Shani Chalisa

Victory to the compassionate Shani Dev, who forever shelters and sustains his devotees.

Four-armed and dark of body, he sits in splendour, a jewelled crown gleaming on his brow.

His broad forehead is striking, while his sidelong gaze and knitted brows look fierce and unsettling.

Earrings flash brightly at his ears, and a string of pearls and gems shines upon his chest.

He holds a mace, trident, and axe, and in a single moment can destroy his enemies.

He is known as Pingala, Krishna, Chhaya-Nandana, Yama, Konastha, the fierce one, and the breaker of grief.

Saturn carries ten names such as Sauri and Manda; worshipping this son of the Sun fulfils every aim.

Whoever pleases the lord is lifted in an instant, for he can turn a pauper into a king in a moment.

By his glance a mountain becomes a blade of grass, and a blade of grass is made into a mountain.

His influence sent Rama to the forest just as he was to be crowned, having first clouded Kaikeyi's judgement.

In the forest a deceiving golden deer appeared, and Mother Sita was thereby carried away.

Lakshmana was struck down and left helpless by the Shakti weapon, and a cry of despair rose through the army.

Ravana's reason and sense were turned to madness, deepening his enmity with Lord Rama.

His sway reduced golden Lanka to ruin, while the drum of the valiant Hanuman resounded.

When his step fell upon King Vikramaditya, even a painted peacock seemed to swallow the king's necklace.

A priceless nine-lakh necklace was blamed on him as theft, and the king's hands and feet were maimed in punishment.

He showed the king a most wretched fate, set to turn the oil-presser's mill in an oilman's house.

When the king sang the Dipak raga in earnest devotion, the lord grew pleased and restored his happiness.

King Harishchandra's wife was sold into service, and the king himself carried water in an outcaste's house.

A like ordeal fell on King Nala, so harsh that fried fish were said to leap back into the water.

When his force reached even Lord Shankar, it pressed upon Parvati herself to face the trial of separation.

At one angry glance, the head of Parvati's son flew off into the sky.

Your hard period fell upon the Pandavas too, and Draupadi was barely saved from open disgrace.

You also wrecked the wisdom and judgement of the Kauravas, bringing on the great war of the Mahabharata.

Once you seized the Sun in your jaws and at once plunged with him into the netherworld.

Seeing this, Sheshanaga came with a plea and had the Sun released from your grasp.

The lord has seven wise mounts: the elephant, the donkey, the deer, and the dog among them.

With the jackal, lion, and other clawed creatures, astrology loudly declares the result each brings.

When he rides the elephant, prosperity enters the home; on the horse he yields comfort and wealth.

On the donkey he brings loss to many ventures; on the lion he grants success and royal standing.

On the jackal he ruins one's reason; on the deer he gives suffering that endangers life.

When he arrives mounted on the dog, theft and similar troubles cause great fear.

In the same way his four feet bear names: gold, iron, silver, and copper.

When the lord arrives upon the iron foot, he brings ruin to wealth, family, and possessions.

The copper and silver feet are even and auspicious, while the golden foot is full of every joy and blessing.

Whoever sings this account of Shani daily is never tormented by a wretched period.

The wondrous lord reveals his play, destroying enemies and weakening even the strong.

One who calls a learned, capable priest and properly performs the Shani peace rite gains relief.

Offering water to the peepal tree on Saturdays and giving lamps in charity brings abundant comfort.

The lord's servant Rama Sundardas declares that remembering Shani makes happiness shine forth.