The Hanuman Chalisa, Retold

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि। बरनउं रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि॥

First, I clean the mirror of my mind with the dust of my Guru's holy feet. Then I begin to sing the pure glory of Shri Ram, which gives us four wonderful gifts: dharma, wealth, love, and freedom.

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार। बल बुधि विद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेश विकार॥

Knowing that I need help, I think of Hanuman, the son of the Wind God. 'Please give me strength, wisdom and knowledge,' I ask him, 'and take away all my troubles.'

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर। जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥

All glory to Hanuman, the ocean of wisdom and goodness! All glory to the king of monkeys, whose light shines in all three worlds.

राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा। अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥

He is Ram's most trusted messenger, and his strength has no equal anywhere. He is Anjani's son, and everyone also calls him Pavanputra — son of the Wind.

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी। कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥

He is the great hero, mighty as thunder, with a body strong as a diamond. He chases away bad thoughts and stays close to those who think good thoughts.

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा। कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा॥

His glowing skin shines like gold, and he wears beautiful clothes. Shining earrings hang from his ears, and his curly hair frames his kind face.

हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै। काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥

In his hand he proudly holds his mace and a flag. Across his shoulder he wears a sacred thread, like a devoted son wearing his promise.

शंकर सुवन केसरीनंदन। तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन॥

He is Lord Shiva's own blessing come to earth, and the beloved son of Kesari. His glow and glory are so great that the whole world bows to him.

विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर। राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥

Hanuman is wise, full of good qualities, and very clever. But more than anything, he is always eager and ready to do any work for his beloved Ram.

प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया। राम लखन सीता मन बसिया॥

He loves listening to stories about Ram more than anything else. Ram, Lakshman and Sita live forever, warmly, inside his heart.

सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा। बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥

To find Sita in the garden without scaring anyone, Hanuman made himself tiny. But to fight Lanka's evil, he grew into a giant and set the whole city ablaze with his tail.

भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे। रामचंद्र के काज सँवारे॥

He took on a huge, powerful form and defeated the wicked demons. In every way, he made sure Ram's important work was completed successfully.

लाय सजीवन लखन जियाये। श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाये॥

When Lakshman was badly hurt in battle, Hanuman flew all night and brought back an entire mountain of healing herbs to save him. Ram was so happy that he hugged Hanuman close to his heart.

रघुपति कीन्ही बहुत बड़ाई। तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई॥

Ram praised Hanuman with all his heart and said, 'You are as dear to me as my own brother Bharat.'

सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं। अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं॥

Even the great serpent Sheshnag, who has a thousand mouths, sings songs about Hanuman's glory. Saying this, Ram embraced him warmly.

सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा। नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥

Great sages like Sanak, the god Brahma, wise Narada, goddess Saraswati, and even the king of serpents all admire and sing Hanuman's praises.

जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहाँ ते। कबि कोबिद कहि सके कहाँ ते॥

Yama, Kuber, and the guardians of every direction all know his glory too. Even the wisest poets find it hard to fully describe how great he is.

तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा। राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा॥

Hanuman helped his friend Sugriva by introducing him to Ram, and because of that friendship, Sugriva became a king.

तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषण माना। लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना॥

Vibhishan listened to Hanuman's wise advice, and because of it, the whole world came to know him as the new king of Lanka.

जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू। लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥

The sun sits impossibly far away in the sky. But as a little boy, brave Hanuman leapt straight for it — mistaking its glow for a juicy, sweet fruit!

प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं। जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं॥

Hanuman carefully held Ram's ring in his mouth and leapt across the entire ocean in a single bound. For someone so mighty, that was really no surprise at all.

दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते। सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥

However impossible a task may seem in this whole world, it becomes easy the moment Hanuman decides to bless and help you.

राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे। होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥

Hanuman stands guard at Ram's door like a loyal gatekeeper. No one — however important — may enter without his permission.

सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना। तुम रच्छक काहू को डर ना॥

Everyone who takes shelter with Hanuman finds true happiness. And whoever he protects never needs to be afraid of anything.

आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै। तीनों लोक हाँक तें काँपै॥

Only Hanuman himself can hold back his own tremendous power — when he roars, all three worlds tremble.

भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै। महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥

Ghosts and evil spirits simply cannot come near you. The moment someone speaks the brave name 'Hanuman', all fear runs away.

नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा। जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥

Illness fades and every pain is soothed for the person who keeps chanting brave Hanuman's name again and again with love.

संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै। मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै॥

Hanuman rescues from every difficulty anyone who thinks of him sincerely — in their thoughts, their actions, and their words.

सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा। तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा॥

Ram is the gentle, saintly king of everyone, and Hanuman makes sure every single one of Ram's wishes is beautifully fulfilled.

और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै। सोइ अमित जीवन फल पावै॥

Whoever comes to Hanuman with a wish in their heart receives blessings and good fruit that last a lifetime.

चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा। है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥

Through every age of time, Hanuman's glory has continued to shine — famous and bright, lighting up the whole world.

साधु संत के तुम रखवारे। असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥

Hanuman watches over and protects saints and holy people. He destroys wickedness wherever it appears, and he is Ram's most beloved devotee.

अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता। अस बर दीन जानकी माता॥

Mother Sita herself blessed Hanuman with a very special gift — the power to grant eight great spiritual abilities and nine kinds of treasure to those who love him.

राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा। सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा॥

Hanuman holds the sweetest medicine of all — love for Ram — and he remains forever Ram's devoted, happy servant.

तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै। जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥

By singing songs of devotion to Hanuman, a person finds their way to Ram, and sorrows carried across many lifetimes simply melt away.

अंतकाल रघुबर पुर जाई। जहाँ जन्म हरिभक्त कहाई॥

At the very end of life, such a devotee travels to Ram's own divine home, remembered forever as a true devotee of God.

और देवता चित्त न धरई। हनुमत सेइ सर्ब सुख करई॥

One doesn't even need to think of any other god — simply serving Hanuman with love brings every kind of happiness.

संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा। जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥

Every difficulty is cut away and every pain disappears for the one who remembers brave, mighty Hanuman.

जय जय जय हनुमान गोसाईं। कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं॥

Victory, victory, victory to you, Lord Hanuman! Please bless me with the same loving care a wise teacher gives.

जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई। छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥

Whoever recites this Chalisa a hundred times is freed from their troubles and fills their heart with great happiness.

जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा। होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥

Anyone who reads this Hanuman Chalisa achieves true success — and Lord Shiva himself stands witness to it.

तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा। कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥

Tulsidas, who wrote these very words, says: 'I am forever your servant, dear Lord — please come and make a home in my heart.'

पवनतनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप। राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥

O son of the Wind, remover of every trouble, the very shape of good fortune — please live in my heart forever, together with Ram, Lakshman and Mother Sita.