Viṣṇusahasranāma: 74-94
ईश्वरो विक्रमी धन्वी मेधावी विक्रमः क्रमः ।
अनुत्तमो दुराधर्षः कृतज्ञः कृति: आत्मवान ।। 9 ।।
74. Īśvaraḥ
The Omnipotent.
(sarva-śaktimatt- ayā īśvaraḥ)
Īśvaraḥ possesses infinite power which is expressed in the term Omnipotent. Lets bring in a little grammar here. The word/term “Īśvaraḥ” comes from the root ‘ईश’ meaning ऐश्वर्ये = to rule, with the affix “वरच” (varac). The affix ‘varac’ means ‘sanātana bhāva’. Thus, His over-lordship is not subject to time. He is always Īśvaraḥ.
75. Vikramī
The Courageous/Valourous One.
(vikramaḥ = śauryam, tad-yogāt vikramī)
All the courage, valour that anyone has, including the devatās belongs to Him. This is very well presented in the Kenopaniṣad. The devatās were rejoicing after vanquishing the asuras. Then Īśvaraḥ comes in the form of a Yakṣa, and asks Agni, later Vāyu to burn/move a blade of dry grass respectively. Their vanity was dismissed. When Indra goes to find out who the Yakṣa is, he does not even have glimpse. Finally the devatās learnt that all the vikrama belongs to Īśvaraḥ.
His vikrama is also in all his incarnations – Matsya (single mission), Kurma (single mission) onwards to Rāma (multi mission) and Kṛṣṇa (multi mission)
76. Dhanvī
The One, armed with a bow.
(dhanuḥ asya asti iti, dhanvī)
The Lord says in the Bhagavadgītā says “I am Rāma among those who bear weapons” (rāmaḥ śastrabhṛtām aham – Bh.Gī-X.31)
It is more than being armed with a bow, rather the ability to wield the bow (or any other weapon). One can take the example of Lord Rāma who wields Gāṇḍīva, or Lord Viṣṇu whose bow is known as Sārṅga
77. Medhāvī
He who has medhā - power of memory as well as recollection
(medhā, bahugrantha-dhāraṇa-sāmart- hyāt, sā yasya asti iti, sa medhāvī)
Medhā is more than memory. It is the capacity to analyse, grasp, connect, retain and recollect (at the right time) not just few things, but many texts (disciplines), many disciplines of knowledge.
The Lord is medhāvī. And when this capacity is seen in a person, that glory belongs to the Lord.
78. Vikramaḥ
He who measured the entire universe.
(vicakrame jagad viśvaṃ tena, vikramaḥ)
In His Vāmana avatāra, He measured the three worlds with His three feet, hence Vikramaḥ.
ii) Or, One who moves around on Garuda (also known as ‘Vi’) as His mount. (vinā = garuḍena pakṣiṇā kramād vā)
79. Kramaḥ
The cause of movement.
Viṣṇu is called Kramaḥ because He is the adhiṣṭhāna-devatā of the feet. ‘kramaṇah’ or crossing of the ocean of “samsāra” by devotees,
(kramaṇāt kramaḥ)
ii) Kramaḥ also means sequence, order. The manifestation of this jagat is in sequence – ākāśa, vāyu, agni, āpaḥ, pṛthīvi, auṣadha, annam, puruṣaḥ…..from subtle to gross, from simple to complex. That is how He is known as Kramaḥ, as the Order. (kramahetutvād vā, kramaḥ)
80. Anuttamaḥ
There is no one better than Him.
(avidyamāna uttamo yasmāt saḥ, anuttamaḥ)
Nārāyaṇa Upaniṣad says “There is nothing superior to Him” (yasmāt paraṃ nāparam asti kiñcit’ - Nā.Up.-XII.13, also in Śv.Up.-III.9). Arjuna also says in the Bhagavadgitā – “there is no one equal to Thee. Where can there be anyone greater?” (na tvat samo’sty’abhyadhikaḥ kuto’nyaḥ - Bh.Gī.-XI.43)
81. Durādharṣaḥ
The One, who is unassailable.
He is the One, who cannot be assailed by the rākṣasas, or asuras.
(daityadibhiḥ dharṣayituṃ na śakyate iti, durādharṣaḥ)
This is the traditional meaning.
82. Kṛtajñaḥ
The knower of all (kṛta karma- puṇya, pāpa) of the “jīva”s.
(prāṇināṃ- puṇya-apuṇyātmakaṃ karma kṛtaṃ jānāti iti, kṛtajñaḥ)
ii) Or, One who is pleased even with those who offer such simple offerings as leaves, flowers, fruits, or/and water as He says in the Bhagavadgītā. (patra-puṣpādi-alpam iti prayacchatāṃ mokṣaṃ dadāti iti vā).
He knows/remembers all that is done by the jīva – puṇya as well as pāpa karma. The result of such karma comes from Him. He is known as Karmaphaladātā. This is presented well in the last mantra of Īsāvāsya Upaniṣad – A vaidika says at the end of his life – “Please remember what all I have done in this life and accordingly take me in the auspicious path” - krtaṃ smara, krtagṃ smara.
83. Kṛtiḥ
The One in the form of (human) effort.
(puruṣa-prayatnaḥ kṛtiḥ, kriyā vā)
Not only is He the knower of all the kṛta (kṛta-jñaḥ), but He is also the action (Kṛtiḥ).
ii) Also, the Lord is called Kṛtiḥ because He, being the Ātmā of all the “jīva”s, is the support of all actions starting from the desire (icchāśaktiḥ), having the knowledge (jñānaśaktiḥ), to the completion of action (kriyāśaktiḥ). (sarvātmakatvāt tad-ādhāratayā vā lakṣyate kṛtyeti vā, kṛtiḥ)
84. Ātmavān
The One who is established in His own glory.
(sva-mahima-pratiṣṭh- itatvāt, ātmavān)
One who has ātmavān can be caleed Ātmavān, But it is not so. One may not be together, because mostly one is hijacked by one’s senses, mind. Only Bhagavān is Ātmavān, because He is in control of things.
When asked - What is in which Bhagavān is established, it is answered “In His own greatness itself” (sa bhagavaḥ kasmin pratiṣṭhita iti, sve mahimni - Chā.Up.-VII.24.1)
सुर- शः शरणं शर्म विश्व-रेता- प्रजा-भवः ।
अहः संवत्सरो व्यालः प्रत्ययः सर्वदर्शनः- ।। 10 ।।
85. Sureśaḥ
The Lord of the ‘sura’s or the ‘deva’s.
(surāṇāṃ = devānām īśaḥ, sureśaḥ)
ii) It can also mean the greatest of those who bestow good. (suraḥ can be broken into – su = good, and rā = bestow gift).
(‘su’ upapado vā ‘rā’ dhātuḥ śobhana-dātṛṇām īśaḥ, sureśaḥ)
86. Śaraṇam
One who removes the sorrows of those in distress (ārtaḥ)
(ārtānām ārti-haraṇatvāt, śaraṇam)
87. Śarma
One who is of the nature of absolute happiness.
(paramānanda-rūp- atvāt, śarmaḥ)
88. Viśvaretāḥ
The seed (cause) of the universe.
(viśvasya kāraṇatvāt, viśvaretāḥ)
89. Prajābhavaḥ
He from whom all beings have originated.
(sarvāh prajā yat-sakāśād udbhavanti sa, prajābhavaḥ)
90. Ahaḥ
The Luminous One.
(prakāśa-rūpatvād ahaḥ)
91. Saṃvatsaraḥ
Since Time is a form of Viṣṇu, He is called samvatsaraḥ or year.
(kālātmanā stitho viṣṇuḥ, saṃvatsaraḥ iti uktaḥ)
92. Vyālaḥ
Being ungraspable like a serpent, He is called Vyālaḥ.
(vyālavad grahitum aśakyatvād, vyālaḥ).
93. Pratyayaḥ
One who is of the nature of Pratīti (awareness) or Prajnā (Consciousness).
(pratītiḥ prajñā, pratyayaḥ)
Brahman is Prajñānam or (Pure) Consciousness (prajñānaṃ brahman - Ai.Up.-III.5.3)
94. Sarvadarśanaḥ
One with His eyes everywhere.
(sarvāṇi darśanātmakāni akṣīṇi yasya sa, sarvadarśanaḥ, sarvātmakatvāt)
Śvetāśva- tara describes Him as “One with eyes everywhere” (viśvataś-cakṣuḥ – Śv.Up.-III.3).
Nārāyaṇa Upaniṣad speaks of Him as “One endowed with all senses (viśvākṣam – Nā.Up.-XIII.1)
***
“Viṣṇu- sahasranāma” Chants
Dhyanam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?- v=bNhMroEquig
Main - https://www.youtube.com/watch?- v=QLrzJqIM7Yo
Phalasruti - https://www.youtube.com/watch?- v=p28oLJN7kgQ
***
Swāmin- Ātmaprajñānanda Saraswatī is a Vedāntācāryā and Vyākaraṇācāryā. She teaches Vedānta and Pāṇini in Ārsha Vidyā Vikāś Kendra at Bhubaneswar. She is the author of three published books - Nomenclature of the Vedas, Ṛṣikās of the Ṛgveda, and Om: The Sound Symbol.
COMMENT