खाटू श्याम चालीसा

श्री गुरु चरण ध्यान धर, सुमिरि सच्चिदानन्द।

śrī guru caraṇa dhyāna dhara, sumiri saccidānanda|

Fixing my mind on the feet of the holy Guru and calling Sacchidananda to mind,

श्याम चालीसा भणत हूँ, रच चौपाई छंद॥

śyāma cālīsā bhaṇata hū~, raca caupāī chaṃda||

I recite the Shyam Chalisa, setting it in the chaupai metre.

श्याम श्याम भजि बारम्बारा, सहज ही हो भवसागर पारा।

śyāma śyāma bhaji bārambārā, sahaja hī ho bhavasāgara pārā|

Chant Shyam, Shyam again and again, and the ocean of existence is crossed with ease.

इन सम देव न दूजा कोई, दीन दयालु न दाता होई।

ina sama deva na dūjā koī, dīna dayālu na dātā hoī|

No other god is his equal: none so merciful to the humble, none so generous a giver.

भीमसुपुत्र अहिलवती जाया, कहीं भीम का पौत्र कहाया।

bhīmasuputra ahilavatī jāyā, kahīṃ bhīma kā pautra kahāyā|

Born of Ahilavati in Bhima's line; in some tellings he is called Bhima's grandson.

यह सब कथा सही कल्पान्तर, तनिक न मानों इसमें अन्तर।

yaha saba kathā sahī kalpāntara, tanika na mānoṃ isameṃ antara|

Both accounts hold true, each in its own age — do not take them to differ in the least.

बर्बरीक विष्णु अवतारा, भक्तन हेतु मनुज तनु धारा।

barbarīka viṣṇu avatārā, bhaktana hetu manuja tanu dhārā|

Barbarika is an avatar of Vishnu, who took a human body for the sake of his devotees.

वसुदेव देवकी प्यारे, यशुमति मैया नन्द दुलारे।

vasudeva devakī pyāre, yaśumati maiyā nanda dulāre|

Beloved of Vasudeva and Devaki, the darling of mother Yashoda and of Nanda.

मधुसूदन गोपाल मुरारी, बृजकिशोर गोवर्धन धारी।

madhusūdana gopāla murārī, bṛjakiśora govardhana dhārī|

Madhusudana, Gopala, Murari, the youth of Braj who lifted Govardhan.

सियाराम श्री हरि गोविन्दा, दीनपाल श्री बाल मुकन्दा।

siyārāma śrī hari govindā, dīnapāla śrī bāla mukandā|

Siya-Ram, Shri Hari, Govinda, protector of the lowly, the child Mukunda.

दामोदर रणछोड़ बिहारी, नाथ द्वारिकाधीश खरारी।

dāmodara raṇachor̤a bihārī, nātha dvārikādhīśa kharārī|

Damodara, Ranchhod, Bihari, lord of Dwarka, slayer of Khara.

नरहरि रुप प्रहलाद प्यारा, खम्भ फारि हिरनाकुश मारा।

narahari rupa prahalāda pyārā, khambha phāri hiranākuśa mārā|

In the form of Narahari, dear to Prahlada, who split the pillar and slew Hiranyakashipu.

राधा वल्लभ रुक्मिणी कंता, गोपी वल्लभ कंस हनंता।

rādhā vallabha rukmiṇī kaṃtā, gopī vallabha kaṃsa hanaṃtā|

Beloved of Radha, husband of Rukmini, beloved of the gopis, slayer of Kansa.

मनमोहन चित्तचोर कहाये, माखन चोरि चोरि कर खाये।

manamohana cittacora kahāye, mākhana cori cori kara khāye|

Called the heart-charmer and the thief of minds, who stole butter and ate it.

मुरलीधर यदुपति घनश्याम, कृष्ण पतितपावन अभिरामा।

muralīdhara yadupati ghanaśyāma, kṛṣṇa patitapāvana abhirāmā|

Bearer of the flute, lord of the Yadus, dark as a raincloud; Krishna, purifier of the fallen, the delightful one.

मायापति लक्ष्मीपति ईसा, पुरुषोत्तम केशव जगदीश।

māyāpati lakṣmīpati īsā, puruṣottama keśava jagadīśa|

Lord of maya, lord of Lakshmi, the Lord himself; Purushottama, Keshava, master of the world.

विश्वपति त्रिभुवन उजियारा, दीन बन्धु भक्तन रखवारा।

viśvapati tribhuvana ujiyārā, dīna bandhu bhaktana rakhavārā|

Lord of the universe, light of the three worlds, friend of the poor, guardian of his devotees.

प्रभु का भेद कोई न पाया, शेष महेश थके मुनिराया।

prabhu kā bheda koī na pāyā, śeṣa maheśa thake munirāyā|

None has fathomed the Lord's mystery; Shesha, Mahesha and the great sages all wearied of the attempt.

नारद शारद ऋषि योगिन्दर, श्याम श्याम सब रटत निरन्तर।

nārada śārada ṛṣi yogindara, śyāma śyāma saba raṭata nirantara|

Narada, Sharada, the rishis and the masters of yoga repeat Shyam, Shyam without ceasing.

करि कोविद करि सके न गिनन्ता, नाम अपार अथाह अनन्ता।

kari kovida kari sake na ginantā, nāma apāra athāha anantā|

Not even the learned can count them: his names are boundless, unfathomable, without end.

हर सृष्टि हर युग में भाई, ले अवतार भक्त सुखदाई।

hara sṛṣṭi hara yuga meṃ bhāī, le avatāra bhakta sukhadāī|

In every creation and in every age, brother, he takes birth to gladden his devotees.

हृदय माँहि करि देखु विचारा, श्याम भजे तो हो निस्तारा।

hṛdaya mā~hi kari dekhu vicārā, śyāma bhaje to ho nistārā|

Turn it over in your heart and see: worship Shyam and you are delivered.

कीर पढ़ावत गणिका तारी, भीलनी की भक्ति बलिहारी।

kīra par̤hāvata gaṇikā tārī, bhīlanī kī bhakti balihārī|

The courtesan was saved by teaching his name to a parrot; the Bhil woman's devotion was beyond praise.

सती अहिल्या गौतम नारी, भई श्राप वश शिला दुखारी।

satī ahilyā gautama nārī, bhaī śrāpa vaśa śilā dukhārī|

Chaste Ahalya, wife of Gautama, lay suffering as a stone under a curse.

श्याम चरण रज नित लाई, पहुँची पतिलोक में जाई।

śyāma caraṇa raja nita lāī, pahu~cī patiloka meṃ jāī|

The dust of Shyam's feet reached her, and she went to her husband's world.

अजामिल अरू सदन कसाई, नाम प्रताप परम गति पाई।

ajāmila arū sadana kasāī, nāma pratāpa parama gati pāī|

Ajamila, and Sadan the butcher, attained the highest state through the power of the name.

जाके श्याम नाम अधारा, सुख लहहि दुःख दूर हो सारा।

jāke śyāma nāma adhārā, sukha lahahi duḥkha dūra ho sārā|

Whoever takes Shyam's name for support finds joy, and all sorrow is carried away.

श्याम सुलोचन है अति सुन्दर, मोर मुकुट सिर तन पीताम्बर।

śyāma sulocana hai ati sundara, mora mukuṭa sira tana pītāmbara|

Shyam is beautiful-eyed and exceedingly fair, a peacock crown on his head, yellow silk on his body.

गल वैजयन्तिमाल सुहाई, छवि अनूप भक्तन मन भाई।

gala vaijayantimāla suhāī, chavi anūpa bhaktana mana bhāī|

The Vaijayanti garland graces his neck; his matchless form delights the hearts of devotees.

श्याम श्याम सुमिरहु दिनराती, शाम दुपहरि अरू परभाती।

śyāma śyāma sumirahu dinarātī, śāma dupahari arū parabhātī|

Remember Shyam, Shyam day and night — at evening, at noon and at dawn.

श्याम सारथी जिसके रथ के, रोड़े दूर होय उस पथ के।

śyāma sārathī jisake ratha ke, ror̤e dūra hoya usa patha ke|

When Shyam is the charioteer of your chariot, the stones are cleared from that road.

श्याम भक्त न कहीं पर हारा, भीर परि तब श्याम पुकारा।

śyāma bhakta na kahīṃ para hārā, bhīra pari taba śyāma pukārā|

Shyam's devotee has never been defeated anywhere; when trouble came, he called on Shyam.

रसना श्याम नाम रस पी ले, जी ले श्याम नाम के हाले।

rasanā śyāma nāma rasa pī le, jī le śyāma nāma ke hāle|

Tongue, drink the nectar of Shyam's name; live by the sway of that name.

संसारी सुख भोग मिलेगा, अन्त श्याम सुख योग मिलेगा।

saṃsārī sukha bhoga milegā, anta śyāma sukha yoga milegā|

Comfort in this world will be yours, and at the end union with Shyam's bliss.

श्याम प्रभु हैं तन के काले, मन के गोरे भोले भाले।

śyāma prabhu haiṃ tana ke kāle, mana ke gore bhole bhāle|

Lord Shyam is dark of body but fair of heart, guileless and simple.

श्याम संत भक्तन हितकारी, रोग दोष अघ नाशै भारी।

śyāma saṃta bhaktana hitakārī, roga doṣa agha nāśai bhārī|

Shyam does good to saints and devotees, destroying grave illness, fault and sin.

प्रेम सहित जे नाम पुकारा, भक्त लगत श्याम को प्यारा।

prema sahita je nāma pukārā, bhakta lagata śyāma ko pyārā|

Whoever calls his name with love becomes dear to Shyam as his own.

खाटू में है मथुरा वासी, पार ब्रह्म पूरण अविनासी।

khāṭū meṃ hai mathurā vāsī, pāra brahma pūraṇa avināsī|

He who dwells at Mathura is here at Khatu: the supreme Brahman, complete and imperishable.

सुधा तान भरि मुरली बजाई, चहुं दिशि नाना जहाँ सुनि पाई।

sudhā tāna bhari muralī bajāī, cahuṃ diśi nānā jahā~ suni pāī|

He played the flute, filling it with nectar-notes, and it was heard in all four directions.

वृद्ध बाल जेते नारी नर, मुग्ध भये सुनि वंशी के स्वर।

vṛddha bāla jete nārī nara, mugdha bhaye suni vaṃśī ke svara|

Old and young, women and men alike, all were enchanted to hear the flute.

दौड़ दौड़ पहुँचे सब जाई, खाटू में जहां श्याम कन्हाई।

daur̤a daur̤a pahu~ce saba jāī, khāṭū meṃ jahāṃ śyāma kanhāī|

They all came running to Khatu, where Shyam Kanhai is.

जिसने श्याम स्वरूप निहारा, भव भय से पाया छुटकारा।

jisane śyāma svarūpa nihārā, bhava bhaya se pāyā chuṭakārā|

Whoever has beheld Shyam's form has been freed from the fear of existence.

श्याम सलोने साँवरे, बर्बरीक तनु धार।

śyāma salone sā~vare, barbarīka tanu dhāra|

O lovely dark Shyam, who took the body of Barbarika,

इच्छा पूर्ण भक्त की, करो न लाओ बार॥

icchā pūrṇa bhakta kī, karo na lāo bāra||

fulfil your devotee's wish, and do not delay.