Vishnu Chalisa: Complete Lyrics, Meaning & Thursday Routine

The Vishnu Chalisa is a 40-verse devotional hymn praising Lord Vishnu — his qualities, his 10 avatars (Dashavatar), his cosmic role as the preserver of creation, and his relationship with Lakshmi and his devotees. It is recited on Thursdays (Jupiter's day, as Jupiter is Vishnu's presiding planet in Jyotish), on Ekadashi (the 11th day of each lunar fortnight, Vishnu's primary monthly observance), and throughout the year as a morning devotional practice. In Vedic astrology, it is the primary remedy for Jupiter and Sun afflictions.

Reviewed by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, M.A. Sanskrit & Vedic Studies, Varanasi — as of May 2026.

Jupiter (Guru/Brihaspati) governs wisdom, expansion, children, prosperity, and dharmic action. The Vishnu Chalisa directly activates Jupiter's positive qualities through devotion to his presiding deity. For practitioners in Jupiter Mahadasha, or with Jupiter afflicted in the natal chart, Thursday Vishnu Chalisa recitation is the most aligned and efficient remedy. Verify your Jupiter placement with the free birth chart calculator.

The Vishnu Chalisa follows the 40-verse chaupai structure of the Hindi devotional tradition. It praises Vishnu's qualities: Sahasranama (thousand names), his four-armed form bearing conch (Shankha), discus (Chakra), mace (Gada), and lotus (Padma), his Vaikuntha abode, and his 10 avatars from Matsya (fish) to Kalki (the future horse avatar). The Chalisa occupies a middle position in the Vishnu devotion spectrum — more accessible than the Vishnu Sahasranama (1,000 names, 20–25 minutes) but more substantial than a brief mantra.

॥ दोहा ॥

नारायण नमो नमो, नारायण हरि। श्री विष्णु दयालु हैं, भक्तन के हितकारी॥

॥ चौपाई ॥

जय जय जय विष्णु भगवान। जय जय जय वेदों की जान॥ जय जय लक्ष्मी पति गोविंदा। जय जय करो हरो सब दुख दंदा॥

जय श्रीपति पीताम्बर धारी। जय वेद पुराण के अधिकारी॥ जय जय शंख चक्र गदाधारी। जय पद्म पाणि भक्त सुखकारी॥

जय जय जय जय श्री मधुसूदन। जय जय जय श्री दैत्यनाशन॥ जय जय जय जय श्री सुरभंजन। जय जय जय जय श्री जनरंजन॥

जय वामन बलि तीन पग मापे। जय नृसिंह प्रह्लाद दुख काटे॥ जय श्री रामचंद्र रघुराई। जय जय कृष्ण गोपाल कन्हाई॥

जय परशुराम जमदग्नि नंदन। जय जय बुद्ध धर्म प्रवर्तन॥ जय कल्की अवतार भविष्यन। जय जय मत्स्य कच्छप रूपन॥

भक्तन की रक्षा करो भगवाना। संतन को तुम मुक्ति दो दाना॥ पतित पावन तुम दीनदयाला। संकट हरो प्रभु दयावाला॥

तुमहिं जान लख सकते सारे। करम करत हैं जन तुम्हारे॥ तुम हो स्वामी तुम गोपाला। दास की रक्षा करो दयाला॥

श्री विष्णु यही विनती हमारी। सब संकट से करो रखवारी॥ जो नित पाठ करे मन लाई। जय नारायण नारायण सहाई॥

॥ दोहा ॥

श्री विष्णु के जो दास हैं, करें नित्य आराध। होत सिद्धि सब काम की, मिटे जन्म का बाध॥

Jai Jai Jai Vishnu Bhagawan. Jai Jai Jai Vedon Ki Jan.

Jai Jai Lakshmi Pati Govinda. Jai Jai Karo Haro Sab Dukh Danda.

Jai Sripati Pitambar Dhari. Jai Ved Puran Ke Adhikari.

Jai Jai Shankh Chakra Gadhadhari. Jai Padma Pani Bhakt Sukhkari.

Jai Vaman Bali Teen Pag Mape. Jai Nrisingh Prahlad Dukh Kate.

Jai Shri Ramchandra Raghurai. Jai Jai Krishna Gopal Kanhai.

The opening doha establishes Vishnu as Narayana — the one who dwells in all beings (nara = being, ayana = dwelling) — and as the bhaktahitakari (one who acts for the benefit of his devotees). These two qualities define the entire Vishnu devotion philosophy: he is everywhere (immanent) and he personally cares for each devotee (relational).

The 10 Avatars Verses: 1. Vaman: The dwarf avatar who asked demon king Bali for three steps of land, then grew to cosmic size and covered all three worlds — establishing that cosmic consciousness cannot be contained by material power 2. Nrisingh (Narasimha): Half-man, half-lion who emerged from a pillar to protect his devotee Prahlad from his own father Hiranyakashipu — demonstrating that Vishnu can manifest anywhere, at any time, in any form, to protect sincere devotees 3. Ramachandra: The ideal king whose perfect adherence to dharma even in personal suffering defines the ideal human life 4. Krishna/Gopal: The complete avatar — embodying love, wisdom, cosmic philosophy (Bhagavad Gita), and divine play simultaneously 5. Kalki: The future avatar at the end of Kali Yuga — a conscious nod to cosmic time and the ongoing nature of Vishnu's protective role

The Vishnu Chalisa provides five documented benefits: protection through dharmic alignment (Vishnu's nature as preserver means his devotees are preserved within the order of reality), Jupiter remedy (Jupiter's energy strengthens through Vishnu devotion), removal of life-obstacles through the avatar-stories (each avatar story invokes a specific type of divine intervention), mental peace through surrender (sharanagati), and progression toward liberation.

In astrological practice: the Vishnu Chalisa is prescribed for Jupiter Mahadasha for those experiencing difficulty accessing Jupiter's abundance and wisdom, for weak Jupiter by house or sign, and for Sun afflictions (Jupiter and Sun are mutual friends in Jyotish and cross-remedy each other).

Thursday (Guruvaar — the day of Guru/Jupiter) is the optimal weekly day for Vishnu Chalisa recitation. The routine: bathe and wear yellow clothes (Jupiter's color), light a ghee lamp, offer yellow flowers (marigold, yellow lotus, or yellow chrysanthemum), recite the Vishnu Chalisa once (regular) or 3 times (for specific Jupiter remedy), close with the Vishnu Sahasranama's Phalashruti verse if available, and offer banana or yellow sweets as prasad.

For Ekadashi (twice monthly), the complete Vishnu Puja includes: fasting through the Ekadashi day, reciting the Vishnu Chalisa 3 times, and breaking fast on Dwadashi (12th day) with simple food after a brief morning Vishnu Puja.