Brahma Chalisa

Hail Brahma, hail self-born, four-faced root of joy.

Show mercy to your servant; stay ever gracious.

You are the universe’s maker, named unborn ordainer of fate.

Ordainer of the universe, grant your servant splendid grace.

Hail lotus-seated root of the world; stay ever gracious to your people.

Four-armed form most lovely; four faces on every side.

Red-hued blessed body; solemn matted locks on your head.

A crown shines above them; white beard of great splendour.

Beautiful in white garments, with a most charming sacred thread.

Lovely earrings shine in your ears; a pearl garland graces your neck.

You revealed the four Vedas and taught divine wisdom to the three worlds.

Brahmaloka is your blessed abode; your fame spreads through all worlds.

Savitri is your consort, also held in heart as Gayatri.

Lovely Saraswati is your daughter, veena-player, beautiful in every way.

Seated on your lotus, you arrange all Hari’s worship.

As the king of gods slept on the milk-ocean, a matchless lotus bloomed from his navel.

Upon it you sat, merciful one, ever nourishing the saints.

A well-known tale tells of a time delusion weighed heavy on your mind.

Gazing at your lotus seat you thought: none else exists in the world.

Then you grasped the lotus stalk, vowing to behold its end.

Crores of years passed thus; days and nights went by in wandering.

Yet you found no end, and grew despairing and deeply grieved.

Then this thought came to mind: this great lotus is most ancient.

What caused its birth? It must have borne me for this purpose.

None exists anywhere in all worlds; all is contained within me.

Deciding thus, pride grew; deeming yourself Brahman, you rejoiced.

Then a solemn voice spoke from the sky: Brahma, hear these words with patience.

The Lord of all creation is beginningless, unseen Brahman.

By his own will he made all: Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha.

The three gods appeared for creation; all the world shall serve them.

The great lotus of your seat is under Vishnu’s rule.

It bloomed from Vishnu’s navel — know this as truth.

Go and meet Vishnu as a friend — saying this, the sky-voice fell silent.

Hearing this, he marvelled; then the four-faced one set forth.

Down the lotus stalk he came and beheld Vishnu there.

He saw the king of gods reclining, dark-hued body most matchless.

Four arms shone most beautiful; a crown graced his brow.

A Vaijayanti garland graced his neck, shaming the splendour of crores of suns.

Lovely conch, discus and mace; Shesha-serpent couch most charming.

Beholding the divine form, he bowed; Shripati, home of joy, rejoiced.

The four-faced one entreated in many ways; then Lakshmi’s lord spoke gladly.

Brahma, cast off pride; in Brahman’s form we two are alike.

Third is Shri Shiv-Shankar; Brahman’s form fills the three worlds.

From you creation shall spread; I shall sustain the world.

Shiva shall dissolve all; we three have work abundant.

Praise quality-less Shri Brahman; know him as formless.

We three gods of embodied form shall ever serve Brahman.

Hearing this, Brahma greatly rejoiced and sang Parabrahman’s glory.

All this is known by the Vedas’ name; liberation’s form, supremely lovely.

Thus, Lord, was your birth; then you manifested the world.

You gained the fair name Pitamaha, fashioning all, inert and living.

Many times you incarnated, spreading fair fame through the world.

Gods and demons all meditate on you, gaining all heart’s desires from you.

Whatever man or woman meditates, fulfil all their hopes.

At Pushkar, most blissful pilgrimage, you dwell forever, king of gods.

Whoever bathes in the lake and worships is freed of every taint.