Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ विष्णु सुनिए विनय सेवक की चितलाय । कीरत कुछ वर्णन करूं दीजै ज्ञान बताय । ॥ चौपाई ॥ नमो विष्णु भगवान खरारी । कष्ट नशावन अखिल बिहारी॥1॥ प्रबल जगत में शक्ति तुम्हारी । त्रिभुवन फैल रही उजियारी॥2॥ सुन्दर रूप मनोहर सूरत । सरल स्वभाव मोहनी मूरत॥3॥ तन पर पीतांबर अति सोहत । बैजन्ती माला मन मोहत॥4॥ शंख चक्र कर गदा बिराजे । देखत दैत्य असुर दल भाजे॥5॥ सत्य धर्म मद लोभ न गाजे । काम क्रोध मद लोभ न छाजे॥6॥ संतभक्त सज्जन मनरंजन । दनुज असुर दुष्टन दल गंजन॥7॥ सुख उपजाय कष्ट सब भंजन । दोष मिटाय करत जन सज्जन॥8॥ पाप काट भव सिंधु उतारण । कष्ट नाशकर भक्त उबारण॥9॥ करत अनेक रूप प्रभु धारण । केवल आप भक्ति के कारण॥10॥ धरणि धेनु बन तुमहिं पुकारा । तब तुम रूप राम का धारा॥11॥ भार उतार असुर दल मारा । रावण आदिक को संहारा॥12॥ आप वराह रूप बनाया । हरण्याक्ष को मार गिराया॥13॥ धर मत्स्य तन सिंधु बनाया । चौदह रतनन को निकलाया॥14॥ अमिलख असुरन द्वंद मचाया । रूप मोहनी आप दिखाया॥15॥ देवन को अमृत पान कराया । असुरन को छवि से बहलाया॥16॥ कूर्म रूप धर सिंधु मझाया । मंद्राचल गिरि तुरत उठाया॥17॥ शंकर का तुम फन्द छुड़ाया । भस्मासुर को रूप दिखाया॥18॥ वेदन को जब असुर डुबाया । कर प्रबंध उन्हें ढूंढवाया॥19॥ मोहित बनकर खलहि नचाया । उसही कर से भस्म कराया॥20॥ असुर जलंधर अति बलदाई । शंकर से उन कीन्ह लडाई॥21॥ हार पार शिव सकल बनाई । कीन सती से छल खल जाई॥22॥ सुमिरन कीन तुम्हें शिवरानी । बतलाई सब विपत कहानी॥23॥ तब तुम बने मुनीश्वर ज्ञानी । वृन्दा की सब सुरति भुलानी॥24॥ देखत तीन दनुज शैतानी । वृन्दा आय तुम्हें लपटानी॥25॥ हो स्पर्श धर्म क्षति मानी । हना असुर उर शिव शैतानी॥26॥ तुमने ध्रुव प्रहलाद उबारे । हिरणाकुश आदिक खल मारे॥27॥ गणिका और अजामिल तारे । बहुत भक्त भव सिन्धु उतारे॥28॥ हरहु सकल संताप हमारे । कृपा करहु हरि सिरजन हारे॥29॥ देखहुं मैं निज दरश तुम्हारे । दीन बन्धु भक्तन हितकारे॥30॥ चहत आपका सेवक दर्शन । करहु दया अपनी मधुसूदन॥31॥ जानूं नहीं योग्य जप पूजन । होय यज्ञ स्तुति अनुमोदन॥32॥ शीलदया सन्तोष सुलक्षण । विदित नहीं व्रतबोध विलक्षण॥33॥ करहुं आपका किस विधि पूजन । कुमति विलोक होत दुख भीषण॥34॥ करहुं प्रणाम कौन विधिसुमिरण । कौन भांति मैं करहु समर्पण॥35॥ सुर मुनि करत सदा सेवकाई । हर्षित रहत परम गति पाई॥36॥ दीन दुखिन पर सदा सहाई । निज जन जान लेव अपनाई॥37॥ पाप दोष संताप नशाओ । भव-बंधन से मुक्त कराओ॥38॥ सुख संपत्ति दे सुख उपजाओ । निज चरनन का दास बनाओ॥39॥ निगम सदा ये विनय सुनावै । पढ़ै सुनै सो जन सुख पावै॥40॥
Transliteration
Doha: Vishnu Sunie Vinay Sevak Ki Chitalay, Kirat Kuchh Varnan Karun Dijai Gyan Batay. Chaupai: 1. Namo Vishnu Bhagavan Kharari, Kashta Nashavan Akhil Bihari. 2. Prabal Jagat Mein Shakti Tumhari, Tribhuvan Phail Rahi Ujiyari. 3. Sundar Rup Manohar Surat, Saral Svabhav Mohani Murat. 4. Tan Par Pitambar Ati Sohat, Baijanti Mala Man Mohat. 5. Shankh Chakra Kar Gada Biraje, Dekhat Daitya Asur Dal Bhaje. 6. Satya Dharma Mad Lobh Na Gaje, Kam Krodh Mad Lobh Na Chhaje. 7. Santabhakta Sajjan Manaranjan, Danuj Asur Dushtan Dal Ganjan. 8. Sukh Upajay Kashta Sab Bhanjan, Dosh Mitay Karat Jan Sajjan. 9. Pap Kat Bhav Sindhu Utaran, Kashta Nashakar Bhakta Ubaran. 10. Karat Anek Rup Prabhu Dharan, Keval Ap Bhakti Ke Karan. 11. Dharani Dhenu Ban Tumahin Pukara, Tab Tum Rup Ram Ka Dhara. 12. Bhar Utar Asur Dal Mara, Ravan Adik Ko Sanhara. 13. Ap Varah Rup Banaya, Haranyaksha Ko Mar Giraya. 14. Dhar Matsya Tan Sindhu Banaya, Chaudah Ratanan Ko Nikalaya. 15. Amilakh Asuran Dvand Machaya, Rup Mohani Ap Dikhaya. 16. Devan Ko Amrit Pan Karaya, Asuran Ko Chhavi Se Bahalaya. 17. Kurma Rup Dhar Sindhu Majhaya, Mandrachal Giri Turat Uthaya. 18. Shankar Ka Tum Phanda Chhuraya, Bhasmasur Ko Rup Dikhaya. 19. Vedan Ko Jab Asur Dubaya, Kar Prabandh Unhein Dhundhavaya. 20. Mohit Banakar Khalahi Nachaya, Usahi Kar Se Bhasma Karaya. 21. Asur Jalandhar Ati Baladai, Shankar Se Un Kinha Ladai. 22. Har Par Shiv Sakal Banai, Kin Sati Se Chhal Khal Jai. 23. Sumiran Kin Tumhein Shivarani, Batalai Sab Vipat Kahani. 24. Tab Tum Bane Munishvar Gyani, Vrinda Ki Sab Surati Bhulani. 25. Dekhat Tin Danuj Shaitani, Vrinda Ay Tumhein Lapatani. 26. Ho Sparsha Dharma Kshati Mani, Hana Asur Ur Shiv Shaitani. 27. Tumane Dhruv Prahalad Ubare, Hiranakush Adik Khal Mare. 28. Ganika Aur Ajamil Tare, Bahut Bhakta Bhav Sindhu Utare. 29. Harahu Sakal Santap Hamare, Kripa Karahu Hari Sirajan Hare. 30. Dekhahun Main Nij Darash Tumhare, Din Bandhu Bhaktan Hitakare. 31. Chahat Apaka Sevak Darshan, Karahu Daya Apani Madhusudan. 32. Janun Nahin Yogya Jap Pujan, Hoy Yagya Stuti Anumodan. 33. Shiladaya Santosh Sulakshan, Vidit Nahin Vratabodh Vilakshan. 34. Karahun Apaka Kis Vidhi Pujan, Kumati Vilok Hot Dukh Bhishan. 35. Karahun Pranam Kaun Vidhisumiran, Kaun Bhanti Main Karahu Samarpan. 36. Sur Muni Karat Sada Sevakai, Harshit Rahat Param Gati Pai. 37. Din Dukhin Par Sada Sahai, Nij Jan Jan Lev Apanai. 38. Pap Dosh Santap Nashao, Bhav-Bandhan Se Mukta Karao. 39. Sukh Sampatti De Sukh Upajao, Nij Charanan Ka Das Banao. 40. Nigam Sada Ye Vinay Sunavai, Parhai Sunai So Jan Sukh Pavai.
A humble opening
The single opening doha is a request rather than a boast: "Vishnu, listen attentively to your servant's plea — I will describe a little of your glory; grant me the understanding to do it." The first chaupai greets him as Kharari, the enemy of the demon Khara — an epithet from the Ramayana — and the next few paint his form: a yellow pitambar, the vaijayanti garland, and conch, discus and mace at the sight of which demon armies flee.
The avatars, told in quick strokes
Verse 10 gives the key to the whole middle section: he takes many forms "only for the sake of bhakti." The chalisa then moves quickly through them. When the Earth, in the form of a cow, cried out to him, he became Ram and killed Ravana. As Varaha he felled Hiranyaksha. It connects the Matsya form with bringing out the fourteen jewels of the ocean, shows him as Mohini giving the gods amrit while distracting the asuras with her beauty, and as Kurma lifting Mount Mandarachal. It also recalls his recovery of the Vedas and how he freed Shiva from Bhasmasura — dancing as an enchantress until the demon put his own hand on his head and burned to ash.
The Jalandhar and Vrinda episode
Verses 21–26 tell a less familiar story at some length. The mighty asura Jalandhar fought Shiva and then went to deceive Sati (Parvati). She called on Vishnu and told him everything; he took the form of a wise sage and clouded the awareness of Vrinda, Jalandhar's devoted wife, whose fidelity had been his protection. When she embraced him, her vow was held to be broken — and with it gone, Shiva struck Jalandhar down. It's a morally complicated tale, and the chalisa tells it plainly as one of Vishnu's interventions.
Saviour of devotees
Then come the rescues: Dhruva and Prahlad, the destruction of Hiranyakashipu, and the deliverance of the courtesan Ganika and the sinner Ajamil — both classic examples of the idea that sincere remembrance of Hari saves even the fallen. The closing verses turn personal and disarmingly honest: "I don't know proper japa or puja… I don't know how to worship you, how to bow, how to surrender." The final verse is its own phalashruti: whoever reads or hears it finds happiness.
When it's recited
Thursday is Vishnu's day (see Thursday Vishnu Bhakti), and the chalisa is also widely read on Ekadashi, usually followed by the aarti Om Jai Jagdish Hare.