śrī kālī cālīsā

Dohā — the couplets that open the Chālīsā.

Opening doha: Victory to Kāḷī, remover of the filth of the Kali age — your glory is boundless and unfathomable! O Kālikā, crusher of Mahiṣa, grant unlimited fearlessness.

Verse 1: Destroyer of the pride and arrogance of enemies. The garland of skulls gleams beautifully around your neck.

Verse 2: O eight-armed Mother, bestower of happiness. Famous throughout the world as the crusher of the wicked.

Verse 3: A great crown adorns your broad forehead beautifully. In your hand you hold an enemy's severed head.

Verse 4: In the second hand you hold a cup of wine. In the third hand a spear gleams resplendently.

Verse 5: In the fourth hand a skull-bowl; in the fifth a sword. In the sixth — the trident — that tests the strength of enemies.

Verse 6: In the seventh hand a beloved gleaming blade. Your beauty, O Mother, is utterly wondrous.

Verse 7: The eighth hand bestows boons upon devotees. This is your heart-stealing form, O Mother.

Verse 8: O Bhavānī, deeply devoted to your devotees. Wise sages and seers repeat your name day and night.

Verse 9: Great power — supremely strong and supremely pure. You are Kāḷī herself; you are also Sītā.

Verse 10: O lifter of the fallen, O sustainer of the world. O Kaḷyāṇī, destroyer of the sinful.

Verse 11: Even Śēṣa and Indra cannot fathom your depths. Once you assumed the gentle form of Gaurī.

Verse 12: There is no giver equal to you in all the world. Devotees worship you according to prescribed rites.

Verse 13: When you assumed the terrifying form, you carried out the destruction of all the wicked.

Verse 14: Your names are countless, O Mother. They remove the troubles of all devotees.

Verse 15: Remover of the suffering and afflictions of the Kali age. Liberator from the fears of worldly existence, bringer of auspiciousness.

Verse 16: Your unfathomable glory is sung by the Vedas themselves. Even Nārada and Sarasvatī cannot reach its end.

Verse 17: Whenever the burden on the earth grew too heavy, again and again you appeared, O great Mother.

Verse 18: Beginningless and endless — giver of fearlessness and boons. Known throughout the universe as the savior from all existential crises.

Verse 19: Whoever has taken your name in a time of crisis — you have always granted them the boon of fearlessness.

Verse 20: The Vedas, Śēṣa, and Indra meditate on you. They perceive your form as the very guise of cosmic Time.

Verse 21: Kālabhairava accompanies you. He assumes a terrifying form to destroy your enemies.

Verse 22: The Laṅgūra attendants walk before you. The sixty-four Yoginīs execute your every command.

Verse 23: In the Tretā age you came for the sake of Rāma. You routed the entire army of the ten-headed Rāvaṇa.

Verse 24: You played the unique game of battle — filling your cup with flesh and marrow.

Verse 25: Seeing your fierce form, the demons fled — they abandoned their own homes and ran away.

Verse 26: Then such dark tamas (delusion) rose within you — you forgot the distinction between kinsman and stranger.

Verse 27: Seeing this, Śaṅkara (Śiva) came forward. He blocked your path and fell at your feet.

Verse 28: Then, with Śiva lying beneath you, your tongue came out. O Mother, this is the celebrated image known throughout the world.

Verse 29: Mahiṣāsura's arrogance grew exceedingly great. He tormented all men and women.

Verse 30: You heard the pitiful cry of your devotees — to remove the pain of every person —

Verse 31: — you appeared with your full army. Thus you earned the name Mahiṣavijētā (conqueror of Mahiṣa).

Verse 32: You slew Śumbha and Niśumbha in an instant. In all the world there is none other like you.

Verse 33: Crusher of the pride of the wicked. Ever the helper of devotees who are distressed.

Verse 34: Those who serve you daily, though poor and destitute — they receive the sweet fruit of their heart's desire.

Verse 35: Those who remember you in their hour of crisis — O Mother, you remove their afflictions.

Verse 36: Those who lovingly sing your glory — they gain liberation from the bondage of worldly existence.

Verse 37: Whoever reads this Kālī Cālīsā — they ascend to the heavenly realm, free of all bondage.

Verse 38: Turn your merciful gaze upon me, O Jagadambā. For what reason have you delayed, O Mother?

Verse 39: O Mother, keep watch over your devotees. Victory, victory to Kāḷī, to Kaṅkālī!

Verse 40: Your servant is poor, orphaned, and without resource. With sincere devotion I take refuge at your feet.

Closing doha — Phalaśruti: Whoever recites the Kālī Cālīsā with love — their every desire is fulfilled, and all the world prospers.