Hanuman Chalisa - full text + meaning

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

Cleansing the mirror of my mind with the dust of the lotus-feet of the Guru, I describe the pure fame of Raghuvar (Rama) - bestower of the four fruits (dharma, artha, kama, moksha).

★ Opening Tulsidas-style invocation. Guru's dust → mind-mirror → Rama's glory. Sets the bhakti tone.

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवनकुमार। बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहि, हरहु कलेस बिकार॥

Knowing my body to be without intellect, I remember the son of Pavana (Hanuman). Grant me strength + intellect + knowledge. Remove my afflictions + defects.

★ The petition. Tulsidas's humility-confession + request. Many devotees use this verse as a stand-alone daily prayer.

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

Victory, Hanuman! Ocean of knowledge + virtue. Victory, Lord of monkeys! Illuminator of the three worlds.

राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा। अंजनिपुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥

Envoy of Rama. Abode of immeasurable strength. Son of Anjani. Named "son of Pavana" (wind).

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी। कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥

Great hero of mighty prowess, of body strong as a thunderbolt (Bajrangi). Remover of bad intellect. Companion of good intellect.

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा। कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा॥

Golden-complexioned, gracefully adorned. Earrings in your ears. Curly hair.

हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै। काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥

A thunderbolt (mace) + a flag shine in your hands. The munja-grass sacred-thread adorns your shoulder.

शंकर सुवन केसरीनंदन। तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन॥

Son of Shankara (incarnation of Shiva). Joy of Kesari. Your glory + valour adored across the world.

बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर। राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥

Endowed with knowledge, virtue, supreme intelligence. Always eager to do Rama's work.

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

Connoisseur of hearing the Lord's deeds. Rama, Lakshmana, Sita dwell in your mind.

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

You took subtle form + appeared before Sita. You took terrifying form + burnt Lanka.

★ Sundara Kanda compressed into 2 lines. The two forms - subtle (to meet Sita gently) + terrifying (to demonstrate to Ravana).

भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे। रामचंद्र के काज सँवारे॥

Terrible-form you took to slay demons. You accomplished the works of Ramachandra.

लाय सजीवन लखन जियाये। श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाये॥

You brought the sanjeevani herb + revived Lakshmana. Sri Raghuvira embraced you joyfully.

★ The Drona-mountain incident. Lakshmana wounded by Indrajit's shakti; Hanuman flew to the Himalayas, could not identify the herb, brought the whole mountain.

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

Raghupati (Rama) praised you greatly. (He said:) "You are dear to me - like my brother Bharata."

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

"A thousand mouths sing your fame" - saying this, Sri Pati (Rama) embraced you to his throat.

सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा। नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥

Sanaka and others, Brahma and other lords-of-sages, Narada, Sharada (Saraswati), the Lord of serpents (Adishesha)...

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

...Yama, Kubera, the directional guardians - even poets + scholars cannot describe (your fame).

तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा। राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा॥

You did Sugriva a favour - uniting him with Rama + giving him kingship.

तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषन माना। लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना॥

Your counsel Vibhishana heeded. He became Lankeshwara (king of Lanka) - all the world knows.

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

You swallowed the sun (yuga-sahasra yojanas away) thinking it a sweet fruit.

★ The child-Hanuman story. As a baby, he tried to eat the sun. Indra struck him with the vajra (which broke his jaw - hence "Hanu-man" = "broken-jaw"). Modern note: the distance "yuga sahasra yojana" calculated = ~96 million miles, remarkably close to the actual Earth-Sun distance of ~93 million miles.

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

Holding the Lord's ring (signet) in your mouth, you crossed the ocean - no wonder.

दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते। सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥

All the impossible-to-do works in the world - by your grace, they become easy.

★ Often quoted standalone - the supreme Hanuman-bhakti promise.

राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे। होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥

You are the doorkeeper of Rama. Without your permission, none can enter.

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

All happiness flows to one who takes your refuge. When you are protector, there is no fear of anyone.

आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै। तीनों लोक हाँक तें काँपै॥

You alone can contain your own splendour. The three worlds tremble at your shout.

भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै। महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥

Bhutas, pisachas do not come near - when the name "Mahaviru" is recited.

नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा। जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥

Disease destroyed. All pains removed. By constant chanting - "Hanumat Vira".

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

Hanuman releases from trouble - those who attend with mind, action, and speech to him.

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

Above all is Rama, the ascetic-king. All his works - you accomplish.

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

Any other wish brought (to you) - the infinite fruit of life is obtained.

चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा। है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥

Across all four yugas, your glory. Renowned, illuminator of the world.

साधु संत के तुम रखवारे। असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥

Protector of sadhus + saints. Destroyer of asuras. Beloved of Rama.

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

Bestower of the 8 siddhis + 9 nidhis (occult powers + treasures). This boon was given by Mother Janaki.

राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा। सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा॥

You possess the elixir of Rama. May you ever remain the servant of Raghupati.

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

By your worship one obtains Rama. The sorrows of many births are forgotten.

अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई। जहाँ जन्म हरिभक्त कहाई॥

At the time of death, one goes to the city of Raghuvar (Saketa). And is born as a devotee of Hari.

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

No other deity need be kept in mind. Serving Hanuman alone, all happiness arises.

संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा। जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥

Trouble is cut down. All pain ceases. To one who remembers Hanuman the strong + brave.

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

Victory, victory, victory Hanuman Lord! Be gracious - like a Gurudev.

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

Whoever recites this 100 times - released from bondage, attains great happiness.

जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा। होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥

Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa - attains siddhi. Shiva (consort of Gauri) is the witness.

तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा। कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥

Tulsidas - ever the servant of Hari. Lord, set your abode in (my) heart.

★ The signature couplet. Tulsidas placing his own name + bhakti at the close.

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

Son of Pavana, remover of trouble, form of all-auspiciousness - along with Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, abide in (my) heart, O King of devas.

★ Closing benediction. Hanuman is requested to dwell in the heart together with Rama, Sita, Lakshmana - the supreme final invocation.