The forty verses of Goswami Tulsidas in praise of Lord Hanuman — the most recited Hindu devotional text, sung for strength, courage and protection.
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Opening Doha
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि ।
बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि ॥
shriguru carana saroja raja, nija manu mukuru sudhari
baranaũ raghubara bimala jasu, jo dayaku phala cari
śrīguru carana saroja raja, nija manu mukuru sudhāri
baranaū̃ raghubara bimala jasu, jo dāyaku phala cāri
Cleansing the mirror of my mind with the dust of my Guru's lotus feet, I sing the pure glory of the best of Raghus, which bestows the four fruits of life.
Knowing this body to be without wisdom, I remember the Son of the Wind: grant me strength, intelligence and knowledge, and take away my afflictions and impurities.
Chaupai 1–2
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर । जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर ॥
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा । अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा ॥
jaya hanumana jnana guna sagara, jaya kapisa tihũ loka ujagara
rama duta atulita bala dhama, anjani-putra pavanasuta nama
Victory to Hanuman, ocean of wisdom and virtue; victory to the lord of monkeys, illuminator of the three worlds. Messenger of Rama, abode of matchless strength, known as Anjani's son and the Son of the Wind.
Great hero, mighty as the thunderbolt, remover of wrong thinking, companion of good sense; golden-hued and splendidly adorned, with earrings and curly hair.
The mace and banner shine in his hands, the sacred thread of munja grass adorns his shoulder. Son of Shiva's power, delight of Kesari — his radiance and majesty the whole world reveres.
Chaupai 7–8
बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर । राम काज करिबे को आतुर ॥
प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया । राम लखन सीता मन बसिया ॥
bidyavana guni ati catura, rama kaja karibe ko atura
prabhu caritra sunibe ko rasiya, rama lakhana sita mana basiya
bidyāvāna gunī ati cātura, rāma kāja karibe ko ātura
prabhu caritra sunibe ko rasiyā, rāma lakhana sītā mana basiyā
Learned, virtuous, supremely clever, ever eager to do Rama's work; he delights in hearing the Lord's story, and Rama, Lakshmana and Sita dwell in his heart.
Chaupai 9–10
सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा । बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा ॥
भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे । रामचन्द्र के काज सँवारे ॥
sukshma rupa dhari siyahim dikhava, bikata rupa dhari lanka jarava
bhima rupa dhari asura sã̄hare, ramacandra ke kaja sãvare
Taking a tiny form he appeared to Sita; taking a fearsome form he burned Lanka. In colossal form he destroyed the demons and accomplished Ramachandra's mission.
laya sajivana lakhana jiyaye, shriraghubira harashi ura laye
raghupati kinhi bahuta badai, tuma mama priya bharatahi sama bhai
lāya sajīvana lakhana jiyāye, śrīraghubīra haraṣi ura lāye
raghupati kīnhī bahuta baḍāī, tuma mama priya bharatahi sama bhāī
Bringing the sanjivani herb he revived Lakshmana, and the joyful Lord of Raghus clasped him to his heart, praising him: “You are as dear to me as my brother Bharata.”
“The thousand-mouthed serpent sings your glory,” said the Lord of Shri, embracing him. Sanaka and the sages, Brahma and the great munis, Narada, Saraswati and the king of serpents—
Chaupai 15–16
जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहाँ ते । कबि कोबिद कहि सके कहाँ ते ॥
तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा । राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा ॥
jama kubera digapala jahã te, kabi kobida kahi sake kahã te
tuma upakara sugrivahim kinha, rama milaya raja pada dinha
jama kubera digapāla jahā̃ te, kabi kobida kahi sake kahā̃ te
tuma upakāra sugrīvahiṃ kīnhā, rāma milāya rāja pada dīnhā
—Yama, Kubera and the guardians of the quarters: if they cannot tell your glory, how can poets and scholars? You did Sugriva the great service of bringing him to Rama and restoring his kingship.
Chaupai 17–18
तुम्हरो मन्त्र बिभीषन माना । लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना ॥
जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू । लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू ॥
tumharo mantra bibhishana mana, lankesvara bhae saba jaga jana
juga sahasra jojana para bhanu, lilyo tahi madhura phala janu
tumharo mantra bibhīṣana mānā, laṅkesvara bhae saba jaga jānā
juga sahasra jojana para bhānū, līlyo tāhi madhura phala jānū
Vibhishana heeded your counsel and became lord of Lanka — the whole world knows. The sun, thousands of yojanas away, you swallowed, taking it for a sweet fruit.
With the Lord's ring held in your mouth you leapt across the ocean — no wonder in that. Every difficult task in this world becomes easy by your grace.
Chaupai 21–22
राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे । होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे ॥
सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना । तुम रच्छक काहू को डर ना ॥
rama duare tuma rakhavare, hota na ajna binu paisare
saba sukha lahai tumhari sarana, tuma racchaka kahu ko dara na
rāma duāre tuma rakhavāre, hota na ājñā binu paisāre
saba sukha lahai tumhārī saranā, tuma racchaka kāhū ko ḍara nā
You are the keeper of Rama's door; none enters without your leave. In your refuge one finds every happiness; with you as protector, there is nothing to fear.
Chaupai 23–24
आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै । तीनों लोक हाँक तें काँपै ॥
भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै । महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै ॥
apana teja samharo apai, tinom loka hãka tem kãpai
bhuta pisaca nikata nahim avai, mahabira jaba nama sunavai
You alone can contain your own splendour; the three worlds tremble at your roar. Ghosts and evil spirits cannot come near when the name of the Great Hero is uttered.
Chaupai 25–26
नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा । जपत निरन्तर हनुमत बीरा ॥
संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै । मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै ॥
nasai roga harai saba pira, japata nirantara hanumata bira
sankata tem hanumana chudavai, mana krama bacana dhyana jo lavai
nāsai roga harai saba pīrā, japata nirantara hanumata bīrā
saṅkaṭa teṃ hanumāna chuḍāvai, mana krama bacana dhyāna jo lāvai
Disease is destroyed and all pain removed by constant repetition of brave Hanuman's name. Hanuman frees from distress all who turn to him in thought, deed and word.
Chaupai 27–28
सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा । तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा ॥
और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै । सोइ अमित जीवन फल पावै ॥
saba para rama tapasvi raja, tina ke kaja sakala tuma saja
aura manoratha jo koi lavai, soi amita jivana phala pavai
saba para rāma tapasvī rājā, tina ke kāja sakala tuma sājā
aura manoratha jo koī lāvai, soi amita jīvana phala pāvai
Rama the ascetic king is above all, and you carried out all his work. Whoever brings any heartfelt wish to you receives the boundless fruit of life.
Chaupai 29–30
चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा । है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा ॥
साधु सन्त के तुम रखवारे । असुर निकन्दन राम दुलारे ॥
carom juga paratapa tumhara, hai parasiddha jagata ujiyara
sadhu santa ke tuma rakhavare, asura nikandana rama dulare
cāroṃ juga paratāpa tumhārā, hai parasiddha jagata ujiyārā
sādhu santa ke tuma rakhavāre, asura nikandana rāma dulāre
Your glory shines through all four ages, your light renowned throughout the world. You are the guardian of sadhus and saints, destroyer of demons, beloved of Rama.
Chaupai 31–32
अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता । अस बर दीन जानकी माता ॥
राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा । सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा ॥
ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke data, asa bara dina janaki mata
rama rasayana tumhare pasa, sada raho raghupati ke dasa
aṣṭa siddhi nau nidhi ke dātā, asa bara dīna jānakī mātā
rāma rasāyana tumhare pāsā, sadā raho raghupati ke dāsā
Mother Janaki granted you the boon to bestow the eight siddhis and nine treasures. You hold the elixir of Rama's name — may you remain forever the servant of the Lord of Raghus.
Chaupai 33–34
तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै । जनम-जनम के दुख बिसरावै ॥
अन्तकाल रघुबर पुर जाई । जहाँ जन्म हरि-भक्त कहाई ॥
tumhare bhajana rama ko pavai, janama-janama ke dukha bisaravai
antakala raghubara pura jai, jahã janma hari-bhakta kahai
tumhare bhajana rāma ko pāvai, janama-janama ke dukha bisarāvai
antakāla raghubara pura jāī, jahā̃ janma hari-bhakta kahāī
Through devotion to you one reaches Rama and forgets the sorrows of birth after birth; at the end one goes to Rama's own abode, ever known as the Lord's devotee.
Chaupai 35–36
और देवता चित्त न धरई । हनुमत सेइ सर्ब सुख करई ॥
संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा । जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा ॥
aura devata citta na dharai, hanumata sei sarba sukha karai
sankata katai mitai saba pira, jo sumirai hanumata balabira
aura devatā citta na dharaī, hanumata sei sarba sukha karaī
saṅkaṭa kaṭai miṭai saba pīrā, jo sumirai hanumata balabīrā
Even without holding other deities in mind, serving Hanuman brings every happiness. All distress is cut away and every pain erased for one who remembers the mighty hero Hanuman.
Chaupai 37–38
जै जै जै हनुमान गोसाईं । कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं ॥
जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई । छूटहि बन्दि महा सुख होई ॥
jai jai jai hanumana gosaim, kripa karahu gurudeva ki naim
jo sata bara patha kara koi, chutahi bandi maha sukha hoi
jai jai jai hanumāna gosāīṃ, kṛpā karahu gurudeva kī nāīṃ
jo sata bāra pāṭha kara koī, chūṭahi bandi mahā sukha hoī
Victory, victory, victory to Lord Hanuman! Bestow your grace as a Guru would. Whoever recites this a hundred times is released from bondage and finds great joy.
Chaupai 39–40
जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा । होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा ॥
तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा । कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा ॥
jo yaha padhai hanumana calisa, hoya siddhi sakhi gaurisa
tulasidasa sada hari cera, kijai natha hridaya mahã dera
jo yaha paḍhai hanumāna cālīsā, hoya siddhi sākhī gaurīsā
tulasīdāsa sadā hari cerā, kījai nātha hṛdaya mahã ḍerā
Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa attains fulfilment — Gauri's Lord (Shiva) is witness. Tulsidas, forever the servant of Hari, prays: “O Lord, make your dwelling in my heart.”
Closing Doha
पवनतनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप ।
राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप ॥
pavanatanaya sankata harana, mangala murati rupa
rama lakhana sita sahita, hridaya basahu sura bhupa
Son of the Wind, remover of distress, embodiment of auspiciousness — with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, dwell in my heart, O king of the gods.
When it is recited: Recited on Tuesdays and Saturdays, on Hanuman Jayanti, before journeys and challenges, and daily by millions. Often read 7, 11 or 108 times as a sankalpa.
Traditional significance: Tulsidas condenses Hanuman's whole story — his strength, wisdom, service to Rama, and grace toward devotees — into forty chaupais. Tradition holds that its steady recitation dissolves fear and obstacles, for where Hanuman is remembered, no dark thing remains.
Questions
On which days is the Hanuman Chalisa recited?
Tuesdays and Saturdays are traditional Hanuman days, but the Chalisa is recited daily by millions — morning or evening, ideally after a bath and with a lamp.
What do the “four fruits” in the opening doha mean?
The four aims of life — dharma (righteousness), artha (prosperity), kama (fulfilment of legitimate desire) and moksha (liberation).
Source: Goswami Tulsidas (16th century) — the universally recited text. Regional versions may vary — this text follows the version most widely used in community worship.