Every one of the 43 verses, the two opening dohas, forty chaupais and closing doha, translated into plain English, verse by verse, with the transliteration beside it.
The Hanuman Chalisa is about three things: who Hanuman is (wisdom, strength, devotion), what he did for Ram and the world (shown through his great deeds), and what a devotee receives and promises by reciting the hymn, relief from distress and a life of devotion. The hymn is the 16th-century composition of Goswami Tulsidas in Awadhi, and these are plain-English interpretations of the original Devanagari text.
Shri Guru charan saroj raj, nij manu mukuru sudhari. Baranau Raghuvar bimal jasu, jo dayaku phal chari.
Meaning: “Having wiped clean the mirror of my mind with the dust of my Guru’s lotus feet, I sing the unstained glory of Lord Ram, the giver of the four fruits of life.”
Buddhiheen tanu jaanike, sumirau Pavan-kumar. Bal buddhi vidya dehu mohi, harahu kalesh vikaar.
Meaning: “Knowing my body to be devoid of intellect, I call on Hanuman, son of the wind, give me strength, wisdom and learning, and take away my sorrow and impurity.”
Jay Hanuman gyan gun sagar. Jay Kapis tihun lok ujagar.
Meaning: Victory to Hanuman, an ocean of knowledge and virtue; victory to the chief of the monkeys, who lights up the three worlds.
Ram doot atulit bal dhama. Anjani-putra Pavansut nama.
Meaning: You are the messenger of Ram and the home of incomparable strength; called the son of Anjani and the child of the wind god.
Mahavir vikram Bajrangi. Kumati nivar sumati ke sangi.
Meaning: Great hero of wondrous valour, with a body strong as a thunderbolt; you remove foolish thoughts and walk with those of good judgment.
Kanchan baran biraj subesa. Kanan kundal kunchit kesa.
Meaning: Golden in complexion and splendidly dressed, with earrings in your ears and curly hair.
Hath vajra au dhvaja birajai. Kandhe munja janeu sajai.
Meaning: The thunderbolt and banner shine in your hands; on your shoulder hangs the sacred thread of munja grass.
Sankar suvan Kesari-nandan. Tej pratap maha jag vandan.
Meaning: You are the son of Sankar’s vital energy and the beloved child of Kesari; the whole world bows to your splendour and power.
Vidyavan guni ati chatur. Ram kaj karibe ko aatur.
Meaning: Learned in wisdom, full of virtue and endlessly skilful, ever eager to carry out the work of Ram.
Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya. Ram Lakhan Sita man basiya.
Meaning: You delight in hearing the Lord’s stories, and Ram, Lakshman and Sita dwell in your heart.
Sukshma roop dhari siyahi dikhava. Bikat roop dhari lanka jarava.
Meaning: Taking a tiny form you revealed yourself to Sita; taking a fearsome form you set Lanka aflame.
Bheem roop dhari asur sanhare. Ramchandra ke kaj sanvare.
Meaning: In the mighty form of Bhima you crushed demons and carried out the tasks of Ramchandra.
Laye sajeevan Lakhan jiyaye. Shri Raghuveer harashi ur laye.
Meaning: You brought the life-giving Sanjivani herb and revived Lakshman; delighted, Shri Raghuveer pressed you to his heart.
Raghupati keenhi bahut badai. Tum mam priya Bharatahi sam bhai.
Meaning: Raghupati praised you greatly and said, “You are dear to me as my own brother Bharat.”
Sahas badan tumharo jas gaaven. As kahi Shripati kanth lagaven.
Meaning: Even the thousand-mouthed snake-god sings your glory; saying this, Shripati (Ram) embraced you.
Sanakadik Brahmadi muneesa. Narad Sarad sahit aheesa.
Meaning: The Sanaka sages, Brahma and the great sages, Narad, Saraswati and the serpent-king all sing your praise.
Yam Kuber dikpal jahan te. Kavi kovid kahi sake kahan te.
Meaning: As for Yama, Kubera and the guardians of the directions, even poets and scholars cannot reach the end of your glory.
Tum upkar Sugrivahi keenha. Ram milay raj-pad deenha.
Meaning: You did a great kindness to Sugriva, you brought him to Ram and won him back his kingdom.
Tumharo mantra Vibhishan mana. Lankeshwar bhaye sab jag jana.
Meaning: Vibhishana followed your counsel and became lord of Lanka, as the whole world knows.
Jug sahastra yojan par bhanu. Leelyo tahi madhur phal jaanu.
Meaning: The sun is many thousands of yojanas away, yet you swallowed it, thinking it a sweet fruit.
Prabhu mudrika meli mukh maahi. Jaladhi langhi gaye acharaj naahi.
Meaning: With the Lord’s ring in your mouth you leapt across the ocean, no wonder at all for you.
Durgam kaj jagat ke jete. Sugam anugraha tumhare tete.
Meaning: However difficult the tasks of the world become, they turn easy through your grace.
Ram duare tum rakhware. Hot na aagya binu paisare.
Meaning: You are the doorkeeper before Ram; without your command no one enters.
Sab sukh lahai tumhari sarna. Tum rakshak kahu ko dar na.
Meaning: Sheltered by you, one gains every happiness; with you as protector there is nothing to fear.
Aapan tej samharo aapai. Teenon lok haank te kaampai.
Meaning: You alone keep your own radiance in check; the three worlds tremble at your roar.
Bhoot pisaach nikat nahin aave. Mahavir jab naam sunave.
Meaning: Ghosts and evil spirits do not come near one who utters the name of Mahavir.
Nasai rog harai sab peera. Japat nirantar Hanumat veera.
Meaning: Disease fades and all pain is drawn away for one who chants the brave Hanuman continuously.
Sankat te Hanuman chhudave. Man kram bachan dhyan jo lave.
Meaning: Hanuman rescues from calamity whoever keeps him in thought, deed and word.
Sab par Ram tapasvi raja. Tin ke kaj sakal tum saaja.
Meaning: Ram is the ascetic king over all; you are the one who brings all his work to success.
Aur manorath jo koi lave. Soi amit jeevan phal pave.
Meaning: Whatever desire a devotee brings, that one receives its boundless fruit through you.
Charon jug partaap tumhara. Hai parasidh jagat ujiyara.
Meaning: Your glory is known through all four ages and lights up the world.
Sadhu sant ke tum rakhware. Asur nikandan Ram dulare.
Meaning: You guard the saints and the holy; destroyer of demons and the darling of Ram.
Ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke data. As bar deenh Janaki mata.
Meaning: You are the giver of the eight siddhis and the nine nidhis, and this boon was granted by Mother Janaki (Sita).
Ram rasayan tumhare pasa. Sada raho Raghupati ke dasa.
Meaning: With you lies the essence (rasayana) of Ram; may you forever remain the servant of Raghupati.
Tumhare bhajan Ram ko pavai. Janam janam ke dukh bisravai.
Meaning: Singing your glory one attains Ram and forgets the sorrows of many lives.
Ant kal Raghubar pur jai. Jahan janm Hari-bhakt kahai.
Meaning: At the end of life one goes to Raghubar’s abode and is born there as a devotee of Hari.
Aur devata chitt na dharai. Hanumat sei sarb sukh karai.
Meaning: One need not hold another deity in mind, serving Hanuman brings every happiness.
Sankat katai mitai sab peera. Jo sumirai Hanumat balbeera.
Meaning: Calamity is cut away and all pain dissolves for whoever remembers the mighty hero Hanuman.
Jai jai jai Hanuman gosaiin. Kripa karahu gurudev ki naaiin.
Meaning: Victory, victory, victory to Hanuman, lord of the senses, shower your grace as a great guru does.
Jo sat baar paath kar koi. Chhootahi bandi maha sukh hoi.
Meaning: Whoever recites this a hundred times is released from bondage and knows great happiness.
Jo yah padhai Hanuman chalisa. Hoi siddhi sakhi Gaurisa.
Meaning: Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa attains fulfilment, and Lord Shiva (Gaurisa) is the witness to it.
Tulsidas sada Hari chera. Keejai nath hriday mah dera.
Meaning: Tulsidas is ever the servant of Hari. O Lord, make your home in my heart.
Pavan tanay sankat haran, mangal murti roop. Ram Lakhan Sita sahit, hriday basahu sur bhoop.
Meaning: “O Hanuman, son of the wind, remover of crises and form of all auspiciousness, dwell in my heart together with Ram, Lakshman and Sita, O lord of the gods.”
The Hanuman Chalisa praises Hanuman's wisdom, strength and devotion in the opening verses, recounts his legendary service to Ram in the middle verses, and promises relief and devotion to those who recite it in the closing verses.
It means: having cleansed the mirror of my mind with the dust of the Guru's lotus feet, I describe the pure glory of Lord Ram, which bestows the four fruits of life.
