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.)

Vishnu Sahasranama - Part 2 - Prologue (verses 11-20)

Verses 11-15 : (Hear youtube video for practice from 1.51 - 2.38)

"Anaadi nidhanam Vishnum sarva lokha Maheshwaram
Lokadyaksham Sthuvannithyam sarva dukhagthigo bhavedh" - 11

Anaadi nidhanam vishnum - Vishnu who has no beginning or end
Sarva lokha maheshwaram - The supreme lord of all worlds
Lokadyaksham sthuvannithyam - One who chants everyday (about) the one who presides all worlds
Sarva dukhagthigo bhavedh - All their miseries go beyond

"All the miseries will go away from the person, when he chants everyday and praises the glory of Lord Vishnu, the supreme lord who presides all worlds and who is without any beginning or end."

"Brahmanyam sarvadharmagyam lokaanam kirthivardhanam
Lokanaatham mahatbhuutham sarvabhuutha bhavodbhavam" - 12

Brahmanyam sarvadharmagyam - Who knows all dharmas and who has to be perceived through the vedas 

Lokaanam kirthivardhanam -  Who increases the fame of  beings who live in worlds

Lokanaatham mahatbhuutham - The master of all worlds and the greatest truth among all 

Sarvabhuutha bhavodbhavam -  Source behind the existence of all beings

"Vishnu, who alone knows all dharmas, has to be known through the vedas. He is the master of all worlds. He is the one who increases the fame of all beings in all worlds and the absolute truth/source behind the existence of all beings."

"Yeshame sarvadharmaanaam dharmo dikhathamo mathah

Yadbhakthyaa pundarikaaksham sthavairarcher narassadha" - 13

Yeshame sarvadharmaanam - This dharma, among all dharmas

Dharmo dikhathamo mathah - Is declared as the greatest
Yadbhakthyaa pundarikaaksham - With bakthi, worships the lotus eyed (lord)
Sthavairarcher narassadha - Singing the glory, everyday by beings

"Dharma for beings (humans)  is to worship the lotus eyed lord and sing and chant his glory with devotion, everyday. This is the greatest dharma among all dharmas."

"Paramam yo mahat tejah parmam yo mahat tapah
Paramam yo mahat brahmah paramam yah paraayanam" - 14

Paramam yo mahat tejah - Greatest of all lights
Paramam yo mahat tapah - Greatest of all penance
Paramam yo mahat brahmah - Brahmam, the absolute truth
Paramam yah paraayanam -  Greatest of all shelters

"(Worship he who is) The greatest of all lights, greatest of all penance, who himself is the absolute truth called brahmam and one who is the greatest of all shelters."

"Pavithraanam pavithram yo mangalaanaamcha mangalam

Daivatham devataanaamcha bhuthaanam yo avyayah pitaa" - 15

Pavithraanam pavithram yo - Holiest among all holy things
Mangalaanaamcha mangalam - Most auspicious among all auspicious things
Daivatham devataanaamcha - Supreme God among all Gods
Bhuthaanam yo avyayah pitaa - Who is without death and hence (eternal) father of all beings

"(Worship he who is) The holiest (pure)  among all holy things, the most auspicious among all auspicious things, the supreme lord of lords, and the one who is the eternal father of all beings in all worlds."

Verses 16-20 : (Hear youtube video for practice from 2.38 - 3.24 )

"Yatha sarvaani bhuthaani bhavanthyaadi yugaagamae
yasmimcha pralayam yanthi punareva yugakshayae" - 16

Yatha sarvaani bhuthaani - (The eternal father) From whom, all beings in the world
Bhavanthyaadi yugaagamae - Emanated at the beginning of the initial yuga
Yasmimcha pralayam yanthi - To whom, (all beings) during the final dissolution
Punareva yugakshayae -  Go back at the end of the world

"The eternal indestructible father, from whom, all beings, originated at the beginning of the initial yuga, and to whom, all beings, merge together, during the final dissolution, which happens at the end of the final yuga".

"Tasya loka pradhaanasya jagannaadhasya bhoopathe
Vishnornaama sahasramme shrunupaapa bhayaapaham" - 17

Tasya loka pradhaanasya - The pillar on which the entire universe rests
Jagannaadhasya bhoopathe - The master of Universe (Oh King!!)
Vishnornaama sahasramme - The thousand names of Lord vishnu
Shrunupaapa bhayaapaham - (Listen, oh king!)  which drives away all sins and all fears

"Oh King (Yudishtra), listen!!! I will tell you the thousand names of Lord Vishnu, the master of the Universe, the pillar on which the entire Universe rests. Oh king! these thousand names of Lord Vishnu, will dispel all fears and wash out all fears".

"Yaani naamaani gaunaani vikhyaataani mahaatmanah
Rishibih parigeethani taani vakshyaami bhuthaye" - 18

Yaani naamaani gaunaani - (Make you familiar) with the names
Vikhyaataani mahaatmanah -  Those which proclaim the glory of the supreme being
Rishibih parigeethani -Well chanted and sung by the Rishis
Taani vakshyaami bhuthaye - Know them, for the welfare of all beings

"I will help you to get familiar with the names, which proclaim the glory of the supreme being and are well chanted and sung by the Rishis. Know these names, for the welfare of all beings."

"Rishirnaamnaam sahasrasya vedavyaso mahamunihi
Chando anushtub thathaadevo bhagavaan devakisuthah" - 19

Rishir naamnaam sahasrasya - (Rishi) of these thousand names of Vishnu
Vedavyaso mahamunihi - The great Rishi, Veda Vyasa
Chandoasushtub thathaadevo - The vedic meter is "Anushtub", the presiding deity
Bhagavaan devakisuthah - The Lord, who is the son of Devaki

"The great sage, Veda Vyasa, is the Rishi (composer) of these thousand names of Vishnu. The vedic meter in which it is composed is "Anushtub" and the presiding deity (of these thousand names) is Lord Vishnu, who is the son of Devaki".

(Please click the following link to know about vedic meters) :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_meter

"Amrutaam Shutbhavobijam shakthir devakinandhanah
trisaamaa hridhayam tasya  shaanthyarthe viniyujyathe" - 20

Amrutaam shuthbhavobijam - (Its) root is one who is born in (chandra) lunar race
Shakthir devakinandhanah -  (Its) power is the son of Devaki
Trisaamaa hridhayamtasya - (Its) heart is the one who is glorified in thrisama (sama veda)
Shaanthyarthe viniyujyathe - (Its) purpose is the attainment of peace


"The root (of these thousand names) is the one who is born in chandra vamsa (lunar race), the power (of these names) is the beloved son of Devaki, The heart (of these names) is the one who is glorified in trisaama (the third veda, samaveda) and the purpose of it (the names) is to attain peace

Vishnu Sahasranama - Part 1 - Prologue (verses 1-10)

The Meaning : (Our journey starts now!!!!)

This is a part by part attempt to mindfully learn the sloka and hence it is split into many parts and will be updated periodically. Hear the youtube video for practicing, The first ten verses are included here along with the accurate seconds (for youtube).

PROLOGUE 

Verses 1 - 5 : (Hear the youtube video from start to 0.56)

"AUM"  :  Please refer to my previous post (link below) regarding this syllable.

http://connectsciencetodivinity.blogspot.com/2015/03/aum-sound-of-universe.html

"Shuklam baradaram vishnum sashivarnam chaturbujam
Prasanna vadhanam dhyayet sarva vignopa shanthaye" - 1

Shuklam baradaram vishnum - Vishnu, who is dressed in white
Sasi varnam -  Who is in the color of moon
Chaturbujam - Who is having four arms
Prasanna vadhanam - Who has an ever-smiling, happy and pleasant face
Dhyayet - I meditate upon thee
Sarva vignopa shanthaye - Eradicate all obstacles in my way.

"I meditate on the ever-smiling face (roopam) the almighty Vishnu, who is dressed in white, who is in the color of moon and who is having four arms. Let him remove all obstacles in my way".

"Vyasam vasishtanaptharam shaktheh pouthramakalmasham
Parasarathmaajam vandhe shukathatham taponidhim" -2

Vyasam vasishtanaptharam - Vyasa, the great grand son of  sage Vasishta
Sakthe pouthramakalmasham - The grand son of sage Sakthi
Parasarathmaajam vandhe - The son of sage Parashara
Shukathatham taponidhim -  The father of Shuka Rishi

"I bow before great Rishi Vyasa , who is the great grand son of Rishi Vasishta, the grand son of Rishi Sakthi and the son of Rishi Parashara. I bow before Rishi Vyasa who is the father of Shuka Brahma Rishi".

"Vyasaya vishnu roopaya vyasa roopaya vishnave
Namo vai brahma nidhaye vaasishtaya namo namaha" -3

Vyasaya vishnu roopaya - Vyasa who is vishnu  (vyasa is believed to be an incarnation of vishnu)
Vyasa roopaya vishnave - Vishnu who is vyasa
Namo vai brahma nidhaye - I bow before thee, who possess the treasure of vedic knowledge/ Brahmam
Vaasishtaya namo namaha - Many salutations to the one who is born in the family of Vasishta

"I offer my salutations many times to sage Vyasa, who is an incarnation of Vishnu ; and to Vishnu, who has taken the visible roopam of Vyasa, the sage who is born in the family of Vasishta and possess the treasure of "Brahma vidya"

"Avikaraya shudhaaya nithyaaya paramaathmane
Sadhaika roopa roopaya vishnave sarva jishnave" -4

Avikaraaya Shudhaaya - Vishnu, who is pure and not affected by change
Nithyaaya paramaathmane - who is eternal and the supreme soul
Sadhaika roopa roopaya - who has the consistent form in all times and ages
Vishnave sarva jishnave - I bow before thee, one who is the conqueror of all mortals.

"I bow before thee, Lord Vishnu, the pure, immutable, eternal and the supreme soul. I salute thee, who has the consistent form in all ages and one who is the conqueror of all mortal beings."

"Yasya smarana maathrena janma samsaara bandhanaath
vimuchyate nama tasmai vishnave prabha vishnave" -5

Yasya smarana maathrene - The mere contemplation of the name Vishnu
Janma samsaara bandhanaath - Frees one from the terrific cycle of birth and death
Vimuchyate nama tasmai - I bow before thee
Vishnave prabha vishnave - The all powerful Vishnu

"I salute the almighty Lord vishnu, the mere thought of whom, releases one for ever, from the terrific and never ending cycle of birth and death."

"Om namo vishnave prabha vishnave" 

"Salutations to the all powerful deity Vishnu"

Verses 6-10 : (Hear youtube video for practice from 0.56 - 1.50)

"Shri Vaishamphayana uvacha" 

"Sri Vaisamphaya said" (remember this sloka is part of Mahabaratha and will be in conversational style. Vaisamphaya is the sage who narrated the epic "Mahabaratha" to king Janamejaya and thereby to all human beings. Pandavas and Kauravas were king Janamejaya's ancestors.)

"Shrutvaa dharmaana seshaena paavanaani cha sarvashaha
yudishtirah shaanthanavam punare vaabhya baashatha" -6

Shrutvaa dharmaana seshaena - After hearing a lot about all the dharmas 

Paavanaani cha sarvashaha - Which eradicates sins completely, from one's life

Yudishtirah shaanthanavam - Yudhishtira addressed Shanthanu's son (Bhishma)

Punare vaabhya baashatha - The abode of everlasting peace, again (as follows)

"Yudhishtira, after hearing the Dharmas entirely from Bhishma, which are capable of eradicating all the sins in one's life and thereby purify the person, again asked Bhishma, the abode of everlasting peace, as follows"

"Yudhishttira uvacha"

"Yudishtira said"

"Kimekam daivatham loke kim vaapyekam paraayanam
sthuvanthahkam kamarchandham Praapnuyur maanavaashubham" - 7

Kimekam daivatham loke - Who is the one God in this wide world ?
Kim vaapyekam paraayanam - Who is the one ultimate shelter for all ?
Sthuvanthahkam kamarchandham - By glorifying whom and by praising whom with love
Praapnuyur maanavaashubham -  Men attain peace, prosperity and great salvation

"Grandpa! In this vast world, who is the one God ? who is the one shelter?  who is the one beings worship, praise and glorify and obtain peace, prosperity and ultimately, salvation?"

"Khodharmah sarvadharmaanam bhavathahparamo mathaha
Kimjapan muchyatejandhur janmasamsaara bhandhanaadh" - 8

Khodharmah sarvadharmaanam - Which dharma in all dharmas
Bhavathahparamo mathaha - Greatest of all and none is greater than that
Kinjapan muchyatejandhur - By which japa (chanting), living beings go beyond
Janmasamsaara bhandhanaadh - This terrific cycle of birth and death


"Among all the Dharmas, which is the greatest one ? none is greater than that? By chanting on which, can living beings go beyond this terrific cycle of birth and death and attain salvation?"

"Shri Bhishma uvacha"

"Bhishma said"

"Jagathprabhum devadevam anantham purushothamam
sthuvannaama sahasrena purushah sathathothithaha" - 9

Jagathprabhum devadevam - Ruler of the Universe, God of all Gods
Anantham purushothamam - Infinite, endless, supreme person
Sthuvannaama sahasrena - (By) chanting the thousand names
Purushah sathathothithaha - Men, ever engaged in devotion, (are set free)


"Men, by means of chanting the thousand names of the endless supreme lord who is the king of the Universe and God of all Gods and by engaging themselves in pure devotion to this infinite purusha, (are released from this horrible cycle of birth and death.)"

"Thamevacharcha yannithyam bhakthyaa purushamavyayam
Dhyaayan sthuvan namasyancha yajamaanasthameva cha" - 10

Thamevacharcha yannithyam - One who worships and prays every day
Bhakthyaa purushamavyayam - With devotion to that supreme being who is not liable to change
Dhyaayan sthuvan namasyancha -  Meditates and chants
Yajamaanastha meva cha - Submits and surrenders completely, moves beyond (released)

"One who worships the unchanging ultimate lord with utmost love everyday, one who meditates and chants the glory of the supreme lord and surrenders to him completely, moves beyond this cycle of birth and death".