Sharda Chalisa
शारदा चालीसा
मूर्ति स्वयंभू शारदा, मैहर आन विराज।
माला पुस्तक धारिणी, वीणा कर में साज॥Moorti swayambhu Sharada, Maihar aan viraj. Mala pustak dharini, veena kar mein saj.
Sharada, whose image arose by itself, came to dwell at Maihar. She holds a rosary and a book, and a veena graces her hands.
जय जय जय शारदा महारानी।
आदि शक्ति तुम जग कल्याणी॥Jai jai jai Sharada maharani. Adi shakti tum jag kalyani.
Victory, victory, victory to Sharada, the great queen. You are the primal power who blesses the world.
रूप चतुर्भुज तुम्हरो माता।
तीन लोक महँ तुम विख्याता॥Roop chaturbhuj tumharo mata. Teen lok mahan tum vikhyata.
Mother, your form has four arms, and you are renowned in the three worlds.
दो सहस्र बर्षहि अनुमाना।
प्रगट भई शारद जग जाना॥Do sahasra barshahi anumana. Pragat bhai Sharad jag jana.
Some two thousand years ago, as the world knows, Sharada appeared here.
मैहर नगर विश्व विख्याता।
जहाँ बैठी शारद जग माता॥Maihar nagar vishva vikhyata. Jahan baithi Sharad jag mata.
The town of Maihar is famous throughout the world, for there sits Sharada, Mother of the world.
त्रिकूट पर्वत शारदा वासा।
मैहर नगरी परम प्रकाशा॥Trikoot parvat Sharada vasa. Maihar nagari param prakasha.
Sharada dwells on Trikuta hill, and the town of Maihar shines with her light.
शरद इन्दु सम बदन तुम्हारो।
रूप चतुर्भुज अतिशय प्यारो॥Sharad indu sam badan tumharo. Roop chaturbhuj atishay pyaro.
Your face is like the autumn moon, and your four-armed form is utterly lovely.
कोटि सूर्य सम तन द्युति पावन।
राज हंस तुम्हारो शुचि वाहन॥Koti Surya sam tan dyuti pavan. Raj hans tumharo shuchi vahan.
Your body glows with a pure light like a million suns, and the royal swan is your spotless mount.
कानन कुण्डल लोल सुहावहिं।
उरमणि भाल अनूप दिखावहिं॥Kanan kundal lol suhavahin. Urmani bhal anoop dikhavahin.
Swinging earrings adorn your ears, and the jewel on your breast and your brow look matchless.
वीणा पुस्तक अभय धारिणी।
जगत्मातु तुम जग विहारिणी॥Veena pustak abhay dharini. Jagatmatu tum jag viharini.
You hold the veena and the book and show the gesture of fearlessness. Mother of the world, you move freely through it.
ब्रह्म सुता अखंड अनूपा।
शारद गुण गावत सुरभूपा॥Brahm suta akhand anoopa. Sharad gun gavat surbhoopa.
Daughter of Brahma, whole and beyond compare: Sharada, the king of the gods sings your praises.
हरिहर करहिं शारदा बन्दन।
बरुण कुबेर करहिं अभिनन्दन॥Harihar karahin Sharada bandan. Barun Kuber karahin abhinandan.
Vishnu and Shiva bow to Sharada, and Varuna and Kubera greet her with honour.
शारद रूप चण्डी अवतारा।
चण्ड मुण्ड असुरन संहारा॥Sharad roop Chandi avatara. Chand Mund asuran sanhara.
Sharada took the form of Chandi and slew the demons Chanda and Munda.
महिषासुर वध कीन्हि भवानी।
दुर्गा बन शारद कल्याणी॥Mahishasur vadh keenhi Bhavani. Durga ban Sharad kalyani.
The kind Sharada became Durga, and as Bhavani she killed Mahishasura.
धरा रूप शारद भई चण्डी।
रक्त बीज काटा रण मुण्डी॥Dhara roop Sharad bhai Chandi. Rakt Beej kata ran mundi.
Sharada took the form of Chandi and cut down Raktabija on the battlefield.
तुलसी सूर आदि विद्वाना।
शारद सुयश सदैव बखाना॥Tulsi Soor adi vidvana. Sharad suyash sadaiv bakhana.
Tulsidas, Surdas and other learned poets have always praised Sharada’s glory.
कालिदास भए अति विख्याता।
तुम्हारी दया शारदा माता॥Kalidas bhae ati vikhyata. Tumhari daya Sharada mata.
Kalidasa became very famous through your grace, Mother Sharada.
वाल्मीक नारद मुनि देवा।
पुनि पुनि करहिं शारदा सेवा॥Valmik Narad muni deva. Puni puni karahin Sharada seva.
Valmiki, Narada, the sages and the gods serve Sharada again and again.
चरण शरण देवहु जग माया।
सब जग व्यापहिं शारद माया॥Charan sharan devahu jag maya. Sab jag vyapahin Sharad maya.
Divine power behind the world, give me shelter at your feet. Sharada’s power fills the whole world.
अणु परमाणु शारदा वासा।
परम शक्तिमय परम प्रकाशा॥Anu parmanu Sharada vasa. Param shaktimay param prakasha.
Sharada dwells in every atom and particle, supremely powerful and supremely radiant.
हे शारद तुम ब्रह्म स्वरूपा।
शिव विरंचि पूजहिं नर भूपा॥He Sharad tum Brahm swaroopa. Shiv Viranchi poojahin nar bhoopa.
O Sharada, you are the very form of Brahman. Shiva, Brahma, people and kings worship you.
ब्रह्म शक्ति नहिं एकउ भेदा।
शारद के गुण गावहिं वेदा॥Brahm shakti nahin ekau bheda. Sharad ke gun gavahin Veda.
There is no difference at all between Brahman and its power. The Vedas sing Sharada’s virtues.
जय जग बन्दनि विश्व स्वरूपा।
निर्गुण सगुण शारदहिं रूपा॥Jai jag bandani vishva swaroopa. Nirgun sagun Sharadahin roopa.
Victory to you, worshipped by the world, whose form is the universe. Both the formless and the formed are Sharada’s forms.
सुमिरहु शारद नाम अखंडा।
व्यापइ नहिं कलिकाल प्रचण्डा॥Sumirahu Sharad nam akhanda. Vyapai nahin Kalikal prachanda.
Remember Sharada’s name without a break, and the fierce age of Kali will not touch you.
सूर्य चन्द्र नभ मण्डल तारे।
शारद कृपा चमकते सारे॥Surya Chandra nabh mandal tare. Sharad kripa chamakte sare.
The sun, the moon and all the stars in the sky shine by Sharada’s grace.
उद्भव स्थिति प्रलय कारिणी।
बन्दउँ शारद जगत तारिणी॥Udbhav sthiti pralay karini. Bandaun Sharad jagat tarini.
I bow to Sharada, who creates, sustains and dissolves the world, and carries it across.
दुःख दरिद्र सब जाहिं नसाई।
तुम्हारी कृपा शारदा माई॥Dukh daridra sab jahin nasai. Tumhari kripa Sharada mai.
By your grace, Mother Sharada, all sorrow and poverty are destroyed.
परम पुनीति जगत अधारा।
मातु शारदा ज्ञान तुम्हारा॥Param puneeti jagat adhara. Matu Sharada gyan tumhara.
Mother Sharada, your knowledge is supremely pure and the support of the world.
विद्या बुद्धि मिलहिं सुखदानी।
जय जय जय शारदा भवानी॥Vidya buddhi milahin sukhdani. Jai jai jai Sharada Bhavani.
Giver of happiness, through you we gain learning and wisdom. Victory, victory, victory to Mother Sharada.
शारदे पूजन जो जन करहीं।
निश्चय ते भव सागर तरहीं॥Sharade poojan jo jan karahin. Nishchay te bhav sagar tarahin.
Those who worship Sharada surely cross the ocean of worldly life.
शारद कृपा मिलहिं शुचि ज्ञाना।
होई सकल विधि अति कल्याणा॥Sharad kripa milahin shuchi gyana. Hoi sakal vidhi ati kalyana.
Sharada’s grace brings pure knowledge, and great good comes in every way.
जग के विषय महा दुःख दाई।
भजहुँ शारदा अति सुख पाई॥Jag ke vishay maha dukh dai. Bhajahun Sharada ati sukh pai.
The pleasures of the world bring great sorrow; worship Sharada and find great happiness.
परम प्रकाश शारदा तोरा।
दिव्य किरण देवहुँ मम ओरा॥Param prakash Sharada tora. Divya kiran devahun mam ora.
Sharada, your light is supreme; send its divine rays my way.
परमानन्द मगन मन होई।
मातु शारदा सुमिरई जोई॥Paramanand magan man hoi. Matu Sharada sumirai joi.
Whoever remembers Mother Sharada finds their mind immersed in supreme bliss.
चित्त शान्त होवहिं जप ध्याना।
भजहुँ शारदा होवहिं ज्ञाना॥Chitt shant hovahin jap dhyana. Bhajahun Sharada hovahin gyana.
Chanting and meditation calm the mind; worship Sharada and knowledge dawns.
रचना रचित शारदा केरी।
पाठ करहिं भव छटई फेरी॥Rachana rachit Sharada keri. Path karahin bhav chhatai pheri.
This is a composition in praise of Sharada; those who recite it are freed from the round of rebirth.
सत सत नमन पढ़ीहे धरि ध्याना।
शारद मातु करहिं कल्याणा॥Sat sat naman padhihe dhari dhyana. Sharad matu karahin kalyana.
Those who read it with focus, bowing again and again, are blessed by Mother Sharada.
शारद महिमा को जग जाना।
नेति नेति कह वेद बखाना॥Sharad mahima ko jag jana. Neti neti kah Ved bakhana.
Who in the world can know Sharada’s glory? The Vedas describe it only as “not this, not this.”
सत सत नमन शारदा तोरा।
कृपा दृष्टि कीजै मम ओरा॥Sat sat naman Sharada tora. Kripa drishti keejai mam ora.
Sharada, I bow to you a hundred times; turn your gracious gaze toward me.
जो जन सेवा करहिं तुम्हारी।
तिन कहँ कतहुँ नाहिं दुःख भारी॥Jo jan seva karahin tumhari. Tin kahan katahun nahin dukh bhari.
Those who serve you meet no heavy sorrow anywhere.
जो यह पाठ करै चालीसा।
मातु शारदा देहुँ आशीषा॥Jo yah path karai chalisa. Matu Sharada dehun ashisha.
Mother Sharada, bless whoever recites this Chalisa.
बन्दउँ शारद चरण रज, भक्ति ज्ञान मोहि देहुँ।
सकल अविद्या दूर कर, सदा बसहु उर गेहुँ॥Bandaun Sharad charan raj, bhakti gyan mohi dehun. Sakal avidya door kar, sada basahu ur gehun.
I bow to the dust of Sharada’s feet: grant me devotion and knowledge. Remove all my ignorance and dwell always in the home of my heart.
जय जय माई शारदा, मैहर तेरौ धाम।
शरण मातु मोहिं लीजिए, तोहि भजहुँ निष्काम॥Jai jai Mai Sharada, Maihar terau dham. Sharan matu mohin leejiye, tohi bhajahun nishkam.
Victory, victory to Mother Sharada, whose home is Maihar. Mother, take me into your shelter; I worship you wanting nothing in return.