Children can learn the Hanuman Chalisa a few lines a day: listen to one recording, read a line in English letters or Hindi, and say it back. In four weeks most children know it by heart.
Students often read the second doha, which asks for strength, wisdom and learning, before they study. It is a prayer for a settled mind, not a shortcut past studying.
Learn It in Four Weeks
Many Hindus know the Hanuman Chalisa by heart, and most learned it as children. Ten chaupais a week is an easy pace:
| Week | Learn |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | The two opening dohas and chaupais 1 to 10 |
| Week 2 | Chaupais 11 to 20 |
| Week 3 | Chaupais 21 to 30 |
| Week 4 | Chaupais 31 to 40 and the closing doha |
1. Listen to one recording all through, from our audio page, so the tune is familiar.
2. Read one line and let the child say it back. Two or three lines a day, and yesterday’s lines first.
3. Print the big letters PDF; it is easier for young readers.
4. Practise the hard words on our pronunciation page.
5. Tell the child what each line means, in simple words, from our meaning page.
The First Lines, in English
These are the lines children learn first, in our English letters with their meaning. Tap a place to read the line in full. The whole Chalisa is on our English page and our Hindi page.
| Doha 1 | Shreeguru Charan Saroj Raj Nij Manu Mukuru Sudhari । Baranaun Raghubar Bimal Jasu Jo Dayaku Phal Chari ॥ I clean the mirror of my mind with the dust of my Guru’s lotus feet. Then I sing the pure glory of Shri Raghubar (Shri Ram), which gives the four fruits of life: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. |
| Doha 2 | Buddhiheen Tanu Janike, Sumiraun Pavan-Kumar । Bal Budhi Bidya Dehu Mohin, Harahu Kales Bikar ॥ Knowing that I have little wisdom, I remember Hanuman ji, the son of the Wind. O Hanuman ji, give me strength, wisdom and knowledge, and take away my troubles (kales) and the faults of my mind (bikar). |
| Chaupai 1 | Jai Hanuman Gyan Gun Sagar । Jai Kapees Tihun Lok Ujagar ॥ Victory to you, Hanuman ji, ocean of knowledge and good qualities. Victory to you, Kapees (lord of the monkeys), whose fame shines across the three worlds. |
| Chaupai 2 | Ram Doot Atulit Bal Dhama । Anjani-Putra Pavanasut Nama ॥ You are Shri Ram’s messenger and a home of strength that has no equal. You are known as Anjani-Putra (son of Anjana) and Pavanasut (son of the Wind god). |
| Chaupai 3 | Mahabeer Bikram Bajarangi । Kumati Nivar Sumati Ke Sangi ॥ O great hero, you are very brave, and your body is as strong as a vajra (thunderbolt). You take away bad thinking and stand by those who think well. |
The Lines Students Read
| Doha 2 | Buddhiheen Tanu Janike, Sumiraun Pavan-Kumar । Bal Budhi Bidya Dehu Mohin, Harahu Kales Bikar ॥ Knowing that I have little wisdom, I remember Hanuman ji, the son of the Wind. O Hanuman ji, give me strength, wisdom and knowledge, and take away my troubles (kales) and the faults of my mind (bikar). |
| Chaupai 7 | Bidyavan Guni Ati Chatur । Ram Kaj Karibe Ko Atur ॥ You are learned, full of good qualities and very clever, and you are always eager to do Shri Ram’s work. |
The second doha asks Hanuman ji for bal, budhi and bidya: strength, understanding and learning. Chaupai 7 calls him learned, full of good qualities and very clever. You will often see it spelled Vidyavan; Gita Press prints बिद्यावान (Bidyavan).
Before Study and Exams
Before you study: one reading, or just the second doha, said with attention.
The night before an exam: one reading, and then sleep.
On the day, if time is short: the second doha alone is enough.
Study first. The prayer goes with your effort and does not take its place. Many students say it settles the mind; what science has and has not shown is on our benefits page.
For Parents
Let children come to it willingly; a prayer that feels like a punishment does not stay. Read it together, and tell them the stories behind the lines, from our page on Hanuman ji.
There is no age rule. Small children can listen long before they can read, and many families play it softly at bedtime.
बच्चों को हनुमान चालीसा कैसे सिखाएं
रोज़ थोड़ी-थोड़ी पंक्तियाँ सिखाएँ। पहले किसी रिकॉर्डिंग को पूरा सुनें, फिर एक पंक्ति पढ़कर बच्चे से दोहराने को कहें। हफ़्ते में दस चौपाइयाँ, तो चार हफ़्तों में पूरी चालीसा याद हो जाती है।
पढ़ाई से पहले बच्चे दूसरा दोहा पढ़ सकते हैं, “बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं”, यानी बल, बुद्धि और विद्या दीजिए; और चौपाई ७, “बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर”। यह मेहनत के साथ की जाने वाली प्रार्थना है, उसकी जगह नहीं।
पूरा पाठ हमारे हिंदी पेज पर है, और हर चौपाई का अर्थ अर्थ वाले पेज पर।
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions parents and students often ask about the Hanuman Chalisa, in English and in Hindi.
Read the whole Chalisa in English letters or in Hindi, listen on our audio page, or download a PDF.