Bhishma Pitamaha recited the Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudhishthira while lying on his bed of arrows. This episode appears in the Anushasan Parva of the Mahabharata. Yudhishthira had asked — what is the greatest dharma in this world, by remembering whom does a person become free from sorrow? In reply, Bhishma sang one thousand (sahasra) names of Lord Vishnu.
📖 Mahabharata, Anushasan Parva — Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra
1
विश्वं विष्णुर्वषट्कारो भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः ।
भूतकृद्भूतभृद्भावो भूतात्मा भूतभावनः ॥
Vishvam Vishnur-Vashat-kaaro Bhoota-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh |
Bhoota-krud-bhoota-bhrud-bhaavo Bhootaatmaa Bhoota-bhaavanah ||
विश्वम्
the entire universe — he who pervades all
विष्णुः
the all-pervading one — present everywhere
वषट्कारः
he for whom the vashat (offering) is made in yajna (sacred ritual fire)
भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः
lord of the past, future, and present
भूतकृत्
creator of all living beings
भूतभृत्
sustainer and nourisher of all beings
भावः
pure existence itself
भूतात्मा
the soul dwelling in all beings
भूतभावनः
the one who causes all beings to come into existence
This shloka opens with nine names of Vishnu. Together they declare that the Lord is the universe itself, pervading all of creation. He is master of all three spans of time — past, present, and future. He creates every living being, sustains them, and is the very soul within them all.
2
पूतात्मा परमात्मा च मुक्तानां परमा गतिः ।
अव्ययः पुरुषः साक्षी क्षेत्रज्ञोऽक्षर एव च ॥
Pootaatmaa Paramaatmaa cha Muktaanaam paramaa gatih |
Avyayah Purushah Saakshi Kshetragjno-akshara eva cha ||
पूतात्मा
the utterly pure soul — completely unblemished
परमात्मा
the supreme Self — beyond everything
मुक्तानां परमा गतिः
the highest destination for liberated souls
अव्ययः
the imperishable — never diminishing
पुरुषः
the one who dwells in the city of the body
साक्षी
the witness of all — the ever-present observer
क्षेत्रज्ञः
the knower of the field (the body)
अक्षरः
the indestructible — that which can never be destroyed
Here the Lord is described as the purest of souls, the supreme Self that stands beyond all else, and the final destination that liberated souls reach. He is imperishable, the witness of all actions, the knower of every body he inhabits — and he himself is indestructible.
3
योगो योगविदां नेता प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः ।
नारसिंहवपुः श्रीमान् केशवः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥
Yogo Yogavidaam netaa Pradhaana-purusheshvarah |
Naarasimhavapuh Shreemaan Keshavah Purushottamah ||
योगः
yoga (union) itself — attained through meditation
योगविदां नेता
the guide of those who know yoga
प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः
lord of both Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (consciousness)
नारसिंहवपुः
he who took the form of Narasimha (the man-lion avatar)
श्रीमान्
ever accompanied by Lakshmi — resplendent
केशवः
he of beautiful hair, or the lord of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
पुरुषोत्तमः
the foremost among all persons
The Lord leads all who walk the path of yoga, and he himself is both the path and its destination. He is sovereign over nature and consciousness alike. He took the fierce Narasimha form to protect his devotee Prahlada. He is Keshava — always radiant with Lakshmi at his side — and Purushottama, the highest of all.
4
सर्वः शर्वः शिवः स्थाणुर्भूतादिर्निधिरव्ययः ।
सम्भवो भावनो भर्ता प्रभवः प्रभुरीश्वरः ॥
Sarvah Sharvah Shivah Sthaanur-Bhootaadir-Nidhir-avyayah |
Sambhavo Bhaavano Bhartaa Prabhavah Prabhur-Eeshvarah ||
सर्वः
everything — the totality
शर्वः
the one who dissolves at pralaya (the great dissolution)
शिवः
the auspicious — the source of all good
स्थाणुः
the immovable — eternally steady
भूतादिः
the primal cause of all beings
निधिः अव्ययः
the inexhaustible treasure — never diminishing
सम्भवः
he who manifests by his own will
भावनः
he who causes all to come into being
भर्ता
the one who sustains all
प्रभवः
the root source of all existence
प्रभुः
the capable lord
ईश्वरः
the almighty controller
This shloka presents twelve names. The Lord is everything that exists. He dissolves it all, yet remains auspicious and perfectly still. He is the primal cause, an inexhaustible treasure, and he takes form by his own will. He sustains all, is the root of all, and governs all as the almighty Ishvara.
5
स्वयम्भूः शम्भुरादित्यः पुष्कराक्षो महास्वनः ।
अनादिनिधनो धाता विधाता धातुरुत्तमः ॥
Svayambhuh Shambhur-Aadityah Pushkaraaksho Mahaasvana |
Anaadi-nidhano Dhaataa Vidhaataa Dhaatur-uttamah ||
स्वयम्भूः
self-born — he who needs no cause for his existence
शम्भुः
the giver of happiness — source of joy
आदित्यः
son of Aditi — radiant as the sun
पुष्कराक्षः
lotus-eyed
महास्वनः
of majestic sound — the voice of the Vedas
अनादिनिधनः
without beginning and without end
धाता
the one who upholds all
विधाता
the ordainer of all destiny
धातुरुत्तमः
the most excellent foundation — the highest support
The Lord arose on his own — no cause brought him into being. He is the giver of joy, lotus-eyed, and his voice resounds like the Vedas themselves. He has no beginning and no end. He upholds all of creation, ordains every destiny, and is the most excellent foundation of all that exists.
6
अप्रमेयो हृषीकेशः पद्मनाभोऽमरप्रभुः ।
विश्वकर्मा मनुस्त्वष्टा स्थविष्ठः स्थविरो ध्रुवः ॥
Aprameyo Hrishikeshah Padmanaabho-Amara-prabhuh |
Vishvakarmaa Manus-tvashthaa Sthavishtah Sthaviro Dhruvah ||
अप्रमेयः
beyond all measurement — none can fully know him
हृषीकेशः
lord of the senses
पद्मनाभः
from whose navel the lotus (of creation) emerged
अमरप्रभुः
lord even of the devas (gods)
विश्वकर्मा
architect of the entire universe
मनुः
the thinker — the one who contemplates
त्वष्टा
he who shapes the forms of all beings
स्थविष्ठः
the most vast of all
स्थविरः
the eternal — ancient beyond reckoning
ध्रुवः
the immovable — utterly steadfast
The Lord is beyond all measurement — no instrument of knowledge can fully grasp him. He governs every sense, and from his navel bloomed the lotus of creation. He is the master architect of the universe, the most vast, the most ancient, and the most steadfast reality of all.
7
अग्राह्यः शाश्वतः कृष्णो लोहिताक्षः प्रतर्दनः ।
प्रभूतस्त्रिककुब्धाम पवित्रं मङ्गलं परम् ॥
Agraahyah Shaashvatah Krishno Lohitaakshah Pratardanah |
Prabhootas-trikakub-dhaama Pavitram Mangalam param ||
अग्राह्यः
beyond the grasp of the senses
शाश्वतः
the eternal — always existing
कृष्णः
dark-hued — the embodiment of sat-chit-ananda (being-consciousness-bliss)
लोहिताक्षः
red-eyed
प्रतर्दनः
the one who destroys all at the time of pralaya
प्रभूतः
endowed with all divine glories
त्रिककुब्धाम
the abode of all three worlds
पवित्रम्
the supremely pure — the purifier
मङ्गलं परम्
the highest auspiciousness
The Lord stands beyond the reach of the senses — he cannot be grasped by eye or ear or touch. He is eternal, dark-complexioned Krishna, the abode of all three worlds, and the very definition of purity. Even at the time of dissolution, it is he who draws everything back.
8
ईशानः प्राणदः प्राणो ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः प्रजापतिः ।
हिरण्यगर्भो भूगर्भो माधवो मधुसूदनः ॥
Eeshaanah Praanadah Praano Jyeshthah Shreshthah Prajaapatih |
Hiranyagarbho Bhoogarbho Maadhavo Madhusoodanah ||
ईशानः
the controller of all — the lord
प्राणदः
the giver of life-breath
प्राणः
life-breath itself
ज्येष्ठः
the eldest — most ancient of all
श्रेष्ठः
the most excellent
प्रजापतिः
lord and protector of all living beings
हिरण्यगर्भः
the creator residing in the golden cosmic egg
भूगर्भः
he who holds the earth within himself
माधवः
consort of Lakshmi — lord of Maya
मधुसूदनः
slayer of the demon Madhu
The Lord is the controller of all, giver of life, and older than the oldest. He is Hiranyagarbha — the primordial creator within the golden cosmic egg — and Madhava, ever united with Lakshmi. As Madhusudana, he slew the demon Madhu and thereby upheld the order of creation.
9
ईश्वरो विक्रमी धन्वी मेधावी विक्रमः क्रमः ।
अनुत्तमो दुराधर्षः कृतज्ञः कृतिरात्मवान् ॥
Eeshvaro Vikramee Dhanvee Medhaaavee Vikramah Kramah |
Anuttamo Duraadharshah Kritagnah Kritir-Aatmavaan ||
ईश्वरः
the almighty lord
विक्रमी
the heroic — in the Vamana avatar, he who strode three steps
धन्वी
bearer of the Sharnga bow
मेधावी
omniscient — of supreme intelligence
विक्रमः
valor itself
क्रमः
the order of all things — progression itself
अनुत्तमः
beyond whom there is none greater
दुराधर्षः
impossible to overpower — unconquerable
कृतज्ञः
the one who recognizes and remembers the acts of his devotees
कृतिः
action itself in all its forms
आत्मवान्
established in his own Self
The Lord is the almighty, the heroic bearer of the Sharnga bow. He remembers every act his devotees perform — even the smallest gesture of love. He is unconquerable, and none stands above him. He is both the order of the cosmos and the one who upholds it.
10
सुरेशः शरणं शर्म विश्वरेताः प्रजाभवः ।
अहः संवत्सरो व्यालः प्रत्ययः सर्वदर्शनः ॥
Sureshah Sharanam Sharma Vishvuretaah Prajaabhavah |
Ahah Samvatsaro Vyaalah Pratyayah Sarvadarshanan ||
सुरेशः
lord of the devas (gods)
शरणम्
refuge — the shelter of all
शर्म
supreme bliss itself
विश्वरेताः
the seed-cause of the universe
प्रजाभवः
the root from which all beings arise
अहः
daylight — the luminous
संवत्सरः
the cycle of time — time itself
व्यालः
as elusive as a serpent — difficult to grasp
प्रत्ययः
the foundation of all trust and certainty
सर्वदर्शनः
the all-seeing — witnessing everything
The Lord is lord of the gods, refuge of all, and supreme bliss. He is the seed from which the universe grew. He is time itself — the cycle of days and years — and yet elusive like a serpent. All certainty rests in him. He sees everything, always.
References
Vishnu Sahasranama · 1 / 11