgala gṛha basai, lahe jagata sanmāna sambandha apane sahasra daśa, ṛṣi paṃcamī dineśa pūraṇa cālīsā bhayo, maṃgala mūrtī gaṇeśa

Whoever recites this Ganesh Chalisa with attentive mind — ever-new auspiciousness will dwell in their home, and they will win the world's regard. In Samvat one thousand and ten, on the day of Rishi Panchami, this Chalisa of Ganesha, the embodiment of auspiciousness, was completed.

When it is recited: Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankashti Chaturthi, Wednesdays, and at the start of any new venture — recited before undertakings to remove obstacles.

Traditional significance: The Chalisa tells Ganesha's whole story in singable verse: born to Gauri after great tapas, beheaded by Shani's reluctant glance, restored with the elephant's head by Shiva, and crowned first-worshipped (prathama pujya) after winning the race around the world by circling his parents — wisdom outrunning speed.

Related

Ganesha Ganesha Ashtottara Shatanamavali Jai Ganesh Deva (Ganesh Aarti)Ganesh Mantras Ganesha Pancharatnam

Source: Traditional — widely printed version attributed to Ramsundar Das; text as supplied by the temple community (2026). Regional versions may vary — this text follows the version most widely used in community worship.