The forty verses in praise of Mahalakshmi — daughter of the ocean of milk, Vishnu's eternal companion through every avatara, and the Mother who removes poverty, sorrow and the three afflictions.
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Doha
मातु लक्ष्मी करि कृपा, करो हृदय में वास ।
मनोकामना सिद्ध करि, परुवहु मेरी आस ॥
matu lakshmi kari kripa, karo hridaya mem vasa
manokamana siddha kari, paruvahu meri asa
mātu lakṣmī kari kṛpā, karo hṛdaya meṃ vāsa
manokāmanā siddha kari, paruvahu merī āsa
Mother Lakshmi, show your grace and make your dwelling in my heart; fulfil the heart's desires and answer my hope.
Soratha
यही मोर अरदास, हाथ जोड़ विनती करुं ।
सब विधि करौ सुवास, जय जननि जगदम्बिका ॥
yahi mora aradasa, hatha joda vinati karum
saba vidhi karau suvasa, jaya janani jagadambika
yahī mora aradāsa, hātha joḍa vinatī karuṃ
saba vidhi karau suvāsa, jaya janani jagadambikā
This alone is my petition, made with folded hands: dwell graciously with me in every way — victory, O Mother Jagadambika!
Chaupai 1–2
सिन्धु सुता मैं सुमिरौ तोही ।
ज्ञान, बुद्धि, विद्या दो मोही ॥
तुम समान नहिं कोई उपकारी ।
सब विधि पुरवहु आस हमारी ॥
sindhu suta maim sumirau tohi
jnana, buddhi, vidya do mohi
tuma samana nahim koi upakari
saba vidhi puravahu asa hamari
sindhu sutā maiṃ sumirau tohī
jñāna, buddhi, vidyā do mohī
tuma samāna nahiṃ koī upakārī
saba vidhi puravahu āsa hamārī
Daughter of the ocean, I remember you: grant me knowledge, wisdom and learning. There is no benefactor like you — fulfil our hopes in every way.
Chaupai 3–4
जय जय जगत जननि जगदम्बा ।
सबकी तुम ही हो अवलम्बा ॥
तुम ही हो सब घट घट वासी ।
विनती यही हमारी खासी ॥
jaya jaya jagata janani jagadamba
sabaki tuma hi ho avalamba
tuma hi ho saba ghata ghata vasi
vinati yahi hamari khasi
jaya jaya jagata janani jagadambā
sabakī tuma hī ho avalambā
tuma hī ho saba ghaṭa ghaṭa vāsī
vinatī yahī hamārī khāsī
Victory, victory, Mother of the world, Jagadamba — you alone are the support of all. You alone dwell in every heart; this is our one special prayer.
Chaupai 5–6
जगजननी जय सिन्धु कुमारी ।
दीनन की तुम हो हितकारी ॥
विनवौं नित्य तुमहिं महारानी ।
कृपा करौ जग जननि भवानी ॥
jagajanani jaya sindhu kumari
dinana ki tuma ho hitakari
vinavaum nitya tumahim maharani
kripa karau jaga janani bhavani
Mother of the world, victory, daughter of the sea — you are the well-wisher of the lowly. Daily I beseech you, great Queen: show grace, Mother of the world, Bhavani.
In what manner shall I sing your praise? Take thought of me, forgetting my faults. Cast your glance of grace my way — Mother of the world, hear my plea.
Chaupai 9–10
ज्ञान बुद्धि जय सुख की दाता ।
संकट हरो हमारी माता ॥
क्षीरसिन्धु जब विष्णु मथायो ।
चौदह रत्न सिन्धु में पायो ॥
jnana buddhi jaya sukha ki data
samkata haro hamari mata
kshirasindhu jaba vishnu mathayo
caudaha ratna sindhu mem payo
Victory, giver of knowledge, wisdom and joy — remove our troubles, our Mother! When Vishnu had the ocean of milk churned, fourteen jewels were found within it.
Chaupai 11–12
चौदह रत्न में तुम सुखरासी ।
सेवा कियो प्रभु बनि दासी ॥
जब जब जन्म जहां प्रभु लीन्हा ।
रुप बदल तहं सेवा कीन्हा ॥
caudaha ratna mem tuma sukharasi
seva kiyo prabhu bani dasi
jaba jaba janma jaham prabhu linha
rupa badala taham seva kinha
Among the fourteen jewels you arose, treasure of joy, and served the Lord as his devoted handmaid. Whenever and wherever the Lord took birth, changing your form you served him there.
Chaupai 13–14
स्वयं विष्णु जब नर तनु धारा ।
लीन्हेउ अवधपुरी अवतारा ॥
तब तुम प्रगट जनकपुर माहीं ।
सेवा कियो हृदय पुलकाहीं ॥
svayam vishnu jaba nara tanu dhara
linheu avadhapuri avatara
taba tuma pragata janakapura mahim
seva kiyo hridaya pulakahim
When Vishnu himself took a human body and descended in the city of Awadh, then you appeared in Janakpur, and served him with a thrilling heart.
Chaupai 15–16
अपनाया तोहि अन्तर्यामी ।
विश्व विदित त्रिभुवन की स्वामी ॥
तुम सम प्रबल शक्ति नहीं आनी ।
कहं लौ महिमा कहौं बखानी ॥
apanaya tohi antaryami
vishva vidita tribhuvana ki svami
tuma sama prabala shakti nahim ani
kaham lau mahima kahaum bakhani
apanāyā tohi antaryāmī
viśva vidita tribhuvana kī svāmī
tuma sama prabala śakti nahīṃ ānī
kahaṃ lau mahimā kahauṃ bakhānī
The indwelling Lord made you his own — known to all the world, sovereign of the three realms. No power as mighty as you has ever come; how far could I recount your glory?
Chaupai 17–18
मन क्रम वचन करै सेवकाई ।
मन इच्छित वाञ्छित फल पाई ॥
तजि छल कपट और चतुराई ।
पूजहिं विविध भाँति मनलाई ॥
mana krama vacana karai sevakai
mana icchita vanchita phala pai
taji chala kapata aura caturai
pujahim vividha bhamti manalai
mana krama vacana karai sevakāī
mana icchita vāñchita phala pāī
taji chala kapaṭa aura caturāī
pūjahiṃ vividha bhāṃti manalāī
Whoever serves you in thought, deed and word gains the fruit the heart desires and longs for. Abandoning deceit, guile and cleverness, they worship you in many ways with an attentive mind.
Chaupai 19–20
और हाल मैं कहौं बुझाई ।
जो यह पाठ करै मन लाई ॥
ताको कोई कष्ट नोई ।
मन इच्छित पावै फल सोई ॥
aura hala maim kahaum bujhai
jo yaha patha karai mana lai
tako koi kashta noi
mana icchita pavai phala soi
aura hāla maiṃ kahauṃ bujhāī
jo yaha pāṭha karai mana lāī
tāko koī kaṣṭa noī
mana icchita pāvai phala soī
And let me explain the further state: whoever recites this text with an attentive mind, no affliction shall touch them — they gain the very fruit the heart desires.
Chaupai 21–22
त्राहि त्राहि जय दुःख निवारिणि ।
त्रिविध ताप भव बन्धन हारिणी ॥
जो चालीसा पढ़ै पढ़ावै ।
ध्यान लगाकर सुनै सुनावै ॥
trahi trahi jaya duhkha nivarini
trividha tapa bhava bandhana harini
jo calisa padhai padhavai
dhyana lagakara sunai sunavai
Save us, save us! Victory, remover of sorrow, who takes away the threefold affliction and the bonds of worldly existence. Whoever reads or teaches this Chalisa, hears it or recites it with attention —
Chaupai 23–24
ताकौ कोई न रोग सतावै ।
पुत्र आदि धन सम्पत्ति पावै ॥
पुत्रहीन अरु सम्पति हीना ।
अन्ध बधिर कोढ़ी अति दीना ॥
takau koi na roga satavai
putra adi dhana sampatti pavai
putrahina aru sampati hina
andha badhira kodhi ati dina
tākau koī na roga satāvai
putra ādi dhana sampatti pāvai
putrahīna aru sampati hīnā
andha badhira koḍhī ati dīnā
no disease shall torment them; they gain children, wealth and property. The childless and the destitute, the blind, the deaf, the leprous and the utterly wretched —
Chaupai 25–26
विप्र बोलाय कै पाठ करावै ।
शंका दिल में कभी न लावै ॥
पाठ करावै दिन चालीसा ।
ता पर कृपा करैं गौरीसा ॥
vipra bolaya kai patha karavai
shamka dila mem kabhi na lavai
patha karavai dina calisa
ta para kripa karaim gaurisa
vipra bolāya kai pāṭha karāvai
śaṃkā dila meṃ kabhī na lāvai
pāṭha karāvai dina cālīsā
tā para kṛpā karaiṃ gaurīsā
let them invite a brahmin and have the text recited, never allowing doubt into the heart; let them have it recited for forty days, and Gaurisha himself will show them grace.
Chaupai 27–28
सुख सम्पत्ति बहुत सी पावै ।
कमी नहीं काहू की आवै ॥
बारह मास करै जो पूजा ।
तेहि सम धन्य और नहिं दूजा ॥
sukha sampatti bahuta si pavai
kami nahim kahu ki avai
baraha masa karai jo puja
tehi sama dhanya aura nahim duja
They gain happiness and abundant wealth, and want of nothing ever comes to them. Whoever performs the worship through all twelve months — there is no one else so blessed.
Chaupai 29–30
प्रतिदिन पाठ करै मन माही ।
उन सम कोइ जग में कहुं नाहीं ॥
बहुविधि क्या मैं करौं बड़ाई ।
लेय परीक्षा ध्यान लगाई ॥
pratidina patha karai mana mahi
una sama koi jaga mem kahum nahim
bahuvidhi kya maim karaum badai
leya pariksha dhyana lagai
pratidina pāṭha karai mana māhī
una sama koi jaga meṃ kahuṃ nāhīṃ
bahuvidhi kyā maiṃ karauṃ baḍāī
leya parīkṣā dhyāna lagāī
Whoever recites it daily within the heart — there is none like them anywhere in the world. How much praise can I heap in how many ways? Put it to the test yourself, with attention.
Chaupai 31–32
करि विश्वास करै व्रत नेमा ।
होय सिद्ध उपजै उर प्रेमा ॥
जय जय जय लक्ष्मी भवानी ।
सब में व्यापित हो गुण खानी ॥
kari vishvasa karai vrata nema
hoya siddha upajai ura prema
jaya jaya jaya lakshmi bhavani
saba mem vyapita ho guna khani
kari viśvāsa karai vrata nemā
hoya siddha upajai ura premā
jaya jaya jaya lakṣmī bhavānī
saba meṃ vyāpita ho guṇa khānī
Keep the vow and discipline with faith: it bears fruit, and love springs up in the heart. Victory, victory, victory, Lakshmi Bhavani — pervading all, O mine of virtues!
Your radiance is mighty throughout the world; nowhere is there one as merciful as you. Take thought now of me, an orphan — cut away my troubles and grant me devotion.
Chaupai 35–36
भूल चूक करि क्षमा हमारी ।
दर्शन दजै दशा निहारी ॥
बिन दर्शन व्याकुल अधिकारी ।
तुमहि अछत दुःख सहते भारी ॥
bhula cuka kari kshama hamari
darshana dajai dasha nihari
bina darshana vyakula adhikari
tumahi achata duhkha sahate bhari
bhūla cūka kari kṣamā hamārī
darśana dajai daśā nihārī
bina darśana vyākula adhikārī
tumahi achata duḥkha sahate bhārī
Forgive our slips and errors; behold our condition and grant your darshan. Without your sight your own people are restless — though you exist, they endure heavy sorrow.
Chaupai 37–38
नहिं मोहिं ज्ञान बुद्धि है तन में ।
सब जानत हो अपने मन में ॥
रुप चतुर्भुज करके धारण ।
कष्ट मोर अब करहु निवारण ॥
nahim mohim jnana buddhi hai tana mem
saba janata ho apane mana mem
rupa caturbhuja karake dharana
kashta mora aba karahu nivarana
nahiṃ mohiṃ jñāna buddhi hai tana meṃ
saba jānata ho apane mana meṃ
rupa caturbhuja karake dhāraṇa
kaṣṭa mora aba karahu nivāraṇa
There is no knowledge or wisdom in this body of mine — you know it all within your own mind. Assuming your four-armed form, remove my afflictions now.
Chaupai 39
केहि प्रकार मैं करौं बड़ाई ।
ज्ञान बुद्धि मोहि नहिं अधिकाई ॥
In what way shall I sing your greatness? I have no abundance of knowledge or wisdom.
Doha
त्राहि त्राहि दुःख हारिणी, हरो वेगि सब त्रास ।
जयति जयति जय लक्ष्मी, करो शत्रु को नाश ॥
रामदास धरि ध्यान नित, विनय करत कर जोर ।
मातु लक्ष्मी दास पर, करहु दया की कोर ॥
trahi trahi duhkha harini, haro vegi saba trasa
jayati jayati jaya lakshmi, karo shatru ko nasha
ramadasa dhari dhyana nita, vinaya karata kara jora
matu lakshmi dasa para, karahu daya ki kora
trāhi trāhi duḥkha hāriṇī, haro vegi saba trāsa
jayati jayati jaya lakṣmī, karo śatru ko nāśa
rāmadāsa dhari dhyāna nita, vinaya karata kara jora
mātu lakṣmī dāsa para, karahu dayā kī kora
Save us, save us, remover of sorrow — swiftly take away all fear; victory, victory, victory Lakshmi, destroy the enemy! Ramdas, holding you daily in meditation, pleads with folded hands: Mother Lakshmi, cast the corner of your merciful glance upon your servant.
When it is recited: Fridays, Diwali and Sharad Purnima, Varalakshmi Vratam, and as a daily recitation for prosperity and the removal of hardship in the home.
Traditional significance: The Chalisa remembers Lakshmi rising among the fourteen jewels when the ocean of milk was churned, following her Lord in every descent — appearing in Janakpur when Vishnu took birth in Awadh — and promises that whoever recites the forty verses with faith finds sorrow lifted, wants met and devotion awakened.
Source: Traditional — widely printed version attributed to Ramdas; text as supplied by the temple community (2026). Regional versions may vary — this text follows the version most widely used in community worship.