This chapter gathers the voices of five witnesses — Arjuna, Krishna, Vyasa, Parvati, and Brahma — and closes with Sanjaya's famous declaration from the Bhagavad Gita. The most celebrated moment here is Shiva telling Parvati that Rama's name alone equals the entire Sahasranama. Together, these verses form a chorus of homage from across the whole tradition.
📖 Mahabharata, Anushasan Parva — Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra
91
एको विष्णुर्महद्भूतं पृथग्भूतान्यनेकशः ।
त्रींल्लोकान्व्याप्य भूतात्मा भुङ्क्ते विश्वभुगव्ययः ॥
Eko Vishnur-mahadbhootam Prithag-bhootaany-anekshah |
Treemll-lokaan-vyaapya Bhootaatmaa Bhunkte Vishva-bhug-avyayah ||
एकः
one — without a second
विष्णुः
Vishnu — the all-pervading
महद्भूतम्
the great primal element — the underlying reality
पृथग्भूतानि
the separate individual beings
अनेकशः
in countless forms
त्रीन् लोकान्
the three worlds
व्याप्य
pervading completely
भूतात्मा
the soul within all beings
भुङ्क्ते
experiences — partakes of
विश्वभुक्
the one who experiences the whole world
अव्ययः
the imperishable — the one who never diminishes
One Vishnu — the great underlying reality — becomes the countless separate beings of the world. Pervading all three worlds, dwelling as the soul within each being, he experiences everything through everything — and yet he remains imperishable, unchanged. The many is the one. The one does not become less.
92
इमं स्तवं भगवतो विष्णोर्व्यासेन कीर्तितम् ।
पठेद्य इच्छेत्पुरुषः श्रेयः प्राप्तुं सुखानि च ॥
Imam Stavam Bhagavato Vishnor-vyaasena Keertitam |
Pathed-ya Ichchhet-purushah Shreyah Praaptum Sukhaani cha ||
इमम् स्तवम्
this stotra — this hymn of praise
भगवतः विष्णोः
of Bhagavan Vishnu
व्यासेन
by Vyasa
कीर्तितम्
sung and declared
पठेत्
let them read — let them recite
यः इच्छेत्
whoever desires
पुरुषः
the human being
श्रेयः
ultimate well-being
सुखानि
happiness
This is Vyasa's own seal on the Sahasranama — the great sage declaring: I have sung this stotra of Bhagavan Vishnu. Any person who seeks well-being and happiness, let them read it. The invitation is open. The gate is not guarded.
93
विश्वेश्वरमजं देवं जगतः प्रभवाप्ययम् ।
भजन्ति ये पुष्कराक्षं न ते यान्ति पराभवम् ॥
Vishveshvaram-ajam Devam Jagatah Prabhavaa-apyayam |
Bhajanti Ye Pushkaraaksham Na Te Yaanti Paraabhavam ||
विश्वेश्वरम्
the Lord of the universe
अजम्
the unborn
देवम्
the divine
जगतः
of the world
प्रभवाप्ययम्
the cause of both creation and dissolution
भजन्ति
those who offer bhakti — who turn to in devotion
ये
those who
पुष्कराक्षम्
the lotus-eyed one
न ते यान्ति
they do not reach
पराभवम्
defeat — being overcome
Those who offer bhakti to the lotus-eyed Lord — the unborn, the Lord of the universe, the source and dissolution of all worlds — they are never overcome. The verse does not promise they will never face difficulty. It promises they will never be finally defeated.
94
न ते यान्ति पराभवम् ॐ नम इति ।
अर्जुन उवाच —
पद्मपत्रविशालाक्ष पद्मनाभ सुरोत्तम ।
भक्तानामनुरक्तानां त्राता भव जनार्दन ॥
Na te Yaanti Paraa-bhavam Om Nama iti |
Arjuna uvaacha —
Padma-patra-vishaal-aaksha Padmanaabha Suro-ttama |
Bhaktaanaam-anuraktaanaam Traataa Bhava Janaaardana ||
पद्मपत्रविशालाक्ष
you whose eyes are wide as lotus petals
पद्मनाभ
Padmanabha — from whose navel the lotus arose
सुरोत्तम
greatest among the devas
भक्तानाम्
of the devotees
अनुरक्तानाम्
who are deeply attached — who love you
त्राता भव
be their protector
जनार्दन
O Janardana
Now Arjuna speaks. Having heard Bhishma deliver the Sahasranama, Arjuna turns directly to the Lord and asks — O lotus-eyed Padmanabha, greatest of the devas, Janardana: be the protector of your devoted and loving devotees. After a thousand names, a single request.
95
श्रीभगवानुवाच —
यो मां नामसहस्रेण स्तोतुमिच्छति पाण्डव ।
सोऽहमेकेन श्लोकेन स्तुत एव न संशयः ॥
Shree Bhagavaan uvaacha —
Yo Maam Naama-sahasrena Stotum-ichchhati Paandava |
So-aham-ekena Shlokena Stuta Eva Na Samshayah ||
यः
whoever
माम्
me
नामसहस्रेण
with the thousand names
स्तोतुम्
to praise
इच्छति
wishes
पाण्डव
O son of Pandu — O Arjuna
सः अहम्
I, that same one
एकेन श्लोकेन
by a single shloka
स्तुतः एव
am indeed praised — am fully honoured
न संशयः
there is no doubt
The Lord answers Arjuna directly. O Arjuna — whoever wishes to praise me with the thousand names, I am equally honoured by a single shloka. No doubt about it. The Lord is not measuring the volume of devotion. He is saying: one sincere shloka reaches me just as surely as a thousand.
96
स्तुत एव न संशय ॐ नम इति ।
व्यास उवाच —
वासनाद्वासुदेवस्य वासितं भुवनत्रयम् ।
सर्वभूतनिवासोऽसि वासुदेव नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Stuta Eva Na Samshaya Om Nama iti |
Vyaasa uvaacha —
Vaasanaad-Vaasudevasya Vaasitam Bhuvanatrayam |
Sarva-bhoota-nivaaso-asi Vaasudeva Namo-astu te ||
वासनात्
because of his dwelling — his pervading presence
वासुदेवस्य
of Vasudeva
वासितम्
is permeated — is filled
भुवनत्रयम्
the three worlds
सर्वभूतनिवासः
the one who dwells within all beings
असि
you are
वासुदेव
O Vasudeva
नमः अस्तु ते
salutations to you
Vyasa adds his own verse of tribute. Because Vasudeva pervades everything, all three worlds are filled with his presence. O Vasudeva — you dwell within every being. Salutations to you. Even the author of the Mahabharata pauses to bow.
97
वासुदेव नमोऽस्तु ते इति ।
पार्वत्युवाच —
केनोपायेन लघुना विष्णोर्नामसहस्रकम् ।
पठ्यते पण्डितैर्नित्यं श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं प्रभो ॥
Vaasudeva Namo-astu te iti |
Paarvatee uvaacha —
Keno-upaayena Laghunaa Vishnor-naama-sahasrakam |
Pathyate Panditair-nityam Shrotum-ichchhaamy-aham Prabho ||
केन उपायेन
by what means
लघुना
simple — accessible
विष्णोः
of Vishnu
नामसहस्रकम्
the thousand names
पठ्यते
is recited
पण्डितैः
by the learned
नित्यम्
daily
श्रोतुम् इच्छामि
I wish to hear
प्रभो
O Lord
Parvati now asks Shiva the practical question: by what simple means do the learned recite the thousand names of Vishnu daily? O Lord, I wish to know. The question is a beautiful one — she is not asking for a substitute for the Sahasranama. She is asking how the practice is carried in everyday life.
98
ईश्वर उवाच —
श्रीराम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥
Eeshvara uvaacha —
Shri-Raama Raama Raameti Rame Raame Manorame |
Sahasra-naama Tat-tulyam Raama-naama Varaanane ||
श्रीराम राम राम
Shri Rama, Rama, Rama
इति
thus — in this way
रमे
I rest — I am absorbed
रामे
in Rama
मनोरमे
the one who delights the mind
सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यम्
equal to the Sahasranama
रामनाम
the name of Rama
वरानने
O beautiful-faced one
Shiva answers Parvati. O beautiful one — I rest in the name of Rama, again and again: Shri Rama, Rama, Rama. The name of Rama is equal to the entire Vishnu Sahasranama. This verse is among the most celebrated in the entire stotra. Shiva himself — the one who is addressed with a thousand names in his own Shiva Sahasranama — declares that Rama's name is the simple way.
99
रामनाम वरानन ॐ नम इति ।
ब्रह्मोवाच —
नमोऽस्त्वनन्ताय सहस्रमूर्तये
सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोरुबाहवे ।
सहस्रनाम्ने पुरुषाय शाश्वते
सहस्रकोटियुगधारिणे नमः ॥
Raama-naama Varaanana Om Nama iti |
Brahmo-vaacha —
Namo-astv-anantaaya Sahasra-moortaye
Sahasra-paada-akshi-shiro-ru-baahave |
Sahasra-naamnе Purushаaya Shaashvate
Sahasra-koti-yuga-dhaarinе Namah ||
नमः अस्तु
salutations — let there be homage
अनन्ताय
to the infinite — the endless one
सहस्रमूर्तये
who has a thousand forms
सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोरुबाहवे
who has a thousand feet, eyes, heads, thighs, and arms
सहस्रनाम्ने
who bears a thousand names
पुरुषाय शाश्वते
to the eternal Purusha
सहस्रकोटियुगधारिणे
who sustains thousands of crores of yugas
नमः
salutations
Brahma speaks — and his tribute is the word 'thousand' repeated like a refrain: a thousand forms, a thousand feet-eyes-heads-arms, a thousand names, thousands of crores of yugas sustained. Each 'thousand' points toward what cannot be counted. Brahma's homage is to the limitless.
100
सहस्रकोटियुगधारिणे नम ॐ नम इति ।
सञ्जय उवाच —
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः ।
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥
Sahasra-koti-yuga-dhaarinе Nama Om Nama iti |
Sanjaya uvaacha —
Yatra Yogeshvarah Krishno Yatra Paartho Dhanur-dharah |
Tatra Shreер-vijayo Bhootir-dhruvaa Neetir-matir-mama ||
यत्र
where
योगेश्वरः कृष्णः
Krishna, the Lord of yoga
पार्थः धनुर्धरः
Arjuna, the archer — the son of Pritha
तत्र
there
श्रीः
prosperity — Lakshmi
विजयः
victory
भूतिः
power and abundance
ध्रुवा
certain — unwavering
नीतिः
justice — right guidance
मतिः मम
this is my conviction
Sanjaya closes with this — the final verse of the Bhagavad Gita, placed here at the summit of the Sahasranama's phala-shruti. Where Krishna the Lord of yoga stands, and where Arjuna holds the bow — there prosperity, victory, power, and certain justice abide. This is Sanjaya's conviction. It is also the tradition's last word.
References
Vishnu Sahasranama · 10 / 11