Reading details
बंशी शोभित कर मधुर, नील जलद तन श्याम।
अरुण अधर जनु बिम्बा फल, पिताम्बर शुभ साज॥
Banshi shobhit kar madhur, neel jalad tan shyam. Arun adhar janu bimba phal, pitambar shubh saaj.
जय मनमोहन मदन छवि, कृष्णचन्द्र महाराज।
करहु कृपा हे रवि तनय, राखहु जन की लाज॥
Jai manmohan madan chhavi, Krishnachandra Maharaj. Karahu kripa he Ravitanay, rakhahu jan ki laaj.
जय यदुनन्दन जय जगवन्दन।
जय वसुदेव देवकी नन्दन॥
Jai Yadunandan jai jagvandan. Jai Vasudev Devaki nandan.
जय यशुदा सुत नन्द दुलारे।
जय प्रभु भक्तन के दृग तारे॥
Jai Yashuda sut Nand dulare. Jai prabhu bhaktan ke drig tare.
जय नट-नागर नाग नथैया।
कृष्ण कन्हैया धेनु चरैया॥
Jai nat-nagar naag nathaiya. Krishna Kanhaiya dhenu charaiya.
पुनि नख पर प्रभु गिरिवर धारो।
आओ दीनन कष्ट निवारो॥
Puni nakh par prabhu girivar dharo. Aao deenan kasht nivaro.
वंशी मधुर अधर धरी तेरी।
होवे पूर्ण मनोरथ मेरो॥
Vanshi madhur adhar dhari teri. Hove poorn manorath mero.
आओ हरि पुनि माखन चाखो।
आज लाज भारत की राखो॥
Aao Hari puni makhan chakho. Aaj laaj Bharat ki rakho.
गोल कपोल, चिबुक अरुणारे।
मृदु मुस्कान मोहिनी डारे॥
Gol kapol, chibuk arunare. Mridu muskaan mohini daare.
रंजित राजिव नयन विशाला।
मोर मुकुट वैजयंती माला॥
Ranjit rajiv nayan vishala. Mor mukut vaijayanti mala.
कुण्डल श्रवण पीतपट आछे।
कटि किंकणी काछन काछे॥
Kundal shravan peetpat aachhe. Kati kinkani kachhan kachhe.
नील जलज सुन्दर तनु सोहे।
छवि लखि, सुर नर मुनिमन मोहे॥
Neel jalaj sundar tanu sohe. Chhavi lakhi, sur nar munimana mohe.
मस्तक तिलक, अलक घुंघराले।
आओ कृष्ण बाँसुरी वाले॥
Mastak tilak, alak ghunghrale. Aao Krishna baansuri wale.
करि पय पान, पुतनहि तारयो।
अका बका कागासुर मारयो॥
Kari pay paan, Putanahi taaryo. Aka Baka Kagasur maaryo.
मधुवन जलत अग्नि जब ज्वाला।
भै शीतल, लखितहिं नन्दलाला॥
Madhuvan jalat agni jab jwala. Bhai sheetal, lakhitahin Nandlala.
सुरपति जब ब्रज चढ़यो रिसाई।
मसूर धार वारि वर्षाई॥
Surapati jab braj chadhayo risai. Musar dhaar vaari varshai.
लगत-लगत ब्रज चहन बहायो।
गोवर्धन नखधारि बचायो॥
Lagat-lagat braj chahan bahayo. Govardhan nakhdhari bachayo.
लखि यसुदा मन भ्रम अधिकाई।
मुख महं चौदह भुवन दिखाई॥
Lakhi Yasuda man bhram adhikai. Mukh mahan chaudah bhuvan dikhai.
दुष्ट कंस अति उधम मचायो।
कोटि कमल जब फूल मंगायो॥
Dusht Kans ati udham machayo. Koti kamal jab phool mangayo.
नाथि कालियहिं तब तुम लीन्हें।
चरणचिन्ह दै निर्भय किन्हें॥
Naathi Kaaliyahin tab tum leenhein. Charan-chinha dai nirbhay kinhein.
करि गोपिन संग रास विलासा।
सबकी पूरण करी अभिलाषा॥
Kari gopin sang raas vilasa. Sabki pooran kari abhilasha.
केतिक महा असुर संहारयो।
कंसहि केस पकड़ि दै मारयो॥
Ketik maha asur sanharyo. Kansahi kes pakadi dai maaryo.
मात-पिता की बन्दि छुड़ाई।
उग्रसेन कहं राज दिलाई॥
Mat-pita ki bandi chhudai. Ugrasen kahan raj dilai.
महि से मृतक छहों सुत लायो।
मातु देवकी शोक मिटायो॥
Mahi se mritak chhahon sut layo. Matu Devaki shok mitayo.
भौमासुर मुर दैत्य संहारी।
लाये षट दश सहसकुमारी॥
Bhaumasur Mur daitya sanhari. Laaye shat dash sahas kumari.
दै भिन्हीं तृण चीर सहारा।
जरासिंधु राक्षस कहं मारा॥
Dai bhinhin trin cheer sahara. Jarasindhu rakshas kahan mara.
असुर बकासुर आदिक मारयो।
भक्तन के तब कष्ट निवारियो॥
Asur Bakasur aadik maaryo. Bhaktan ke tab kasht nivaryo.
दीन सुदामा के दुःख टारयो।
तंदुल तीन मूंठ मुख डारयो॥
Deen Sudama ke dukh taaryo. Tandul teen moonth mukh daaryo.
प्रेम के साग विदुर घर मांगे।
दुर्योधन के मेवा त्यागे॥
Prem ke saag Vidur ghar maange. Duryodhan ke meva tyage.
लखि प्रेम की महिमा भारी।
ऐसे श्याम दीन हितकारी॥
Lakhi prem ki mahima bhari. Aise Shyam deen hitkari.
भारत के पारथ रथ हांके।
लिए चक्र कर नहिं बल ताके॥
Bharat ke Parath rath hanke. Liye chakra kar nahin bal taake.
निज गीता के ज्ञान सुनाये।
भक्तन हृदय सुधा वर्षाये॥
Nij Geeta ke gyan sunaye. Bhaktan hriday sudha varshaye.
मीरा थी ऐसी मतवाली।
विष पी गई बजाकर ताली॥
Meera thi aisi matwaali. Vish pi gai bajakar taali.
राना भेजा सांप पिटारी।
शालिग्राम बने बनवारी॥
Rana bheja saanp pitari. Shaligram bane Banwari.
निज माया तुम विधिहिं दिखायो।
उर ते संशय सकल मिटायो॥
Nij maya tum Vidhihin dikhayo. Ur te sanshay sakal mitayo.
तब शत निन्दा करी तत्काला।
जीवन मुक्त भयो शिशुपाला॥
Tab shat ninda kari tatkaala. Jeevan mukt bhayo Shishupala.
जबहिं द्रौपदी टेर लगाई।
दीनानाथ लाज अब जाई॥
Jabahin Draupadi ter lagai. Deenanath laaj ab jai.
तुरतहिं वसन बने नन्दलाला।
बढ़े चीर भै अरि मुँह काला॥
Turatahin vasan bane Nandlala. Badhe cheer bhai ari munh kala.
अस नाथ के नाथ कन्हैया।
डूबत भंवर बचावत नैया॥
As nath ke nath Kanhaiya. Doobat bhanvar bachavat naiya.
सुन्दरदास आस उर धारी।
दयादृष्टि कीजै बनवारी॥
Sundardas aas ur dhari. Dayadrishti kije Banwari.
नाथ सकल मम कुमति निवारो।
क्षमहु बेगि अपराध हमारो॥
Nath sakal mam kumati nivaro. Kshamahu begi aparadh hamaro.
खोलो पट अब दर्शन दीजै।
बोलो कृष्ण कन्हैया की जै॥
Kholo pat ab darshan dije. Bolo Krishna Kanhaiya ki jai.
यह चालीसा कृष्ण का, पाठ करै उर धारि।
अष्ट सिद्धि नवनिधि फल, लहै पदारथ चारि॥
Yah chalisa Krishna ka, path karai ur dhaari. Asht siddhi navnidhi phal, lahai padarath chaari.
For a vrat, some devotees read it several times in one sitting: 11, 21, or 108. Save your reading count with this counter.
How to Read Shri Krishna Chalisa
Read it on Wednesdays or on Krishna Janmashtami, after bathing, with a lamp lit. Repeat the closing doha at the end of the full reading.
About Shri Krishna Chalisa
The Shri Krishna Chalisa is a devotional hymn to Lord Krishna, recounting key events from his childhood plays through to the Mahabharata. The composition opens with two dohas, continues through forty chaupais, and closes with a doha.
This page presents the full text in clean Devanagari, with a simple meaning for every verse. Text size can be adjusted, and the full reading can also be printed.
No composer names himself within the Shri Krishna Chalisa, so it's considered a traditional composition of unknown authorship. It describes Lord Krishna's childhood form and his divine plays, the killing of Putana, the lifting of Govardhan, the taming of Kaliya, the slaying of Kansa, along with episodes from the Mahabharata, such as the teaching of the Gita, Draupadi's saved honour, and the devotion of Sudama and Meera Bai. The Chalisa is widely recited especially on Wednesdays and on Krishna Janmashtami.
Benefits of Reading the Krishna Chalisa
It is believed that regular recitation removes a devotee's troubles and poverty, deepens wisdom and devotion in the heart, and brings Krishna's special grace and protection in difficult times, as described in the stories of Sudama and Draupadi.
Frequently asked questions
Who composed the Shri Krishna Chalisa?
No composer names himself within the text, so it's considered a traditional composition of unknown authorship.
What are the benefits of reciting the Krishna Chalisa?
It is believed that regular recitation removes a devotee's troubles and poverty, deepens wisdom and devotion in the heart, and brings Krishna's special grace and protection in difficult times, as described in the stories of Sudama and Draupadi.
How many chaupais does it have?
It has two opening dohas, forty chaupais, and one closing doha.
What is the best time to read it?
Wednesdays, or Krishna Janmashtami, after bathing with a lamp lit, are considered ideal.
Is it necessary to know the meaning?
Not necessary, but reading it with the meaning makes the devotion clearer. This page includes a simple meaning alongside every verse.
Can it be read without bathing?
Washing your hands and face and sitting in a clean space is enough. Both devotion and cleanliness matter.