shloka 8

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the Eighth Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.

ईशानः प्राणदः प्राणो ज्येष्ठश्श्रेष्ठः प्रजापतिः|हिरण्यगर्भो भूगर्भो माधवो मधुसूदनः ॥ ८ ॥*

Shloka 8

Īśānaḥ prāṇadaḥ prāṇo jyeṣṭhaśśreṣṭhaḥ prajāpatiḥ ।Hiraṇyagarbho bhūgarbho mādhavo madhusūdanaḥ ॥ 8 ॥

Purport:
The Lord is the Controller of all beings and things; He is a life giver and taker, one who purifies and brightens. He is the ‘life’ in lives and he is the oldest and the best. He created Brahma, the creator of the golden egg and He nurtures the Earth like a mother cares for a child in her womb. He is the consort of Lakshmi and can be attained through Mauna, Dhyaana and Yoga. He is Madhusoodanah the destroyer of the Asura Madhu. Madhu also means ‘Honey’ in the Vedas which means our Karma-phala or fruits of action. By meditating on the Lord we can get rid of the Vaasanas (desires) and hence the Lord is known as Madhusoodhanah – “The Destroyer of Vaasanas”.

The Lord is Ishanah, the Controller of all beings and things. He is Praanadah, a life giver and taker, one who purifies and brightens. He is the ‘life’ in lives i.e. Praanah and He is the oldest and the best and hence He is Jyeshttah. He is glorious and the greatest and hence He is called Shreshttah. He is Prajapati as He is the undisputed Leader for all beings.

He Created Brahma, the creator of the golden egg, hence He is HiranyaGarbhah and He nurtures the earth like a mother cares for a child in her womb, hence he is called Bhoogarbhah. He is the consort of Lakshmi and He can be attained through Mauna, Dhyaana and Yoga, so He is known as Madhavah.

He is the destroyer of the Asura Madhu, hence called Madhusoodanah. Madhu also means ‘Honey’ which means our Karma-Phala Dhata or giver of fruits of action. By meditating on the Lord we can get rid of the Vaasanas and hence the Lord is known as Madhusoodanah – “The Destroyer of Vaasanaas”.