बंशी शोभित कर मधुर, नील जलद तन श्याम। अरुण अधर जनु बिम्बफल, नयन कमल अभिराम॥
Banshi shobhit kar madhur, neel jalad tan Shyam. Arun adhar janu bimbaphal, nayan kamal abhiram.
A sweet flute adorns his hand, and his dark body is like a blue rain cloud. His red lips are like the bimba fruit, and his lotus eyes are a delight to see.
पूर्ण इन्द्र, अरविन्द मुख, पीताम्बर शुभ साज। जय मनमोहन मदन छवि, कृष्णचन्द्र महाराज॥
Purn Indra, Arvind mukh, Pitambar shubh saaj. Jai Manmohan Madan chhavi, Krishnachandra Maharaj.
His face is like the full moon and the lotus, and he is beautifully dressed in yellow silk. Victory to the enchanter of hearts, lovelier than Kamadeva, King Krishnachandra.
जय यदुनंदन जय जगवंदन। जय वसुदेव देवकी नन्दन॥
Jai Yadunandan jai Jagvandan, Jai Vasudev Devaki nandan.
Victory to the joy of the Yadu clan, worshipped by the whole world. Victory to the son of Vasudev and Devaki.
जय यशुदा सुत नन्द दुलारे। जय प्रभु भक्तन के दृग तारे॥
Jai Yashuda sut Nand dulare, Jai Prabhu bhaktan ke drig tare.
Victory to Yashoda's son, the darling of Nand. Victory to the Lord, the apple of his devotees' eyes.
जय नट-नागर, नाग नथइया। कृष्ण कन्हइया धेनु चरइया॥
Jai Nat-Nagar, Naag nathaiya, Krishna Kanhaiya dhenu charaiya.
Victory to the graceful dancer who tamed the serpent Kaliya. Victory to Krishna Kanhaiya, who grazes the cows.
पुनि नख पर प्रभु गिरिवर धारो। आओ दीनन कष्ट निवारो॥
Puni nakh par Prabhu girivar dharo, Aao deenan kasht nivaro.
Lord, lift the great mountain on your fingertip once more. Come and remove the suffering of the helpless.
वंशी मधुर अधर धरि टेरौ। होवे पूर्ण विनय यह मेरौ॥
Vanshi madhur adhar dhari terau, Hove purn vinay yah merau.
Place the sweet flute to your lips and call out its tune. May this humble prayer of mine be fulfilled.
आओ हरि पुनि माखन चाखो। आज लाज भारत की राखो॥
Aao Hari puni makhan chakho, Aaj laaj Bharat ki rakho.
Come again, O Hari, and taste the butter. Protect the honour of Bharat today.
गोल कपोल, चिबुक अरुणारे। मृदु मुस्कान मोहिनी डारे॥
Gol kapol, chibuk arunare, Mridu muskan mohini dare.
Your cheeks are round and your chin is rosy. Your gentle smile casts a spell on everyone.
राजित राजिव नयन विशाला। मोर मुकुट वैजन्तीमाला॥
Rajit rajiv nayan vishala, Mor mukut Vaijantimala.
Your large lotus eyes shine. You wear a crown of peacock feathers and the Vaijayanti garland.
कुंडल श्रवण, पीत पट आछे। कटि किंकिणी काछनी काछे॥
Kundal shravan, peet pat aachhe, Kati kinkini kachhni kachhe.
Earrings adorn your ears and a fine yellow cloth covers you. Small bells sit on your waist over a neatly tied garment.
नील जलज सुन्दर तनु सोहे। छबि लखि, सुर नर मुनिमन मोहे॥
Neel jalaj sundar tanu sohe, Chhabi lakhi, sur nar muniman mohe.
Your lovely body glows like a blue lotus. Seeing your beauty, gods, humans and sages are all enchanted.
मस्तक तिलक, अलक घुँघराले। आओ कृष्ण बांसुरी वाले॥
Mastak tilak, alak ghunghrale, Aao Krishna bansuri vale.
With a tilak on your forehead and curly locks of hair, come, O Krishna, player of the flute.
करि पय पान, पूतनहि तार्यो। अका बका कागासुर मार्यो॥
Kari pay paan, Putanahi taryo, Aka Baka Kagasur maryo.
While drinking her milk you liberated the demoness Putana. You slew the demons Agha, Baka and Kagasur.
मधुवन जलत अगिन जब ज्वाला। भै शीतल लखतहिं नंदलाला॥
Madhuvan jalat agin jab jvala, Bhai sheetal lakhatahin Nandlala.
When the forest was burning in flames, the fire turned cool the moment Nandlala looked at it.
सुरपति जब ब्रज चढ़्यो रिसाई। मूसर धार वारि वर्षाई॥
Surpati jab Braj chadhyo risai, Moosar dhaar vaari varshai.
When Indra, king of the gods, grew angry and attacked Braj, he poured down rain in torrents as thick as pestles.
लगत लगत व्रज चहन बहायो। गोवर्धन नख धारि बचायो॥
Lagat lagat Vraj chahan bahayo, Govardhan nakh dhari bachayo.
Just as Braj was about to be swept away, you lifted Govardhan hill on your fingertip and saved it.
लखि यसुदा मन भ्रम अधिकाई। मुख मंह चौदह भुवन दिखाई॥
Lakhi Yasuda man bhram adhikai, Mukh manh chaudah bhuvan dikhai.
Seeing Yashoda's mind filled with doubt, you showed her all fourteen worlds inside your mouth.
दुष्ट कंस अति उधम मचायो। कोटि कमल जब फूल मंगायो॥
Dusht Kans ati udham machayo, Koti kamal jab phool mangayo.
The wicked Kansa caused great turmoil when he demanded countless lotus flowers from Braj.
नाथि कालियहिं तब तुम लीन्हें। चरण चिह्न दै निर्भय कीन्हें॥
Nathi Kaliyahin tab tum leenhen, Charan chinh dai nirbhay keenhen.
Then you tamed the serpent Kaliya, and by marking him with your footprints you freed him from fear.
करि गोपिन संग रास विलासा। सबकी पूरण करी अभिलाषा॥
Kari gopin sang raas vilasa, Sabki puran kari abhilasha.
You danced the joyful Raas with the gopis and fulfilled the longing of every one of them.
केतिक महा असुर संहार्यो। कंसहि केस पकड़ि दै मार्यो॥
Ketik maha asur sanharyo, Kansahi kes pakadi dai maryo.
You destroyed many mighty demons, and you seized Kansa by the hair and struck him down.
मात-पिता की बन्दि छुड़ाई। उग्रसेन कहँ राज दिलाई॥
Maat-pita ki bandi chhudai, Ugrasen kahan raaj dilai.
You freed your mother and father from prison and restored the kingdom to Ugrasen.
महि से मृतक छहों सुत लायो। मातु देवकी शोक मिटायो॥
Mahi se mritak chhahon sut layo, Matu Devaki shok mitayo.
You brought back Devaki's six sons who had died, and so ended your mother's grief.
भौमासुर मुर दैत्य संहारी। लाये षट दश सहसकुमारी॥
Bhaumasur Mur daitya sanhari, Laye shat dash sahas kumari.
You slew the demons Bhaumasura and Mura and brought home the sixteen thousand princesses they had held captive.
दै भीमहिं तृण चीर सहारा। जरासिंधु राक्षस कहँ मारा॥
Dai Bheemahin trin cheer sahara, Jarasindhu rakshas kahan mara.
By showing Bhima a blade of grass split in two, you guided him to kill the demon-like Jarasandha.
असुर बकासुर आदिक मार्यो। भक्तन के तब कष्ट निवार्यो॥
Asur Bakasur aadik maryo, Bhaktan ke tab kasht nivaryo.
You killed Bakasura and other demons, and so removed the troubles of your devotees.
दीन सुदामा के दुःख टार्यो। तंदुल तीन मूंठ मुख डार्यो॥
Deen Sudama ke dukh taryo, Tandul teen moonth mukh daryo.
You ended the hardship of poor Sudama when you ate three handfuls of his humble rice.
प्रेम के साग विदुर घर मांगे। दुर्योधन के मेवा त्यागे॥
Prem ke saag Vidur ghar mange, Duryodhan ke meva tyage.
You asked for simple greens offered with love at Vidura's home, and turned down Duryodhana's rich dry fruits.
लखी प्रेम की महिमा भारी। ऐसे श्याम दीन हितकारी॥
Lakhi prem ki mahima bhari, Aise Shyam deen hitkari.
See how great the glory of love is. Such is Shyam, the well-wisher of the humble.
भारत के पारथ रथ हांके। लिये चक्र कर नहिं बल थाके॥
Bharat ke Parath rath hanke, Liye chakra kar nahin bal thake.
In the great war you drove Arjuna's chariot, and with the discus in your hand your strength never tired.
निज गीता के ज्ञान सुनाए। भक्तन हृदय सुधा वर्षाए॥
Nij Gita ke gyan sunaye, Bhaktan hriday sudha varshaye.
You spoke the wisdom of your Gita and showered nectar on the hearts of your devotees.
मीरा थी ऐसी मतवाली। विष पी गई बजाकर ताली॥
Meera thi aisi matvali, Vish pi gai bajakar tali.
Meera was so lost in your love that she drank poison while clapping her hands in joy.
राना भेजा सांप पिटारी। शालीग्राम बने बनवारी॥
Rana bheja saanp pitari, Shaligram bane Banvari.
When the Rana sent her a snake in a basket, you, the Lord of the forest, turned into a Shaligram stone.
निज माया तुम विधिहिं दिखायो। उर ते संशय सकल मिटायो॥
Nij maya tum Vidhihin dikhayo, Ur te sanshay sakal mitayo.
You showed your divine power to Brahma and removed every doubt from his heart.
तब शत निन्दा करि तत्काला। जीवन मुक्त भयो शिशुपाला॥
Tab shat ninda kari tatkala, Jeevan mukt bhayo Shishupala.
After Shishupala had insulted you a hundred times, he was struck down at once and attained liberation.
जबहिं द्रौपदी टेर लगाई। दीनानाथ लाज अब जाई॥
Jabahin Draupadi ter lagai, Deenanath laaj ab jai.
When Draupadi cried out to you, she said: O protector of the helpless, my honour is about to be lost.
तुरतहि वसन बने नंदलाला। बढ़े चीर भै अरि मुंह काला॥
Turatahi vasan bane Nandlala, Badhe cheer bhai ari munh kala.
Nandlala at once became her garment. The cloth kept growing, and her tormentors were put to shame.
अस अनाथ के नाथ कन्हइया। डूबत भंवर बचावइ नइया॥
As anath ke nath Kanhaiya, Doobat bhanvar bachavai naiya.
Such is Kanhaiya, the protector of those who have no one. He saves the boat that is sinking in the whirlpool.
'सुन्दरदास' आस उर धारी। दया दृष्टि कीजै बनवारी॥
'Sundardas' aas ur dhari, Daya drishti kijai Banvari.
Sundardas holds this hope in his heart: Banvari, please look upon me with compassion.
नाथ सकल मम कुमति निवारो। क्षमहु बेगि अपराध हमारो॥
Nath sakal mam kumati nivaro, Kshamahu begi apradh hamaro.
Lord, remove all my wrong thinking, and quickly forgive my faults.
खोलो पट अब दर्शन दीजै। बोलो कृष्ण कन्हइया की जै॥
Kholo pat ab darshan dijai, Bolo Krishna Kanhaiya ki jai.
Open the curtain now and grant us your darshan. Say: victory to Krishna Kanhaiya.
यह चालीसा कृष्ण का, पाठ करै उर धारि। अष्ट सिद्धि नवनिधि फल, लहै पदारथ चारि॥
Yah Chalisa Krishna ka, path karai ur dhari. Ashta siddhi navnidhi phal, lahai padarath chari.
Whoever recites this Krishna Chalisa with faith in the heart receives the eight powers, the nine treasures and the four goals of life.