Vishnu Sahasranama - Part 3 - Prologue (verses 21-36)

Verses 21-28 : (Hear youtube video for practice from 3.24 - 4.02)

"Vishnum jishnum mahavishnum prabhavishnum maheshwaram
Anekaroopa daithyaantham namaami purushothamam" - 21

Vishnum jishnum mahavishnum - (I bow before) Vishnu who is victorious and who is all pervading
Prabhavishnum maheshwaram - (who is) Mighty, radiant and the lord of all lords
Anekaroopa daithyaantham - One who possesses many forms and the destroyer of daityas (asuras)
Namaami purushothamam - I bow before the one who is the best among all Purushas (beings)

"I bow before the all pervading lord Vishnu, who is victorious, mighty, radiant and lord of all lords. I bow before him who possesses many forms and the destroyer of asuras. I bow before him, the best among all the beings (purusha).

Chanting mode (tune) changes from here. Hence giving each line as a verse....

"Asyasri vishnordivya  sahasranaama stothra mahamanthrasya" - 22

" For this sloka, the great mantra of shri maha vishnu which contains his 1000 divine names......."

"Shri Vedavyaso bhagavan rishihi" - 23

"Veda vyasa, the great sage, is the composer"

"Anushtub chandhah" - 24

"The vedic meter is anushtub"

"Shri mahavishnuh paramaatma shrimannaraayano devathaa" - 25

"The deity is Shriman Narayana, who is the all pervading supreme soul"

"Amrutaam shudhbhavo bhanuriti bhijam" - 26

"The root is Sri krishna (Bhanu refers sun. Even though krishna belongs to lunar dynasty, as given in verse 20, here it is said about sun. We can take it in this way. Since he is all pervading, he is common to both sun and moon. He is also known to possess sun and moon as his two eyes.)

"Devaki nandhanah shrishteti shakthihi" - 27

"The power is the son of Devaki"

"Udbhavaha kshobhano devaiti paramo mantraha" - 28

"This is the supreme mantra which glorifies the splendid God who is not created by anyone (swayambu)"

Verses 29-36 : (Hear youtube video for practice from 4.02 - 4.33)

"Shankhabrin nandaki chakriiti kiilakam" - 29

The key (pin) bonding (driving) forces (of this mantra) are "Shanka" (conch called panchajanya) "Chakra" (sudharshana chakra) and "Nandaka" (sword).

"Shaarnga dhanvaa gadhaadhara ityastram" - 30

The weapons (of this mantra) are "Gadha" and the bow called "Shaarnga". Maha vishnu holds the mace (Kaumodaki Gadha) and a bow (shaarnga) in his hands.

Each words here have deep hidden meanings as they represent the things held by Vishnu in his hands. To get a clear understanding of what each item represents, please click this link. 

http://www.muktinath.org/hinduism/vishnu.htm

"Rathaanga paanir akshobha iti netram" - 31

The eye (of this mantra) is the lord (refers to krishna here) who is holding wheel of a chariot (can also  take as "the charioteer") in his hands and who is ever peaceful.

"Trisaamaa saamagah saameti kavasam" - 32

The shield (of this mantra) is one who is glorified in the third Veda (sama veda) and the one who is always the same (unchanged). 

"Aanandham parabrahmeti yonihi" - 33

The resting place/abode (of this mantra) is the supreme lord who is ever blissful.

"Rithuh sudarshana kala iti digbhandhaha"- 34

The directions (of this mantra) are truth which is the lord himself, his weapon the sudarshana chakra and his annihilating power represented by kaala.

"Shrivishvaruupa iti dhyanam" - 35

The object of meditation (of this mantra) is the "vishvaroopa" of the lord.

Shrimahavishnu priityarthe sahasranaamajape viniyogaha" - 36

In order to please lord Sri Maha Vishnu, let us now proceed with the chanting of his 1000 divine names. (Viniyoga means to distribute.)