SHRI
VISHNU SAHASRANĀMA STOTRAM
THE
THOUSAND NAMES OF VISHNU
MEDITATION
OF MAHAVISHNU
Om sāntākāram bhujaga-shayanam padma-nābham
suresham
vishvādhāram gagana-sadrisham megha-varnam sabhāngam
Lakshmi-kāntam kamala-nayanam yogi-vidya dhyāna-gamyam
vande Vishnum bhava-bhaya-haram sarva-lokaika-nātham
I salute Vishnu, the
sole master of the universe, whose presence is very peaceful, who stretches
Himself on a serpent-bed, who sports a lotus in His navel, who is the one lord
of all the Devas, who is the support of the worlds, who is subtle and
all-pervading like the sky, whose complexion is like that of the clouds, whose
form is very beautiful, who is the consort of Sri, whose eyes are like lotus
petals, who is meditated upon by yogis and who eradicates the fear of samsara.
Om Sri Paramatmane namah
Sri Vishnu divya sahasranāma stotram
INTRODUCTION
1.
Yasya
smarana-mātrena janma-samsāra-bandhanāt
Vimucyate namas-tasmai vishnave prabhavishnave
By the mere
remembrance of Him, one is freed from the bondage of birth and transmigration,
I bow to that Vishnu, the Creator of the universe
Namah
samasta-bhūtānām-ādhibhūtaya bhū-bhrite
Aneka-rūpa-rūpāya vishnave prabhavishnave
I bow to
the first manifested of all manifestations, who upholds the earth,
Who has the form of the manifold, Vishnu, the Creator.
Vaishampāyana
uvāca:
2.
Srutvā
dharmān-asheshena pāvanāni ca sarvashah
Yudhishthirah shāntanavam punar evābhya-bhāshata
Vaishampayana
said:
Having heard of all the purifying duties (dharmas) exhaustively,
Yudhishthira said to the son of Shantanu (Bhishma) again:
Yudhishthira
uvāca:
3.
Kim-ekam
daivatam loke kim vapy-ekam parāyanam
Stuvantah kam kam-arcantah prāpnuyur-mānavāh subham
Yudhishthira
said:
What is the sole divinity in the world? In other words, what is the one supreme
goal?
By praising Whom, by worshipping Whom, can men obtain the good?
4.
Ko
dharmah sarva-dharmānām bhavatah paramo matah
Kim japan-mucyate jantur-janma-samsāra-bandhanāt
What duty
of all duties, do you think supreme?
By repeating whose name is a creature freed from the bondage of birth and
transmigration?
Bhisma
uvaca:
5.
Jagat-prabhum
deva-devam-anantam purushottamam
Stuvan-nāma-sahasrena purushah satatotthitah
Bhisma
said:
The Lord of the world, the God of gods, the Infinite, the Supreme Person,
By praising Him constantly by means of His thousand names, a person is always
uplifted.
6.
Tam-eva
cārcayan nityam bhaktyā purusham-avyayam
Dhyāyan stuvan-namasyamsh-ca yajamānas-tam-eva ca
And by
worshipping Him alone, constantly with devotion – the Imperishable Person;
By meditation on Him, by praising Him, and by prostrating to Him alone, the
worshipper, the aspirant (is freed).
7.
Anādi-nidhanam
vishnum sarva-loka-maheshvaram
Lokā-dhyaksham stuvan-nityam sarva-duhkhātigo bhavet
Having
neither beginning nor end, Vishnu, the great Lord of all the worlds,
The Witness of the world – by constantly praising Him one can pass beyond all
sorrows.
8.
Brahmanyam
sarva-dharmajnam lokānām kirti-vardhanam
Loka-nātham mahad-bhūtam sarva-bhūta-bhavodbhavam
The
well-wisher of Brahma, Brahmins, etc., the Knower of all dharmas, the Enhancer
of the fame of men (or the worlds);
The Lord of the world, the Truth Absolute, the Source of evolution of all
things.
9.
Esha
me sarva-dharmānām dharmo’dhikatamo matah
Yad bhaktyā pundarikaksam stavair-arcen-narah sadā
This I
think is the most excellent dharma of all dharmas that with devotion, a man
should always glorify the lotus-eyed (Lord) by praises.
10.
Paranam
yo mahat-tejah paranam yo mahat-tapah
Paranam yo mahad-brahma paranam yah parāyanam
He is the
supreme great light, He is the supreme great ruler.
He is the supreme great Brahman (Absolute), He is the highest goal.
11.
Pavitrānam
pavitrah yo mangalānām ca mangalam
Daivatam devatānām ca bhūtānām yo’vyayah pitā
He is the
purest of the pure, and the most auspicious of the auspicious,
And the divinest of divinities; He is the imperishable Father of creatures.
12.
Yatah
sarvāni bhūtāni bhavanty-ādi-yugāgame
Yasmimsh ca pralayam yānti punar-eva yuga-kshaye
From Him
all creatures proceed in the beginning of an age,
And in Him they are absorbed again at the end of the age.
13.
Tasya
loka-pradhānasya jagan-nāthasya bhūpate
Visnor-nāma-sahasram me shrinu pāpa-bhayāpaham
Of that
Chief of the world, of the Lord of the universe, O King (Yudhishthira)
Of Vishnu, hear from me the thousand names, which remove all sin and fear.
14.
Yāni
nāmāni gaunāni vikhyātāni mahātmanah
Rishibhih parigītāni tāni vaksyāmi bhūtaye
Those
famous names of the Great Soul, which bring out His manifold qualities
celebrated by rishis (seers) I shall declare for the good (of all).
THE
THOUSAND NAMES OF VISHNU
1.
Om vishvam vishnur
vashat-kāro
bhūta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh
bhuta-krid bhūta-bhrid bhāvo
bhūtātmā bhūta-bhāvanah
OM; of the form of the universe; entering
everything and every being; of the form of Yagna; Lord of past, present and future; Creator of all beings; Sustainer of all beings; becoming the
universe without losing His nature as pure existence; Self of beings; evolving and nourishing creatures.
2.
pūtātma
paramātmā ca
muktānām paramā gatih
avyayah purushah sākshi
kshetrajno kshara eva ca
Pure Self;
Supreme Spirit; Ultimate goal of
the liberated ones; Imperishable;
Person residing in the city of nine gates (body); witness; Knower of the field; Changeless. (Eva = indeed; ca = and).
3.
yogo
yoga-vidām-netā
pradhāna purūshe’shvarah
nāra simha-vapuh srīmān
keshavah purushottamah
Attainable through yoga; Leader of knowers
of yoga; Master of Prakriti or Maya
(nature, matter) and Purusha (embodied soul);
of a half-human and half-lion form;
on whose chest Lakshmi (Divine Mother) resides; Slayer of the demon
Keshi, of beautiful locks of hair; Supreme Person.
4.
sarvah sharvah shivah
sthānur
bhūtādir nidhir-avyayah
sambhavo bhāvano bhartā
prabhavah prabhur īshvarah
The All; Destroyer; free from the three
gunas; good; motionless, fixed; source of all existing things; unchanging
resting place for all beings during dissolution; Incarnating of His own will;
Giver of boons; As the substratum of the universe nourishes all underlying
reality; Origin of everything; Almighty; Ruler of all.
5.
svayamibhūh
shambhur ādityah
pushkarāksho mahāsvanah
anādi-nidhano dhātā
vidhātā dhāturuttamah
Self-begotten; Bestower of good; Golden
Person within the sun; Lotus-eyed; of the mighty sound of the Vedas; without birth or death; Supporter of the
universe; Dispenser of the fruits of actions; greater than Brahma (Creator),
the subtlest element.
6.
aprameyo hrishikeshah
padmanābho ’mara-prabhuh
vishvakarmā manus tvashtā
sthavistah sthaviro-dhruvah
Indefinable; Lord of senses; from whose
navel the cosmic lotus springs; Lord of immortals; Architect of the universe;
Thinking being; Reducer of all; biggest, supremely gross, eternal one, being the most ancient.
7.
agrāhyah
shāshvatah krishno
lohitāksha pratardanah
prabhūtas trikakubdhāma
pavitram mangalam-param
Imperceptible; Eternal;
existence-knowledge-bliss; red-eyed; bringer of total destruction Omnipotent,
omniscience; supporter of the three regions above, below and in the middle;
purifier; supremely auspicious
8.
īshānah
prānadah prāno
jyeshthah shreshthah prajāpatih
hiranya-garbho bhū-garbho
mādhavo madhu-sūdanah
Controller of all; giver of life; life of
life; oldest of all; most praiseworthy; master of all living beings; dweller in the golden cosmic egg; holding the earth in His womb; consort of Lakshmi, realised through
silence, mediation and yoga; slayer of
the demon Madhu
9.
īshvaro
vikramī dhanvī
medhāvī vikramah kramah
anuttamo durādharshah
kritajnah kritir ātmavan
Omnipotent; full of mighty prowess; wielder of the bow; supremely intelligent;
he who crosses samsara on the white eagle; crossing the ocean of samsara with
one step; unequalled; unconquerable by the demons however powerful; grateful
even for small acts of devotion and worship; dynamic force behind all
activities; self-supported.
10.
suresha sharanam
sharma
vishva-retāh prajābhavah
ahah samvatsaro vyālah
pratyayah sarva-darshanah
God of gods; supreme
refuge; infinite bliss; seed of the
universe; source of all beings; luminious one; lord of time; being ungraspable
like a serpent; consciousness all-seeing
11.
ajah sarveshvarah
siddhah
siddhih sarvādir acyutah
vrishā kapir ameyātmā
sarva-yoga-vinihsritah
One who has no birth; sovereign Lord of all; eternally perfect;
highest attainment; primary cause; infallible;
one who showers all objects of desire; immeasurable; free from all bondage
12.
vasur vasumanāh
satyah
samātmā sammitah samah
amoghah pundarīkāksho
vrishakarmā vrishākritih
one in whom all beings
dwell and who dwells in all; high-minded (free from attachment, anger and other
evil qualities); ever-existing Truth;
determined by all existing entities; one unperturbed at all times;
unfailing; realised in the lotus of the heart; of righteous action; of the form
of dharmas
13.
rudro bahu-shirā
babhrur
vishvayonih shuci-shravāh
amritah shāsvatas-sthānur
varāroho mahātapāh
one who drives away sorrow; Many headed; supporter of worlds; one who is
the cause of the world; of pure and
holy names; immortal; eternal and
unchanging; supreme destination; of infinite knowledge
14.
sarvagah
sarvavid-bhānur
vishvak-seno janārdanah
vedo vedavid avyango
vedāngo vedavit kavih
one who pervades everything (being of the
nature of their material cause); omniscient and effulgent; whose mere sight scatters hostile
armies; punisher of the wicked; bestower of blessings on the virtuous; knower of the Vedas; without imperfections; whose very limbs are
the Vedas; one who knows all the Vedas; all-seeing
15.
lokādhyakshah
surādhyaksho
dharmādhyakshah kritākritah
caturātmā caturvyūhash
catur-damshtrash catur-bhujah
presiding over all worlds; presiding over heavens; witness of righteous as well as unrighteous
actions; Cause as well as Effect; of fourfold nature; manifesting into four
mighty powers; of four teeth; of four
arms
16.
bhrājisnur
bhojanam bhoktā
sahishnur jagadādijah
anagho vijayo jetā
vishvayonih punarvasuh
essence of light
illuminating everything; food, object of enjoyment; enjoyer, experiencer;
subduer of enemies; born in the beginning of creation; sinless; victorious;
excelling all others; the source of the universe; residing again and again as
bodies
17.
upendro vāmanah
prāmshur
amoghah shucir ūrjitah
atīndrah sangrahah sargo
dhritātmā niyamo yamah
younger brother of
Indra; of dwarfish stature; tallest; whose activities never go in vain; one who
purifies those who adore and praise Him; of infinite strength; superior to
Indra; absorbing the entire cosmos into Himself during dissolution; one who is
the cause of creation; immutable, though ever assuming so many forms;
appointing authority; remaining within them one who regulates all
18.
vedyo vaidyah
sadā-yogi
vīrahā mādhavo madhuh
atīndriyo mahāmāyo
mahotsāho mahābalah
one who has to be
known by those who aspire for Moksha; knower of all skills and sciences; eternal yogi; slayer of demonical heroes;
lord of knowledge; honey (because the Lord gives joy just like honey); beyond
the senses; master of maya, the power of illusion; ever dynamic; stronger than
the strong
19.
mahābhudhir
mahā-viryo
mahā-shaktir mahā-dyutih
anirdeshya-vapuh shrīmān
ameyātmā mahādri-dhrik
The wisest among the wise; cosmic energy; supreme power of manifestation and grace; one who is intensely
brilliant both within and without; of
indefinable form; one endowed with greatness of every kind; inestimable; supporter of the great mountain
20.
maheshvāso
mahībhartā
shrinivāsah satām-gatih
aniruddhah suranando
govindo govidām-patih
mighty archer; supporter of the earth;
abode of the goddess Lakshmi; the Goal
of the virtuous; who cannot be deterred
or obstructed; giver of joy to
gods; giver of joy to gods, master of
cows, earth, speech; lord of all
21.
marīcir damano
hamsah
suparno bhujagottamah
hiranyanābhah sutapāh
padmanābhah prajāpatih
supremely lustrous;
who chastises and controls; the state of realisation of ‘I am That’; the eagle
of beautiful wings (one who has two wings in the shape of Dharma and Adharma); the best of serpents; of golden navel; possessing the great power of concentration
of mind and control of senses; of lotus navel; Lord of all creatures
22.
amrityuh sarva-drik
simhah
sandhātā sandhimām sthirah
ajo durmarshanah shāstā
vishrutātmā surārihā
knowing no decay or
death; All-seeing; one who does hamsa or destruction; bestower of fruits of
action on the jivas; rejoicing over the fruits which He confers on His
devotees; unchanging; moving in the heart of devotees and throwing away the
evil; who cannot be endured by His enemies; controlling all by scriptural laws;
the supreme Self described in the Vedas; destroyer of the enemies of Suras or
Devas (celestials)
23.
gurur gurutamo
dhāma
satyah satya-parākramah
nimisho animisah sragvi
vācaspatir-udāradhīh
teacher of all forms of knowledge; greatest
teacher; the teacher of Brahma (Creator); greatest speaker of truth; one of unfailing valour; whose eye-lids are
closed in Yoga-nidra; one who is every awake; always wearing the Vaijayanti
garland, which represents the five elements in their gross and subtle forms;
master of all sciences and of vast intellect
24.
agranīr
grāmanih shrīmān
nyāyo netā samīranah
sahasra-mūrdhā vishvātmā
sahasrākshah sahasrapāt
lifting aspirants to the highest
liberation; director of beings;one more resplendent than anything; the consistency which leads one to the truth
of Non-duality; plying the cosmic wheel of evolution; cause of every movement
in the world; one with a thousand (i.e.
innumerable) heads; Soul of the universe; one with a thousand (i.e.
innumerable) eyes; one with a thousand (i.e. innumerable) feet
25.
āvartano
nivrittātmā
samvritah sam-pramardanah
ahahsamvartako vahnir
anilo dharanidharah
Turner of the cosmic
wheel; transcendental Being free from all identifications; veiled by maya; annihilator of all; the Lord who as the sun regulates day and
night; fire carrying oblations to gods; one without a beginning (of no fixed
residence; supporter of the worlds
26.
suprasādah
prasannātmā
vishva-dhrig vishvabhug vibhuh
satkartā satkritah sādhur
jahnur nārāyano narah
bestowing grace liberally; ever pure and
cheerful; subduer and conqueror of all;
protecting and enjoying all; manifesting in an endless variety of forms; one
who offers benefits; honoured and adored by the good and wise; of righteous
actions; abandoning all those lacking in devotion and wisdom and leading the
devotees to salvation; Sole Refuge
for embodied beings; guide, leader
27.
asankhyeyo aprameyātmā
vishishtah shishta-kric chucih
siddhārthah siddha-sankalpah
siddhidah siddhi-sadhanah
of countless names and forms;
imperceptible; unique; lawgiver; immaculate; one who has gained all there is to
gain; accomplishing immediately
whatever He wills; fulfiller of desires on all who practise disciplines; means for all achievements
28.
vrishāhī
vrishabho vishnur
vrishaparvā vrishodarah
vardhano vardhamānash ca
viviktah shruti-sāgarah
possessing offerings made in rituals;
showering blessings on devotees; one who pervades everything; steps in the
ladder to the ultimate reality; holding all beings in His belly during
dissolution; Nourisher of all; one who
multiplies in the form of the universe; alone, untouched, unaffected; ocean of Vedas
29.
subhujo durdharo vagmī
mahendro vasudo vasuh
naika-rūpo brihad-rūpah
shipivishtah prakāshanah
of graceful long arms that protect the
worlds; whom the yogis find difficult to locate in their hearts during
meditation; from whom speech issues; the Supreme Being, God of all gods;
liberal Giver of wealth; wealth or one who veils His real nature through maya;
myriad-formed; of infinite
dimensions; source of luminous rays;
Illuminator of all
30.
ojas-tejo-dyuti-dharah
prakāsātmā pratāpanah
rddhah spashtāksharo mantrash
candrāmshur bhāskara-dyutih
possessor of strength,
majesty and luminosity; Self-effulgent; diffuser of heat and light; rich in
Dharma, knowledge, renunciation etc; clear and imperishable sound OM;
progenitor and goal of Vedamantras; He gives relief and shelter, like the moon
rays, to those who are subjected to the heat of Samsara;
resplendent sun
31.
amritāmshūdbhavo
bhānuh
shashabinduh shureshvarah
aushadham jagatah-setuh
satya-dharma-parākramah
source of the nectarine moon; shining
gloriously; nourishing all plants and herbs as the moon; God of gods; medicine
for the great disease of samsara; the
bridge for crossing the ocean of samsara;
employing his prowess for truth and righteous
32.
bhūta-bhavya-bhavan-nāthah
pavanah pāvano analah
kāmahā kāmakrit kāntah
kāmah kāmapradah prabhuh
Lord and refuge of all past, present and
future beings; I am the wind among purifying agents (one who is the purifier);
one who causes movement; without end; destroyer of desires; fulfiller of the wants of pure minded people
or one who erases desires; enchantingly lovely; Supreme Beloved; granting all
desires; supreme in all respects
33.
yugādi-krid
yugāvarto
naikamāyh mahāshanah
adrishyo vyakta-rūpash ca
sahasrajid anantajit
Originator of aeons;
turning the aeons; one who can assume numerous forms of maya; one who swallows
up all creatures during dissolution; ungraspable by the mind and the senses;
with a tangible form; Vanquisher of thousands of demons; Conqueror of countless
beings
34.
isto vishishtah
shishteshtah
shikhandī nahusho vrishah
krodhahā krodhakrit-kartā
vishva-bāhur mahīdharah
dear to all; object of adoration; loving
all equally; specially dear to the jnanis; wearing a peacock-feather; binding
creatures by His maya; dispeller of anger from all seekers; assuming anger
whilst dealing with the wicked; who has
all beings as his arms; One who
supports the Earth
35.
acyutah prathitah prānah
prānado vāsavānujah
apām
nidhir adhisthānam
apramattah pratishthitah
changeless; Whose Glory has spread
everywhere; Sustainer of Prana (strength);One who bestows Prana; Younger
brother of Indra; Who is all waters;
The support of everything; One who is always vigilant; Who is established in
His own greatness
36.
skandah skanda-dharo
dhuryo
varado vāyuvāhanah
vāsudevo brihad-bhānuh
ādidevah purandarah
Commander-in-Chief of the celestial army;
Who supports the righteous path; Sustainer of the cosmic burden; Granter of
boons; Who vibrates the seven great
winds; One who is everything; Whose rays are the sun and the moon; Who is the source of all beings; Destroyer
of the bodies of demons
37.
ashokas tāranas
tārah
shūrah shaurir janeshvarah
anukūlah shatāvartah
padmī padma-nibhekshanah
Devoid of sorrow; Who uplifts beings from
the ocean of change; Saviour from the fears of birth, old age and death;
Valiant; Son of Vasudeva; The Lord of all beings; Favourable to all; Who has
had one hundred incarnations; Who has a lotus in His hands; Who is Lotus-eyed
38.
padma-nābho
aravindāksah
padma-garbhah sharīrabhrit
maharddhir riddho vriddhātmā
mahāksho garuda-dhvajah
Centre of the heart-lotus; Whose eyes
resemble the lotus; Who is fit to be worshipped in the heart-lotus; Sustainer of the body; Who has enormous prosperity;Whose form has
expanded to be the universe; Ancient Self; Who is Great-eyed; Who has Garuda as his flag
39.
atulah sharabho
bhīmah
samayajno havir-harih
sarva-lakshana-laksanyo
laksmīvān samitinjayah
Unrivalled; luminious self; terrible;
who knows the reality of time;
whose best worship is the vision of equality; the supreme knowledge obtained through all knowledge; the consort of laxmi; ever-victorious
40.
viksharo rohito
mārgo
hetur dāmodarah sahah
mahīdharo mahābhāgo
vegavān amitāshanah
undecaying; red complexioned, who
incarnated as a fish; the way; material and instrumental cause of everything;
one who was tied by Yasoda with a cord round His waist; one that bears
everything; supporter of the earth; ever fortunate; exceedingly swift; He who
consumes all the worlds at the time of dissolution
41.
udbhavah kshobhano
devah
shrīgarbhah parameshvarah
karanam kāranam kartā
vikartā gahano guhah
originator; stirring primodial matter;
sporting with creation; having the cosmos within Him before and after creation;
supreme lord; instrumental cause; material cause; one who is free;creator of
endless varieties; hidden from view; concealing Himself by His own power
42.
vyavasāyo
vyavasthānah
samsthānah sthānado dhruvah
pararddhih parama-spashtas
tushtah pushtah shubhekshanah
wholly of the nature of knowledge;
governing the universe in an orderly manner; the ultimate existence; conferring
status on devotees; indestructible; possessor of the greatest majesty; supremely glorious; supreme bliss; who
infills everything; of auspicious and lovely glance
43.
rāmo virāmo
virato
mārgo neyo nayah anayah
vīrah shaktimatām-shrestho
dharmo dharma-vid uttamah
one who incarnated as Ramah, in whom the
yogis revel; abode of perfect rest; passionless; path of salvation; one who
guides; one who leads; for whom there is no leader; heroic warrior; mightiest of the mighty; who supports all
beings; greatest knower of dharma