Sacred Resources

Vishnu Sahasranama

The complete thousand names of Lord Vishnu — revealed by Bhishma Pitamaha on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, from the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata

🪔 1000 Names of Vishnu 📜 Mahabharata · Anushasana Parva 🙏 Revealed by Bhishma Pitamaha ✍️ Compiled by Veda Vyasa 📖 108 Shlokas · Full Text
Contents
About the Vishnu Sahasranama Opening Meditation Verses (Dhyana Shloka) The Story — Yudhishthira & Bhishma Nyasa & Viniyoga Dhyanam (Six Meditation Verses) The 1000 Names — All 108 Shlokas Phala-Shruti — Benefits of Recitation Closing Dialogues & Samarpanam Commentary on Key Names How to Recite

The Vishnu Sahasranama ("the thousand names of Vishnu") is one of the most sacred and widely recited hymns in the entire Hindu tradition. It is found in the Anushasana Parva (Book of Instructions) of the Mahabharata, where the great warrior-sage Bhishma Pitamaha — lying on his bed of arrows on the Kurukshetra battlefield, waiting for the auspicious moment to leave his body — gifts this sublime stotram to humanity.

Compiled by Veda Vyasa, the stotram contains exactly 1000 names of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, arranged in 108 Sanskrit shlokas. Each name is both a description and a mantra — a divine vibration that, when meditated upon with devotion, gradually reveals the nature of the Absolute to the sincere seeker.

Throughout the hymn, Lord Krishna's identity with Vishnu is continuously affirmed. Names such as Krishnah, Keshavah, Govindah, Madhavah, Vasudeva, and Damodarah appear directly in the shlokas, confirming that the Supreme Person worshipped here is none other than Lord Krishna of the Bhagavad Gita.

Opening Meditation Verses

🎵 Atha Dhyanam — Opening Verses
Verse 1 · Ganapati Prayer Shuklam-baradharam Vishnum shashivarnam chaturbhujam |
Prasanna vadanam dhyayet sarva vighnopa-shantaye ||
Verse 2 · Salutation to Vyasa Vyasam vasistha-naptaram shakteh poutrama-kalmasham |
Parasha-raatmajam vande shukatatam taponidhim ||
Verse 3 · Vyasa and Vishnu as One Vyasaya vishnuroopaya vyasaroopaya vishnave |
Namo vai brahmanidhaye vasisthaya namo namah ||
Verse 4 · The Unchanging Lord Avikaraya shudhaya nithya paramathmane |
Sadaika roopa roopaya vishnave sarva gishnave ||
Verse 5 · Power of Remembrance Yasya smarana-matrena janma-samsara bhandanat |
Vimuchyate namasta-smai vishnave pradha-vishnave ||
Invocation Om namo vishnave prabhavishnave

The Story — Yudhishthira & Bhishma

Setting
After the War of Kurukshetra

The great war is over. Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, lies on a bed of arrows — he has chosen to wait for the auspicious Uttarayana moment to leave his body. Yudhishthira, grief-stricken by the carnage, approaches him and asks the questions that become the occasion for this most sacred of hymns.

📜 Vaishampayana Uvacha — The Narrator Speaks
Shrutva dharma nasheshana pavanani cha sarvashah |
Yudhishthirah shantanavam punareva abhya-bhashata ||
📜 Yudhishthira Uvacha — Yudhishthira's Questions
Question 1 Kimekam daivatam loke kim vapyekam parayanam |
Stuvantah kam ka marchantah prapnuyuh manavah-shubham ||
Question 2 Ko dharmah sarva-dharmanam bhavatah paramo matah |
Kim japanmuchyate janthuh janma samsara-bandhanat ||
📜 Bhishma Uvacha — Bhishma's Answer & Introduction
Jagat-prabhum deva-devam anantam purusho-tamam |
Sthuva nnama-sahasrena purushah satatottitah ||
Tameva charcha-yannityam bhaktya purusha mavyayam |
Dhyayan stuvan nama-syamschha yajamanah thameva cha ||
Anadi-nidhanam vishnum sarvaloka mahe-shvaram |
Lokadhyaksham sthuva nnityam sarva-duhkhatigo bhavet ||
Brahmanyam sarva-dharmagnam lokanam keerthi-vardhanam |
Lokanatham maha.-dbhootam sarvabhuta-bhavod-bhavam ||
Esha me sarva-dharmanam dharmo-dhikatamo matah |
Yadbhaktya pundaree-kaksham stavairarche nara sada ||
Paramam yo maha-tejaha paramam yo maha-tapaha |
Paramam yo mahad-bramha paramam yah parayanam ||
Pavitranam pavitram yo mangalanam cha mangalam |
Daivatam devatanam cha bhootanam yovyayah pita ||
Yatah sarani bhutani bhavantyadi yugagame |
Yasminscha pralayam yanti punareva yugakshaye ||
Tasya loka pradhanasya jaganna-thasya bhupate |
Vishnor nama-sahasram me shrunu papa-bhayapaham ||
Yani namani gounani vikhyatani mahatmanah |
Rishibhih parigeetani tani vakshyami bhootaye ||
Vishno-ranam sahasrasya vedavyaso maha munih |
Chandho nusthup tatha devah bhagavan devakee-sutah ||
Amrutham-shubdavo beejam shaktir-devaki nandanah |
Trisama hrudayam tasya shantya-rdhe viniyu-jyate ||
Vishnum jishnum maha-vishnum prabha-vishnum mahe-svaram |
Anekarupam daithyantham namami purushottamam ||

Nyasa & Viniyoga

📿 Nyasa / Viniyoga — Ritual Assignment of the Mantra
Asya shree vishno divya sahasranama sthotra maha-mantrasya,
shree vedavyaso bhagavan rishih, ansthup-chandah
shree maha vishnuh paramatma shree mannarayanoo devata,
amritam-shoodbhavo bhanuriti beejam,
devakee nandana srasthetih shakthi udbavah kshobha-noo-deva iti paramo mantrah,
shankha-bhru-nnadakee chakreeti keelakam,
sharnga-dhanva gadadhara itiastram rathanga-pani rakshobhya iti netram,
trisama samaga ssamete kavacham,
annandham para-bramheti yonih rutu-shudarshanah kala iti digbandanah,
sree vishvaroopa iti dhyanam,
shree maha vishnu-preet-yarthe vishnordivya sahasra-nama jape viniyogah.

Dhyanam — Six Meditation Verses

🧘 Dhyanam — Visualising the Form of the Lord
Verse 1 · Ksheerodanvat Kshiro-dhanvat-pradesha suchimani vilasat saikyate mauktikanam |
Maalaak-la-pta-sanasthah spatika-mani nibhaih mauktikaih mandi-takngah |
Shrub-brai-rabrai-radabraih upari verachitaih muktah-peeusha-varsh |
Aanande nah puniyat arenalina gadha shankha-panhi mukundaha ||
Verse 2 · Bhuh Padao Bhuh padao yasyanabih viyada-suranelah chandra-soorya-cha-netra |
Karna-vasa-serodyah mooka-mapi dahano yesya-vaste-yamabdhih |
Antastham-yasya-vishwam-suranara khagago bhogi gandharva dhaithyeh |
Chitram ram-ramyate tham tribhuvana-vapusham vishnu-meesham namami ||
Verse 3 · Om Namo Bhagavate Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya
Verse 4 · Shantakaram Shantha-karam bhujaga-shayanam padma-naabham suresham |
Vishva-khaaram gagana sadrusham megevarnam shubhangam |
Lakshmi-kantham kamala-nayanam yogi-hrudhyana-gamyam |
Vande vishnum bava-bhaya-haram sarva-lokaika-natham ||
Verse 5 · Meghashyamam Megha-shyamam peetha-kauseya-vasam sree vatsajkam kaustu-bhod-bhace-thangam |
Punyo-petam pundari-kaya thaksham vishnum vande sarva-lokaika natham ||
Verse 6 · Namah Samasta Namah samasta bhutanam-adi-bhutaya bhubrite |
Aneka-ruparupaya vishnave prabha-vishnave ||
Verse 7 · Sashanka Chakram Sashamkha-chakram-sakrireeta-kundalam sapeetha-vastram-saraseeru-he kshanam |
Sahara-vaksha sthala-shobi-kaustubham namami-vishnum-seerasaa chatur bhujam ||

The 1000 Names — All 108 Shlokas

🪔 Vishnu Sahasranama — Complete Text (Shlokas 1–108)
1 Om vishvam vishnu rvashatkaro bhoota-bhavya bhavat-prabhuh |
Bhoota-krut bhoota-bhrud-bhavo bhootatma bhoota-bhavanah ||
2 Pootatma paramatma cha muktanam parama-gatih |
Avyayah purusha sakshee kshetragno-kshara eva cha ||
3 Yogo yoga-vidam neta pradhana puru-sheshvarah |
Narasimhavapu shreeman keshavah puru-shottamah ||
4 Sarvah sharvah shivah sthanuh bhootadi-rnidhi ravyayah |
Sambhavo bhavano bharta pradhavah prabhu reeshvarah ||
5 Swayambhoo shambhu radityah pushka raksho maha-svanah |
Anadi nidhano dhata vidhata dhatu ruttamah ||
6 Aprameyo hrushee-keshah padma-nabho-mara-prabhuh |
Vishva-karma manu-stvastha sthavishtah sthaviro dhruvah ||
7 Agrahyah shashvatah krishno lohi-takshah pratrdanah |
Prabhoota strikakubdhama pavitram mangalam param ||
8 Ishanah pranadah prano jyeshthah shreshthah prajpatih |
Hiranya-garbho bhoo-garbho madhavo madhu-soodanah ||
9 Ishvaro vikramee dhanve medhavee vikramah kramah |
Anuttamo dura-dharshah krutagnah kruti-ratmavan ||
10 Suresha sharanam sharma vishva-retah praja-bhavah |
Ahah samvatsaro vyalah pratyaya sarva-darshanah ||
11 Aja sarve-shvara siddhah siddhi sarvadi rachyutah |
Vrishakapi rame-yatma sarva-yoga vinih-srutah ||
12 Vasu rvasumana satyah samatma sammita samah |
Amoghah pundaree-kaksho vrusha-karama vrusha-krutih ||
13 Rudro bahushira babhruh vishva-yoni shuchi-shravah |
Amrita shashvatah stanuh vararoho maha-tapah ||
14 Sarvaga sarva-vidbhanuh vishva-kseno janardanah |
Vedo veda-vidha-vyango vedango veda-vit-kavih ||
15 Loka-dhyaksha sura-dhyaksho dharma-dhyakshah kruta-krutah |
Chatu-ratma chatu-rvyooha chatur-damshtrah chatur-bhujah ||
16 Bhrajishnu rbhojanam bhokta sahishnu rajaga-dadijah |
Anagho vijayo jeta vishva-yonih punar-vasuh ||
17 Upendro vamanah pramshuh amogha shuchi roorjitah |
Ateendra sangrahah sargo dhrutatma niyamo yamah ||
18 Vedyo vaidya sada yogee veeraha madhavo madhuh |
Ateendriyo maha-mayo mahotsaho maha-balah ||
19 Maha-buddhir-maha-veeryo maha-shaktir-maha-dyuthih |
Anirdeshyavapu-shreeman ameyatma maha dridhrut ||
20 Mahe-shvaso mahee-bharta shreeniva satamgatih |
Aniruddha sura-nando govindo govidam patih ||
21 Mareechi rdamano hamsah suparno bhuja-gottamah |
Hiranya-nabhah sutapah padma-nabhah praja-patih ||
22 Amrityu sarva-druk-simhah sandhata sandhi-man sthirah |
Ajo durma-rshana shastha vishru-tatma sura-riha ||
23 Guru rguru-tamo dhama satya satya para-kramah |
Nimisho-nimiisha srugvee vacha-spati ruda-radheeh ||
24 Agranee-rgramanee shreeman nyayo neta samee-ranah |
Sahasra-moordha vishvatma saha-srakshah saha-srapat ||
25 Avartano nivru-ttatma sam-vruta sampra-mardanah |
Aha-ssama-vartako vahnih anilo dharanee-dharah ||
26 Supra-sadah prasa-nnatma vishva srudvishva-bhugvibhuh |
Satkarta satkruta-sadhuh jahnur-narayano narah ||
27 Asan-khyeyo prame-yatma vishi-shta shishta-kruchu-chih |
Siddhar-thah siddha-sankalpah siddhida siddhi-sadhanah ||
28 Vrishahee vrishabho vishnuh vrusha-parva vrusho-darah |
Vardhano vardha-manascha vivikta shruti-sagarah ||
29 Subhujo durdharo vagmee mahendro-vasudho vasuh |
Naika-roopo bruha-droopah shipi-vishtah praka-shanah ||
30 Oja-hstejo dyuti-dharah praka-shatma prata-panah |
Bhuddhah-spashta-khsharo mantrah chandramshu-rbhaskara-dyutih ||
31 Amritam-shoodbhavo bhanuh shasha-bindhu-sureshvarah |
Ausha-dham jagata setuh satya-dharma para-kramah ||
32 Bhoota-bhavya bhava-nnathah pavanah pavano-nalah |
Kamaha-kama-krutkantah kamah kama-pradah prabhuh ||
33 Yugadi-krudyu-gavarto naika-mayo maha-shanah |
Adrushyo vyakta-roopaschha sahasra-jidanantajit ||
34 Ishto-vishishta shishte-shtah shikhandee nahusho vrushah |
Krodhaha krodha-krutkarta vishva-bahurma-heedharah ||
35 Achyutah-prathithah pranah pranado vasa-vanujah |
Apamnidhi radishta-nam apra-mattah prati-shtitah ||
36 Skandah sanda-dharo dhuryo varado vayu-vahanah |
Vasudevo bruha-dbhanuh adidevah pura-ndarah ||
37 Ashoka starana starah shoora-showri rjane-shvarah |
Anu-koola shata-vartah padmee padma-nibhe-kshanah ||
38 Padma-nabho ravinda-kshah padma-garbha-shareera-bhrut |
Mahardhi bhooddho vruddha-tma maha-ksho garuda-dhvajah ||
39 Atula-sharabho bheemah sama-yagno havir-harih |
Sarva lakshana lakshanyo lakshmeevan samiti-njayah ||
40 Veksharo rohito margo hethur-damodara sahah |
Mahee-dharo maha-bhago vegavana-mitashanah ||
41 Udbhavah ksho-bhano devah shree-garbhah parame-shvarah |
Karanam karanam karta vikarta gahano guhah ||
42 Vyava-sayo vyava-sthanah sams-thanah sthanado dhruvah |
Para-rdhih parama-spashta stushtah pushtah-shubhe-kshanah ||
43 Ramo viramo virajo margo neyo nayo-nayah |
Veera-shakti-matam shreshto dharmo dharma-vidu-ttamah ||
44 Vaikunthah purushah pranah pranadah pranavah pruthuh |
Hiranya-garbha shatru-ghno vyapto vayu-radho-kshajah ||
45 Rutu-sudar-shanah-kalah para-meshthi pari-grahah |
Ugra-samva-tsaro daksho vishramo vishva-dakshinah ||
46 Vistarah sthavara ssthanuh pramanam beeja-mavyayam |
Artho-nartho maha-kosho maha-bhogo maha-dhanah ||
47 Anir-vinnah sthavishto bhooh dharma-yoopo maha-makhah |
Nakshatra-nemir-nakshatree kshamah shamah-samee-hanah ||
48 Yagna ijyo mahe-jyashcha kratuh-satram satam-gatih |
Sarva-darshee nivru-tatma sarva-gno gnana muttamam ||
49 Suvrata-sumukha-sookshmah sughosha-sukhada-suhrut |
Mano-haro jita-krodho veerba-burvi-daranah ||
50 Swapanah svavasho vyapee naika-tma naika-karmakrut |
Vatsaro vatsalo vatsee ratnagarbho dhaneshvarah ||
51 Dharmagubdharmakrutdharmee sadasatksharamaksharam |
Avignata saha-sramshuh vidhata kruta-lakshanah ||
52 Gabhasti-nemi-satvasthah simho bhoota-mahe-shvarah |
Adidevo mahadevo devesho deva-bhrudguruh ||
53 Uttaro gopatir-gopta gnana-gamyah pura-tanah |
Shareera-bhoota-bhrud-bhokta kapee-ndro bhoori-dakshinah ||
54 Somapo mrutapa-somah purujit-puru-sattamah |
Vinayo-jaya-satya-sandho dasha-rhah satva-tampatih ||
55 Jeevo vina-yita sakshee mukundo mita vikramah |
Ambho-nidhi rana-ntatma maho-dadhi-shayo-ntakah ||
56 Ajo maharhah svadhavyo jita-mitrah pramo-danah |
Anando nandano nandah satya-dharma trivi-kramah ||
57 Maharshih kapila-charyah krutagno medi-neepatih |
Tripada-strida-shadh-yakshah maha-shringah krutan-takrut ||
58 Maha-varaho govindah sushenah kana-kangadee |
Guhyo gabheero gahano gupta-shchakra gadadharah ||
59 Vedhah-svango jitah-krishno dridha-sankarshano chyutah |
Varuno varuno vrukshah pushka-raksho maha-manah ||
60 Bhaga-van bhagaha-nandee vana-malee hala-yudhah |
Adityo jyoti-radityah shishnur-gati-sattamah ||
61 Sudhanva khana-parashuh daruno dravinah pradah |
Divi-spru-ksarva drugvyaso vacha-spati rayonijah ||
62 Trisama samaga-samah nirvanam bheshajam bhishak |
Sanya-sakrutchha-mashanto nishtha-shantih para-yanam ||
63 Shubhanga-shanti-dasrushta kumudah kuva-leshayah |
Gohito gopati-rgopta vrusha-bhaksho vrusha-priyah ||
64 Anivarthee nivru-ttatma samkshepta kshema-krutchhivah |
Shree-vatsa-vakshah shree-vasah shree-pathih shree-matam varaah ||
65 Shreeda-shreeshah shree-nivasah shree-nidil-shree-vibhavanah |
Shree-dhara-shree-kara-shreyah shreem-man-lokatra-yashrayah ||
66 Svaksha svangah shata-nando nandi-rjyoti rgane-shvarah |
Viji-tatma vidhe-yatma satkeerti-shchhinna samshayah ||
67 Udeerna-sarva-tashchakshuh aneesha shashvatah sthirah |
Bhooshayo bhooshano bhooti vishoka shoka-nashanah ||
68 Archishma narchitah kumbho vishu-ddhatma visho-dhanah |
Aniriddho pratirathah pradyumno mita-vikramah ||
69 Kala-neminiha shourih shoora shoora-jane-shvarah |
Tilo-katma trilo-keshah keshavah keshiha harih ||
70 Kama-devah kama-palah kamee kantah kruta-gamah |
Anirde-shyavapuh vishnuh veero nantho dhananjayah ||
71 Bramhanyo bramha-krut bramha barmha bramha vivar-dhanah |
Bramha-vitbramahno bramhee bramhagno bramhana-ptiyah ||
72 Maha-kramo maha-karma maha-teja mahoragah |
Maha-kritu rmahayajva maha-yagno maha-havih ||
73 Stavya-stava-priya stotram stuta stotaa rana priyah |
Poornah poorayita punyah punya-keerti rana-mayah ||
74 Mano-java steertha-karo vasu-reta vasu-pradah |
Vasu-prado vasu-devo vasur-vasu-mana havih ||
75 Sadgati satkruti-satta sadbhooti satpa-rayanah |
Shoora-seno yadu-shreshthah sanni-vasa suya-munah ||
76 Bhoota-vaso vasu-devah sarva-sunilayo nalah |
Darpaha darpado drupto durdharo thapa-rajitah ||
77 Vishva-moortir-maha-moortih deepta-moorti ramoortiman |
Aneka-moorti-ravyaktah shata-moorti shata-nanah ||
78 Eko-naika savah kah kim yatta-tpada manu-ttamam |
Loka-bandhu rlokanatho madhavo bhakta-vatsalah ||
79 Suvarna varno hemango varanga shchhanda-nangadee |
Veeraha vishama shoonyo khritashee rachala shchalah ||
80 Amanee manado manyo loka-swamee trilo-kadhrut |
Sumedha medhajo dhanyah satya-medha dhara-dharah ||
81 Tejo vrusho dyuti-dharah sarva-shastra-bhrutam varah |
Pragraho nigraho vyagro naika-shrungo gada-grajah ||
82 Chatur-moorti chatur-bhahu chatur-vyoohah chatur-gatih |
Chatu-ratma chatur-bhavah chatur-veda-videkapat ||
83 Sama-varto nivru-ttatma durjayo durati-kramah |
Durlabho durgamo durgo dura-vaso dura-riha ||
84 Shubhango loka-sarangah sutantu stantu-vardhanah |
Indra-karma maha-karma kruta-karma kruta-gamah ||
85 Udbhava sundara sundo ratana-nabha sulo-chanah |
Arko vaja-sani shrungi jayantah sarva-vijjay ||
86 Suvarna bindu-rakshobhyah sarva-vagee-shvare-shvarah |
Maha-hrado maha-garto maha-bhooto maha-nidhih ||
87 Kumudah kundarah kundah parjnyah pavano nilah |
Amrutamsho mruta-vapuh sarvagnah sarva-tomukhah ||
88 Sulabha suvratah siddhah shatruji chhatru-tapanah |
Nyagro-dhodumbaro shvatthah chanoo-randhru nishoo-danah ||
89 Saha-srarchi sapta-jihvah saptai-dha sapta-vahanah |
Amoorti ranagho chintyo bhaya-krudbhaya-nashanah ||
90 Anu rbruha tkrushah sthoolo guna-bhrunnir-guno-mahan |
Adhruta svadhruta svastyah pragvamsho vamsha vardhanah ||
91 Bhara-bhrut kathito yogee yogeeshah sarva kamdah |
Ashrama shramanah kshamah suparno vayu-vahanah ||
92 Dhanur-dharo dhanur-vedo dando damayita damah |
Apara-jita sarva-saho niyanta niyamo yamah ||
93 Satvavan satvika satyah satya-dharma para-yanah |
Abhi-prayah priyarhorhah priyakrut preeti-vardhanah ||
94 Vihaya-sagati rjyotih suru-chirhu-tabhugvibhuh |
Ravi rvirochana sooryah savita ravi lochanah ||
95 Ananta huta-bhugbhokta sukhado naikado grajah |
Anirvinna sada-marshee lokadhi-shthana madbhutah ||
96 Sanaa tsana-tana-tamah kapilah kapi-ravyayah |
Svastida svasti-krut svasti svastibhuk svasti-dakshinah ||
97 Aroudrah kundalee chakree vikra-myoorjita shasanah |
Shabdatiga shabda-sahah shishira sharva-reekarah ||
98 Akroorah peshalo daksho dakshinah kshaminam varah |
Vidvattamo veeta-bhayah punya-shravana keertanah ||
99 Uttarano dushkrutiha punyo dussvapna nashanah |
Veeraha rakshana santo jeevanah parya-vasthitah ||
100 Anantha roopo nantha shreeh jitamanyur-bhayapahah |
Chatu-rasro gabhee-ratma vidisho vyadisho dishah ||
101 Anadi rbhoorbhuvo lakshmeeh suveero ruchi-rangadah |
Janano jana janmadih bheemo bheema-para-kramah ||
102 Adhara nilayo dhata pushpa-hasah praja-garah |
Urdhvaga satpa-thacharah pranadah pranavah panah ||
103 Pramanam prana nilayah prana-bhrut prana jeevanah |
Tattvam tattva videkatma janma mrutyu jaratigah ||
104 Bhoorbhuva svasta-rustarah savita prapi-tamahah |
Yagno yagna-patir-yajva yagnango yagna-vahanah ||
105 Yagna-bhrut yagnakrut yagee yagnabhuk yagna-sadhanah |
Yajna-ntakrut yagna guhyam anna mannada eva-cha ||
106 Atma-yoni svayam jaato vaikhana sama-gayanah |
Devakee nandana srashta kshiteeshah papa-nashanah ||
107 Shankha-bhrut nandakee chakree sharngadhanva gada-dharah |
Rathanga-pani rakshobhyah sarva praha-rana-yudhah ||
108 Sree sarva-praha-rana-yudha om naman ithi

Vanmalee gadee sharngi shankhee chakree cha nandakee |
Shree-maannaraayano vinshuh vaasu-devo dhira-kshatu ||
(repeat two times)

Phala-Shruti — The Fruits of Recitation

After completing the thousand names, Bhishma describes the phala (fruits) that accrue to one who recites or listens to this hymn with devotion. These twenty-two verses are themselves considered sacred and are traditionally chanted after the main sahasranama.

🌿 Phala-Shruti — All 22 Verses
Verse 1 Iteedam keerta-neeyasya kesha-vasya maha-tmanah |
Namnam sahasram divya-nam ashe-shena prakeer-titam ||
Verse 2 Ya edam shrunuyat nityam yaschhapi parikeertayet |
Nashubham-prapnuyat-kinchit so mutreha-cha-manavah ||
Verse 3 Vedan-tago bramhana-syat kshatriyo vijayee bavet |
Vaisyo dhana-samru-ddhasyat shhoodra sukha mavap-nuyat ||
Verse 4 Dharmarthee prapnu-yatdharmam artharthee chartha mapnuyat |
Kamana-vapnuyat-kamee prajarthee chapnu-yat-prajam ||
Verse 5 Bhakt-imanya sadotthaya shuchi-stadgata manasah |
Sahasram vasu-devasya namna metat prakee-rtayet ||
Verse 6 Yashah prapnoti vipulam ynati praadhanya meva-cha |
Achalam shriya mapnothi shreyah prapnotya-nuttamam ||
Verse 7 Na bhayam kvachi dapnoti veeryam tejachha vindati |
Bhava tyarogo dhyu-timan bala-roopa gunan-vitah ||
Verse 8 Rogarto muchyate rogat baddho muchyeta bandhanat |
Bhaya nmuchyeta bheetastu muchye tapanna apadha ||
Verse 9 Durganya-titara tyashu purushah purusho-ttamam |
Stuva nnama-saha-srena nityam bhakti saman-vitah ||
Verse 10 Vasu-deva-shrayo marthyo vasu-deva para-yanah |
Sarva-papa vishu-ddhatma yati bramha sana-tanam ||
Verse 11 Na vasu-deva bhakta-nam ashubham vidyate kvachit |
Janma mrithyu jara vyadhi bhayam naivapa jayate ||
Verse 12 Emam stava madhee-yanah shraddha-bhakti sama-nvitah |
Yujye tatam sukha-kshantih shree-dhrati smruti keertibhih ||
Verse 13 Na krodho na matsaryam na lobho na shubha-matih |
Bhavanti kruta punyanam bhakta-nam puru-shottame ||
Verse 14 Dhyou sachan-drarka nakshatra kham disho bhoorma-hodadhih |
Vasu-devasya veeryena vidhrutani mahat-manah ||
Verse 15 Sa-sura-sura gandharvam sa-yaksho-raga raksha-sam |
Jaga-dvashe varta-tedam krishnasya sachara-charam ||
Verse 16 Indri-yani mano-buddhih satvam tejo-balam dhrutih |
Vasu-devatma kanyahuh kshetram-kshetragyna eva cha ||
Verse 17 Sarva-gamana macharah prathamam pari-kalpate |
Aachara prabhavo dharmo dharmasya pradhu-rachyutah ||
Verse 18 Rushayah pitaro devah maha-bhootani dhatavah |
Jangama-jangamam chedam jagannaraya-nodbhavam ||
Verse 19 Yogo gynanam tatha sankhyam vidya shilpadi karma-cha |
Vedah shasthrani vigynana etat-sarvam janar-danat ||
Verse 20 Eko-vishnu rmaha-dbhootam prutha-gbhoota nyanekasah |
Trilon-lokan-vyapya-bhootatma bhujkte vishva-bhugavyayah ||
Verse 21 Emam stavam bhagavato vishnor-vyasena keertitam |
Pathedya echhet purushah shreyah praptum sukhani-cha ||
Verse 22 Vishve-shvara majam devam jagatah prabhu mavyam |
Bhajanti ye pushka-raksham nate yanti para-bhavam ||
Na te yanti para-bhavam om nama iti

Closing Dialogues & Samarpanam

📜 Closing Dialogues
Arjuna Uvacha Padma-patra visha-laksha padma-nabha suro-ttama |
Bhaktana manu-raktanam trata bhava janar-dana ||
Shree Bhagavan Uvacha Yo-mam nama saha-srena stotu michhati pandava |
Sho ha mekena shlokena stuta eva na samshayah ||
Stita eva na samshaya om nama iti
Vyasa Uvacha Vasa-naad vasu devsaya vasitham te jaga-thrayam |
Sarva-butha nivaso si vaasu-deva namo stute ||
Vasu-deva namostute om nama iti
Parvati Uvacha Keno-paayena laghunaa vishnur-nama saha-skrakam |
Patyate pamditeh nityam shortu michha myaham prabho ||
Ishwara Uvacha — The Rama Nama Shloka Shree-rama rama rameti rame raame mano-rame |
Saha-sranaama tattulyam raama-naama varaa-nane ||
Raama-naama varaa-nana om nama iti
(repeat two times)
Brahma Uvacha Namo stvana-ntaya saha-sramurtaye |
Saha-srapaa-dakshi shiroru-bahave |
Saha-sranaamne puru-shaya shashvate |
Saha-srakoti-yuga-dharine namah ||
Saha-srakoti yuga-dharina om nama iti
Sanjaya Uvacha Yatra yoge-shvarah krushno yatra paardho dhanur-dharah |
Tatra-shreeh vijayo bhutih dhruva neetih mati rmama ||
Shree Bhagavan Uvacha — Gita 9.22 Ananya-schanta-yanto mam ye janaah paryu-panate |
Tesham nitya-bhiyuktanaam yoga-kshemam vaha-myaham ||
Gita 4.8 Pari-tranaya sabhunaam vinaa-shaya cha dushkrutam |
Dharam samstha-panardhaya sambha-vami yuge yuge ||
Closing Verse Aartha-vishanna-shithila-schabhitah ghoreshucha-vyadhi-varthamanah |
Samkeertya-narayana-shabda-matram vimukta-duhghah-sukhino-bhavanti ||
🙏 Samarpanam — Dedication
Kayena vaachha mana-sendhriyerva |
Buddhyatma-naavaa prakrute-svabha-vaat |
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai |
Naaraa-yanayeti samarpa-yame ||
Sarvam shree-krishnar-panamastu

Commentary on Key Names

Name 1 — Vishvam
The Universe Itself

The very first name declares that Vishnu is the universe — not merely its creator but its very substance. Everything you see, hear, touch, or think is a manifestation of His energy. This is the Vedantic teaching: the world is not separate from God; it is His body, His play, His self-expression.

Name 2 — Vishnuh
The All-Pervading One

From the root vish — to pervade. He pervades everything: every atom, every moment, every breath of life. Unlike a king who rules from a throne, Vishnu governs from within — present as the soul in every being, as consciousness in every mind, as love in every heart.

Name 23 — Keshavah
The Beautiful-Haired One / Destroyer of Keshi

Keshava is one of the most beloved names, used throughout the Bhagavad Gita. It has three traditional meanings: beautiful flowing hair; the slayer of the demon Keshi; and by Sanskrit sandhi — Ka (Brahma) + A (Vishnu) + Isha (Shiva) — the one who contains all three primary deities within Himself.

Name 57 — Krishnah
The All-Attractive

The name Krishna appears directly within the Vishnu Sahasranama, confirming the identity of Vishnu and Krishna. From the root karsh — to attract. Adi Shankaracharya comments: "One whose very existence annihilates all sins is called Krishna." The Brahma Samhita states: krishnas tu bhagavan svayam — Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Name 187 — Govindah
The Pleasure of the Cows and the Earth

Go means cows, earth, or senses; vinda means pleaser or finder. Govinda gives joy to the cows of Vrindavan, sustains the earth, and is the source of all beauty and delight. The Brahma Samhita's most famous verse — govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami — "I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord" — uses this most intimate of Krishna's names.

Ishwara Uvacha — Shiva's Teaching
The Rama Nama: Equal to All Thousand Names

In the closing dialogue, Parvati asks Shiva: "How can ordinary people recite all thousand names every day?" Shiva answers: "Shree Rama, Rama, Rama — chanting this name three times is equal to the entire Vishnu Sahasranama." This verse, known as the Rama Nama Shloka, is one of the most quoted in all of Hindu scripture — demonstrating that the names Vishnu, Rama, and Krishna are all equal expressions of the one Supreme Reality.

🙏 How to Recite the Vishnu Sahasranama:

The traditional practice is to recite the complete Sahasranama once daily, preferably in the morning after bathing, facing east. Begin with the Dhyana Shlokas to compose the mind. Recite each shloka steadily — neither too fast nor too slow. Upon completion, always recite the Phala-Shruti and the closing dialogues, ending with the Samarpanam.

Each name can also be chanted individually as a mantra by adding Om at the beginning and namah at the end: Om Vishnave namah · Om Keshavaya namah · Om Govindaya namah.

On Ekadashi (the 11th lunar day), Saturdays, and Vaikuntha Ekadashi, recitation is considered especially meritorious. Even one sincere recitation, with understanding of the meaning, is said to purify the heart and attract the grace of the Supreme Lord.
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