Shloka 1
In this part we will explore the meaning of the first Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.
विश्वं विष्णुर्वषट्कारो भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः |
भूतकृद्भूतभृद्भावो भूतात्मा भूतभावनः || 1 ||
Vishvam Vishnur Vashatkaaro BhootaBhavyaBhavatPrabhuh |
Bhootakrit Bhootabhrit Bhaavo Bhootatma Bhootabhavanah ||1||
Purport:
Bhagavan is the Creator of the Universe and pervades everything and everywhere. He controls the Universe and He is the master of the Past, Present and the Future. He is the Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer of all beings. He exists in full splendour and is the essence of all beings and nurtures all beings.
This Shloka 1 contains the following 9 Namas:
- Vishvam
- Vishnuh
- Vashatkaarah
- BhootaBhavyaBhavatPrabhuh
- Bhootakrit
- Bhootabhrit
- Bhaavah
- Bhootatma
- Bhootabhavanah
He is the Cause and the effect; hence He is Vishvam. He pervades everything and everywhere; He is Sarva vyapi and Sarva antaryami and hence He is Vishnuh.
He controls the Universe, so He is known as Vashatkaaro. He is the Master of the Past, Present and Future, hence He is BhootaBhavyaBhavatPrabhuh.
He is the Creator and Destroyer of all beings, so He is Bhootakrit. As Bhootabrit, He is the sustainer of the Universe. He exists in full splendour with his many Bhaavas.
He is the essence of all beings and is present within all beings, hence He is Bhootatma. As He nurtures all beings like a mother nurtures her child, He is Bhootabhavanah.
Thus, the very first Shloka demonstrates Bhagavan’s complete and total command over space, time and all the beings in the Universe.
