Vishnu Sahasranamam
Invocation
Shuklam Baradaram Vishnum, Sasi Varnam Chatur Bhujam,
Prasanna Vadanan Dyayet, Sarva Vignoba Sandaye 1
Dressed in white you are,
Oh, all pervading one,
And glowing with the colour of moon.
With four arms, you are, the all knowing one
I meditate on your ever-smiling face,
And pray, “Remove all obstacles on my way”.
Vyasam Vasishtanaptharam, Sakthe Poutramakalmasham,
Parasarathmajam vande, Shukathatham Taponidhim. 2
I bow before you Vyasa,
The treasure house of penance,
The great grandson of Vasishta.
The grandson of Shakthi,
The son of Parasara.
And the father of Shuka,
Vyasa Vishnu Roopaya, Vyasa Roopaya Vishnave,
Nmo Vai Brahma Vidaya, Vasishtaya Namo Nama. 3
Bow I before,
Vyasa who is Vishnu,
Vishnu who is Vyasa,
And again and again bow before,
He, who is born,
In the family of Vasishta.
Avikaraya Shuddhaya, Nityaya Paramatmane,
Sadaika Roopa Roopaya, Vishnave Sarva Jishnave. 4
Bow I before Vishnu
Who is pure,
Who is not affected,
Who is permanent,
Who is the ultimate truth.
And He who wins over,
All the mortals in this world.
Yasya smarana Mathrena, Janma Samsara bandhanath.
Vimuchayate Nama Tasmai , Vishnave Prabha Vishnave
Om Namo Vishnave Prabha Vishnave 5
Bow I before Him,
The all-powerful Vishnu,
The mere thought of whom.
Releases one forever,
Of the ties of birth and life.
Bow I before the all powerful Vishnu
Shri Vaisampayana Uvacha:-
Shrutva dharmaneshena , Pavanani cha Sarvasha,
Yudishtra santhanavam Puneravabhya Bhashata 6
Sri Vaisampayana said:-
After hearing a lot,
About Dharma that carries life,
And of those methods great,
That removes sins from one’s life,
Forever and to cleanse,
Yudhishtra asked again,
Bheeshma, the abode of everlasting peace.
Yudishtra Uvacha:-
Kimekam Daivatham Loke, Kim Vapyegam Parayanam,
Sthuvantha Kam Kamarchanda Prapnyur Manava Shubham, 7
Ko Dharma sarva Dharmanam Paramo Matha
Kim Japan Muchyathe Jandur Janma Samsara Bhandanat 8
Yudishtra asked:-
In this wide world , Oh Grandpa,
Which is that one God,
Who is the only shelter?
Who is He whom,
Beings worship and pray,
And get salvation great?
Who is He who should oft,
Be worshipped with love?
Which Dharma is so great,
There is none greater?
And which is to be oft chanted,
To get free.
From these bondage of life, cruel?
Bheeshma Uvacha:-
Jagat Prabhum devadevam Anantham Purushottamam,
Stuvan nama Sahasrena, Purusha Sathathothida, 9
Tameva charchayan nityam, Bhaktya purushamavyayam,
Dhyayan sthuvan namasyancha yajamanasthameva cha, 10
Anadi nidhanam vishnum sarva loka Maheswaram
Lokadyaksham stuvannityam Sarva dukkhago bhaved, 11
Brahmanyam sarva dharmagnam Lokanam keerthi vardhanam,
Lokanatham Mahadbhootham Sarva Bhootha bhavodbhavam 12
Aeshame sarva dharmanam dharmadhika tamo matha,
Yad bhaktyo pundarikaksham Stuvyr-archanayr-nara sada,13
Paramam yo mahatteja, paramam yo mahattapa
Paramam yo mahad brahma paramam ya parayanam 14
Pavithranam Pavithram yo mangalanam cha mangalam,
Dhaivatham devathanam cha bhootanam yo vya pitha 15
Yatha sarvani bhoothani bhavandyathi yugagame
Yasmincha pralayam yanthi punareve yuga kshaye 16
Tasya Loka pradhanasya Jagannatathasya bhoopathe
Vishno nama sahasram me Srunu papa bhayapaham 17
Bheeshma replied:-
That purusha with endless devotion,
Who chants the thousand names ,
Of He who is the lord of the Universe,
Of He who is the God of Gods,
Of He who is limitless,
Would get free,
From these bondage of life, cruel
He who also worships and prays,
Daily without break,
That Purusha who does not change,
That Vishnu who does not end or begin,
That God who is the lord of all worlds,
And Him, who presides over the universe,
Would lose without fail,
All the miseries in this life.
Chanting the praises,
Worshipping and singing,
With devotion great,
Of the lotus eyed one ,
Who is partial to the Vedas,
Who is the only one who knows the dharma,
Who increases the fame ,
Of those who live in this world,
Who is the master of the universe,
Who is the truth among all those who has life,
And who decides the life of all living,
Is the dharma that is great.
That which is the greatest light,
That which is the greatest penance,
That which is the greatest brahmam,
Is the greatest shelter that I know.
Please hear from me,
The thousand holy names,
Which wash away all sins,
Of Him who is purest of the pure,
Of That which is holiest of holies,
Of Him who is God among Gods,
Of That father who lives without death,
Among all that lives in this world,
Of Him whom all the souls,
Were born at the start of the world,
Of Him in whom, all that lives,
Will disappear at the end of the world,
And of that the chief of all this world ,
Who bears the burden of this world..
I would teach you without fail,
Of those names with fame.
Which deal of His qualities great,
And which the sages sing,
So that beings of this wide world,
Become happy and great.
Rishir Namnam Sahsrasya Veda Vyaso Maha Muni
Chando aunustup stada devo bhagawan devaki sutha 19
Amruthamsu Bhavo Bhhejam Shakthir devaki nandana
Trisama hridayam tasya santhyarthe viniyujyade 20
Vishnum Jishnum Mahavishnum Prabha vishnun Maheswaram
Aneka Roopa Daityantham Namami purushottamam 21
These thousand names, Yudishtra
Are sung for peace,
And has Vyasa as the sage,
And is composed in Anusthup metre,
And has its God the son of Devaki,
And its root is Amrutamsudbhava
And its strength the baby of Devaki,
And its heart is Trissama
Bow I before Him,
Who is everywhere,
Who is ever victorious,
Who is in every being,
Who is God of Gods,
Who is the killer of asuras,
And who is the greatest,
Among all purushas.
Dhyanam
Ksheerodanvath pradese suchimani vilasad saikathe Maukthikanam
Malaklupthasanastha Spatikamani nibhai maukthiker mandithanga
Shubrai-rabrai-rathabrai ruparivirachitai muktha peeyusha varshai
Anandi na puniyadari nalina Gadha sankapanir Mukunda 1
Let that Mukunda make us all holy,
Who wears all over his body
Pearls made of spatika,
Who sits on the throne of garland of pearls ,
Located in the sand of precious stones,
By the side of the sea of milk,
Who gets happy of the white cloud,
Sprayed of drops of nectar,
And who has the mace , the wheel and the lotus in His hands.
Bhoo padau yasya nabhi r viyadasu ranila schandra suryaau cha nether
Karnavasasiro dhaumugamabhi dhahano yasya vasteyamabhdhi
Anthastham yasya viswam sura nara khaga go bhogi gandharva dhaityai,
Chitram ram ramyathe tham thribhuvana vapusham vishnumeesam namami 2
I bow before that God, Vishnu
Who is the lord of three worlds,
Who has earth as his feet,
Who has air as his soul,
Who has sky as his belly,
Who has moon and sun as eyes,
Who has the four directions as ears,
Who has the land of gods as head,
Who has fire as his mouth,
Who has sea as his stomach,
And in whose belly play and enjoy,
Gods, men, birds, animals,
Serpent men, Gandharvas and Asuras.
Santhakaram Bujaga sayanam Padmanabham suresam,
Viswadharam Gagana sadrusam Megha varnam shubangam
Lakshmi kantham kamala nayanam Yogi hrid dyana gamyam
Vande vishnum bava bhayaharam sava lokaika nadham 3
I bow before the God Vishnu,
Who is personification of peace,
Who sleeps on his folded arms,
Who has a lotus on his belly,
Who is the God of gods,
Who is the basis of earth,
Who is similar to the sky,
Who is of the colour of the cloud,
Who has beautiful limbs,
Who is the consort of Lakshmi,
Who has lotus like eyes,
Who is seen by saints through thought,
Who kills all worries and fears,
And who is the lord of all the worlds.
Megha syamam Peetha kouseys vasam Srivatsangam Kausthuboth bhasithangam
Punyopetham pundareekayathaksham Vishnum vande sarva lokaika natham 4
I bow before that God Vishnu,
Who is the lord of all the universe,
Who is black like a cloud,
Who wears yellow silks,
Who has the sreevatsa on him,
Whose limbs shine because of Kousthubha,
Who has eyes like an open lotus,
And who is surrounded by the blessed always.
Sasanga chakram sakerita kundalam sappeethavastram saraseruhekshanam,
Sahara vaksha sthala shobhi kousthubham namai Vishnum sirasa chaturbhujam 5
I bow before the God Vishnu,
Who has four arms,
Who has a conch and wheel in his hands,
Who wears a crown and ear globes,
Who wears yellow silks,
Who has lotus like eyes,
Who shines because of Kousthbha ,
Worn in his garlanded chest.
Chayayam Parijatasys hemasimhasanopari,
Aseenamam budha syama Mayathakashamalangrutham,
Chandranana chathurbahum sreevatsangitha vakshasam,
Rukmani Satyabhamabhyam Sahitham Krishnamasraye. 6
I seek refuge in Lord Krishna,
Who is with Rukmani and Satyabhama,
Who sits on a golden throne,
In the shade of Parijata tree,
Who is of the colour of the black cloud,
Who has long broad eyes,
Who has a face like moon,
Who has four hands,
And who has a chest adorned by Sreevatsa.