Hanuman Chalisa in English, line by line
The Hanuman Chalisa is a 43-line Awadhi hymn to Hanuman by Goswami Tulsidas: two opening dohas, forty chaupais and a closing doha. Below is the full text in the Gita Press reading, in Devanagari or English letters, with the meaning of every line one tap away. Each line also has its own page, word by word.
The English letters follow the way the Chalisa is sung: the short a at the end of a word is dropped, so जय reads jay and ज्ञान reads jñān.
The full text
Doha 1
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि ।बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि ॥śrīguru caran saroj raj nij manu mukuru sudhāribaranauṁ raghubar bimal jasu jo dāyaku phal cāri
Meaning
With the dust of my guru's lotus feet I polish the mirror of my mind. Then I sing the spotless glory of Rama, best of the Raghus, which gives all four fruits of life: dharma, wealth, fulfilment and freedom.
Doha 2
बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार ।बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार ॥buddhihīn tanu jānike sumirauṁ pavan-kumārbal budhi bidyā dehu mohiṁ harahu kales bikār
Meaning
Knowing myself to be short of understanding, I call to mind Hanuman, son of the Wind. Give me strength, understanding and knowledge, and take away my troubles and my faults.
Chaupai 1
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर ।जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर ॥jay hanumān jñān gun sāgarjay kapīs tihuṁ lok ujāgar
Meaning
Victory to Hanuman, ocean of wisdom and virtue. Victory to the lord of the vanaras, whose glory lights up the three worlds.
Chaupai 2
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा ।अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा ॥rām dūt atulit bal dhāmāañjani-putra pavansut nāmā
Meaning
You are Rama's messenger, the home of strength beyond measure. You are known as Anjani's son and as the son of the Wind.
Chaupai 3
महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी ।कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी ॥mahābīr bikram bajraṅgīkumati nivār sumati ke saṅgī
Meaning
Great hero, valiant, with a body as strong as the thunderbolt, you clear away bad thinking and stay beside good sense.
Chaupai 4
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा ।कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा ॥kañcan baran birāj subesākānan kuṇḍal kuñcit kesā
Meaning
Your colour is gold and your dress is fine. Rings shine in your ears and your hair is curled.
Chaupai 5
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै ।काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै ॥hāth bajra au dhvajā birājaikāṁdhe mūṁj janeū sājai
Meaning
In your hands shine the thunderbolt and the flag. A sacred thread of munja grass sits on your shoulder.
Chaupai 6
संकर सुवन केसरीनंदन ।तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन ॥saṅkar suvan kesarīnandantej pratāp mahā jag bandan
Meaning
You come from Shiva and are the son of Kesari. Your radiance and might are vast, and the whole world bows to you.
Chaupai 7
बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर ।राम काज करिबे को आतुर ॥bidyāvān gunī ati cāturrām kāj karibe ko ātur
Meaning
Learned, full of virtue and very wise, you are always eager to do Rama's work.
Chaupai 8
प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया ।राम लखन सीता मन बसिया ॥prabhu caritra sunibe ko rasiyārām lakhan sītā man basiyā
Meaning
You love to hear the Lord's story. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita live in your heart.
Chaupai 9
सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा ।बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा ॥sūkṣma rūp dhari siyahiṁ dikhāvābikaṭ rūp dhari laṅk jarāvā
Meaning
Taking a tiny form, you showed yourself to Sita. Taking a fearsome form, you set Lanka on fire.
Chaupai 10
भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे ।रामचंद्र के काज सँवारे ॥bhīm rūp dhari asur saṁhārerāmcandra ke kāj saṁvāre
Meaning
Taking a terrible form, you destroyed the asuras and carried Rama's work through.
Chaupai 11
लाय सजीवन लखन जियाये ।श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाये ॥lāy sajīvan lakhan jiyāyeśrī raghubīr harṣi ur lāye
Meaning
You brought the sanjivani herb and revived Lakshmana. Rama, hero of the Raghus, held you to his heart with joy.
Chaupai 12
रघुपति कीन्ही बहुत बड़ाई ।तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई ॥raghupati kīnhī bahut baṛāītum mam priya bharatahi sam bhāī
Meaning
Rama, lord of the Raghus, praised you greatly: "You are as dear to me as my brother Bharata."
Chaupai 13
सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं ।अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं ॥sahas badan tumharo jas gāvaiṁas kahi śrīpati kaṇṭh lagāvaiṁ
Meaning
"May the thousand-mouthed Shesha sing your glory," said Rama, lord of Shri, and he held you close.
Chaupai 14
सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा ।नारद सारद सहित अहीसा ॥sanakādik brahmādi munīsānārad sārad sahit ahīsā
Meaning
Sanaka and his brothers, Brahma and the gods, the great sages, Narada and Saraswati, with Shesha, lord of serpents,
Chaupai 15
जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहाँ ते ।कबि कोबिद कहि सके कहाँ ते ॥jam kuber digpāl jahāṁ tekabi kobid kahi sake kahāṁ te
Meaning
Yama, Kubera and the guardians of the directions cannot tell your glory in full. How could poets and scholars?
Chaupai 16
तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा ।राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा ॥tum upkār sugrīvahiṁ kīnhārām milāy rāj pad dīnhā
Meaning
You did Sugriva a great kindness. You brought him to Rama and gave him back his kingdom.
Chaupai 17
तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषन माना ।लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना ॥tumharo mantra bibhīṣan mānālaṅkesvar bhae sab jag jānā
Meaning
Vibhishana took your counsel and became king of Lanka, as the whole world knows.
Chaupai 18
जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू ।लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू ॥jug sahasra jojan par bhānūlīlyo tāhi madhur phal jānū
Meaning
The sun stood thousands upon thousands of yojanas away, and you swallowed it, taking it for a sweet fruit.
Chaupai 19
प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं ।जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं ॥prabhu mudrikā meli mukh māhīṁjaladhi lāṁghi gaye acaraj nāhīṁ
Meaning
With the Lord's ring in your mouth you leapt over the ocean. That is no wonder.
Chaupai 20
दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते ।सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते ॥durgam kāj jagat ke jetesugam anugrah tumhare tete
Meaning
However many hard tasks there are in the world, your grace makes every one of them easy.
Chaupai 21
राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे ।होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे ॥rām duāre tum rakhvārehot na ājñā binu paisāre
Chaupai 22
सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना ।तुम रच्छक काहू को डर ना ॥sab sukh lahai tumhārī sarnātum racchak kāhū ko ḍar nā
Meaning
Whoever takes refuge in you finds every happiness. With you as protector, there is nothing to fear.
Chaupai 23
आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै ।तीनों लोक हाँक तें काँपै ॥āpan tej samhāro āpaitīnoṁ lok hāṁk teṁ kāṁpai
Meaning
Only you can hold your own power. At your roar the three worlds tremble.
Chaupai 24
भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै ।महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै ॥bhūt pisāc nikaṭ nahiṁ āvaimahābīr jab nām sunāvai
Meaning
Ghosts and evil spirits do not come near when someone speaks the name of the great hero.
Chaupai 25
नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा ।जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा ॥nāsai rog harai sab pīrājapat nirantar hanumat bīrā
Meaning
Illness is destroyed and every pain taken away for one who repeats the name of brave Hanuman without a break.
Chaupai 26
संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै ।मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै ॥saṅkaṭ teṁ hanumān chuṛāvaiman kram bacan dhyān jo lāvai
Meaning
Hanuman frees from trouble whoever keeps him in mind, in thought, in deed and in word.
Chaupai 27
सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा ।तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा ॥sab par rām tapasvī rājātin ke kāj sakal tum sājā
Meaning
Rama, the ascetic king, is above all, and you carried out every one of his tasks.
Chaupai 28
और मनोरथ जो कोइ लावै ।सोइ अमित जीवन फल पावै ॥aur manorath jo koi lāvaisoi amit jīvan phal pāvai
Meaning
Whoever brings you any other wish receives it, and with it the boundless fruit of life.
Chaupai 29
चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा ।है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा ॥cāroṁ jug partāp tumhārāhai parsiddh jagat ujiyārā
Meaning
Your glory runs through all four ages, and its fame lights up the world.
Chaupai 30
साधु संत के तुम रखवारे ।असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे ॥sādhu sant ke tum rakhvāreasur nikandan rām dulāre
Meaning
You protect the good and the saints. You destroy the asuras, and Rama holds you dear.
Chaupai 31
अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता ।अस बर दीन जानकी माता ॥aṣṭ siddhi nau nidhi ke dātāas bar dīn jānakī mātā
Meaning
You can give the eight siddhis and the nine treasures. Mother Janaki gave you this boon.
Chaupai 32
राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा ।सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा ॥rām rasāyan tumhare pāsāsadā raho raghupati ke dāsā
Meaning
You hold the elixir of devotion to Rama, and you remain forever the servant of the lord of the Raghus.
Chaupai 33
तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै ।जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै ॥tumhare bhajan rām ko pāvaijanam janam ke dukh bisarāvai
Meaning
By singing of you a person reaches Rama and leaves behind the sorrows of birth after birth.
Chaupai 34
अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई ।जहाँ जन्म हरि-भक्त कहाई ॥ant kāl raghubar pur jāījahāṁ janma hari-bhakt kahāī
Meaning
At the end that person goes to Rama's abode, and wherever they are born again they are known as a devotee of Hari.
Chaupai 35
और देवता चित्त न धरई ।हनुमत सेइ सर्ब सुख करई ॥aur devtā citt na dharaīhanumat sei sarb sukh karaī
Meaning
Even one who keeps no other deity in mind finds every happiness by serving Hanuman.
Chaupai 36
संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा ।जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा ॥saṅkaṭ kaṭai miṭai sab pīrājo sumirai hanumat balbīrā
Meaning
Troubles are cut away and all pain ends for whoever remembers Hanuman, the strong hero.
Chaupai 37
जै जै जै हनुमान गोसाईं ।कृपा करहु गुरु देव की नाईं ॥jai jai jai hanumān gosāīṁkṛpā karahu guru dev kī nāīṁ
Meaning
Victory, victory, victory to you, Hanuman, my master. Be kind to me as a guru is kind.
Chaupai 38
जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई ।छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई ॥jo sat bār pāṭh kar koīchūṭahi bandi mahā sukh hoī
Meaning
Whoever recites this a hundred times is freed from bondage and finds great joy.
Chaupai 39
जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चलीसा ।होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा ॥jo yah paṛhai hanumān calīsāhoy siddhi sākhī gaurīsā
Meaning
Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa gains fulfilment. Shiva, lord of Gauri, is witness.
Chaupai 40
तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा ।कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा ॥tulsīdās sadā hari cerākījai nāth hṛday mahaṁ ḍerā
Meaning
Tulsidas is forever Hari's servant. Lord, make your home in my heart.
Closing doha
पवनतनय संकट हरन मंगल मूरति रूप ।राम लखन सीता सहित हृदय बसहु सुर भूप ॥pavantanay saṅkaṭ haran maṅgal mūrati rūprām lakhan sītā sahit hṛday basahu sur bhūp
Meaning
Son of the Wind, remover of trouble, whose very form is blessing: king among the gods, live in my heart with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.
Questions people ask
- Who wrote the Hanuman Chalisa?
- Goswami Tulsidas, the poet of the Ramcharitmanas, wrote it in Awadhi. He names himself in the last chaupai: "tulsīdās sadā hari cerā", Tulsidas is forever Hari's servant.
- Why is it called Chalisa?
- Chalisa means "forty". The hymn has forty chaupais, framed by two dohas at the start and one at the end, so 43 units in all. Chaupai 39 calls it "hanumān calīsā" itself.
- What language is the Hanuman Chalisa in?
- Awadhi, the language of the Ayodhya region and of the Ramcharitmanas. It is close to Hindi, which is why Hindi speakers follow most of it, but words like "jasu" (glory) and "cerā" (servant) are Awadhi.
- What is the right way to read the English letters?
- The English letters here follow the way the Chalisa is sung, so the short a at the end of a word is dropped: जय reads "jay", ज्ञान reads "jñān". A long ā is said as in "father", ī as in "machine", ū as in "rule".
- How many times should I recite it?
- Chaupai 38 speaks of reciting it a hundred times. Families commonly recite it once, 7, 11 or 21 times, or 108 times on special days. The page on how many times sets out what the text says and what tradition adds.
- When should I recite it?
- Any time. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the days most families keep for Hanuman, and many recite it in the morning after bathing. Hanuman Jayanti falls on Tuesday, 20 April 2027.
Sources and method
The Awadhi text is Goswami Tulsidas's, in the popular Gita Press, Gorakhpur reading. We checked every line against three Gita Press printings, the mool text of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya's Mahaviri commentary, and Kavita Kosh. Where editions differ, the line's own page says so.
The English and Hindi meanings are Wisdom's own, written to follow the traditional reading, and edited by Ankur Shukla. Ramayana references are to the Ramcharitmanas and the Valmiki Ramayana as numbered in our texts; printed editions can differ by a doha or a verse.