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. 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.

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the 2nd Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama. पूतात्मा परमात्मा च मुक्तानां परमागतिः | अव्ययः पुरुषः साक्षी क्षेत्रज्ञोऽक्षर एव च || 2 ||Pootatma Paramatma cha MuktaanaamParamaaGatihi | Avyayah Purushas Saakshee Kshetragno Akshara Eva Cha ||2||

Purport:

The Lord is pure and is untainted by the actions of the body (Jivatma) in which he resides; He is the Ultimate Consciousness Who is the Knower, Seer, Sustainer, Enjoyer and those immersed in his thoughts attain Paramagati or Moksha, and enjoy the eternal bliss that is limitless. The Lord is pure and untainted by the actions of the body (Jivatma) in which he resides, so He is Pootatma. He is the Ultimate Consciousness who is the Knower, Seer, Sustainer, Enjoyer and the Paramatma. Those immersed in his thoughts attain Paramagati or Moksha, so He is MuktanamParamagatihi. He is immortal, indestructible and has no decay, hence He is Avyayah. Our body is considered an abode and He resides there and hence He is Purushah. Bhagavan is Omniscient and sees everything as a Sakshee. He is Kshetragnah as He leads his devotees to Supreme bliss. He is without destruction and eternal, so He is Aksharah.

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the third Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. योगोयोगविदांनेताप्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः | नारसिंहवपुःश्रीमान्केशवःपुरुषोत्तमः || 3 ||Shloka 3YogoYogavidaamNetaPradhaanaPurusheshvarah                |NaarasimhaVapuhShreemaanKeshavahPurushottamah ||3|| Purport: The Lord can be attained by Yoga and He is the Master of all those established in Yoga.  He is the Pradhana Purusha who controls of the Universe.  He takes multiple forms at his will and as Narasimhavapuh, He destroyed Hiranyakashipu to protect his ardent devotee Prahlada. He is so beautiful together with Goddess Lakshmi residing on his chest.  He is Keshava, the controller of the Trinity and He is the greatest among all Purushaas on whom we should meditate at all times to attain liberation. He is the Master of all those established in Yoga, hence He is called Yogavidaam Neta.  He is the Pradhana Purushaeshvara who controls the Universe.  He takes multiple forms at his Will and as Naarasimhavapuh, He destroyed Hiranyakashipu to protect his ardent devotee Prahlada. He is so beautiful together with Goddess Lakshmi residing on his chest, hence He is Shreemaan.  He is Keshava, the controller of the Trinity and He is the greatest among all Purushaasi.e.Purushottamah on whom we should meditate at all times to attain liberation.

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the fourth Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.
सर्वःशर्वःशिवःस्थाणुर्भूतादिर्निधिरव्ययः | सम्भवोभावनोभर्ताप्रभवःप्रभुरीश्वरः || 4 ||
SarvahSharvash Shiva SthaanurBhootaadirNidhiravyayah      |SambhavoBhaavanoBhartaaPrabhavahPrabhureeshvarah ||4|| Purport: He is the Ultimate cause for the Universe, its sustenance, destruction and He manifests again and again for re-establishing Dharma. He is pure, untainted one who is forever compassionate to his devotees, He who supports the Universe and is most powerful, who can do whatever He wills without the help of anything or anyone. AnanthasayanamHe is Sarvah as He is the Ultimate cause for the Universe. He is Sharvah and subsumes everything within Him at the time of Deluge. He is Pure and untainted, hence Shivah; and Sthanuh as He is changeless. He is the source of all Causes, so He is Bhootadhir; and he is eternal as Nidhiravyayah. He manifests again and again for re-establishing Dharma, hence Sambhavah. He gives the fruits of action as phaladaata and hence he is Bhaavanah. He supports the Universe, so He is Bhartaa. His Avatars are acts of greatness and are Prabhavah. He is most powerful, one who can do whatever He wills without the help of anything or anyone and hence He is Prabhuh. He is Supreme Eeshvarah.

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the fifth Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. स्वयम्भूःशम्भुरादित्यःपुष्कराक्षोमहास्वनः | अनादिनिधनोधाताविधाताधातुरुत्तमः || 5 ||Shloka 5Svayambhoos Shambhu RaadityahPushkaraakshoMahaasvanah   |AnaadinidhanoDhaataVidhaataDhaaturuttammah                             ||5|| Purport: Bhagavan is Svyambhooh, i.e. the one who exists by Himself. He has no dependence on others and He bestows happiness and joy on his devotees.  He is the energy and source of all radiance and lustre in the Sun. His eyes are like the Lotus flower whose splendour is described in the Vedas.  He has no birth, decay or death, and He supports this Universe. He generates the fruits of actions, sustains the whole Universe and is its Supreme controller. Mahavishnu Bhagavan is Svyambhooh as He exists by himself. He bestows happiness and joy on his devotees and hence He is Shambhuh.  He is the energy behind the Sun and the source of all radiance and lustre. He is Aadityah, the golden hue in Sun’s orb. His eyes are like the Lotus flower whose splendour is described in the Vedas, so He is Pushkarakshah. He has a deep voice and from whom comes the great sound, hence He is Mahaasvanah. He has no birth, decay or death and He is Anadinidhanah i.e. eternal. He who supports this Universe, generates the fruits of actions and is the phala-Dhaata. He is the Supreme Controller of the Universe and hence He is Vidhaata.  He is the Ultimate support for everything and hence He is Dhaturuttamah.

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the Sixth Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.
अप्रमेयोहृषीकेशःपद्मनाभोऽमरप्रभुः | विश्वकर्मामनुस्त्वष्टास्थविष्ठःस्थविरोध्रुवः || 6 ||
Shloka 6
Shloka AprameyoHrisheekeshahPadmanaabhoAmaraprabhuh |VishvakarmaaManustvashtaaSthavishthaSthaviroDhruvah ||6|| Purport: The Lord is immeasurable and undefinable; he is the controller of all Indriyas, and he sustains the Universe, and HE is the Lord of all the Devas. He has chiseled and Created the world, all caused just by His thinking alone; He is changeless and remains whole through time and space; and is ageless who is not impacted by the Kaal Chakra. Lord Vishnu and Goddess LaxmiBhagavan is Immeasurable, undefinable and cannot be realised by the five senses, hence He is Apremeyah. He is Hrisheekeshah as He is the Master of all Senses. He is the underlying Cause for all Creation being the seat of Brahma the Creator. He is Padmanaabhah as Padma (Universe) emanates from his Naabhi (navel) sustained by something like an umbilical cord. HE is the Lord of all the Devas and hence Amaraprabhuh. He has chiseled and Created the world like Vishvakarmaa does with his tools. He is Manah as He caused the Creation by His thinking alone; He is called Tvashtaa as He shrinks the World during Pralaya and subsumes it within Him. He is Sthavistha as He assumes gigantic forms at His Will (like the huge Boar in Varaha Avatar or Trivikrama in Vamana Avatar). He is Sthavirah as He is older than the oldest. He is changeless and remains whole through time and space. He is ageless who is not impacted by the Kaal Chakra and eternal; hence He is called Dhruvah.

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the Seventh Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.
श्लोक ७।। अग्राह्यः शाश्वतः कृष्णो लोहिताक्षः प्रतर्दनः । प्रभूतः त्रिककुब-धाम पवित्रं मंगलं परं ।। 7।।
Shloka 7
Agraahyash Shaasvatah Krishno Lohitaakshaf Pratardanah |Prabhootas Trikakubdhaama Pavitram Mangalam Param ||7|| Purport: The Lord is beyond the grasp of others and cannot be reached by the normal senses. He is eternal and is in a permanent state of bliss for whom Creation is a Sport. His eyes are Red like the Lotus flower. He is the annihilator of the Universe and subsumes the world within Him at the time of Deluge or Pralaya. He is affluent and well-endowed with Greatness. He is the one who is the protector in all three States of Consciousness, the one who is Pure and Supremely auspicious. The Lord is beyond the grasp of others, hence He is Agraahyah. He is eternal and hence Shaasvatah. He is in a permanent state of bliss for whom Creation is a Sport, he is called Krishna. He is Lotus red eyed and hence known as Lohitaakshah. He is the annihilator of the Universe at the time of Pralaya and hence is Pratardanah. He is affluent and well endowed with greatness and so He is called Prabhootah. He supports the three States of Consciousness and hence known as Trikakubdhaama. He is Pure and hence Pavitram and He is Supremely Auspicious, hence He is Mangalam Param.

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 8Īśānaḥ 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”.

Shloka 9 from Vishnu Sahasranama In this Part we will explore the meaning of the Ninth Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.
श्लोक ९ ईश्वरो विक्रमी धन्वी मेधावी विक्रमः क्रमः ।अनुत्तमो दुरादर्षः कृतज्ञः कृतिरात्मवान् ॥ ९ ॥
Shloka 9
Īśvaro vikramī dhanvī medhāvī vikramaḥ kramaḥ ।Anuttamo durādarṣaḥ kr̥tajñaḥ kr̥tirātmavān ॥ 9 ॥ Purport: The Lord is the controller of the Universe who makes things happen at His Will. He has giant strides and is ever so courageous, He is Rama amongst wielders of the ‘bow’. He is a ‘Medhavi’ or fountainhead of knowledge on all subjects and has a gigantic memory. He travels around the world on his Garuda Vaahana, the King of birds and He is the force behind all movement. He is unparalleled and unexcelled, and is invincible, yet He is grateful to his ardent devotees showering his kindness and compassion. He dwells in all of us and is Omnipresent. Summary Ishvarah Universe who makes things happen as He Wills. He is Courageous and hence called Vikrami. HE is Rama amongst the wielders of the ‘bow’ and hence He is Dhanvi. He is a ‘Medhavi‘, fountainhead of knowledge on ALL subjects with a gigantic memory. HE travels around the world on Garuda, the king of birds and HE is the force behind all movement, so he is known as Vikramah. He maintains order in the Universe, so He is Kramah. HE is unparalleled and unexcelled, so Anuttamah. He is invincible and hence He is called Duradharsah. He is grateful to his ardent devotees and always showers his kindness and compassion, hence He is Kritajnah. He is the force behind all actions and hence he is Kritih. He dwells in all of us and is omnipresent, so He is Atmavan. Let’s examine the meaning of the above Namas in detail.

In this Part, we will explore the meaning of the Tenth Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.
सुरेशश्शरणं शर्म विश्वरेताः प्रजाभवः ।अहस्संवत्सरो व्यालः प्रत्ययस्सर्वदर्शनः ॥ १० ॥
Sureśaśśaraṇaṃ śarma viśvaretāḥ prajābhavaḥ ।Ahassaṃvatsaro vyālaḥ pratyayassarvadarśanaḥ ॥ 10 ॥Purport: The Lord is the Supreme Commander who has utmost compassion for those who surrender Unto Him and He guarantees their eternal bliss. He is the root Cause for the Universe and is the Creator of all beings. He protects his devotees and He is time itself. He is also difficult to grasp by demons and He is the One on whom the devotees can rely with total confidence. He is All seeing, Omnipresent, Omniscient and ever ready to shower his grace on his devotees. Hari Om! The Lord is the Supreme Commander of all Devas and hence He is Sureshah. He is Sharanam as He has utmost compassion for those who surrender Unto Him. He guarantees eternal bliss and is Sharma. He is the root cause for the Universe, so He is Vishvaretah and since He is the Creator of all beings, He is Prajabhavah. He is luminous and radiant as Ahah. He is Samvatsara, time itself. He is Vyaalah as He is difficult to grasp by demons and He is Pratyayah, upon whom one can rely with total confidence. He is All seeing, Omnipresent, Omniscient and ever ready to shower his grace on his devotees and hence Sarvadarshanah. Now let’s examine the meaning of the above Namas in detail.

In this Part, we will explore the meaning of the Eleventh Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. श्लोक 11. अजस्सर्वॆश्वरः सिद्धः सिद्धिः सर्वादिरच्युतः । वृषा कपिरमॆयात्मा सर्वयॊग विनिसृतः ॥  ११ ॥Stanza 11. Ajaḥ Sarveśvaraḥ Siddhaḥ Siddhiḥ Sarvādiracyutaḥ | Vṛṣākapirameyātmā Sarvayōgaviniḥsṛtaḥ || 11 ||

Purport:

The Lord is eternal and existed even prior to Creation. He is Supreme and well accomplished, who bestows the ultimate fruits of action (Moksha) on His devotees. He is the Ultimate Cause of all beings and the source of all things. He never slips or lets his devotees down. He is ever ready to swing into action to restore Dharma by taking many Avatars. He is immeasurable and his Leelas are incomprehensible. He can be attained through Yoga and unswerving devotion (Bhakti) is one of the easiest ways to attain Him. The Lord is eternal and has always existed even prior to the Creation, hence He is called Ajah. He is the Supreme Lord and hence known as Sarveshvarah. He is well accomplished, hence Siddhah. He is Siddhih as He bestows the ultimate fruit of actions on his devotees i.e. Moksha. He is the Cause of all beings and the source of all things, so He is Sarvadhih. He never slips or lets his devotees down and is ever ready to swing into action to restore Dharma by taking many Avatars, hence He is Achyutah. He is Vrishakapih as He upholds Dharma and rescued the Earth from the depths of Ocean as Varaha. He is Ameyatma as He is immeasurable and his Leelas are incomprehensible. He can be attained through Yoga and unswerving devotion or Bhakti is one of the easiest ways to attain Him and so he is Sarvayogavinistrutah.

In this Part we will explore the meaning of the Twelfth Shloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. वसुर्वसुमनास्सत्यस्समात्मा सम्मितस्समः ।अमोघः पुण्डरीकाक्षो वृषकर्मा वृषाकृतिः ॥ १२ ॥Vasur Vasurmanah Satyah Samaatma Sammitah Samah | Amoghah Pundarikaksho Vrishakarma Vrishakritih ||12||

Purport:

He lives in all beings and thinks of his devotees as a treasure. He is an embodiment of truth and has a pure mind that is free from all bias. He is accepted by all Rishis and Upanishads as ‘Sat’ or ‘Truth’. He treats everyone equally and his blessings never go futile. He has beautiful eyes like the Lotus flower. All his actions are righteous and He is an embodiment of Dharma. He has assured that He will reincarnate millenium after millenium to uphold Dharma (Sambhavi Yuge Yuge). He dwells in all beings and hence He is Vasuh. He has a pure mind and so He is Vasumanah. He is Satyah as He is an embodiment of truth. He is free from all bias and a Samaatma with a pure mind. He is Sammitah as He is accepted by all Rishis and Upanishads as the ‘Ultimate Truth’. He is equally disposed to all beings and so He is Samah. He is Amoghah as His blessings never go futile. He is Pundarikashah with His Lotus like eyes. He is Vrishakarma as all his actions are righteous and in accordance with Dharma. He is Vrishakritih as has assured that he will reincarnate millennium after millennium to uphold Dharma.