Shri Hanuman Chalisa Verse-by-Verse Meaning, and Benefits in German
दोहा (Doha)
Nachdem ich den Spiegel meines Geistes mit dem Staub der Lotusfüße meines Gurus gereinigt habe,
erzähle ich den reinen Ruhm des besten der Raghus, der die vier Früchte des Lebens gewährt.
Meaning: Having cleansed the mirror of my mind with the dust from my Guru’s lotus feet, I narrate the pure glory of Lord Rama, which bestows the four fruits of life.
Commentary: The hymn begins with a humble invocation, acknowledging that a spiritual teacher (Guru) is necessary to purify the mind before one can comprehend divine glories. The “four fruits” are Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).
Mich als intelligenzlos erkennend, gedenke ich des Sohnes des Windes.
Gib mir Stärke, Weisheit und Wissen und nimm mein Leiden und meine Unreinheiten.
Meaning: Knowing myself to be devoid of intelligence, I remember you, O Son of the Wind God. Grant me strength, wisdom, and knowledge, and remove my afflictions and impurities.
Commentary: The devotee surrenders completely, admitting their limitations and seeking not material wealth, but the true inner wealth of strength, wisdom, and knowledge to overcome life’s troubles and internal flaws.
चौपाई (Chaupai)
Sieg dir, oh Hanuman, Ozean des Wissens und der Tugenden.
Sieg dir, oh Herr der Affen, Erleuchter der drei Welten!॥1॥
Meaning: Victory to you, O Hanuman, ocean of wisdom and virtue! Victory to the Lord of Monkeys, who is celebrated in all three worlds.
Commentary: This verse praises Hanuman not just for his physical might but as an infinite “ocean” of knowledge and virtues, establishing him as a source of both power and wisdom.
Gesandter Ramas, Wohnstätte unvergleichlicher Stärke,
bekannt als Sohn von Anjani und Sohn des Windgottes.॥2॥
Meaning: You are the messenger of Rama, an abode of incomparable strength, known as the son of Anjani and the son of the Wind God.
Commentary: This verse highlights his primary identity as Rama’s messenger, emphasizing his role in the divine plan. It also names his mother, Anjani, and his divine father, Vayu (the Wind God), who blessed him with his own powers.
Großer Held, tapfer, mit einem Körper wie ein Diamant,
Vertreiber schlechter Gedanken und Begleiter der Weisen.॥3॥
Meaning: You are a great warrior of immense valor, with a body as strong as a thunderbolt. You dispel evil thoughts and are a companion to the wise.
Commentary: “Bajrangi” (Vajra + Anga) literally means “one whose body is as hard as a thunderbolt.” This verse positions Hanuman as a protector who not only defeats external enemies but also vanquishes internal ones—dispelling ignorance (kumati) and nurturing wisdom (sumati).
Dein Teint ist golden, du bist prächtig gekleidet,
trägst Ohrringe und hast lockiges Haar.॥4॥
Meaning: You have a golden complexion, are beautifully attired, and wear earrings and have curly hair.
Commentary: This verse, along with the next, paints a vivid picture of Hanuman’s divine and powerful form, combining aesthetic beauty with symbols of strength and piety.
In deinen Händen strahlen eine Keule und eine Fahne,
und über deiner Schulter ist eine heilige Schnur aus Munja-Gras.॥5॥
Meaning: In your hands, a mace and a victory flag are resplendent. A sacred thread of Munja grass adorns your shoulder.
Commentary: The mace (a type of vajra or thunderbolt weapon) symbolizes his immense power and authority, while the victory flag signifies his role in ensuring Rama’s triumph. The sacred thread marks him as a learned and pious being.
Inkarnation Shivas und Sohn von Kesari,
dein Glanz und deine Macht werden von der ganzen Welt verehrt.॥6॥
Meaning: You are an incarnation of Lord Shiva and the son of Kesari. Your radiance and valor are worshipped by the entire world.
Commentary: This reveals Hanuman’s divine lineage. He is considered the 11th Rudra avatar of Lord Shiva, which explains his immense power, asceticism, and divine energy. Kesari was his earthly father.
Du bist gelehrt, tugendhaft und überaus klug,
stets eifrig, die Aufgaben Ramas auszuführen.॥7॥
Meaning: You are learned, virtuous, and exceedingly clever, always eager to carry out the tasks of Lord Rama.
Commentary: This verse emphasizes Hanuman’s intellect. He is not just about brute strength; his wisdom and cleverness were crucial in overcoming many obstacles during his service to Rama. His eagerness (ātura) highlights his selfless devotion.
Du erfreust dich daran, die Geschichten des Herrn zu hören,
in deinem Herzen wohnen Rama, Lakshmana und Sita.॥8॥
Meaning: You delight in listening to the stories of the Lord. Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita reside in your heart.
Commentary: This is the essence of Hanuman’s devotion. His greatest joy is not in his own power but in hearing the glories of his Lord. It is believed that wherever the Ramayana is recited, Hanuman is present in a subtle form to listen.
In winziger Gestalt zeigtest du dich Sita,
und in schrecklicher Gestalt branntest du Lanka nieder.॥9॥
Meaning: You assumed a minuscule form to appear before Sita, and a terrifying, colossal form to burn Lanka.
Commentary: This showcases his mastery over the siddhis (yogic powers), allowing him to change his form at will—becoming small to remain unseen in Ashoka Vatika and massive to wreak havoc upon Lanka.
In gewaltiger Gestalt hast du die Dämonen vernichtet
und die Aufgaben Ramachandras vollendet.॥10॥
Meaning: Taking a mighty form, you slayed the demons, accomplishing the missions of Lord Ramachandra.
Commentary: This verse continues the theme of Hanuman’s ability to adapt his form to the task at hand, using his formidable power to destroy evil and fulfill the divine will.
Du brachtest das Sanjeevani-Kraut und belebtest Lakshmana wieder,
und Shri Raghubir umarmte dich freudig.॥11॥
Meaning: You brought the life-saving Sanjeevani herb to revive Lakshmana, and Lord Rama joyfully embraced you.
Commentary: This refers to the famous episode where Hanuman flew to the Himalayas to fetch the magical herb. Unable to identify it, he lifted the entire Dronagiri mountain and brought it back, showcasing his determination and immense power in service of his Lord.
Raghupati pries dich sehr und sagte:
“Du bist mir so lieb wie mein Bruder Bharata.”॥12॥
Meaning: Lord Rama praised you greatly, saying, “You are as dear to me as my brother Bharata.”
Commentary: This is the highest praise imaginable from Rama. For Rama, who held his family, especially the devoted Bharata, in the highest esteem, equating Hanuman to him signifies the deepest possible bond of love, trust, and respect.
“Die tausendköpfige Shesha singt deinen Ruhm,”
sagte Shripati und umarmte dich.॥13॥
Meaning: “The thousand-headed Sheshanaga sings your glory,” saying this, the Lord of Shri (Rama) embraced you.
Commentary: By stating that even the cosmic serpent Shesha, who supports the universe, sings Hanuman’s praises, Rama elevates Hanuman’s glory to a cosmic scale.
Die Sanakas, Brahma und die großen Weisen,
Narada, Sharada zusammen mit dem Schlangenkönig.॥14॥
Meaning: Sages like Sanaka, gods like Brahma, Narada, Sarada, and the serpent king Shesha…
Commentary: Tulsidas expresses that Hanuman’s greatness is so immense that even the most powerful celestial beings cannot fully comprehend or articulate it.
Yama, Kubera und die Wächter der Himmelsrichtungen,
wie könnten Dichter und Gelehrte dich beschreiben?॥15॥
Meaning: …Yama, Kubera, and the guardians of directions; how can any poet or scholar describe your glory?
Commentary: Tulsidas expresses that Hanuman’s greatness is so immense that even the most powerful celestial beings and wisest sages cannot fully comprehend or articulate it, highlighting the inadequacy of language to capture his divine essence.
Du hast Sugriva einen großen Dienst erwiesen,
indem du ihn mit Rama vereint und ihm sein Königreich zurückgegeben hast.॥16॥
Meaning: You rendered a great service to Sugriva by introducing him to Rama, which restored his kingdom.
Commentary: This verse highlights Hanuman as a key diplomat and strategist. His intervention was crucial in forging the alliance between Rama and the vanara army.
Vibhishana befolgte deinen Rat,
und wurde König von Lanka, wie die ganze Welt weiß.॥17॥
Meaning: Vibhishana heeded your counsel and became the king of Lanka; the whole world knows this.
Commentary: Hanuman’s counsel was not just advice; it was a divine mantra that led Vibhishana from the side of adharma (unrighteousness) to dharma (righteousness), ensuring his salvation and success.
Die Sonne, die Tausende von Yojanas entfernt ist,
verschlucktest du, weil du sie für eine süße Frucht hieltest.॥18॥
Meaning: You leaped thousands of miles towards the sun, mistaking it for a sweet fruit.
Commentary: This famous verse from his childhood story is remarkable for its astronomical calculation. Ancient units calculate to a distance of 96,000,000 miles, astonishingly close to the actual distance of the sun from Earth.
Den Ring des Herrn im Mund haltend,
überquertest du den Ozean, keine Überraschung darin.॥19॥
Meaning: Carrying the Lord’s ring in your mouth, you leaped across the ocean—this is no surprise.
Commentary: For any other being, crossing the ocean would be a miracle. For Hanuman, empowered by his devotion to Rama, Tulsidas calls this feat “no surprise,” emphasizing his extraordinary capabilities.
Alle schwierigen Aufgaben dieser Welt,
werden durch deine Gnade einfach.॥20॥
Meaning: All the difficult and seemingly impossible tasks in the world become easy through your grace.
Commentary: This verse is a promise to devotees that with Hanuman’s grace, no obstacle is insurmountable.
Du bist der Wächter an Ramas Tor,
niemand kann ohne deine Erlaubnis eintreten.॥21॥
Meaning: You are the gatekeeper to Lord Rama’s court. No one can enter without your permission.
Commentary: This establishes a profound spiritual truth: the path to God (Rama) is through the grace of a true Guru and selfless devotee (Hanuman). His approval is the key to spiritual access.
Alles Glück findet sich in deiner Zuflucht,
wenn du der Beschützer bist, was gibt es zu fürchten?॥22॥
Meaning: All happiness is found in taking refuge in you. When you are the protector, what is there to fear?
Commentary: This verse offers complete assurance to the devotee. Surrendering to Hanuman brings not just protection from harm, but the attainment of all forms of happiness.
Nur du allein kannst deine eigene gewaltige Kraft beherrschen,
alle drei Welten beben vor deinem Gebrüll.॥23॥
Meaning: Only you can control your own mighty power. When you roar, all three worlds tremble.
Commentary: Hanuman’s power is so immense that he alone can contain it. His roar is not just a sound but a cosmic event that reverberates through all realms of existence.
Geister und Dämonen kommen nicht in die Nähe,
wenn der Name Mahavirs gerufen wird.॥24॥
Meaning: Ghosts and evil spirits do not come near when one utters your name, O Mahavir.
Commentary: This is one of the most recited verses, used by devotees to overcome fear and ward off negative energies. Hanuman’s name is considered a powerful protective mantra.
Alle Krankheiten werden zerstört und alles Leid wird beseitigt,
wenn der Name des tapferen Hanuman ständig wiederholt wird.॥25॥
Meaning: All diseases are destroyed and all suffering is removed by constantly chanting the name of the brave Hanuman.
Commentary: The power of chanting Hanuman’s name extends from spiritual protection to physical well-being, offering solace from both mental and bodily afflictions.
Hanuman befreit aus dieser Not,
denjenigen, der mit Geist, Tat und Wort über ihn meditiert.॥26॥
Meaning: Hanuman releases from all adversities those who meditate on him with complete sincerity in their mind, actions, and words.
Commentary: This emphasizes the need for holistic devotion. Deliverance is granted when one aligns their thoughts (mana), actions (krama), and speech (vachana) in their focus on him.
Rama, der asketische König, steht über allen,
du hast all seine Aufgaben vollbracht.॥27॥
Meaning: Rama is the supreme ascetic king over all. You perfectly accomplished all his tasks.
Commentary: This verse reaffirms Hanuman’s role as the perfect instrument of the divine will. He is the one who executes the plans of the Supreme Being flawlessly.
Und wer auch immer mit einem Wunsch zu dir kommt,
erhält die unermessliche Frucht des Lebens.॥28॥
Meaning: And whoever comes to you with any desire, they obtain the abundant, ultimate fruit of life.
Commentary: While Hanuman grants worldly desires, the ultimate “abundant fruit” is the spiritual realization and liberation that comes from true devotion.
Dein Ruhm erstreckt sich über alle vier Zeitalter,
dein Ruhm erleuchtet die Welt.॥29॥
Meaning: Your glory is acclaimed throughout all four ages (Yugas). Your fame illuminates the entire cosmos.
Commentary: This highlights Hanuman’s immortality (Chiranjeevi status). He is a divine presence whose glory and power are timeless, existing across all cosmic cycles.
Du bist der Beschützer der Heiligen und Weisen,
der Zerstörer der Dämonen und der Geliebte Ramas.॥30॥
Meaning: You are the protector of saints and sages, the destroyer of demons, and beloved by Rama.
Commentary: This verse summarizes his core roles: protecting the good, destroying evil, and being the eternally beloved devotee of the Lord.
Du bist der Geber der acht Siddhis und der neun Schätze,
diesen Segen hat dir Mutter Janaki gewährt.॥31॥
Meaning: Mother Janaki (Sita) granted you a boon to be the bestower of the eight supernatural powers and nine divine treasures.
Commentary: This is a crucial verse. After Hanuman brought news of Sita from Lanka, she blessed him with the ability to grant these divine powers and treasures to his devotees. The eight siddhis are mystical powers, while the nine nidhis are divine treasures of prosperity.
Du besitzt das Elixier des Namens Ramas,
und bleibst ewig der Diener des Herrn der Raghus.॥32॥
Meaning: You possess the divine elixir of Ram’s name and remain forever the humble servant of Lord Rama.
Commentary: The true “elixir of immortality” is the nectar of devotion to Rama, which Hanuman possesses in its entirety. Despite holding such immense power, his greatest identity remains that of a humble servant (dāsa).
Durch das Singen deiner Lobpreisungen erreicht man Rama,
und die Leiden unzähliger Leben werden vergessen.॥33॥
Meaning: By singing your praise, one reaches Rama and forgets the sorrows of countless lifetimes.
Commentary: Devotion to Hanuman is not separate from devotion to Rama. By worshipping the perfect devotee, one is led directly to the Lord, thereby erasing the karmic pains of past lives.
Am Ende geht man in die Wohnstätte Raghuviras,
und wer dort geboren wird, wird als ein Verehrer Haris bekannt.॥34॥
Meaning: At the end of life, your devotee goes to Raghubar-pur (the divine abode of Rama), and if reborn, is known as a devotee of the Lord.
Commentary: This verse guarantees liberation (Moksha) or, at the very least, a future life blessed with devotion, ensuring the continuation of the spiritual journey.
Man braucht keinen anderen Gott im Geist zu halten,
allein durch den Dienst an Hanuman wird alles Glück erlangt.॥35॥
Meaning: One need not hold any other deity in mind; serving Hanuman alone bestows all happiness.
Commentary: This doesn’t ask devotees to disrespect other deities, but rather highlights the completeness of worship directed towards Hanuman. Because he is the gateway to Rama and an embodiment of Shiva’s power, his worship is all-encompassing.
Alle Schwierigkeiten werden beseitigt und alles Leid verschwindet,
für den, der sich an den mächtigen Helden Hanuman erinnert.॥36॥
Meaning: All troubles are removed and all pain vanishes for the one who remembers the mighty hero, Hanuman.
Commentary: A final assurance of Hanuman’s power as “Sankat Mochan,” the remover of all difficulties for those who simply remember him.
Sieg, Sieg, Sieg dir, oh Herr Hanuman,
erweise Gnade wie ein göttlicher Guru.॥37॥
Meaning: Victory, victory, victory to you, Lord Hanuman! Bestow your grace upon me, just as a true Guru does.
Commentary: The devotee now sees Hanuman not just as a deity but as the ultimate Guru, the divine teacher who can guide them across the ocean of worldly existence.
Wer dies hundertmal rezitiert,
wird von Fesseln befreit und erlangt großes Glück.॥38॥
Meaning: Whoever recites this Chalisa one hundred times will be freed from all bondage and will attain great bliss.
Commentary: This verse prescribes a specific practice (reciting 100 times) for achieving liberation from worldly bonds and experiencing the highest state of happiness.
Wer diesen Hanuman Chalisa liest,
erlangt Vollkommenheit, dafür ist Gauri’s Herr (Shiva) Zeuge.॥39॥
Meaning: Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa will achieve perfection and success. Lord Shiva himself is the witness.
Commentary: Having Lord Shiva (Gaurisa – Lord of Gauri) as the witness is the ultimate guarantee of the Chalisa’s power, connecting back to Hanuman’s status as Shiva’s own incarnation.
Tulsidas ist ewig der Diener Haris,
oh Herr, mache mein Herz zu deiner Wohnstätte.॥40॥
Meaning: Tulsidas is forever a servant of the Lord. O Lord, please make my heart your dwelling place.
Commentary: The author concludes by identifying himself as a humble servant and makes the ultimate prayer: for the Lord to reside within his heart, signifying the goal of constant communion with the divine.
दोहा (Concluding)
Oh Sohn des Windes, Beseitiger von Sorgen, Verkörperung des Segens.
Wohne in meinem Herzen, oh König der Götter, zusammen mit Rama, Lakshmana und Sita.
Meaning: O Son of the Wind, remover of sorrows, embodiment of blessings! Dwell in my heart, O King of Gods, along with Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita.
Commentary: The final couplet is a heartfelt prayer, asking the divine family—Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana—along with their greatest devotee, Hanuman, to reside permanently in the heart of the worshipper, signifying complete and total surrender and immersion in divinity.