श्री गुरु चरणन ध्यान धर, सुमिरि सच्चिदानन्द। श्याम चालीसा भणत हूँ, रच चौपाई छन्द॥

Shri Guru charanan dhyaan dhar, sumiri Sachchidaanand, Shyaam chaaleesa bhanat hoon, rach chaupaai chhand.

Meditating on my guru's feet and remembering the Lord who is existence, consciousness and bliss, I recite the Shyam Chalisa, composed in chaupai verses.

श्याम श्याम भजि बारम्बारा। सहज ही हो भवसागर पारा॥ इन सम देव न दूजा कोई। दीन दयालु न दाता होई॥

Shyaam Shyaam bhaji baarambaara, Sahaj hi ho bhavsaagar paara. In sam dev na dooja koi, Deen dayaalu na daata hoi.

Chant Shyam, Shyam again and again and you will cross the ocean of worldly life with ease. There is no other god like him, none so kind to the humble, no such giver.

भीम सुपुत्र अहिलवती जाया। कहीं भीम का पौत्र कहाया॥ यह सब कथा सही कल्पान्तर। तनिक न मानो इसमें अन्तर॥

Bheem suputra Ahilvati jaaya, Kahin Bheem ka pautra kahaaya. Yah sab katha sahi kalpaantar, Tanik na maano ismein antar.

In one telling he is Bhima's own son, born of Ahilavati; elsewhere he is called Bhima's grandson. These stories hold true in different ages of creation; do not think there is any real difference between them.

बर्बरीक विष्णु अवतारा। भक्तन हेतु मनुज तनु धारा॥ वसुदेव देवकी प्यारे। यशुमति मैया नन्द दुलारे॥

Barbareek Vishnu avataara, Bhaktan hetu manuj tanu dhaara. Vasudev Devaki pyaare, Yashumati maiya Nand dulaare.

Barbarika is an avatar of Vishnu who took a human body for his devotees' sake. He is the beloved of Vasudeva and Devaki, the darling of mother Yashoda and Nanda.

मधुसूदन गोपाल मुरारी। बृजकिशोर गोवर्धन धारी॥ सियाराम श्री हरि गोविन्दा। दीनपाल श्री बाल मुकुन्दा॥

Madhusoodan Gopaal Muraari, Brijkishor Govardhan dhaari. Siyaaraam Shri Hari Govinda, Deenpaal Shri Baal Mukunda.

He is Madhusudana, Gopala, Murari, the youth of Braj who lifted Govardhan; Siyaram, Shri Hari, Govinda, protector of the humble, the child Mukunda.

दामोदर रणछोड़ बिहारी। नाथ द्वारिकाधीश खरारी॥ नरहरि रूप प्रहलाद प्यारा। खम्भ फारि हिरनाकुश मारा॥

Daamodar Ranchhod Bihaari, Naath Dvaarikaadheesh Kharaari. Narhari roop Prahlaad pyaara, Khambh phaari Hirnaakush maara.

He is Damodara, Ranchhod, the playful Bihari, Lord of Dwarka and slayer of Khara. As Narahari, dear to Prahlad, he burst from the pillar and killed Hiranyakashipu.

राधा वल्लभ रुक्मिणी कंता। गोपी वल्लभ कंस हनंता॥ मनमोहन चितचोर कहाये। माखन चोरि चोरि कर खाये॥

Radha vallabh Rukmini kanta, Gopi vallabh Kans hananta. Manmohan chitchor kahaaye, Maakhan chori chori kar khaaye.

Beloved of Radha, husband of Rukmini, beloved of the gopis, slayer of Kamsa: he was called the enchanter and the stealer of hearts, and he stole butter and ate it.

मुरलीधर यदुपति घनश्यामा। कृष्ण पतितपावन अभिरामा॥ मायापति लक्ष्मीपति ईशा। पुरुषोत्तम केशव जगदीशा॥

Murlidhar Yadupati Ghanshyaama, Krishna patitpaavan abhiraama. Maayaapati Lakshmipati Eesha, Purushottam Keshav Jagdeesha.

He holds the flute, lord of the Yadus, dark as a rain cloud; Krishna, purifier of the fallen, the delightful one; lord of maya, husband of Lakshmi, the Lord, the Supreme Person, Keshava, lord of the world.

विश्वपति त्रिभुवन उजियारा। दीनबन्धु भक्तन रखवारा॥ प्रभु का भेद कोई न पाया। शेष महेश थके मुनिराया॥

Vishvapati tribhuvan ujiyaara, Deenbandhu bhaktan rakhvaara. Prabhu ka bhed koi na paaya, Shesh Mahesh thake muniraaya.

Lord of the universe, light of the three worlds, friend of the humble, protector of devotees: no one has found the Lord's secret; Shesha, Mahesha and the great sages grew weary trying.

नारद शारद ऋषि योगिन्दर। श्याम श्याम सब रटत निरन्तर॥ कवि कोविद करि सके न गिनन्ता। नाम अपार अथाह अनन्ता॥

Naarad Shaarad rishi yogindar, Shyaam Shyaam sab ratat nirantar. Kavi kovid kari sake na ginanta, Naam apaar athaah ananta.

Narada, Sharada, the rishis and the great yogis all chant Shyam, Shyam without pause. Poets and scholars cannot count his names, which are boundless, fathomless and endless.

हर सृष्टि हर युग में भाई। ले अवतार भक्त सुखदाई॥ हृदय माँहि करि देखु विचारा। श्याम भजे तो हो निस्तारा॥

Har srishti har yug mein bhaai, Le avataar bhakt sukhdaai. Hriday maanhi kari dekhu vichaara, Shyaam bhaje to ho nistaara.

In every creation and every age, brother, he comes down as an avatar to bring joy to his devotees. Think it over in your heart and see: worship Shyam and you will be saved.

कीर पढ़ावत गणिका तारी। भीलनी की भक्ति बलिहारी॥ सती अहिल्या गौतम नारी। भई श्राप वश शिला दुखारी॥

Keer padhaavat ganika taari, Bheelni ki bhakti balihaari. Sati Ahilya Gautam naari, Bhai shraap vash shila dukhaari.

He saved the courtesan who taught his name to her parrot; how wonderful was the devotion of the Bhil woman! Virtuous Ahalya, Gautama's wife, had been turned to stone by a curse and suffered...

श्याम चरण रज चित लाई। पहुँची पति लोक में जाई॥ अजामिल अरु सदन कसाई। नाम प्रताप परम गति पाई॥

Shyaam charan raj chit laai, Pahunchi pati lok mein jaai. Ajaamil aru Sadan kasaai, Naam prataap param gati paai.

...but setting her heart on the dust of Shyam's feet, she reached her husband's world. Ajamila and Sadan the butcher reached the highest state through the power of the Name.

जाके श्याम नाम अधारा। सुख लहहि दुःख दूर हो सारा॥ श्याम सुलोचन है अति सुन्दर। मोर मुकुट सिर तन पीताम्बर॥

Jaake Shyaam naam adhaara, Sukh lahahi duhkh door ho saara. Shyaam sulochan hai ati sundar, Mor mukut sir tan peetaambar.

Whoever makes Shyam's name his support finds happiness, and all his sorrow goes far away. Lovely-eyed Shyam is very beautiful, with a peacock crown on his head and yellow silk on his body...

गल वैजयन्तिमाल सुहाई। छवि अनूप भक्तन मन भाई॥ श्याम श्याम सुमिरहु दिनराती। शाम दुपहरि अरु परभाती॥

Gal Vaijayantimaal suhaai, Chhavi anoop bhaktan man bhaai. Shyaam Shyaam sumirahu dinraati, Shaam dupahri aru parbhaati.

...and a Vaijayanti garland at his throat; his matchless beauty delights his devotees' hearts. Remember Shyam, Shyam day and night, at evening, noon and dawn.

श्याम सारथी जिसके रथ के। रोड़े दूर होय उस पथ के॥ श्याम भक्त न कहीं पर हारा। भीर परि तब श्याम पुकारा॥

Shyaam saarthi jiske rath ke, Rode door hoy us path ke. Shyaam bhakt na kahin par haara, Bheer pari tab Shyaam pukaara.

When Shyam drives someone's chariot, every obstacle is cleared from his path. Shyam's devotee is never defeated anywhere; when trouble came, he called on Shyam.

रसना श्याम नाम रस पी ले। जी ले श्याम नाम के हाले॥ संसारी सुख भोग मिलेगा। अन्त श्याम सुख योग मिलेगा॥

Rasna Shyaam naam ras pee le, Jee le Shyaam naam ke haale. Sansaari sukh bhog milega, Ant Shyaam sukh yog milega.

Tongue, drink the nectar of Shyam's name and live in its joy. You will have the pleasures of this world, and at the end the bliss of union with Shyam.

श्याम प्रभु हैं तन के काले। मन के गोरे भोले भाले॥ श्याम संत भक्तन हितकारी। रोग दोष अघ नाशै भारी॥

Shyaam Prabhu hain tan ke kaale, Man ke gore bhole bhaale. Shyaam sant bhaktan hitkaari, Rog dosh agh naashai bhaari.

Lord Shyam is dark in body but fair at heart, simple and innocent. Shyam is the friend of saints and devotees, and destroys great disease, faults and sins.

प्रेम सहित जे नाम पुकारा। भक्त लगत श्याम को प्यारा॥ खाटू में हैं मथुरा वासी। पारब्रह्म पूरण अविनासी॥

Prem sahit je naam pukaara, Bhakt lagat Shyaam ko pyaara. Khaatu mein hain Mathura vaasi, Paarabrahm pooran avinaasi.

The devotee who calls his name with love is dear to Shyam. At Khatu dwells the one who lives in Mathura, the Supreme Brahman, complete and imperishable.

सुधा तान भरि मुरली बजाई। चहुँ दिशि नाना जहाँ सुनि पाई॥ वृद्ध बाल जेते नारी नर। मुग्ध भये सुनि वंशी के स्वर॥

Sudha taan bhari murli bajaai, Chahun dishi naana jahaan suni paai. Vriddh baal jete naari nar, Mugdh bhaye suni vanshi ke svar.

He played the flute, filling it with nectar-sweet melody, and it was heard everywhere in all four directions; old and young, all the women and men were enchanted by the notes of the flute...

दौड़ दौड़ पहुँचे सब जाई। खाटू में जहाँ श्याम कन्हाई॥ जिसने श्याम स्वरूप निहारा। भव भय से पाया छुटकारा॥

Daud daud pahunche sab jaai, Khaatu mein jahaan Shyaam Kanhaai. Jisne Shyaam svaroop nihaara, Bhav bhay se paaya chhutkaara.

...and all came running to Khatu, where Shyam Kanhai dwells. Whoever has beheld Shyam's form is freed from the fear of worldly life.

श्याम सलोने साँवरे, बर्बरीक तनु धार। इच्छा पूर्ण भक्त की, करो न लाओ बार॥

Shyaam salone saanvre, Barbareek tanu dhaar, Ichchha poorn bhakt ki, karo na laao baar.

Lovely dark Shyam, who took the body of Barbarika, fulfil your devotee's wish without delay.