Hanuman Chalisa Line-by-Line Meaning - Complete English Translation

The Hanuman Chalisa opens with two dohas (couplets) by Tulsidas before the main 40 chaupais. These dohas set the spiritual tone and invoke Hanuman's grace.

Doha 1:

'श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मन मुकुर सुधारि। बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि॥'

Transliteration: Shri-guru charan saroj raj, nij mann mukur sudhari. Baranau Raghubar bimal jasu, jo dayaku phal chari.

Line-by-line meaning:

• 'Shri-guru charan saroj raj' - The dust of the lotus feet of my divine teacher
• 'Nij mann mukur sudhari' - I purify the mirror of my mind with
• 'Baranau Raghubar bimal jasu' - I now describe the pure glory of Lord Rama
• 'Jo dayaku phal chari' - Who bestows the four fruits of life (dharma, artha, kama, moksha)

Doha 2:

'बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार। बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार॥'

Transliteration: Buddhihin tanu janike, sumirau Pavan-Kumar. Bal buddhi vidya dehu mohin, harahu kales bikar.

Line-by-line meaning:

• 'Buddhihin tanu janike' - Knowing myself as devoid of intelligence
• 'Sumirau Pavan-Kumar' - I remember/meditate on the Son of the Wind (Hanuman)
• 'Bal buddhi vidya dehu mohin' - Grant me strength, wisdom, and knowledge
• 'Harahu kales bikar' - Remove my afflictions and impurities

These two dohas are spiritually critical - they establish humility before chanting. Tulsidas himself called his own intellect 'devoid of merit' (buddhihin) before invoking Hanuman. This humility is the key that opens Hanuman's grace.

Chaupai 1: 'जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर। जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥'

• Victory to Hanuman, ocean of knowledge and virtues. Victory to the Lord of monkeys, illuminator of three worlds.

Chaupai 2: 'राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा। अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥'

• Messenger of Rama, abode of unmatched strength. Son of Anjani, known as Son of the Wind (Pavan-Suta).

Chaupai 3: 'महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी। कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥'

• Great warrior with thunderbolt-like body (Bajrangi). You destroy bad thoughts and accompany the wise.

Chaupai 4: 'कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा। कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा॥'

• Golden-bodied (kanchan-varn), beautifully adorned. Earrings in your ears and curly hair.

Chaupai 5: 'हाथ बज्र अरु ध्वजा बिराजै। काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥'

• Vajra (thunderbolt mace) in one hand, flag in the other. Sacred thread of moonj grass on your shoulder.

Chaupai 6: 'शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन। तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन॥'

• Son of Shankar (Shiva via Rudra-incarnation), beloved son of Kesari (your earthly father). Your glory and might are worshipped throughout the world.

Chaupai 7: 'विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर। राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥'

• Most learned, virtuous, and clever. Always eager to do Rama's work.

Chaupai 8: 'प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया। राम लखन सीता मन बसिया॥'

• You delight in listening to the Lord's stories. Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita reside in your heart.

Chaupai 9: 'सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा। बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥'

• You took tiny form to show yourself to Sita. You took huge form to burn Lanka.

Chaupai 10: 'भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे। रामचंद्र के काज सँवारे॥'

• You took terrible form to destroy demons. You accomplished all of Lord Rama's tasks.

Chaupai 11: 'लाय सजीवन लखन जियाये। श्री रघुबीर हरषि उर लाये॥'

• You brought the Sanjivani herb and revived Lakshmana. The joyful Lord Rama embraced you to his heart.

Chaupai 12: 'रघुपति कीन्हीं बहुत बड़ाई। तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई॥'

• Lord Rama praised you greatly: 'You are as dear to me as my brother Bharata.'

Chaupai 13: 'सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं। अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं॥'

• 'A thousand mouths will sing your praises,' saying this, Lord Rama (Lakshmi's husband) embraced you.

Chaupai 14: 'सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा। नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥'

• Sages Sanaka and others, Brahma and other gods, Narada, Saraswati, and Sheshanaga -

Chaupai 15: 'जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहाँ ते। कबि कोबिद कहि सकैं कहाँ ते॥'

• Yama (death), Kubera (wealth), and rulers of directions - no poet or scholar can fully describe your glory.

Chaupai 16: 'तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा। राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा॥'

• You did a great favor for Sugriva. You united him with Rama and got him his kingdom back.

Chaupai 17: 'तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषन माना। लंकेस्वर भये सब जग जाना॥'

• Vibhishana followed your advice. He became the king of Lanka - the whole world knows this.

Chaupai 18: 'जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू। लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥'

• The Sun is millions of yojanas away. You swallowed it thinking it was a sweet fruit (as a child).

Chaupai 19: 'प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं। जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं॥'

• Carrying Rama's ring in your mouth, you leapt over the ocean - no surprise.

Chaupai 20: 'दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते। सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥'

• All difficult tasks in the world become easy with your grace.

Chaupai 21: 'राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे। होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥'

• You guard Rama's door. Without your permission, no one can enter.

Chaupai 22: 'सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना। तुम रच्छक काहू को डर ना॥'

• All happiness is found in your refuge. With you as protector, there is fear of none.

Chaupai 23: 'आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै। तीनों लोक हाँक तें काँपै॥'

• You alone can withstand your own power. Three worlds tremble at your roar.

Chaupai 24: 'भूत पिशाच निकट नहिं आवै। महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥'

• Ghosts and demons cannot come near, when one chants the name of Mahabir (great warrior).

Chaupai 25: 'नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा। जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥'

• All illnesses are destroyed, all pain removed, when one constantly chants 'Hanumat Bir'.

Chaupai 26: 'संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै। मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै॥'

• Hanuman frees one from troubles, if one meditates on him through mind, deed, and word.

Chaupai 27: 'सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा। तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा॥'

• Rama is the king of all ascetics. You accomplish all his tasks.

Chaupai 28: 'और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै। सोई अमित जीवन फल पावै॥'

• Whoever brings any wish to you receives unlimited fruit/blessings in life.

Chaupai 29: 'चारों जुग प्रताप तुम्हारा। है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥'

• Your glory shines in all four ages (Satya, Treta, Dwapar, Kali). It is renowned, illuminating the world.

Chaupai 30: 'साधु संत के तुम रखवारे। असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥'

• You protect sadhus and saints. You destroy demons. You are beloved of Rama.

Chaupai 31: 'अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता। अस बर दीन जानकी माता॥'

• You grant the eight siddhis (mystical powers) and nine nidhis (treasures). This boon Mother Sita gave you.

Chaupai 32: 'राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा। सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा॥'

• The elixir of Rama's name is with you. May you forever be the servant of Lord Rama.

Chaupai 33: 'तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै। जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥'

• Through devotion to you, one attains Rama. The sorrows of many births are forgotten.

Chaupai 34: 'अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई। जहाँ जन्म हरि भक्त कहाई॥'

• At the time of death, one goes to Rama's abode. There, one is born as a devotee of Hari (Vishnu/Rama).

Chaupai 35: 'और देवता चित्त न धरई। हनुमत सेइ सर्व सुख करई॥'

• No need to think of other gods. Serving Hanuman brings all happiness.

Chaupai 36: 'संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा। जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥'

• Troubles end, all pain ceases, for one who remembers Hanuman, the mighty warrior.

Chaupai 37: 'जय जय जय हनुमान गोसाईं। कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं॥'

• Victory, victory, victory to Hanuman, the master. Bless me as my guru would.

Chaupai 38: 'जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई। छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥'

• One who recites this 100 times is freed from bondage and attains great joy.

Chaupai 39: 'जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा। होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥'

• Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa attains accomplishment - Lord Shiva (Gaurish) himself witnesses this.

Chaupai 40: 'तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा। कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥'

• Tulsidas is forever the servant of Hari (Rama). O Lord (Hanuman), reside in my heart.

Closing Doha:

'पवनतनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप। राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥'

• Son of the Wind, destroyer of troubles, embodiment of auspiciousness - reside in my heart along with Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, O king of gods.

Understanding deepens the practice:

After reading these meanings, return to chanting. Now each verse carries weight - chaupai 24 isn't just words; you're invoking protection from negative energies. Chaupai 25 isn't just sound; you're asking for healing. Chaupai 31 is requesting siddhis and prosperity. Comprehension transforms ritual chanting into active prayer.