Ganga Chalisa

जय जय जय जग पावनी,जयति देवसरि गंग। जय शिव जटा निवासिनी,अनुपम तुंग तरंग॥

Jaya jaya jaya jaga pavani, jayati devasari gamga, jaya Shiva jata nivasini, anupama tumga taramga.

Victory, victory, victory to the purifier of the world; victorious is the celestial river Ganga. Victory to her who dwells in Shiva's matted locks, of incomparable, towering waves.

जय जय जननी हराना अघखानी।आनंद करनी गंगा महारानी॥

Jaya jaya janani harana aghakhani, anamda karani gamga maharani.

Victory, victory to the mother who destroys the very mine of sins; the joy-giver, Ganga, the great queen.

जय भगीरथी सुरसरि माता।कलिमल मूल डालिनी विख्याता॥

Jaya Bhagirathi surasari mata, kalimala mula dalini vikhyata.

Victory to Bhagirathi, the celestial river, the mother; renowned as the one who casts away the very root of the sins of this age.

जय जय जहानु सुता अघ हनानी।भीष्म की माता जगा जननी॥

Jaya jaya jahanu suta agha hanani, bhishma ki mata jaga janani.

Victory, victory to the daughter of Jahnu, destroyer of sins; mother of Bhishma, mother of the world.

धवल कमल दल मम तनु सजे।लखी शत शरद चन्द्र छवि लजाई॥

Dhavala Kamala dala mama tanu saje, lakhi shata sharada chandra chavi lajai.

Her body adorned like white lotus petals; seeing her, a hundred autumn moons would feel ashamed of their own beauty.

वहां मकर विमल शुची सोहें।अमिया कलश कर लखी मन मोहें॥

Vaham makara vimala shuchi sohem, amiya kalasha kara lakhi mana mohem.

There the pure, radiant crocodile, her emblem, shines; seeing the pot of nectar in her hand, the mind is enchanted.

जदिता रत्ना कंचन आभूषण।हिय मणि हर, हरानितम दूषण॥

Jadita ratna kamchana abhushana, hiya mani hara, haranitama dushana.

Set with jewels, gold ornaments adorn her; a gem necklace at her breast, remover of the deepest faults.

जग पावनी त्रय ताप नासवनी।तरल तरंग तुंग मन भावनी॥

Jaga pavani traya tapa nasavani, tarala taramga tumga mana Bhavani.

Purifier of the world, destroyer of the three-fold afflictions; her flowing, towering waves delight the mind.

जो गणपति अति पूज्य प्रधान।इहूं ते प्रथम गंगा अस्नाना॥

Jo Ganapati ati pujya pradhana, ihum te prathama gamga asnana.

Ganapati, though most worshipped and foremost of all — even before him, bathing in the Ganga comes first.

ब्रह्मा कमंडल वासिनी देवी।श्री प्रभु पद पंकज सुख सेवि॥

Brahma kamamdala vasini devi, shri prabhu pada pamkaja sukha sevi.

The goddess who dwells in Brahma's water-pot; she happily serves at the lotus feet of the Lord.

साथी सहस्र सागर सुत तरयो।गंगा सागर तीरथ धरयो॥

Sathi sahasra sagara suta tarayo, gamga sagara tiratha dharayo.

By her, the thousand sons of Sagara were liberated; thus the pilgrimage site of Gangasagar came to be established.

अगम तरंग उठ्यो मन भवन।लखी तीरथ हरिद्वार सुहावन॥

Agama taramga uthyo mana bhavana, lakhi tiratha haridvara suhavana.

Her unfathomable waves rise, delighting the heart; behold the beautiful pilgrimage site of Haridwar.

तीरथ राज प्रयाग अक्षैवेता।धरयो मातु पुनि काशी करवत॥

Tiratha raja prayaga akshaiveta, dharayo matu puni Kashi karavata.

At Prayag, the king of pilgrimage sites, the imperishable banyan stands; then the Mother flows on, taking her course through Kashi.

धनी धनी सुरसरि स्वर्ग की सीधी।तरनी अमिता पितु पड़ पिरही॥

Dhani dhani surasari svarga ki sidhi, tarani amita pitu pa.da pirahi.

Blessed, blessed is the celestial river, the direct path to heaven; the boundless ferry, out of love for her father.

भागीरथी ताप कियो उपारा।दियो ब्रह्म तव सुरसरि धारा॥

Bhagirathi tapa kiyo upara, diyo Brahma tava surasari dhara.

Bhagiratha performed great penance; and Brahma granted the descent of your celestial stream.

जब जग जननी चल्यो हहराई।शम्भु जाता महं रह्यो समाई॥

Jaba jaga janani chalyo haharai, Shambhu jata maham rahyo samai.

When the mother of the world came rushing down with a roar, Shambhu contained her within his matted locks.

वर्षा पर्यंत गंगा महारानी।रहीं शम्भू के जाता भुलानी॥

Varsha paryamta gamga maharani, rahim Shambhu ke jata bhulani.

For a full year, Queen Ganga remained lost within Shambhu's matted locks.

पुनि भागीरथी शम्भुहीं ध्यायो।तब इक बूंद जटा से पायो॥

Puni Bhagirathi shambhuhim dhyayo, taba ika bumda jata se payo.

Then Bhagiratha meditated once more upon Shambhu; and thus obtained a single drop from his matted locks.

ताते मातु भें त्रय धारा।मृत्यु लोक, नाभा, अरु पातारा॥

Tate matu bhem traya dhara, mrrityu loka, nabha, aru patara.

From that, the Mother became three streams: the mortal world, the celestial realm, and the netherworld.

गईं पाताल प्रभावती नामा।मन्दाकिनी गई गगन ललामा॥

Gaim patala prabhavati nama, mandakini gai gagana lalama.

To the netherworld she went by the name Prabhavati; to the sky she went as the splendour Mandakini.

मृत्यु लोक जाह्नवी सुहावनी।कलिमल हरनी अगम जग पावनि॥

Mrrityu loka Jahnavi suhavani, kalimala harani agama jaga pavani.

To the mortal world she came as the beautiful Jahnavi; unfathomable purifier of the world, remover of the sins of this age.

धनि मइया तब महिमा भारी।धर्मं धुरी कलि कलुष कुठारी॥

Dhani maiya taba mahima bhari, dharmam dhuri Kali kalusha kuthari.

Blessed is the Mother, whose glory then became immense; the very axle of righteousness, the axe against the impurities of this age.

मातु प्रभवति धनि मंदाकिनी।धनि सुर सरित सकल भयनासिनी॥

Matu prabhavati dhani mamdakini, dhani sura sarita sakala bhayanasini.

Blessed Mother Prabhavati, blessed Mandakini; blessed celestial river, destroyer of every fear.

पन करत निर्मल गंगा जल।पावत मन इच्छित अनंत फल॥

Pana karata nirmala gamga jala, pavata mana ichchita anamta phala.

Taking a vow with the pure water of Ganga, one obtains endless fruits, whatever the heart desires.

पुरव जन्म पुण्य जब जागत।तबहीं ध्यान गंगा महं लागत॥

Purava janma punya jaba jagata, tabahim dhyana gamga maham lagata.

When the merit of a past life awakens, only then does the mind fix its meditation upon Ganga.

जई पगु सुरसरी हेतु उठावही।तई जगि अश्वमेघ फल पावहि॥

Jai pagu surasari hetu uthavahi, tai jagi ashvamegha phala pavahi.

Whoever takes even a single step for the sake of the celestial river obtains, in this world, the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

महा पतित जिन कहू न तारे।तिन तारे इक नाम तिहारे॥

Maha patita jina kahu na tare, tina tare ika nama tihare.

Even the greatly fallen ones, whom no one else could deliver — your single name alone delivers them.

शत योजन हूं से जो ध्यावहिं।निशचाई विष्णु लोक पद पावहीं॥

Shata yojana hum se jo dhyavahim, nishachai Vishnu loka pada pavahim.

Whoever meditates upon her even from a hundred leagues away certainly attains the abode of Vishnu's realm.

नाम भजत अगणित अघ नाशै।विमल ज्ञान बल बुद्धि प्रकाशे॥

Nama bhajata aganita agha nashai, vimala j~nana bala buddhi prakashe.

Chanting her name destroys countless sins; it illuminates pure knowledge, strength, and intellect.

जिमी धन मूल धर्मं अरु दाना।धर्मं मूल गंगाजल पाना॥

Jimi dhana mula dharmam aru dana, dharmam mula gamgajala pana.

Just as the root of wealth is righteousness and charity, so the root of righteousness is drinking Ganga's water.

तब गुन गुणन करत दुख भाजत।गृह गृह सम्पति सुमति विराजत॥

Taba guna gunana karata dukha bhajata, grriha grriha sampati sumati virajata.

Reciting her virtues then drives away sorrow; in every home, prosperity and good sense come to reside.

गंगहि नेम सहित नित ध्यावत।दुर्जनहूं सज्जन पद पावत॥

Gamgahi nema sahita nita dhyavata, durjanahum sajjana pada pavata.

Whoever meditates upon Ganga daily with due discipline — even a wicked person attains the status of a virtuous one.

उद्दिहिन विद्या बल पावै।रोगी रोग मुक्त हवे जावै॥

Uddihina vidya bala pavai, rogi roga mukta have javai.

The disheartened gain strength through learning; the sick become free of their illness.

गंगा गंगा जो नर कहहीं।भूखा नंगा कभुहुह न रहहि॥

Gamga gamga jo nara kahahim, bhukha namga kabhuhuha na rahahi.

Whoever utters "Ganga, Ganga" never remains hungry or unclothed.

निकसत ही मुख गंगा माई।श्रवण दाबी यम चलहिं पराई॥

Nikasata hi mukha gamga mai, shravana dabi yama chalahim parai.

The moment the words "Mother Ganga" leave the mouth, Yama covers his ears and flees far away.

महं अघिन अधमन कहं तारे।भए नरका के बंद किवारें॥

Maham aghina adhamana kaham tare, bhae naraka ke bamda kivarem.

She delivers even the greatest sinners, the most wretched; for them, the doors of hell become closed.

जो नर जपी गंग शत नामा।सकल सिद्धि पूरण ह्वै कामा॥

Jo nara japi gamga shata nama, sakala siddhi purana hvai kama.

Whoever recites Ganga's hundred names — all his desires become fully accomplished.

सब सुख भोग परम पद पावहीं।आवागमन रहित ह्वै जावहीं॥

Saba sukha bhoga parama pada pavahim, avagamana rahita hvai javahim.

He attains all enjoyments and the supreme state; he becomes free from the cycle of birth and death.

धनि मइया सुरसरि सुख दैनि।धनि धनि तीरथ राज त्रिवेणी॥

Dhani maiya surasari sukha daini, dhani dhani tiratha raja Triveni.

Blessed is the Mother, the celestial river, giver of happiness; blessed, blessed is Triveni, the king of pilgrimage sites.

ककरा ग्राम ऋषि दुर्वासा।सुन्दरदास गंगा कर दासा॥

Kakara grama rrishi Durvasa, sundaradasa gamga kara dasa.

In the village of Kakara dwelt the sage Durvasa; Sundardas is a servant of Ganga.

जो यह पढ़े गंगा चालीसा।मिली भक्ति अविरल वागीसा॥

Jo yaha pa.dhe gamga chalisa, mili bhakti avirala vagisa.

Whoever reads this Ganga Chalisa attains unbroken devotion and eloquence.

नित नए सुख सम्पति लहैं,धरें गंगा का ध्यान। अंत समाई सुर पुर बसल,सदर बैठी विमान॥

Nita nae sukha sampati lahaim, dharem gamga ka dhyana, amta samai sura pura basala, sadara baithi vimana.

One ever attains new happiness and prosperity by holding meditation upon Ganga; at the end, one merges and dwells in the city of the gods, seated with honour in a celestial chariot.

संवत भुत नभ्दिशी,राम जन्म दिन चैत्र। पूरण चालीसा किया,हरी भक्तन हित नेत्र॥

Samvata bhuta nabhdishi, rama janma dina chaitra, purana chalisa kiya, hari bhaktana hita netra.

In the encoded Samvat year, on Ram's birth day in the month of Chaitra, this Chalisa was completed, for the eyes and benefit of Hari's devotees.