Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ बन्दौ चरण सरोज निज जनक लली सुख धाम, राम प्रिय किरपा करें सुमिरौं आठों धाम ॥ कीरति गाथा जो पढ़ें सुधरैं सगरे काम, मन मन्दिर बासा करें दुःख भंजन सिया राम ॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ राम प्रिया रघुपति रघुराई, बैदेही की कीरत गाई ॥ चरण कमल बन्दों सिर नाई, सिय सुरसरि सब पाप नसाई ॥ जनक दुलारी राघव प्यारी, भरत लखन शत्रुहन वारी ॥ दिव्या धरा सों उपजी सीता, मिथिलेश्वर भयो नेह अतीता ॥ सिया रूप भायो मनवा अति, रच्यो स्वयंवर जनक महीपति ॥ भारी शिव धनु खींचै जोई, सिय जयमाल साजिहैं सोई ॥ भूपति नरपति रावण संगा, नाहिं करि सके शिव धनु भंगा ॥ जनक निराश भए लखि कारन, जनम्यो नाहिं अवनिमोहि तारन ॥ यह सुन विश्वामित्र मुस्काए, राम लखन मुनि सीस नवाए ॥ आज्ञा पाई उठे रघुराई, इष्ट देव गुरु हियहिं मनाई ॥ जनक सुता गौरी सिर नावा, राम रूप उनके हिय भावा ॥ मारत पलक राम कर धनु लै, खंड खंड करि पटकिन भू पै ॥ जय जयकार हुई अति भारी, आनन्दित भए सबैं नर नारी ॥ सिय चली जयमाल सम्हाले, मुदित होय ग्रीवा में डाले ॥ मंगल बाज बजे चहुँ ओरा, परे राम संग सिया के फेरा ॥ लौटी बारात अवधपुर आई, तीनों मातु करैं नोराई ॥ कैकेई कनक भवन सिय दीन्हा, मातु सुमित्रा गोदहि लीन्हा ॥ कौशल्या सूत भेंट दियो सिय, हरख अपार हुए सीता हिय ॥ सब विधि बांटी बधाई, राजतिलक कई युक्ति सुनाई ॥ मंद मती मंथरा अडाइन, राम न भरत राजपद पाइन ॥ कैकेई कोप भवन मा गइली, वचन पति सों अपनेई गहिली ॥ चौदह बरस कोप बनवासा, भरत राजपद देहि दिलासा ॥ आज्ञा मानि चले रघुराई, संग जानकी लक्षमन भाई ॥ सिय श्री राम पथ पथ भटकैं, मृग मारीचि देखि मन अटकै ॥ राम गए माया मृग मारन, रावण साधु बन्यो सिय कारन ॥ भिक्षा कै मिस लै सिय भाग्यो, लंका जाई डरावन लाग्यो ॥ राम वियोग सों सिय अकुलानी, रावण सों कही कर्कश बानी ॥ हनुमान प्रभु लाए अंगूठी, सिय चूड़ामणि दिहिन अनूठी ॥ अष्ठसिद्धि नवनिधि वर पावा, महावीर सिय शीश नवावा ॥ सेतु बाँधी प्रभु लंका जीती, भक्त विभीषण सों करि प्रीती ॥ चढ़ि विमान सिय रघुपति आए, भरत भ्रात प्रभु चरण सुहाए ॥ अवध नरेश पाई राघव से, सिय महारानी देखि हिय हुलसे ॥ रजक बोल सुनी सिय बन भेजी, लखनलाल प्रभु बात सहेजी ॥ बाल्मीक मुनि आश्रय दीन्यो, लवकुश जन्म वहाँ पै लीन्हो ॥ विविध भाँती गुण शिक्षा दीन्हीं, दोनुह रामचरित रट लीन्ही ॥ लरिकल कै सुनि सुमधुर बानी, रामसिया सुत दुई पहिचानी ॥ भूलमानि सिय वापस लाए, राम जानकी सबहि सुहाए ॥ सती प्रमाणिकता केहि कारन, बसुंधरा सिय के हिय धारन ॥ अवनि सुता अवनी मां सोई, राम जानकी यही विधि खोई ॥ पतिव्रता मर्यादित माता, सीता सती नवावों माथा ॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ जनकसुत अवनिधिया राम प्रिया लवमात, चरणकमल जेहि उन बसै सीता सुमिरै प्रात ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Bandau Charan Saroj Nij Janak Lali Sukh Dham Ram Priy Kirapa Karen Sumiraun Athon Dham. Kirati Gatha Jo Parhen Sudharain Sagare Kam Man Mandir Basa Karen Duhkh Bhanjan Siya Ram. Chaupai: Ram Priya Raghupati Raghurai Baidehi Ki Kirat Gai. Charan Kamal Bandon Sir Nai Siy Surasari Sab Pap Nasai. Janak Dulari Raghav Pyari Bharat Lakhan Shatruhan Vari. Divya Dhara Son Upaji Sita Mithileshvar Bhayo Neh Atita. Siya Rup Bhayo Manava Ati Rachyo Svayanvar Janak Mahipati. Bhari Shiv Dhanu Khinchai Joi Siy Jayamal Sajihain Soi. Bhupati Narapati Ravan Sanga Nahin Kari Sake Shiv Dhanu Bhanga. Janak Nirash Bhae Lakhi Karan Janamyo Nahin Avanimohi Taran. Yah Sun Vishvamitra Muskae Ram Lakhan Muni Sis Navae. Agya Pai Uthe Raghurai Ishta Dev Guru Hiyahin Manai. Janak Suta Gauri Sir Nava Ram Rup Unake Hiy Bhava. Marat Palak Ram Kar Dhanu Lai Khand Khand Kari Patakin Bhu Pai. Jai Jayakar Hui Ati Bhari Anandit Bhae Sabain Nar Nari. Siy Chali Jayamal Samhale Mudit Hoy Griva Mein Dale. Mangal Baj Baje Chahun Ora Pare Ram Sang Siya Ke Phera. Lauti Barat Avadhapur Ai Tinon Matu Karain Norai. Kaikei Kanak Bhavan Siy Dinha Matu Sumitra Godahi Linha. Kaushalya Sut Bhent Diyo Siy Harakh Apar Hue Sita Hiy. Sab Vidhi Banti Badhai Rajatilak Kai Yukti Sunai. Mand Mati Manthara Adain Ram Na Bharat Rajapad Pain. Kaikei Kop Bhavan Ma Gaili Vachan Pati Son Apanei Gahili. Chaudah Baras Kop Banavasa Bharat Rajapad Dehi Dilasa. Agya Mani Chale Raghurai Sang Janaki Lakshaman Bhai. Siy Shri Ram Path Path Bhatakain Mrig Marichi Dekhi Man Atakai. Ram Gae Maya Mrig Maran Ravan Sadhu Banyo Siy Karan. Bhiksha Kai Mis Lai Siy Bhagyo Lanka Jai Daravan Lagyo. Ram Viyog Son Siy Akulani Ravan Son Kahi Karkash Bani. Hanuman Prabhu Lae Anguthi Siy Churamani Dihin Anuthi. Ashthasiddhi Navanidhi Var Pava Mahavir Siy Shish Navava. Setu Bandhi Prabhu Lanka Jiti Bhakta Vibhishan Son Kari Priti. Charhi Viman Siy Raghupati Ae Bharat Bhrat Prabhu Charan Suhae. Avadh Naresh Pai Raghav Se Siy Maharani Dekhi Hiy Hulase. Rajak Bol Suni Siy Ban Bheji Lakhanalal Prabhu Bat Saheji. Balmik Muni Ashray Dinyo Lavakush Janma Vahan Pai Linho. Vividh Bhanti Gun Shiksha Dinhin Donuh Ramacharit Rat Linhi. Larikal Kai Suni Sumadhur Bani Ramasiya Sut Dui Pahichani. Bhulamani Siy Vapas Lae Ram Janaki Sabahi Suhae. Sati Pramanikata Kehi Karan Basundhara Siy Ke Hiy Dharan. Avani Suta Avani Man Soi Ram Janaki Yahi Vidhi Khoi. Pativrata Maryadit Mata Sita Sati Navavon Matha. Doha: Janakasut Avanidhiya Ram Priya Lavamat Charanakamal Jehi Un Basai Sita Sumirai Prat.
The Ramayana, told for Sita
Most Rama bhakti puts Rama at the centre. The Sita Chalisa keeps the same story but turns the camera. Its forty chaupais follow Sita — Janaki, Vaidehi, Maithili, "the daughter of the earth" — from the furrow in Mithila to the moment the earth takes her back. The opening doha bows to "the lotus feet of Janak's darling, abode of happiness", and asks that Siya-Ram dwell in the temple of the heart.
What the chalisa narrates
- Birth: "Divya dhara son upaji Sita" — Sita appeared from the divine earth, and King Janaka, the Mithileshwar, loved her beyond measure.
- The swayamvar: whoever strings Shiva's great bow will be garlanded by Sita; kings and even Ravana fail; Janaka despairs; Vishvamitra smiles, Rama rises, and the bow breaks into pieces. Sita garlands him amid cries of victory.
- Ayodhya: the three mothers welcome her; Kaikeyi gives her the Kanak Bhavan; Sumitra takes her in her lap. Then Manthara's scheming, Kaikeyi in the sulking-chamber, and fourteen years of exile.
- The forest: the golden deer Maricha, Ravana disguised as a sadhu taking her by the pretext of alms, her harsh words to Ravana in Lanka, and her grief in separation.
- Hanuman: he brings Rama's ring; she gives her chudamani in return, and blesses him with the eight siddhis and nine nidhis — the same boon the Hanuman Chalisa remembers ("ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke data, as bar deen Janaki mata").
- Return: the bridge, the victory, friendship with Vibhishana, the Pushpaka flight home, Bharata at Rama's feet.
- The Uttara Kanda: the washerman's words, Sita sent to the forest with Lakshmana's help, Valmiki's shelter, the birth of Lav and Kush, who learn the Rama-charit by heart; Rama hears their sweet voices and recognises his sons, brings Sita back — and, asked to prove her purity, Sita enters the earth, "Avani suta Avani maan soi".
The last chaupai bows to her as pativrata, maryadit mata — the mother who kept every bound — and the closing doha asks that whoever remembers Sita each morning have her lotus feet in their heart.
When to recite it
- Sita Navami (Janaki Jayanti), Vaishakh shukla navami, her appearance day.
- Vivah Panchami, Margashirsha shukla panchami, the wedding of Sita and Rama.
- Ram Navami and during Ramayana path, alongside the Ram Chalisa.
- Many women recite it for a harmonious married life, though the chalisa itself makes no such promise — its only phala is Sita's presence in the heart.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sita Navami?
On Vaishakh shukla navami, about a month after Ram Navami. Sita Chalisa is recited that day along with Sita-Ram puja.
Does the Sita Chalisa include her return to the earth?
Yes. Unlike many Ramayana retellings that stop at the coronation, it includes the Uttara Kanda — exile, Lav-Kush and Sita entering the earth.
Which boon did Sita give Hanuman in the chalisa?
The eight siddhis and nine nidhis, after he brought Rama's ring and she gave him her chudamani.
Who wrote the Sita Chalisa?
The text carries no poet's name. It is a folk-devotional chalisa in Awadhi-coloured Hindi.
Can men recite the Sita Chalisa?
Yes. It is a prayer to Sita Mata and is recited by anyone who wishes.
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