बंशी शोभित कर मधुर, नील जलद तन श्याम। अरुण अधर जनु बिम्बफल, नयन कमल अभिराम॥ पूर्ण इन्द्र अरविन्द मुख, पीताम्बर शुभ साज। जय मनमोहन मदन छवि, कृष्णचन्द्र महाराज॥

Banshi shobhit kar madhur, neel jalad tan shyaam, Arun adhar janu bimbaphal, nayan kamal abhiraam. Poorn indra aravind mukh, peetaambar shubh saaj, Jai Manmohan Madan chhavi, Krishnachandra Mahaaraaj.

A sweet flute adorns his hand and his body is dark as a blue rain cloud; his red lips are like bimba fruit and his lotus eyes delightful. His face is like the full moon and the lotus, and he is dressed in fine yellow silk: victory to Manmohan, lovely as Kamadeva, King Krishnachandra.

जय यदुनंदन जय जगवंदन। जय वसुदेव देवकी नन्दन॥ जय यशुदा सुत नन्द दुलारे। जय प्रभु भक्तन के दृग तारे॥

Jai Yadunandan jai jagvandan, Jai Vasudev Devaki nandan. Jai Yashuda sut Nand dulaare, Jai Prabhu bhaktan ke drig taare.

Victory to the joy of the Yadus, whom the world worships; victory to the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Victory to Yashoda's son, Nanda's darling; victory to the Lord, the apple of his devotees' eyes.

जय नट-नागर नाग नथैया। कृष्ण कन्हैया धेनु चरैया॥ पुनि नख पर प्रभु गिरिवर धारो। आओ दीनन कष्ट निवारो॥

Jai Nat-naagar naag nathaiya, Krishna Kanhaiya dhenu charaiya. Puni nakh par Prabhu girivar dhaaro, Aao deenan kasht nivaaro.

Victory to the master dancer who tamed the serpent, Krishna Kanhaiya, who herds the cows. Lord, lift the great mountain on your fingernail once more; come and end the suffering of the humble.

वंशी मधुर अधर धरि टेरौ। होवे पूर्ण विनय यह मेरौ॥ आओ हरि पुनि माखन चाखो। आज लाज भारत की राखो॥

Vanshi madhur adhar dhari terau, Hove poorn vinay yah merau. Aao Hari puni maakhan chaakho, Aaj laaj Bhaarat ki raakho.

Put your sweet flute to your lips and call to us, so that this prayer of mine may be fulfilled. Come, Hari, taste butter again, and today protect the honour of Bharat.

गोल कपोल चिबुक अरुणारे। मृदु मुस्कान मोहिनी डारे॥ राजित राजिव नयन विशाला। मोर मुकुट वैजन्तीमाला॥

Gol kapol chibuk arunaare, Mridu muskaan mohini daare. Raajit raajiv nayan vishaala, Mor mukut vaijantimaala.

Round cheeks and a rosy chin, a soft smile that casts its spell; large lotus eyes shine, with a peacock-feather crown and the Vaijayanti garland.

कुंडल श्रवण पीत पट आछे। कटि किंकिणी काछनी काछे॥ नील जलज सुन्दर तनु सोहे। छबि लखि सुर नर मुनिमन मोहे॥

Kundal shravan peet pat aachhe, Kati kinkini kaachhani kaachhe. Neel jalaj sundar tanu sohe, Chhabi lakhi sur nar muniman mohe.

Earrings at his ears, fine yellow cloth, a girdle of little bells at his waist and a tucked-up dhoti; his lovely body glows like a blue lotus, and his beauty enchants gods, men and sages.

मस्तक तिलक अलक घुँघराले। आओ कृष्ण बाँसुरी वाले॥ करि पय पान पूतनहि तार्यो। अका बका कागासुर मार्यो॥

Mastak tilak alak ghunghraale, Aao Krishna baansuri vaale. Kari pay paan Pootanahi taaryo, Aka Baka Kaagaasur maaryo.

A tilak on his brow and curling locks: come, Krishna, flute-player! Drinking her milk, you gave Putana liberation, and you killed Agha, Baka and the crow demon.

मधुवन जलत अगिन जब ज्वाला। भै शीतल लखतहिं नंदलाला॥ सुरपति जब ब्रज चढ़्यो रिसाई। मूसर धार वारि वर्षाई॥

Madhuvan jalat agin jab jvaala, Bhai sheetal lakhatahin Nandlaala. Surpati jab Braj chadhyo risaai, Moosar dhaar vaari varshaai.

When the forest blazed with fire, it turned cool at a single glance from Nanda's son. When Indra, lord of the gods, fell upon Braj in anger and poured down rain in torrents thick as pestles...

लगत लगत ब्रज चहन बहायो। गोवर्धन नख धारि बचायो॥ लखि यसुदा मन भ्रम अधिकाई। मुख मंह चौदह भुवन दिखाई॥

Lagat lagat Braj chahan bahaayo, Govardhan nakh dhaari bachaayo. Lakhi Yasuda man bhram adhikaai, Mukh manh chaudah bhuvan dikhaai.

...and Braj was about to be swept away, you held up Govardhan on your nail and saved it. When Yashoda's mind grew bewildered, you showed her the fourteen worlds inside your mouth.

दुष्ट कंस अति उधम मचायो। कोटि कमल जब फूल मंगायो॥ नाथि कालियहिं तब तुम लीन्हें। चरण चिह्न दै निर्भय कीन्हें॥

Dusht Kans ati udham machaayo, Koti kamal jab phool mangaayo. Naathi Kaaliyahin tab tum leenhen, Charan chihn dai nirbhay keenhen.

When wicked Kamsa raised a great uproar and demanded ten million lotus flowers, you tamed Kaliya, and marking him with your footprints, freed him from fear.

करि गोपिन संग रास विलासा। सबकी पूरण करी अभिलाषा॥ केतिक महा असुर संहार्यो। कंसहि केस पकड़ि दै मार्यो॥

Kari gopin sang raas vilaasa, Sabki pooran kari abhilaasha. Ketik maha asur sanhaaryo, Kansahi kes pakadi dai maaryo.

Dancing the joyful raas with the gopis, you fulfilled the longing of every one. You destroyed so many mighty demons, and seizing Kamsa by the hair you struck him down.

मात-पिता की बन्दि छुड़ाई। उग्रसेन कहँ राज दिलाई॥ महि से मृतक छहों सुत लायो। मातु देवकी शोक मिटायो॥

Maat-pita ki bandi chhudaai, Ugrasen kahan raaj dilaai. Mahi se mritak chhahon sut laayo, Maatu Devaki shok mitaayo.

You freed your mother and father from prison and gave the kingdom back to Ugrasena. You brought back from the underworld the six sons who had died, and ended mother Devaki's grief.

भौमासुर मुर दैत्य संहारी। लाये षट दश सहस कुमारी॥ दै भीमहिं तृण चीर सहारा। जरासिंधु राक्षस कहँ मारा॥

Bhaumaasur Mur daitya sanhaari, Laaye shat dash sahas kumaari. Dai Bheemahin trin cheer sahaara, Jaraasindhu raakshas kahan maara.

Slaying the demons Bhaumasura and Mura, you brought home sixteen thousand princesses. Splitting a blade of grass as a sign to Bhima, you had the demon Jarasandha killed.

असुर बकासुर आदिक मार्यो। भक्तन के तब कष्ट निवार्यो॥ दीन सुदामा के दुःख टार्यो। तंदुल तीन मूंठ मुख डार्यो॥

Asur Bakaasur aadik maaryo, Bhaktan ke tab kasht nivaaryo. Deen Sudaama ke duhkh taaryo, Tandul teen moonth mukh daaryo.

You killed Bakasura and other demons and so ended the suffering of your devotees. You took away poor Sudama's sorrows when you put three handfuls of his rice into your mouth.

प्रेम के साग विदुर घर माँगे। दुर्योधन के मेवा त्यागे॥ लखी प्रेम की महिमा भारी। ऐसे श्याम दीन हितकारी॥

Prem ke saag Vidur ghar maange, Duryodhan ke meva tyaage. Lakhi prem ki mahima bhaari, Aise Shyaam deen hitkaari.

At Vidura's house you asked for simple greens offered with love, and refused Duryodhana's rich delicacies. See how great is the glory of love! Such is Shyam, friend of the humble.

भारत के पारथ रथ हाँके। लिये चक्र कर नहिं बल थाके॥ निज गीता के ज्ञान सुनाए। भक्तन हृदय सुधा वर्षाए॥

Bhaarat ke Paarath rath haanke, Liye chakra kar nahin bal thaake. Nij Geeta ke gyaan sunaae, Bhaktan hriday sudha varshaae.

In the great war of the Bharatas you drove Arjuna's chariot and took up the discus, your strength never failing. You taught the wisdom of your Gita and rained nectar into your devotees' hearts.

मीरा थी ऐसी मतवाली। विष पी गई बजाकर ताली॥ राना भेजा साँप पिटारी। शालिग्राम बने बनवारी॥

Meera thi aisi matvaali, Vish pee gai bajaakar taali. Raana bheja saanp pitaari, Shaaligraam bane Banvaari.

Meera was so lost in your love that she drank poison clapping her hands; when the Rana sent a snake in a basket, you, Banwari, became a shaligram.

निज माया तुम विधिहिं दिखायो। उर ते संशय सकल मिटायो॥ तब शत निन्दा करि तत्काला। जीवन मुक्त भयो शिशुपाला॥

Nij maaya tum Vidhihin dikhaayo, Ur te sanshay sakal mitaayo. Tab shat ninda kari tatkaala, Jeevan mukt bhayo Shishupaala.

You showed Brahma your own maya and wiped every doubt from his heart. After insulting you a hundred times, Shishupala was instantly set free.

जबहिं द्रौपदी टेर लगाई। दीनानाथ लाज अब जाई॥ तुरतहि वसन बने नंदलाला। बढ़े चीर भै अरि मुँह काला॥

Jabahin Draupadi ter lagaai, Deenaanaath laaj ab jaai. Turatahi vasan bane Nandlaala, Badhe cheer bhai ari munh kaala.

When Draupadi cried out, Lord of the helpless, my honour is about to be lost, at once Nanda's son became her garment; the cloth grew and grew, and her enemies were put to shame.

अस अनाथ के नाथ कन्हैया। डूबत भंवर बचावै नैया॥ सुन्दरदास आस उर धारी। दया दृष्टि कीजै बनवारी॥

As anaath ke naath Kanhaiya, Doobat bhanvar bachaavai naiya. Sundardaas aas ur dhaari, Daya drishti keejai Banvaari.

Such is Kanhaiya, lord of the helpless, who saves the boat sinking in the whirlpool. Sundardas holds this hope in his heart: Banwari, look on me with mercy.

नाथ सकल मम कुमति निवारो। क्षमहु बेगि अपराध हमारो॥ खोलो पट अब दर्शन दीजै। बोलो कृष्ण कन्हैया की जै॥

Naath sakal mam kumati nivaaro, Kshamahu begi apraadh hamaaro. Kholo pat ab darshan deejai, Bolo Krishna Kanhaiya ki jai.

Lord, take away all my wrong thinking and quickly forgive my faults. Open the curtain now and give us darshan. Say: victory to Krishna Kanhaiya!

यह चालीसा कृष्ण का, पाठ करै उर धारि। अष्ट सिद्धि नवनिधि फल, लहै पदारथ चारि॥

Yah chaaleesa Krishna ka, paath karai ur dhaari, Ashta siddhi navanidhi phal, lahai padaarath chaari.

Whoever reads this Chalisa of Krishna, holding it in the heart, gains the eight powers, the nine treasures and the four aims of life.