Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ श्री गुरु चरण सरोज छवि, निज मन मन्दिर धारि। सुमरि गजानन शारदा, गहि आशिष त्रिपुरारि॥ बुद्धिहीन जन जानिये, अवगुणों का भण्डार। बरणों परशुराम सुयश, निज मति के अनुसार॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ जय प्रभु परशुराम सुख सागर । जय मुनीश गुण ज्ञान दिवाकर ॥ भृगुकुल मुकुट विकट रणधीरा । क्षत्रिय तेज मुख संत शरीरा ॥ जमदग्नी सुत रेणुका जाया । तेज प्रताप सकल जग छाया ॥ मास बैसाख सित पच्छ उदारा । तृतीया पुनर्वसु मनुहारा ॥ प्रहर प्रथम निशा शीत न घामा । तिथि प्रदोष व्यापि सुखधामा ॥ तब ऋषि कुटीर रूदन शिशु कीन्हा । रेणुका कोखि जनम हरि लीन्हा ॥ निज घर उच्च ग्रह छः ठाढ़े । मिथुन राशि राहु सुख गाढ़े ॥ तेज-ज्ञान मिल नर तनु धारा । जमदग्नी घर ब्रह्म अवतारा ॥ धरा राम शिशु पावन नामा । नाम जपत जग लह विश्रामा ॥ भाल त्रिपुण्ड जटा सिर सुन्दर । कांधे मुंज जनेऊ मनहर ॥ मंजु मेखला कटि मृगछाला । रूद्र माला बर वक्ष विशाला ॥ पीत बसन सुन्दर तनु सोहें । कंध तुणीर धनुष मन मोहें ॥ वेद-पुराण-श्रुति-स्मृति ज्ञाता । क्रोध रूप तुम जग विख्याता ॥ दायें हाथ श्रीपरशु उठावा । वेद-संहिता बायें सुहावा ॥ विद्यावान गुण ज्ञान अपारा । शास्त्र-शस्त्र दोउ पर अधिकारा ॥ भुवन चारिदस अरु नवखंडा । चहुं दिशि सुयश प्रताप प्रचंडा ॥ एक बार गणपति के संगा । जूझे भृगुकुल कमल पतंगा ॥ दांत तोड़ रण कीन्ह विरामा । एक दंत गणपति भयो नामा ॥ कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन भूपाला । सहस्रबाहु दुर्जन विकराला ॥ सुरगऊ लखि जमदग्नी पांहीं । रखिहहुं निज घर ठानि मन मांहीं ॥ मिली न मांगि तब कीन्ह लड़ाई । भयो पराजित जगत हंसाई ॥ तन खल हृदय भई रिस गाढ़ी । रिपुता मुनि सौं अतिसय बाढ़ी ॥ ऋषिवर रहे ध्यान लवलीना । तिन्ह पर शक्तिघात नृप कीन्हा ॥ लगत शक्ति जमदग्नी निपाता । मनहुं क्षत्रिकुल बाम विधाता ॥ पितु-बध मातु-रूदन सुनि भारा । भा अति क्रोध मन शोक अपारा ॥ कर गहि तीक्षण परशु कराला । दुष्ट हनन कीन्हेउ तत्काला ॥ क्षत्रिय रुधिर पितु तर्पण कीन्हा । पितु-बध प्रतिशोध सुत लीन्हा ॥ इक्कीस बार भू क्षत्रिय बिहीनी । छीन धरा बिप्रन्ह कहँ दीनी ॥ जुग त्रेता कर चरित सुहाई । शिव-धनु भंग कीन्ह रघुराई ॥ गुरु धनु भंजक रिपु करि जाना । तब समूल नाश ताहि ठाना ॥ कर जोरि तब राम रघुराई । बिनय कीन्ही पुनि शक्ति दिखाई ॥ भीष्म द्रोण कर्ण बलवन्ता । भये शिष्या द्वापर महँ अनन्ता ॥ शास्त्र विद्या देह सुयश कमावा । गुरु प्रताप दिगन्त फिरावा ॥ चारों युग तव महिमा गाई । सुर मुनि मनुज दनुज समुदाई ॥ दे कश्यप सों संपदा भाई । तप कीन्हा महेन्द्र गिरि जाई ॥ अब लौं लीन समाधि नाथा । सकल लोक नावइ नित माथा ॥ चारों वर्ण एक सम जाना । समदर्शी प्रभु तुम भगवाना ॥ ललहिं चारि फल शरण तुम्हारी । देव दनुज नर भूप भिखारी ॥ जो यह पढ़ै श्री परशु चालीसा । तिन्ह अनुकूल सदा गौरीसा ॥ पृर्णेन्दु निसि बासर स्वामी । बसहु हृदय प्रभु अन्तरयामी॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ परशुराम को चारू चरित, मेटत सकल अज्ञान । शरण पड़े को देत प्रभु, सदा सुयश सम्मान ॥ ॥ श्लोक ॥ भृगुदेव कुलं भानुं, सहस्रबाहुर्मर्दनम् । रेणुका नयना नंदं, परशुंवन्दे विप्रधनम् ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Shri Guru Charan Saroj Chhavi Nij Man Mandir Dhari Sumari Gajanan Sharada Gahi Ashish Tripurari. Buddhihin Jan Janiye Avagunon Ka Bhandar Baranon Parashuram Suyash Nij Mati Ke Anusar. Chaupai: Jai Prabhu Parashuram Sukh Sagar Jai Munish Gun Gyan Divakar. Bhrigukul Mukut Vikat Ranadhira Kshatriy Tej Mukh Sant Sharira. Jamadagni Sut Renuka Jaya Tej Pratap Sakal Jag Chhaya. Mas Baisakh Sit Pachchha Udara Tritiya Punarvasu Manuhara. Prahar Pratham Nisha Shit Na Ghama Tithi Pradosh Vyapi Sukhadhama. Tab Rishi Kutir Rudan Shishu Kinha Renuka Kokhi Janam Hari Linha. Nij Ghar Uchcha Grah Chhah Tharhe Mithun Rashi Rahu Sukh Garhe. Tej-gyan Mil Nar Tanu Dhara Jamadagni Ghar Brahma Avatara. Dhara Ram Shishu Pavan Nama Nam Japat Jag Lah Vishrama. Bhal Tripunda Jata Sir Sundar Kandhe Munj Janeu Manahar. Manju Mekhala Kati Mrigachhala Rudra Mala Bar Vaksha Vishala. Pit Basan Sundar Tanu Sohen Kandh Tunir Dhanush Man Mohen. Ved-puran-shruti-smriti Gyata Krodh Rup Tum Jag Vikhyata. Dayen Hath Shriparashu Uthava Ved-sanhita Bayen Suhava. Vidyavan Gun Gyan Apara Shastra-shastra Dou Par Adhikara. Bhuvan Charidas Aru Navakhanda Chahun Dishi Suyash Pratap Prachanda. Ek Bar Ganapati Ke Sanga Jujhe Bhrigukul Kamal Patanga. Dant Tor Ran Kinha Virama Ek Dant Ganapati Bhayo Nama. Kartavirya Arjun Bhupala Sahasrabahu Durjan Vikarala. Suragau Lakhi Jamadagni Panhin Rakhihahun Nij Ghar Thani Man Manhin. Mili Na Mangi Tab Kinha Larai Bhayo Parajit Jagat Hansai. Tan Khal Hriday Bhai Ris Garhi Riputa Muni Saun Atisay Barhi. Rishivar Rahe Dhyan Lavalina Tinha Par Shaktighat Nrip Kinha. Lagat Shakti Jamadagni Nipata Manahun Kshatrikul Bam Vidhata. Pitu-badh Matu-rudan Suni Bhara Bha Ati Krodh Man Shok Apara. Kar Gahi Tikshan Parashu Karala Dushta Hanan Kinheu Tatkala. Kshatriy Rudhir Pitu Tarpan Kinha Pitu-badh Pratishodh Sut Linha. Ikkis Bar Bhu Kshatriy Bihini Chhin Dhara Bipranha Kahan Dini. Jug Treta Kar Charit Suhai Shiv-dhanu Bhang Kinha Raghurai. Guru Dhanu Bhanjak Ripu Kari Jana Tab Samul Nash Tahi Thana. Kar Jori Tab Ram Raghurai Binay Kinhi Puni Shakti Dikhai. Bhishma Dron Karna Balavanta Bhaye Shishya Dvapar Mahan Ananta. Shastra Vidya Deh Suyash Kamava Guru Pratap Diganta Phirava. Charon Yug Tav Mahima Gai Sur Muni Manuj Danuj Samudai. De Kashyap Son Sampada Bhai Tap Kinha Mahendra Giri Jai. Ab Laun Lin Samadhi Natha Sakal Lok Navai Nit Matha. Charon Varna Ek Sam Jana Samadarshi Prabhu Tum Bhagavana. Lalahin Chari Phal Sharan Tumhari Dev Danuj Nar Bhup Bhikhari. Jo Yah Parhai Shri Parashu Chalisa Tinha Anukul Sada Gaurisa. Prirnendu Nisi Basar Svami Basahu Hriday Prabhu Antarayami. Doha: Parashuram Ko Charu Charit Metat Sakal Agyan Sharan Pare Ko Det Prabhu Sada Suyash Samman. Shloka: Bhrigudev Kulan Bhanun, Sahasrabahurmardanam Renuka Nayana Nandan, Parashunvande Vipradhanam.
The brahmin with the axe
Parshuram — Rama "with the parashu", the axe Shiva gave him — is the sixth of Vishnu's ten avatars and the one who most confuses expectations: born a brahmin in Bhrigu's line, he lived as a warrior. The chalisa catches this in its third line: "Kshatriya tej mukh sant sharira" — a kshatriya's fire in his face, a saint's body. He is one of the seven chiranjeevis, believed to be alive still, in tapas on Mahendra mountain.
What the chalisa tells
- Birth: son of Jamadagni and Renuka, born in Vaishakh, shukla paksha, on the tritiya under Punarvasu nakshatra, in the first prahar of the night — the date kept as Akshaya Tritiya and Parshuram Jayanti. The chalisa even gives his chart: six planets exalted, Rahu in Mithuna. He was named Rama.
- His form: tripundra on the forehead, matted locks, the munja sacred thread, a deerskin, rudraksha on his chest, yellow garments, quiver and bow on his shoulder, the axe in his right hand and the Veda in his left — "master of both shastra and shastra", scripture and weapon.
- Ekadanta: once, fighting Ganapati, he broke one of his tusks, and Ganesha became "the one-tusked".
- Sahasrabahu: King Kartavirya Arjuna saw the wish-giving cow at Jamadagni's ashram and wanted her; refused, he fought and was defeated, and in hatred later struck down the sage while he sat in meditation. Hearing his mother's wail, Parshuram took up the axe, avenged his father and offered the kshatriyas' blood in tarpana. Twenty-one times he cleared the earth of kshatriyas and gave the land to brahmins.
- Treta and Dvapara: when Rama broke Shiva's bow — the bow of his own guru — Parshuram came in fury, until Rama folded his hands and showed his power. In Dvapara, Bhishma, Drona and Karna were his pupils.
- Renunciation: he gave all the earth to Kashyapa and went to Mahendra mountain for tapas, where "he is absorbed in samadhi to this day".
The last chaupais add something worth noticing: "Charon varna ek sam jaana, samadarshi prabhu tum bhagwana" — you saw the four varnas as one. The closing Sanskrit shloka salutes him as "the sun of Bhrigu's line, crusher of Sahasrabahu, joy of Renuka's eyes".
When to recite it
- Parshuram Jayanti / Akshaya Tritiya, Vaishakh shukla tritiya.
- Many recite it on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and before undertakings that need courage and self-discipline.
- The chalisa's own phala: whoever reads it has Gaurisha (Shiva) always favourable.
Frequently asked questions
When was Parshuram born?
According to the chalisa, on Vaishakh shukla tritiya, under Punarvasu nakshatra, in the first prahar of the night — the day celebrated as Akshaya Tritiya and Parshuram Jayanti.
Why did Parshuram fight the kshatriyas twenty-one times?
Because King Sahasrabahu (Kartavirya Arjuna) killed his father Jamadagni after failing to take the sage's divine cow. The chalisa says he cleared the earth of kshatriyas twenty-one times and gave the land to brahmins.
Is Parshuram still alive?
Tradition counts him among the seven chiranjeevis, and the chalisa says he is still in samadhi on Mahendra mountain.
Who were Parshuram's disciples?
The chalisa names Bhishma, Drona and Karna, all taught by him in the Mahabharata age.
How did Ganesha lose his tusk, according to the chalisa?
In a fight with Parshuram, who broke one tusk — one of the stories behind Ganesha's name Ekadanta.
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