Kamala Chalisa

Daughter of the ocean, dear to Vishnu, I lower my head to you again and again; giver of riches, of perfection and of every blessing, again and again I bow.

Daughter of the ocean, I hold you in my remembrance; give me wisdom, sharp intellect and learning.

No helper anywhere is your equal; in every possible way, fulfil the hopes we carry.

Victory, victory, Mother of the world, Jagadamba; you alone are the support on which everyone leans.

You live inside each and every heart; this is the special prayer we place before you.

Mother of the world, victory to you, ocean-born maiden; you are the one who works for the good of the humble.

Day after day I entreat you, great queen; show your mercy, Bhavani, Mother of all the worlds.

By what means could I ever praise you enough? Take notice of me and set aside my faults.

Turn your kind gaze in my direction; Mother of the world, listen to my plea.

You are the source of wisdom, intellect, triumph and joy; lift away our troubles, Mother.

When Vishnu churned the ocean of milk, fourteen treasures rose up from the sea.

Among those fourteen treasures you were the wellspring of joy; you served the Lord and became his companion.

Whenever and wherever the Lord took birth, you changed your form and served beside him.

When Vishnu himself put on a human body, he took his birth at Avadhpuri as Rama.

Then you appeared at Janakpur as Sita and served him with a heart thrilling in delight.

The knower of all hearts made you his own; the whole world knows you as mistress of the three realms.

No power anywhere rivals your strength; how far could I go in recounting your glory?

Whoever serves you in thought, in action and in speech receives the very reward their heart longs for.

Leaving behind deceit, guile and clever tricks, they worship you in many forms with a heart fully given.

I explain one more truth clearly: whoever recites this text with a devoted mind —

— no hardship touches them, and they receive exactly the fruit their heart has wished for.

Protect us, protect us — victory to you, remover of sorrow, who dissolves the three kinds of pain and the bonds of worldly life.

Whoever reads this Chalisa and has others read it, and with focused attention listens to it and recites it aloud —

— no illness harasses them, and they gain children, wealth and abundance.

One without children and without means, the blind, the deaf, the afflicted, the deeply distressed —

— let them invite a brahmin to recite it for them, and never let a shred of doubt enter the heart.

Have it recited for forty days, and Gaurisha (Shiva) together with the Mother will pour out their grace upon that person.

They come into plentiful happiness and wealth, and no want of any kind ever reaches them.

Whoever keeps up the worship through all twelve months — no one else is as fortunate as they are.

Whoever recites it each day within their heart — there is no one in the world to match them.

In how many ways could I sing your greatness? Put it to the proof yourself, settling your mind in meditation.

Whoever keeps the vow with faith and steady discipline reaches fulfilment, and love wells up within the heart.

Victory, victory, victory, Queen Lakshmi, the mine of every virtue who runs through all that exists.

Your radiance blazes powerfully across the world; nowhere is there anyone as compassionate as you.

Now take heed of me, an orphan with no one; cut away my troubles and grant me devotion.

Pardon my slips and mistakes; look at my condition and grant me your sight.

Without a glimpse of you your devotee grows restless; in your absence I endure a heavy weight of sorrow.

I hold no wisdom or intellect within me; you already know everything in your own mind.

Taking on your four-armed form, now clear away every one of my sufferings.

In what manner could I praise your greatness? I have no great store of wisdom or wit.

Ramdas now cries out in prayer: drive far away every misfortune of ours, Mother.

Protect us, protect us, remover of sorrow! Quickly take away all our fear; victory, victory, victory to Lakshmi, undo the ones who oppose us.