Hanuman Chalisa in English Text With Full Meanings

In my previous post, I have posted Hanuman Chalisa in it's original Hindi (Awadhi) language and also gave an introduction to the importance of the Chalisa describing its popularity and the great benefits of reciting it daily as mentioned by Tulsidas and other great spiritual personalities.

Now, in this post, I am giving you the entire text in English letters along with the full meanings of each and every verse in the English language for the use viewers in any corner of the world.

I tried my best to translate it into English. May God and all of you bear with me and forgive me for any mistakes taken place while doing so. I can correct them if you point out any.

Instructions for Reading/ Spelling the Words

1. I used two letters of the same vowel to indicate that you have to stretch the duration of the pronunciation in reading it. 
2. Two 'e's are used to pronounce like you pronounce it in 'tree'. 
3. The letter 't' may be pronounced as in the word "asthma' on many occasions. 
4. The letter 'd' be pronounced as you pronounce "t" while in the word "the". 
5. In 'Shri' and "Sita" words and in most other words also,  'i' is to be stretched like using 'ee' in the word 'tree'. 
6. The vowel 'o' should be stretched to length in most of the cases. I may use capital "O" also to lengthen it. 
7. In the name 'Hanuman', you should stretch the second 'a' to pronounce like 'hanumaan' and in "Rama", the first 'a' should be stretched as 'raama'. 
8. When two letters of the same consonant are used it indicates that you have to give heavy weight to that letter in pronunciation

Now, let us start. I have bolded all the verses to make them easily visible to you.


Two dohas in the beginning

shri gurucharana saroja raja nijamanu mukuru sudhaari
baranau raghubara bimala jasu jo daayaku phalachaari (1)

Meaning:- 'Shri' refers to Goddess Lakshmi, here She is Sita. 'Guru' means teacher and 'charana'= feet. 'sarOja' means lotus and 'raj' refers to the pollen or dust. 'nijamanu' = my mind and 'mukuru'= mirror  'sudhaari' means cleansing. 'baranau' means to narrate. 'raghuvar' = Ram  'bimala' = without dirt or unblemished. 'jasu' refers to glory. 'daayak' means giver. 'phalachaari' = four fruits. Here, Goddess Sita's feet are like a lotus.

Tulsidas says that he is cleansing his mirror-like mind with the dust from the lotus feet of his Guru Sita Maa before narrating the unblemished glory of Rama that will bestow him with the four fruits of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (Religion, Wealth, Pleasure and Liberation).

budhhi heenatanu jaanikai sumirau pawanakumaar 
bala budhhi bidyaa dehu mohi harahu kalesa bikaar (2)

Meaning:- 'budhhi' refers to wisdom. 'heenata' = the lackness. 'jaanikai' = knowing or assuming.
'sumirau' = to remember. 'pawanakumar' means the son of wind ie. Hanuman.
'bala' = strength, 'budhhi' = wisdom or intelligence and 'bidya' = knowledge. 'dehu mohi' means give me. 'harahu'= to remove or disperse. 'kalesa'= 'klesa'= bodily afflictions. 'bikara' refers to mental impurities.

Tulsidas tells that knowing himself to be devoid of intelligence, he is remembering Hanuman so that he will bestow him with strength, intelligence and knowledge by removing all his bodily ailments and mental impurities.


Hanuman Chalisa - Forty Hymns for Hanuman

jaya hanuman jnana guna sagar
jaya kapeesu, tihu loka ujaagar  ( 1 )

Meaning:- 'Jaya' means victory. 'jnana'= knowledge. 'guna' is the virtue and 'saagar'= ocean.
'kapeesu' = king of monkeys. 'tihu' refers to three (3). 'lok' = world. 'ujaagar' = famous or shining.

Victory to Thee, Hanuman, the ocean of knowledge and virtues. Victory to thee, King of monkeys, famous among all the three worlds.

Rama duta, atulita bala dhaama 
anjani putra, pavanasuta naama ( 2 )

Meaning:- 'duta' or 'doota' = messenger. 'atulita'= incomparable. 'bala'=strength & 'dhaama'= abode.
'anjani putra' means son of Anjani. 'pavana suta' means son of Pawan or Wind. 'naama' = named.
Hanuman is born through Wind God to Anjani (Anjani was an angel who took birth as a monkey princess).

It is believed that Lord Shiva- 's energy was carried by Wind God "Vayu" to Anjani's womb to give birth to Hanuman.

So, Hanuman is praised here as a messenger of Rama, son of Anjani and the Wind God, who is an abode of incomparable mighty and strength.

mahaabir, bikram bajarangi
kumati nivaar, sumati ke sangi ( 3 )

Meaning:- 'Mahabir' means a great hero. 'Bikram' = of great valor and powers. 'Bajarangi' = Bajar + Angi where Bajar or vajra refers to the powerful weapon of Indra made of ivory and  'Angi' means body. Hanuman's body is made up of the power of ivory. 'kumati' means bad mentality. 'nivaar' = remover. 'sumati' refers to good mentality. sangi = companion.

Here, Hanuman is praised as a great hero with superior powers and a body made up of ivory, who removes or avoids bad persons and lives with good people.

kanchana barana, biraj subesa
kaanan kundala, kunchit kesa  ( 4 ) 

Meaning:- 'kanchan' = Gold, 'barana' = complexion or colour, 'biraj' means appearance or form. "subesa" refers to the good makeup or dress. ' kaanan' = to the ears, 'kundal' = earrings, 'kunchita' = curly and "kesa" means hair.

Hanuman, you are of splendid golden complexion, dressed in good clothes along with earrings and curly hair.

haath bajra au, dhwaja biraajai
kaandhe munj, janevu saajai  ( 5 ) 

Meaning:- ' haath' = hand, 'bajra au' = ivory arm used in battles, 'dhwaja' = flag, 'biraajai'= appearing.
'kaandhe' = on the shoulder, 'munj' = a type of grass, 'janevu' = the sacred thread, 'saajai' means decorated.

Hanuman, you are possessed with Bajra and a flag of Victory in your hands. Your shoulder is adorned with the sacred thread made up of munj grass.

shankara suvan, kesari nandan
teja prataap, mahaa jag bandan  ( 6 )

Meaning:- "shankar" refers to Lord Shiva, 'suvan' = offspring or part, 'kesari' refers to Hanuman's father, 'nandan' = son, 'teja' = glory or shine, 'pratap' = valour, 'maha jag' = great world, "bandan" = praised/ revered.

Hanuman, you are the son of Kesari and own part of Shiva. You possess glorious valor revered by the whole world.

bidyaavaan, guni ati chaatur
Rama kaaj, karibe ko aatur  ( 7 )

Meaning:- 'bidyaavaan' = possessor of knowledge, 'guni' = abode of virtues, 'ati' = extremely,
'chatur' = clever, 'Rama kaaj' = works of Rama, 'karibe ko' = to perform or accomplish, 'aatur' = eager.

Hanuman, you are the possessor of all knowledge and virtues and extremely clever. You are always eager to perform the works of Rama.

prabhu charitra, sunibe ko rasiya
Rama lakhan, Sita manu basiya  ( 8 )

Meaning:- 'prabhu' = Lord, 'charitra' = story/ history, 'sunibe ko' = to hear or for hearing, 'rasiya' = interested, 'Rama lakhan, Sita' = Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, 'man or manu' = mind/ in the mind.
'basiya' = to dwell or abode.

Hanuman, you are always interested in listening to the stories of Rama. Your mind is an abode of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. Or, it can be interpreted to mean as that Hanuman resides in the minds of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita due to their affection towards him.

sukshma roop dhari, siyahi dikhaawa
bikata roop dhari, lanka jaraawa  ( 9 )

Meaning:- 'sukshma' = small/ tiny, 'roop or rup' = form, 'dhari' = to wear, 'siyahi' = to Sita, 'dikhaawa' = to appear. ' bikata' = wild /scary, 'lanka' = Lanka, the abode of demon king Ravana. 'jaraawa' = burnt.

You appeared to Sita taking a tiny form and burnt Lanka taking a wild, scary form.

bheema roop dhari, asura samhaare
Ramachandra ke, kaaja samwaare  ( 10 )

Meaning:- 'bheema roop' = large frightening form, 'asura' = demon, 'samhaare' = killed, 'Ramachandra' is Rama shining like moon, 'ke' = of or pertaining to, 'kaaj' = work, 'samvaare' = performed.

Hanuman, you took a frightening form and killed the demons. You performed all assignments of Rama.

laayi sajiwani, lakhan jiyaaye 
shri raghubir, harashi ur laaye  ( 11 )

Meaning:- 'laayi or laaya' = brought, 'sajivani' =  a herb for restoring anybody to life, 'jiyaaye' = make alive
'shri raghubir' refers to Rama, 'harashi' = get pleased, 'ur' = chest, 'laaye' = took into.

You brought the Sanjiwani herb to restore Lakshmana into life. Rama was pleased and embraced you.

Raghupati kinhi, bahut badaai
kaha bharata sama, tum priya bhai  ( 12 )

Meaning:- 'raghupati' refers to Rama, 'kinhi' = done, 'bahut' = much, 'badaai or badayi' = praise,
'kahaa' = said, 'bharata sama' = like Bharata, 'tum' = you, 'priya' = dear, 'bhai' = brother.

Rama praised you very much and said you are just like my brother Bharat.

sahasa badan, tumharo jas gaavai
asa kahi shripati, kantth lagaavai  ( 13 ) 

Meaning:- 'sahasa or sahasra' = thousand, badan = body or face, "tumharo" = your, 'jas or yash' = glory,
'gaavai' =  will sing, 'asa or aisa' = thus, 'kahi' = tell or telling, 'shripati' refers to Rama. 'kantth' = neck, lagaavai' = hold or put.

O Hanuman, thousand people will sing your glory ( or thousand headed divine serpent of Vishnu will sing your glory), saying like this Rama embrace you.

sanakaadik, brahmaadi munisa
naarad saarad, sahita ahisa  ( 14 )

Meaning:- 'sanakaadik' = Sanaka and others ( Four great sages in a boy form wander all over the three worlds singing verses in praise of God eternally). 'brahmaadi' = Brahma, the creator, and others.
'munisa' = chief of the sages, 'Naarad' = a great sage known as Narad ( a great musician singing God),
'saarad' refers to 'Sharadha or Saraswati' the Goddess of knowledge. 'sahita' = including,
'ahisa' refers to God Vishnu and Shiva both.

This verse has incomplete meaning as it gives only the names of great sages and Gods. So it needs to be clubbed with the next verse to interpret the full meaning of this verse. 

jama kuber, dikpaal jahan te
kabi kobid, kahi sakai kahan te  ( 15 )

Meaning:- ' jama or yama' = Yama, the incharge of Hell. 'kuber' = Kuber the incharge of wealth.
dikpaal = the rulers of eight directions. 'jahan te' = where from. 'kabi' = poet, 'kobid' = ordinary singer or scholar. 'kahi' = to describe, 'sakai' = ability. 'kahan te' = how can?

Now, combining both the verses of 14 and 15, it comes to this sense.

Whereas even the great sages like Sanaka, even Brahma, and the great Narada, Goddess Saraswati, God Vishnu and Shiva, all the eight rulers of directions like Yama and Kubera are unable to tell your greatness, then how can ordinary poets and singers or scholars narrate your greatness?
This shows how indescribable Hanuman's greatness is.

tum upakara, sugrivahi kinha
Rama milaaya, rajapada dinha  ( 16 )

Meaning:- 'tum' = you, 'upakara' = help, 'sugrivahi' = to Sugreeva (king of monkey state), 'kinha' = did
'milaaya' = made meet, 'rajapada' = kingship, 'dinha' = to make give.

Hanuman, you helped Sugriva by meeting him with Sri Rama and bestowing him with his kingdom usurped by his brother 'Vaali".

tumharo mantra, vibhishana maanaa
lankeshwar bhaye, sab jaga jaanaa  ( 17 )

Meaning:- 'tumharo' = your, 'mantra' = repeated utterance or advice, 'vibhishana' = brother of Ravana, 'maanaa' = accepted, 'lankeshwar' = Lord or king of Lanka, 'bhaye or huye' = became, 'sab' = whole, 'jag' = world, 'jaanaa' = known.

O Hanuman, Vibhishana accepted your advice ( to not support Ravana) and became King of Lanka; all the world knows this fact.

yuga sahasra, jojan par bhaanu
lilyo taahi, madhur phal jaanu  ( 18 )

Meaning:- 'yuga' = age of world (there are four ages of world known as Satya, Treta, Dwapara, Kali). 'sahasra' = one thousand, 'jojan or yojan' = distance of 8 miles is known as one yojan. 'par' = at, 'bhanu' = Sun, 'lilyo' = took, 'taahi' = you, 'madhura' = sweet, 'phal' = fruit, 'jaanu' = knowing or assuming.

Hanuman, you assumed the Sun situated at one thousand yuga yojan distance as a sweet fruit and went to eat him. The distance is measured as one yuga x 1000 x 8 miles = 12000 years x 1000 x 8 = 96,000,000 miles.

prabhu mudrika, meli mukha maahi
jaladhi laanghi gaye, acharaj naahi  ( 19 )

Meaning:- 'prabhu' = lord, 'mudrika' = ring, 'meli' = precious, 'mukha' = mouth or face, 'maahi' = keeping, 'jaladhi' = ocean, 'langhi' = jumping, 'gaye' = went, 'acharaj' = surprise or wonder, 'naahi' = not at all.

O Hanuman, you kept the precious ring given by Rama in your mouth and leaped the ocean. It is no wonder.

durgama kaaj, jagat ke jete
sugama anugrah, tumhare tete  ( 20 )

Meaning:- 'durgama' = difficult, unattainable. 'kaaj' = work or job, 'jagat' = world, 'ke' = of, 'jete'= whichever, 'sugama' = easy, easily reachable. 'anugrah' = grace, 'tumhare' = yours, 'tete' = with.

Whichever or all unattainable tasks of the world become easily accomplished with your grace.

Rama dwaare, tum rakh waare
hota na aagya, binu paisaare  ( 21 )

Meaning:- 'dwaare' = door, 'tum' = you, 'rakhwaare' = keeper, protector. 'hota' = happen, exist. 'na' = without, 'aagya or aagjna' = permission. 'binu'= anybody or nobody, 'paisaare' = enter into.

Hanuman, you are the keeper at doors of Rama. Nobody can reach him without your permission.

saba sukha lahai, tumaari sharanaa
tuma rakshak, kaahoo ko daranaa  ( 22 )

Meaning:- 'saba or sab' = all, 'sukha' = happiness, 'lahai' = to possess or acquire. 'tumaari or tumhari' = your, 'sharan' = refuge, abode. 'tuma' = you, 'rakshak' = protector, 'kaahoo ko' = why, 'darana' = afraid.

All happiness will be there in your refuge. You are the protector, why should one fear?

aapana teja, sahaaro aapai 
tinau loka, haank te kaapai  ( 23 )

Meaning:- 'aapan' = your, 'teja' = power, 'samharo or sahaaro' = to remember, 'aapai' = yourself. 'tinau' = three, 'loka' = worlds, 'haank'= roar or fearful sound, 'te' = with, 'kaapai or kaampai' = tremble with fear.

O Hanuman, when you remember your powers and roar, all three worlds tremble with fear.
There can be one more meaning here. Instead of 'sahaaro aapai' in the first line, it may be 'sawaaro aapai' which means control yourselves. 
It will mean that people are unable to see his shining glare and trembling with fear. So, he is being requested to control his glaring body.

bhuta pishacha, nikat nahi aavai
mahaabira jaba, naam sunaavai  ( 24 )

Meaning:- 'bhuta' = evil spirits, 'pishacha' = ghosts, 'nikat'= near, 'nahi' = not, 'aavai' = come, 'mahabira' = Hanuman, 'jab' = when, 'naam' = name, 'sunaavai' = to utter to be heard.

When Hanuman's name is uttered or heard, the evil spirits and ghosts will never come near to you.

naasai roga, harai sab pira
japat nirantara, hanumat bira  ( 25 )

Meaning:- 'naasai' = destroyed, 'roga' = disease, 'harai' = defeated, to make disappear, 'sab' = all, 'pira' = sufferings. 'japat' = by chanting, 'nirantar' = continually, ' hanumat' = Hanuman's. 'bira or veera' = bravery.

By continuously chanting the name of brave Hanuman, all diseases and sufferings will get destroyed and removed.

sankat se, hanuman chhudaavai
manu krama vachana, dhyaan jo laavai  ( 26 )

Meaning:- 'sankat' = problems or obstacles, 'se' = from, 'chhudaavai' = to free, 'manu or man' = mind,
'krama' = sequence or controlled, 'vachan' = words or talk, 'dhyaan' = concentration, 'jo' = who, 'laavai' = brings.

Whoever brings control of mind and words and concentrates on him, Hanuman will free them from all problems and adversities of life.

sab par Rama, tapasvi raaja
tin ke kaaja, sakala tum saaja  ( 27 )

Meaning:- 'sab' = all, 'par' = over, 'tapasvi' = one who has done penance, 'raaja' = king, 'tin ke' = of whom, 'kaaj' = deeds or tasks, 'sakala' = all, 'tum' = you, 'saaja' = decorated or accomplished.

Rama himself is a great ascetic king possessing powers obtained from penance and even then you have accomplished all his tasks.

aur manorath, jo koi laavai
taasu amita jiwan, phal paavai  ( 28 )

Meaning:- 'aur' = and or further, 'manorath' = wishes or desires, 'jo' = who, 'koi' = anybody, 'laavai' = bring, 'taasu'= that one, 'amita' = limitless, 'jiwan' = life, 'phal' = fruit, 'paavai' = obtain or get.

And whoever brings further wishes, he gets unlimited fruits of those wishes in his life.

chaaron jug, paratap tumhaaraa
hai parasiddhh, jagat ujiyaaraa  ( 29 )

Meaning:- ' chaaron' = four, 'jug or yug' = age of world, 'paratap or prataap' = valour, glory. 'tumhaara' = your, 'hai' = is, 'parasiddhh' = famous, 'jagat' = world, 'ujiyaara' = shining or illuminating.

O Hanuman, your glory is famous in all the four ages of the world and illuminating the whole world.

saadhu santa ke, tuma rakhawaare
asura nikandana, Rama dulaare  ( 30 )

Meaning:- ' saadhu' = sage, 'santa' = saint or pious man, 'ke' = of, 'tum' = you, 'rakhawaare' = protector, 'asura' = demon, 'nikandana' = destroyer, 'dulaare' = dear.

You are the protector of sages and saints, destroyer of demons and dearest to Rama.

ashta siddhi, nau nidhi ke daataa
as vara dinh, jaanaki maataa  ( 31 )

Meaning:- 'ashta' = eight, 'siddhi' = some powers attained through penance and austerity (supernatural powers), 'nau' = nine, 'nidhi' = treasure, 'ke' = of, 'daata' = giver or bestower, 'as' = thus, 'vara' = blessing or boon, 'dinh' = gave, 'jaanaki' = Sita, daughter of Janaka. 'maata' = mother.

Mother Sita has granted you the boon that you can bestow your devotees with the eight supernatural powers and nine treasures.

Rama rasaayana, tumhare paasaa
saadar ho, raghupati ke daasaa   ( 32 )

Meaning:- 'rasaayana' = abode of love or devotion, 'tumhare' = with you or in you, 'paasa or paas' = near. 'saadar' = with respect, 'ho' = is or are. 'raghupati ke' = Rama's. 'daasaa or daas' = servant.

O, Hanuman, Rama's love/devotion is with you (or you are the abode of Rama's love). Respectfully, you are Rama's servant.

tumhare bhajan, Rama ko bhaavai
janama janam ke, dukha bisaraavai  ( 33 )

Meaning:- 'tumhare' = yours, 'bhajan' = worship with songs, 'ko' = to, 'bhaavai' = pleasant or desired. 'janam' = birth or life, 'dukha' = sorrow, 'bisaraavai' = to forget or disperse.

Hanuman, the praises of yourself through songs by devotees are most liked by Rama and so will disperse all the sorrows from the birth cycles of your devotees.

anta kaala, raghubara pura jaayi
jahaa janma, haribhakta kahaai  ( 34 )

Meaning:- 'anta' = end or ending, 'kaala' = time, 'raghubara' = Sri Ram, 'pura' = city or abode. 'jaayi' =
will go, 'jahaa' = where, 'janma' = take birth, 'haribhakta' = Hari's devotee or devotee of God, 'kahaai' = will be called or known as.

At the end of their life, they will go to God's abode and wherever they may take birth they will be known as devotees of Hari (Vishnu).

Here, we should note that a devotee when goes to God's abode, will have no rebirth. But, it is said by Tulsidas that they want to take birth again as they like to be called as Haribhaktas in the world.

aur devataa, chitta na dharai
hanumat seyi, sarva sukha karai  ( 35 )

Meaning:- 'aur' = more or any other, 'devata' = angel or god, 'chitta' = heart, 'na' = no, 'dharai' = to keep or wear, 'hanumat' = Hanuman, 'seyi or sei' = with, 'sarva' = all, 'sukha' = happiness, 'karai' = to achieve.

Even if he does not keep any other devata (angel or God) in his mind, he can possess all happiness and bliss with the grace of Hanuman.

sankat katai, mitai sab pira
jo sumirai, hanumat balbira  ( 36 )  

Meaning:- 'sankat' = problem, 'katai' = get solved or pass away, 'mitai' = get destroyed, 'sab or saba' = all, 'pira' = ailments, 'jo' = who, 'sumirai' = remembers, 'balbira or bala bira' = strong and brave.

Whoever remembers the strong and brave Hanuman, his problems get solved and all ailments get removed or destroyed.

jai jai jai, hanumaan gusaai
kripaa karahu, gurudev ki naai  ( 37 )

Meaning:- 'jai or jaya' means victory, 'gusaai or goswami' = master of senses or cognition, 'kripa' = grace or mercy, 'karahu' = to do or bestow, 'gurudev' = teacher, 'ki' = of, 'naai' = like or just like.

O Hanuman, master of senses and intuitions, be there victory, victory, victory. Please, bestow grace upon me like a guru (teacher) does.

yaha shata baara, paatth kar joi
chhutahi bandi, mahaa sukh hoi  ( 38 )

Meaning:- 'yaha' = this, 'shata' = 100, 'baar' = times, 'paatth' = recite, 'kar' = do, 'joi' = whoever, 'chhutahi'= to get released, 'bandi' = bondage, 'maha' = great, 'sukh' = pleasure, bliss. 'hoi' = to occur.

Whoever recites this Chalisa 100 times (exactly it may be 108 times), will be released from the material bondage and attains eternal bliss.

jo yah padhai, hanuman chalisa
hoyi siddhi, saakhi gaurisa  ( 39 )

Meaning:- 'jo' = who, 'yah' = this, 'padhai' = reads, hanuman chalisa, "hoyi" = will happen or take place. 'siddhi' = spernatural power, 'saakhi' = companionship, 'gaurisa' = Lord Shiva (Goddess Gauri's husband).

Whoever reads or recites this "Hanuman Chalisa" obtains supernatural powers and becomes Shiva's companion.

Tulsidas sadaa, Hari chera
kijai naath, hridaya mah dera  ( 40 )

Meaning:- 'tulsidas' refers to the author 'Tulsidas'. 'sadaa' = always, 'Hari chera' = Hari's follower.
'kijai'= do please, 'naath' = lord, 'hridaya' = heart, 'mah or mama' = my or mine, 'dera' = abode.

(Tulsidas says) He is always known as Hari's follower. So, please make my heart your abode.


Now, the Concluding Doha

pavana tanayu sankata haranu mangala murati roop |
Rama Lakhana Sita sahitu hridaya basahu sura bhoop ||

Meaning:- 'pavana' = wind or air, 'tanaya' = son, 'sankata' = problem, 'harana' = remover, 'mangala' = auspicious and delightful, 'murat' = shaped, 'roop' = form, 'sahit or sahitu' = accompanied, 'hridaya' = heart, 'basahu' = reside, 'sura' = angel (devata), 'bhoop' = chief or leader.

O Hanuman, son of wind, remover of problems, who is shaped in an auspicious form, please reside in my heart along with Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, O chief of Angels or Good Spirits.