Shri Durga Chalisa in English
Read and download the complete Shri Durga Chalisa in English for free, with the meaning of every chaupai beside it.
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Shri Durga Chalisa in English Lyrics
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Namo Namo Durge Sukh Karni।Namo Namo Ambe Dukh Harani 1
Nirankar Hai Jyoti Tumhari।Tihun Lok Phaili Ujiyari 2
Shashi Lalaat Mukh Mahavishala।Netra Lal Bhrikuti Vikarala 3
Roop Matu Ko Adhik Suhave।Darash Karat Jan Ati Sukh Pave 4
Tum Sansar Shakti Lai Keena।Palan Hetu Ann Dhan Deena 5
Annapurna Hui Jag Pala।Tum Hi Aadi Sundari Bala 6
Pralayakal Sab Nashan Hari।Tum Gauri Shivshankar Pyari 7
Shiv Yogi Tumhre Gun Gaven।Brahma Vishnu Tumhen Nit Dhyaven 8
Roop Saraswati Ko Tum Dhara।De Subuddhi Rishi Munin Ubara 9
Dharyo Roop Narsimha Ko Amba।Pragat Bhai Phaadkar Khamba 10
Raksha Kari Prahlad Bachayo।Hiranyaksh Ko Swarg Pathayo 11
Lakshmi Roop Dharo Jag Mahin।Shri Narayan Ang Samahin 12
Ksheersindhu Mein Karat Vilasa।Dayasindhu Deejai Man Aasa 13
Hinglaj Mein Tumhin Bhavani।Mahima Amit Na Jaat Bakhani 14
Matangi Aru Dhumavati Mata।Bhuvaneshwari Bagla Sukh Data 15
Shri Bhairav Tara Jag Tarini।Chhinna Bhal Bhav Dukh Nivarini 16
Kehari Vahan Soh Bhavani।Langur Veer Chalat Agvani 17
Kar Mein Khappar Khadag Virajai।Jako Dekh Kaal Dar Bhajai 18
Sohai Astra Aur Trishula।Jate Uthat Shatru Hiya Shula 19
Nagarkot Mein Tumhin Virajat।Tihun Lok Mein Danka Bajat 20
Shumbh Nishumbh Danav Tum Mare।Raktabeej Shankhan Sanhare 21
Mahishasur Nrip Ati Abhimani।Jehi Agh Bhar Mahi Akulani 22
Roop Karal Kalika Dhara।Sen Sahit Tum Tihi Sanhara 23
Pari Gaadh Santan Par Jab Jab।Bhai Sahay Matu Tum Tab Tab 24
Amarpuri Aru Basav Loka।Tab Mahima Sab Rahen Ashoka 25
Jwala Mein Hai Jyoti Tumhari।Tumhen Sada Poojen Nar Nari 26
Prem Bhakti Se Jo Yash Gaven।Dukh Daridra Nikat Nahin Aaven 27
Dhyave Tumhen Jo Nar Man Lai।Janm Maran Takau Chhuti Jai 28
Jogi Sur Muni Kahat Pukari।Yog Na Ho Bin Shakti Tumhari 29
Shankar Acharaj Tap Keeno।Kaam Aru Krodh Jeeti Sab Leeno 30
Nishidin Dhyan Dharo Shankar Ko।Kahu Kaal Nahin Sumiro Tumko 31
Shakti Roop Ka Maram Na Payo।Shakti Gai Tab Man Pachhitayo 32
Sharanagat Hui Keerti Bakhani।Jai Jai Jai Jagdamb Bhavani 33
Bhai Prasann Aadi Jagdamba।Dai Shakti Nahin Keen Vilamba 34
Moko Matu Kasht Ati Ghero।Tum Bin Kaun Harai Dukh Mero 35
Asha Trishna Nipat Sataven।Moh Madadik Sab Binshaven 36
Shatru Nash Keejai Maharani।Sumiraun Ikchit Tumhen Bhavani 37
Karo Kripa He Matu Dayala।Riddhi Siddhi Dai Karahu Nihala 38
Jab Lagi Jiyun Daya Phal Paun।Tumhro Yash Main Sada Sunaun 39
Shri Durga Chalisa Jo Koi Gavai।Sab Sukh Bhog Parampad Pavai 40
Devidas Sharan Nij Jaani।Karahu Kripa Jagdamb Bhavani॥
Meaning & Benefits
The Durga Chalisa is forty chaupais in praise of the Divine Mother, closed by a doha in which the poet Devidas names himself. In simple Awadhi, it honours one Shakti in every form: Annapurna, Gauri, Saraswati, Lakshmi, the Mahavidyas and demon-slaying Kalika.
- sorrow and poverty stay away from those who sing her praise with love (chaupai 27)
- freedom from birth and death for one who meditates on her (chaupai 28)
- her help whenever trouble falls on the good (chaupai 24)
- every happiness in this life and the supreme state beyond (chaupai 40)
Vishnu Sahasranamam in English
How to Chant
No initiation is needed and there is no fixed count. The Chalisa itself asks only that it be sung with love and devotion (chaupai 27). What follows is common practice, not a rule.
- Sit before an image of Maa Durga if you have one, light a lamp, and offer a red flower if it is to hand — red is the colour associated with her.
- Begin at "Namo Namo Durge Sukh Karni" and read straight through to the closing doha. The forty chaupais are one continuous hymn; the section headings on this page are only there to help you follow it.
- Read at an even pace. Four chaupais make one stanza in the original, which gives a natural place to breathe.
- Close with the doha and a moment of silence, then the aarti if it is part of your family practice.
- If you are learning it, begin with the first four chaupais and the last four; together they hold the salutation and the prayer.
The nine nights of Navratri, in both Chaitra and Sharad, are the most common time, and many people recite it every day through them. Tuesdays and Fridays are also usual, as is Durga Ashtami. A full recitation takes about six to eight minutes once the verses are familiar.
Morning or evening both suit. A clean place and an attentive mind matter more than any other detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download the Shri Durga Chalisa in English PDF for free?
Yes. The Download PDF button on this page is completely free and needs no sign-up. The file carries the full text — all 40 chaupais and the closing doha — laid out to recite from.
Who wrote the Durga Chalisa?
The closing doha names the poet as Devidas, who asks the Mother for grace as one who has taken refuge in her. Little else is recorded about him; the Chalisa has come down through devotional practice rather than through a written biography.
How many verses are in the Durga Chalisa?
Forty chaupais — "chalisa" means forty — and one closing doha. Each chaupai has two half-lines, and in the original they fall into ten stanzas of four, which is how the sections on this page are arranged.
When is the best time to recite it?
Any day is right. Navratri is the most common time, in both the Chaitra and the Sharad season, along with Durga Ashtami. Tuesdays and Fridays are also widely chosen. Morning and evening both suit.
Is the Durga Chalisa the same as the Durga Saptashati?
No. The Durga Saptashati, also called the Devi Mahatmya, is seven hundred Sanskrit verses from the Markandeya Purana. The Chalisa is a short hymn in Awadhi that retells several of the same episodes — Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha, Raktabija — in a few lines each. Many people recite the Chalisa daily and the Saptashati during Navratri.
Which goddesses are named in the Chalisa?
Durga is praised as the one Shakti behind many forms: Annapurna, Gauri, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kalika, and seven of the ten Mahavidyas — Matangi, Dhumavati, Bhuvaneshwari, Bagalamukhi, Bhairavi, Tara and Chhinnamasta. It also names three of her sacred seats: Hinglaj, Nagarkot and Jwala.
What is the story about Shankaracharya in the Chalisa?
Chaupais 29 to 34 tell how Shankaracharya conquered desire and anger and meditated on Shiva day and night, but never remembered Shakti. His power left him, and it returned only when he took refuge in the Mother and sang her praise. The point is that no spiritual practice succeeds without Shakti.
Do I need to be initiated to recite it?
No. There is no initiation, no fixed number of recitations and no restriction on who may read it. The Chalisa asks only for love and devotion.
Is the English on this page a translation or a transliteration?
Both, kept separate. The verses are given in simple Roman letters, so you recite the original Hindi sounds, and the meaning of each chaupai is given in English beside it. Hover over a line, or tap it on a phone, to see its meaning.
Can I print the PDF or share it with family?
Yes. The PDF is laid out to print cleanly on ordinary A4 paper, and you are welcome to pass it on, print copies for a group, or use it at a temple, a jagran or a school.