Vishnu Chalisa

Salutations to Lord Vishnu, slayer of the demon Khara, remover of troubles, who pervades and moves through the entire universe.

Your power is supreme throughout the world; the light of your glory spreads across all three realms.

Your form is beautiful and your face captivating; your nature is gentle and your image enchanting to behold.

The yellow silk garment on your body looks splendid, and the Vaijayanti garland you wear steals the heart of the devotee.

The conch, discus and mace shine in your hands; at the mere sight of them the ranks of demons turn and flee.

Where truth and dharma prevail, arrogance and greed cannot thunder; desire, anger, pride and greed find no place to take hold.

You delight the hearts of saints, devotees and good people, while you crush the hordes of demons, titans and the wicked.

You give rise to happiness and break apart every hardship; you wipe away faults and make ordinary people virtuous.

You cut away sins and carry souls across the ocean of worldly existence; you destroy suffering and lift your devotees to safety.

You assume many forms, O Lord, taking them on purely for the sake of your devotees' love and faith.

When the Earth, taking the form of a cow, cried out to you in distress, you then took on the form of Rama.

You lifted the Earth's burden by destroying the armies of demons and slaying Ravana and others like him.

You took the form of the boar, Varaha, and struck down the demon Hiranyaksha, killing him.

Taking the body of a fish, Matsya, you moved through the ocean, and the fourteen jewels were drawn out from the churning of the sea.

When the demons created strife over the nectar, you appeared in the enchanting form of Mohini.

You let the gods drink the nectar of immortality, while distracting the demons with your captivating beauty.

Taking the form of the tortoise, Kurma, you supported the churning of the ocean and at once bore up Mount Mandara.

You freed Lord Shankar from danger by showing yourself, as Mohini, to the demon Bhasmasura and turning his own boon against him.

When a demon stole and submerged the Vedas, you arranged matters so that they were sought out and recovered.

By enchanting the wicked one you set him dancing to his own ruin, and by his own hand he was reduced to ashes.

The demon Jalandhara, mighty in strength, waged war against Lord Shankar himself.

With Shiva unable to overcome him, the demon's power rested on his wife's virtue, so a stratagem touching her chastity became necessary.

The consort of Shiva remembered and called upon you, telling you the whole story of the calamity.

You then took the guise of a wise sage and caused Vrinda, Jalandhara's devoted wife, to lose her awareness.

Seeing what seemed to be her husband returned, the demon's wife Vrinda came and clung to you.

With her chastity broken by that touch, the demon's protection failed, and the wickedness of the titan was undone so Shiva could destroy him.

You uplifted devotees like Dhruva and Prahlada, and slew evil ones such as Hiranyakashipu.

You redeemed even the courtesan and Ajamila, and carried countless devotees across the ocean of existence.

Remove all our sorrows; show your grace, O Hari, creator and sustainer of all.

Let me always behold your presence, O friend of the lowly, well-wisher of your devotees.

Your servant longs for your sight; grant your mercy, O Madhusudana, slayer of the demon Madhu.

I do not even know the proper way to worship; may my faltering praise be accepted as if it were a complete offering.

Good conduct, compassion and contentment are auspicious marks, yet the deeper knowledge of vows and disciplines is unknown to me.

By what method should I worship you? Looking at my own poor understanding fills me with deep distress.

In what manner should I bow, in what way should I remember you, and how should I surrender myself to you?

Gods and sages serve you constantly and remain joyful, attaining the highest goal.

You are ever the helper of the poor and the suffering; recognising me as your own, take me as yours.

Destroy my sins, faults and afflictions, and free me from the bondage of worldly existence.

Grant well-being and prosperity and bring forth happiness, and make me a servant at your own feet.

The scriptures forever convey this prayer: whoever reads or hears it attains happiness.