Vishnu Sahasranama is the devotional recitation of Lord Vishnu’s thousand names from the Mahabharata tradition. Devotees read it for remembrance of Vishnu, inner peace, spiritual focus and a steady daily practice.
Begin below with the complete Roman-English text; practical recitation guidance, traditional benefits and meaning follow after the full hymn.
Vishnu Sahasranama in English – Complete Roman Text
Prelude and Questions
shuklaambaradharam vishnum shashivarnam chaturbhujam | prasannavadanam dhyaayet sarvavighnopashaantaye || 1 ||
yasya dviradavaktraadyaah paarishadyaah parashshatam | vighnam nighnanti satatam vishvaksenam tamaashraye || 2 ||
vyaasam vasishthanaptaaram shakteh pautramakalmasham | paraasharaatmajam vande shukataatam taponidhim || 3 ||
vyaasaaya vishnuroopaaya vyaasaroopaaya vishnave | namo vai brahmanidhaye vaasishthaaya namo namah || 4 ||
avikaaraaya shuddhaaya nityaaya paramaatmane | sadaikarooparoopaaya vishnave sarvajishnave || 5 ||
yasya smaranamaatrena janmasamsaarabandhanaat | vimuchyate namastasmai vishnave prabhavishnave || 6 ||
om namo vishnave prabhavishnave |
shreevaishampaayana uvaacha |
shrutvaa dharmaanasheshena paavanaani cha sarvashah | yudhishthirah shaantanavam punarevaabhyabhaashata || 7 ||
yudhishthira uvaacha |
kimekam daivatam loke kim vaapyekam paraayanam | stuvantah kam kamarchantah praapnuyurmaanavaah shubham || 8 ||
ko dharmah sarvadharmaanaam bhavatah paramo matah | kim japanmuchyate janturjanmasamsaarabandhanaat || 9 ||
shree bheeshma uvaacha |
jagatprabhum devadevamanantam purushottamam | stuvannaamasahasrena purushah satatotthitah || 10 ||
tameva chaarchayannityam bhaktyaa purushamavyayam | dhyaayan stuvannamasyamshcha yajamaanastameva cha || 11 ||
anaadinidhanam vishnum sarvalokamaheshvaram | lokaadhyaksham stuvannityam sarvaduhkhaatigo bhavet || 12 ||
brahmanyam sarvadharmajnyam lokaanaam keertivardhanam | lokanaatham mahadbhootam sarvabhootabhavodbhavam || 13 ||
esha me sarvadharmaanaam dharmo'dhikatamo matah | yadbhaktyaa pundareekaaksham stavairarchennarah sadaa || 14 ||
paramam yo mahattejah paramam yo mahattapah | paramam yo mahadbrahma paramam yah paraayanam || 15 ||
pavitraanaam pavitram yo manggalaanaam cha manggalam | daivatam daivataanaam cha bhootaanaam yo'vyayah pitaa || 16 ||
yatah sarvaani bhootaani bhavantyaadiyugaagame | yasmimshcha pralayam yaanti punareva yugakshaye || 17 ||
tasya lokapradhaanasya jagannaathasya bhoopate | vishnornaamasahasram me shrinu paapabhayaapaham || 18 ||
yaani naamaani gaunaani vikhyaataani mahaatmanah | rishibhih parigeetaani taani vakshyaami bhootaye || 19 ||
rishirnaamnaam sahasrasya vedavyaaso mahaamunih | chhando'nushtup tathaa devo bhagavaan devakeesutah || 20 ||
amritaamshoodbhavo beejam shaktirdevakinandanah | trisaamaa hridayam tasya shaantyarthe viniyujyate || 21 ||
vishnum jishnum mahaavishnum prabhavishnum maheshvaram | anekaroopa daityaantam namaami purushottamam || 22 ||
asya shreevishnordivyasahasranaamastotra mahaamantrasya shree vedavyaaso bhagavaanrishih anushtup chhandah, shreemahaavishnuh paramaatmaa shreemannaaraayano devataa, amritaamshoodbhavo bhaanuriti beejam, devakeenandanah srashteti shaktih, udbhavah kshobhano deva iti paramo mantrah, shangkhabhrinnandakee chakreeti keelakam, shaarnggadhanvaa gadaadhara ityastram, rathaanggapaanirakshobhya iti netram, trisaamaa saamagassaameti kavacham, aanandam parabrahmeti yonih, ritussudarshanah kaala iti digbandhah, shree vishvaroopa iti dhyaanam, shreemahaavishnu preetyarthe sahasranaama jape viniyogah ||
Dhyana
ksheerodanvatpradeshe shuchimanivilasatsaikate mauktikaanaam maalaakluptaasanasthah sphatikamaninibhairmauktikairmanditaanggah | shubhrairabhrairadabhrairuparivirachitairmuktapeeyooshavarshai-raanandee nah puneeyaadarinalinagadaashangkhapaanirmukundah || 1 ||
bhooh paadau yasya naabhirviyadasuranilashchandra sooryau cha netre karnaavaasaah shiro dyaurmukhamapi dahano yasya vaasteyamabdhih | antahstham yasya vishvam suranarakhagagobhogigandharvadaityaih chitram ramramyate tam tribhuvanavapusham vishnumeesham namaami || 2 ||
shaantaakaaram bhujagashayanam padmanaabham suresham vishvaakaaram gaganasadrisham meghavarnam shubhaanggam | lakshmeekaantam kamalanayanam yogihriddhyaanagamyam vande vishnum bhavabhayaharam sarvalokaikanaatham || 3 ||
meghashyaamam peetakausheyavaasam shreevatsaangkam kaustubhodbhaasitaanggam | punyopetam pundareekaayataaksham vishnum vande sarvalokaikanaatham || 4 ||
namah samastabhootaanaamaadibhootaaya bhoobhrite | anekarooparoopaaya vishnave prabhavishnave || 5 ||
sashangkhachakram sakireetakundalam sapeetavastram saraseeruhekshanam | sahaaravakshahsthalashobhikaustubham namaami vishnum shirasaa chaturbhujam || 6 ||
chhaayaayaam paarijaatasya hemasimhaasanopari aaseenamambudashyaamamaayataakshamalangkritam | chandraananam chaturbaahum shreevatsaangkita vakshasam rukminee satyabhaamaabhyaam sahitam krishnamaashraye || 7 ||
The Thousand Names
vishvam vishnurvashatkaaro bhootabhavyabhavatprabhuh | bhootakridbhootabhridbhaavo bhootaatmaa bhootabhaavanah || 1 ||
pootaatmaa paramaatmaa cha muktaanaam paramaagatih | avyayah purushassaakshee kshetrajnyo'kshara eva cha || 2 ||
yogo yogavidaam netaa pradhaanapurusheshvarah | naarasimhavapuh shreemaan keshavah purushottamah || 3 ||
sarvashsharvashshivassthaanurbhootaadirnidhiravyayah | sambhavo bhaavano bhartaa prabhavah prabhureeshvarah || 4 ||
svayambhooshshambhuraadityah pushkaraaksho mahaasvanah | anaadinidhano dhaataa vidhaataa dhaaturuttamah || 5 ||
aprameyo hrisheekeshah padmanaabho'maraprabhuh | vishvakarmaa manustvashtaa sthavishthah sthaviro dhruvah || 6 ||
agraahyashshaashvatah krishno lohitaakshah pratardanah | prabhootastrikakubdhaama pavitram manggalam param || 7 ||
eeshaanah praanadah praano jyeshthah shreshthah prajaapatih | hiranyagarbho bhoogarbho maadhavo madhusoodanah || 8 ||
eeshvaro vikramee dhanvee medhaavee vikramah kramah | anuttamo duraadharshah kritajnyah kritiraatmavaan || 9 ||
sureshashsharanam sharma vishvaretaah prajaabhavah | ahassamvatsaro vyaalah pratyayassarvadarshanah || 10 ||
ajassarveshvarassiddhassiddhissarvaadirachyutah | vrishaakapirameyaatmaa sarvayogavinissritah || 11 ||
vasurvasumanaassatyassamaatmaa sammitassamah | amoghah pundareekaaksho vrishakarmaa vrishaakritih || 12 ||
rudro bahushiraa babhrurvishvayonishshuchishravaah | amritashshaashvatassthaanurvaraaroho mahaatapaah || 13 ||
sarvagassarvavidbhaanurvishvakseno janaardanah | vedo vedavidavyanggo vedaanggo vedavitkavih || 14 ||
lokaadhyakshassuraadhyaksho dharmaadhyakshah kritaakritah | chaturaatmaa chaturvyoohashchaturdamshtrashchaturbhujah || 15 ||
bhraajishnurbhojanam bhoktaa sahishnurjagadaadijah | anagho vijayo jetaa vishvayonih punarvasuh || 16 ||
upendro vaamanah praamshuramoghashshuchiroorjitah | ateendrassanggrahassargo dhritaatmaa niyamo yamah || 17 ||
vedyo vaidyassadaayogee veerahaa maadhavo madhuh | ateendriyo mahaamaayo mahotsaaho mahaabalah || 18 ||
mahaabuddhirmahaaveeryo mahaashaktirmahaadyutih | anirdeshyavapuh shreemaanameyaatmaa mahaadridhrit || 19 ||
maheshvaaso maheebhartaa shreenivaasassataamgatih | aniruddhassuraanando govindo govidaampatih || 20 ||
mareechirdamano hamsassuparno bhujagottamah | hiranyanaabhassutapaah padmanaabhah prajaapatih || 21 ||
amrityussarvadriksimhassandhaataa sandhimaan sthirah | ajo durmarshanashshaastaa vishrutaatmaa suraarihaa || 22 ||
gururgurutamo dhaama satyassatyaparaakramah | nimisho'nimishassragvee vaachaspatirudaaradheeh || 23 ||
agraneergraamaneeh shreemaannyaayo netaa sameeranah | sahasramoordhaa vishvaatmaa sahasraakshassahasrapaat || 24 ||
aavartano nivrittaatmaa samvritassampramardanah | ahassamvartako vahniranilo dharaneedharah || 25 ||
suprasaadah prasannaatmaa vishvasridvishvabhugvibhuh | satkartaa satkritassaadhurjahnurnaaraayano narah || 26 ||
asangkhyeyo'prameyaatmaa vishishtashshishtakrichchhuchih | siddhaarthassiddhasangkalpassiddhidassiddhisaadhanah || 27 ||
vrishaahee vrishabho vishnurvrishaparvaa vrishodarah | vardhano vardhamaanashcha viviktah shrutisaagarah || 28 ||
subhujo durdharo vaagmee mahendro vasudo vasuh | naikaroopo brihadroopah shipivishtah prakaashanah || 29 ||
ojastejo dyutidharah prakaashaatmaa prataapanah | riddhasspashtaaksharo mantrashchandraamshurbhaaskaradyutih || 30 ||
amritaamshoodbhavo bhaanuh shashabindussureshvarah | aushadham jagatassetussatyadharmaparaakramah || 31 ||
bhootabhavyabhavannaathah pavanah paavano'nalah | kaamahaa kaamakritkaantah kaamah kaamapradah prabhuh || 32 ||
yugaadikridyugaavarto naikamaayo mahaashanah | adrishyo vyaktaroopashcha sahasrajidanantajit || 33 ||
ishto'vishishtashshishteshtah shikhandee nahusho vrishah | krodhahaa krodhakritkartaa vishvabaahurmaheedharah || 34 ||
achyutah prathitah praanah praanado vaasavaanujah | apaamnidhiradhishthaanamapramattah pratishthitah || 35 ||
skandah skandadharo dhuryo varado vaayuvaahanah | vaasudevo brihadbhaanuraadidevah purandarah || 36 ||
ashokastaaranastaarah shoorashshaurirjaneshvarah | anukoolashshataavartah padmee padmanibhekshanah || 37 ||
padmanaabho'ravindaakshah padmagarbhashshareerabhrit | mahardhirriddho vriddhaatmaa mahaaksho garudadhvajah || 38 ||
atulashsharabho bheemassamayajnyo havirharih | sarvalakshanalakshanyo lakshmeevaan samitinyjayah || 39 ||
viksharo rohito maargo heturdaamodarassahah | maheedharo mahaabhaago vegavaanamitaashanah || 40 ||
udbhavah kshobhano devah shreegarbhah parameshvarah | karanam kaaranam kartaa vikartaa gahano guhah || 41 ||
vyavasaayo vyavasthaanah samsthaanah sthaanado dhruvah | parardhih paramaspashtastushtah pushtashshubhekshanah || 42 ||
raamo viraamo virajo maargo neyo nayo'nayah | veerashshaktimataam shreshtho dharmo dharmaviduttamah || 43 ||
vaikunthah purushah praanah praanadah pranavah prithuh | hiranyagarbhashshatrughno vyaapto vaayuradhokshajah || 44 ||
ritussudarshanah kaalah parameshthee parigrahah | ugrassamvatsaro daksho vishraamo vishvadakshinah || 45 ||
vistaarassthaavarasthaanuh pramaanam beejamavyayam | artho'nartho mahaakosho mahaabhogo mahaadhanah || 46 ||
anirvinnassthavishtho bhoordharmayoopo mahaamakhah | nakshatranemirnakshatree kshamah kshaamassameehanah || 47 ||
yajnya ijyo mahejyashcha kratussatram sataamgatih | sarvadarshee vimuktaatmaa sarvajnyo jnyaanamuttamam || 48 ||
suvratassumukhassookshmah sughoshassukhadassuhrit | manoharo jitakrodho veerabaahurvidaaranah || 49 ||
svaapanassvavasho vyaapee naikaatmaa naikakarmakrit | vatsaro vatsalo vatsee ratnagarbho dhaneshvarah || 50 ||
dharmagubdharmakriddharmee sadasatksharamaksharam | avijnyaataa sahasraamshurvidhaataa kritalakshanah || 51 ||
gabhastinemissattvasthassimho bhootamaheshvarah | aadidevo mahaadevo devesho devabhridguruh || 52 ||
uttaro gopatirgoptaa jnyaanagamyah puraatanah | shareerabhootabhridbhoktaa kapeendro bhooridakshinah || 53 ||
somapo'mritapassomah purujitpurusattamah | vinayo jayassatyasandho daashaarhassaattvataampatih || 54 ||
jeevo vinayitaa saakshee mukundo'mitavikramah | ambhonidhiranantaatmaa mahodadhishayo'ntakah || 55 ||
ajo mahaarhassvaabhaavyo jitaamitrah pramodanah | aanando nandano nandassatyadharmaa trivikramah || 56 ||
maharshih kapilaachaaryah kritajnyo medineepatih | tripadastridashaadhyaksho mahaashringgah kritaantakrit || 57 ||
mahaavaraaho govindassushenah kanakaanggadee | guhyo gabheero gahano guptashchakragadaadharah || 58 ||
vedhaassvaanggo'jitah krishno dridhassangkarshano'chyutah | varuno vaaruno vrikshah pushkaraaksho mahaamanaah || 59 ||
bhagavaan bhagahaa''nandee vanamaalee halaayudhah | aadityo jyotiraadityassahishnurgatisattamah || 60 ||
sudhanvaa khandaparashurdaaruno dravinapradah | divispriksarvadrigvyaaso vaachaspatirayonijah || 61 ||
trisaamaa saamagassaama nirvaanam bheshajam bhishak | sannyaasakrichchhamashshaanto nishthaa shaantih paraayanam || 62 ||
shubhaanggashshaantidassrashtaa kumudah kuvaleshayah | gohito gopatirgoptaa vrishabhaaksho vrishapriyah || 63 ||
anivartee nivrittaatmaa sangksheptaa kshemakrichchhivah | shreevatsavakshaah shreevaasah shreepatih shreemataamvarah || 64 ||
shreedah shreeshah shreenivaasah shreenidhih shreevibhaavanah | shreedharah shreekarah shreyah shreemaan lokatrayaashrayah || 65 ||
svakshassvanggashshataanando nandirjyotirganeshvarah | vijitaatmaa vidheyaatmaa satkeertishchhinnasamshayah || 66 ||
udeernassarvatashchakshuraneeshashshaashvatasthirah | bhooshayo bhooshano bhootirvishokashshokanaashanah || 67 ||
archishmaanarchitah kumbho vishuddhaatmaa vishodhanah | aniruddho'pratirathah pradyumno'mitavikramah || 68 ||
kaalaneminihaa veerashshaurishshoorajaneshvarah | trilokaatmaa trilokeshah keshavah keshihaa harih || 69 ||
kaamadevah kaamapaalah kaamee kaantah kritaagamah | anirdeshyavapurvishnurveero'nanto dhananyjayah || 70 ||
brahmanyo brahmakridbrahmaa brahma brahmavivardhanah | brahmavidbraahmano brahmee brahmajnyo braahmanapriyah || 71 ||
mahaakramo mahaakarmaa mahaatejaa mahoragah | mahaakraturmahaayajvaa mahaayajnyo mahaahavih || 72 ||
stavyasstavapriyasstotram stutisstotaa ranapriyah | poornah poorayitaa punyah punyakeertiranaamayah || 73 ||
manojavasteerthakaro vasuretaa vasupradah | vasuprado vaasudevo vasurvasumanaa havih || 74 ||
sadgatissatkritissattaa sadbhootissatparaayanah | shooraseno yadushreshthassannivaasassuyaamunah || 75 ||
bhootaavaaso vaasudevah sarvaasunilayo'nalah | darpahaa darpado'dripto durdharo'thaaparaajitah || 76 ||
vishvamoortirmahaamoortirdeeptamoortiramoortimaan | anekamoortiravyaktashshatamoortishshataananah || 77 ||
eko naikasstavah kah kim yattatpadamanuttamam | lokabandhurlokanaatho maadhavo bhaktavatsalah || 78 ||
suvarnavarno hemaanggo varaanggashchandanaanggadee | veerahaa vishamashshoonyo ghritaasheerachalashchalah || 79 ||
amaanee maanado maanyo lokasvaamee trilokadhrit | sumedhaa medhajo dhanyassatyamedhaa dharaadharah || 80 ||
tejovrisho dyutidharassarvashastrabhritaam varah | pragraho nigraho vyagro naikashringgo gadaagrajah || 81 ||
chaturmoortishchaturbaahushchaturvyoohashchaturgatih | chaturaatmaa chaturbhaavashchaturvedavidekapaat || 82 ||
samaavarto'nivrittaatmaa durjayo duratikramah | durlabho durgamo durgo duraavaaso duraarihaa || 83 ||
shubhaanggo lokasaaranggassutantustantuvardhanah | indrakarmaa mahaakarmaa kritakarmaa kritaagamah || 84 ||
udbhavassundarassundo ratnanaabhassulochanah | arko vaajasanashshringgee jayantassarvavijjayee || 85 ||
suvarnabindurakshobhyassarvavaageeshvareshvarah | mahaahrado mahaagarto mahaabhooto mahaanidhih || 86 ||
kumudah kundarah kundah parjanyah paavano'nilah | amritaamsho'mritavapussarvajnyassarvatomukhah || 87 ||
sulabhassuvratassiddhah shatrujichchhatrutaapanah | nyagrodhodumbaro'shvatthashchaanooraandhranishoodanah || 88 ||
sahasraarchissaptajihvassaptaidhaassaptavaahanah | amoortiranagho'chintyo bhayakridbhayanaashanah || 89 ||
anurbrihatkrishah sthoolo gunabhrinnirguno mahaan | adhritah svadhritassvaasthyah praagvamsho vamshavardhanah || 90 ||
bhaarabhritkathito yogee yogeeshassarvakaamadah | aashramah shramanah kshaamah suparno vaayuvaahanah || 91 ||
dhanurdharo dhanurvedo dando damayitaa damah | aparaajitassarvasaho niyantaa niyamo yamah || 92 ||
sattvavaan saattvikassatyassatyadharmaparaayanah | abhipraayah priyaarho'rhah priyakritpreetivardhanah || 93 ||
vihaayasagatirjyotissuruchirhutabhugvibhuh | ravirvilochanassooryassavitaa ravilochanah || 94 ||
ananto hutabhugbhoktaa sukhado naikajo'grajah | anirvinnassadaamarshee lokaadhishthaanamadbhutah || 95 ||
sanaatsanaatanatamah kapilah kapiravyayah | svastidassvastikritsvasti svastibhuksvastidakshinah || 96 ||
araudrah kundalee chakree vikramyoorjitashaasanah | shabdaatigashshabdasahah shishirashsharvareekarah || 97 ||
akroorah peshalo daksho dakshinah kshaminaamvarah | vidvattamo veetabhayah punyashravanakeertanah || 98 ||
uttaarano dushkritihaa punyo dussvapnanaashanah | veerahaa rakshanassanto jeevanam paryavasthitah || 99 ||
anantaroopo'nantashreerjitamanyurbhayaapahah | chaturashro gabheeraatmaa vidisho vyaadisho dishah || 100 ||
anaadirbhoorbhuvo lakshmeessuveero ruchiraanggadah | janano janajanmaadirbheemo bheemaparaakramah || 101 ||
aadhaaranilayo dhaataa pushpahaasah prajaagarah | oordhvagassatpathaachaarah praanadah pranavah panah || 102 ||
pramaanam praananilayah praanabhritpraanajeevanah | tattvam tattvavidekaatmaa janmamrityujaraatigah || 103 ||
bhoorbhuvassvastarustaarassavitaa prapitaamahah | yajnyo yajnyapatiryajvaa yajnyaanggo yajnyavaahanah || 104 ||
yajnyabhridyajnyakridyajnyee yajnyabhugyajnyasaadhanah | yajnyaantakridyajnyaguhyamannamannaada eva cha || 105 ||
aatmayonissvayanyjaato vaikhaanassaamagaayanah | devakeenandanassrashtaa kshiteeshah paapanaashanah || 106 ||
shangkhabhrinnandakee chakree shaarnggadhanvaa gadaadharah | rathaanggapaanirakshobhyassarvapraharanaayudhah || 107 ||
shreesarvapraharanaayudha om nama iti |
vanamaalee gadee shaarnggee shangkhee chakree cha nandakee | shreemaannaaraayano vishnurvaasudevo'bhirakshatu || 108 ||
Closing Verses and Phalashruti
shree bheeshma uvaacha |
iteedam keertaneeyasya keshavasya mahaatmanah | naamnaam sahasram divyaanaamasheshena prakeertitam || 1 ||
ya idam shrinuyaannityam yashchaapi parikeertayet | naa'shubham praapnuyaatkinychitso'mutreha cha maanavah || 2 ||
vedaantago braahmanassyaat kshatriyo vijayee bhavet | vaishyo dhanasamriddhassyaachchhoodrassukhamavaapnuyaat || 3 ||
dharmaarthee praapnuyaaddharmamarthaarthee chaarthamaapnuyaat | kaamaanavaapnuyaatkaamee prajaarthee chaapnuyaatprajaah || 4 ||
bhaktimaan yassadotthaaya shuchistadgatamaanasah | sahasram vaasudevasya naamnaametatprakeertayet || 5 ||
yashah praapnoti vipulam yaati praadhaanyameva cha | achalaam shriyamaapnoti shreyah praapnotyanuttamam || 6 ||
na bhayam kvachidaapnoti veeryam tejashcha vindati | bhavatyarogo dyutimaanbalaroopagunaanvitah || 7 ||
rogaarto muchyate rogaadbaddho muchyeta bandhanaat | bhayaanmuchyeta bheetastu muchyetaapanna aapadah || 8 ||
durgaanyatitaratyaashu purushah purushottamam | stuvannaamasahasrena nityam bhaktisamanvitah || 9 ||
vaasudevaashrayo martyo vaasudevaparaayanah | sarvapaapavishuddhaatmaa yaati brahma sanaatanam || 10 ||
na vaasudevabhaktaanaamashubham vidyate kvachit | janmamrityujaraavyaadhibhayam naivopajaayate || 11 ||
imam stavamadheeyaanah shraddhaabhaktisamanvitah | yujyetaatmaa sukhakshaanti shreedhritismritikeertibhih || 12 ||
na krodho na cha maatsaryam na lobho naashubhaamatih | bhavanti krita punyaanaam bhaktaanaam purushottame || 13 ||
dyaussachandraarkanakshatram kham disho bhoormahodadhih | vaasudevasya veeryena vidhritaani mahaatmanah || 14 ||
sa suraasuragandharvam sayakshoragaraakshasam | jagadvashe vartatedam krishnasya sacharaacharam || 15 ||
indriyaani mano buddhissattvam tejo balam dhritih | vaasudevaatmakaanyaahuh kshetram kshetrajnya eva cha || 16 ||
sarvaagamaanaamaachaarah prathamam parikalpitah | aachaaraprabhavo dharmo dharmasya prabhurachyutah || 17 ||
rishayah pitaro devaa mahaabhootaani dhaatavah | janggamaajanggamam chedam jagannaaraayanodbhavam || 18 ||
yogo jnyaanam tathaa saangkhyam vidyaashshilpaadi karma cha | vedaashshaastraani vijnyaanametatsarvam janaardanaat || 19 ||
eko vishnurmahadbhootam prithagbhootaanyanekashah | treenlokaanvyaapya bhootaatmaa bhungkte vishvabhugavyayah || 20 ||
imam stavam bhagavato vishnorvyaasena keertitam | pathedya ichchhetpurushah shreyah praaptum sukhaani cha || 21 ||
vishveshvaramajam devam jagatah prabhumavyayam | bhajanti ye pushkaraaksham na te yaanti paraabhavam || 22 ||
na te yaanti paraabhavam om nama iti |
arjuna uvaacha |
padmapatravishaalaaksha padmanaabha surottama | bhaktaanaamanuraktaanaam traataa bhava janaardana || 23 ||
shree bhagavaanuvaacha |
yo maam naamasahasrena stotumichchhati paandava | so'hamekena shlokena stuta eva na samshayah || 24 ||
stuta eva na samshaya om nama iti |
vyaasa uvaacha |
vaasanaadvaasudevasya vaasitam te jagattrayam | sarvabhootanivaaso'si vaasudeva namo'stu te || 25 ||
shree vaasudeva namo'stuta om nama iti |
paarvatyuvaacha |
kenopaayena laghunaa vishnornaamasahasrakam | pathyate panditairnityam shrotumichchhaamyaham prabho || 26 ||
eeshvara uvaacha |
shreeraama raama raameti rame raame manorame | sahasranaama tattulyam raama naama varaanane || 27 ||
shreeraamanaama varaanana om nama iti |
brahmovaacha |
namo'stvanantaaya sahasramoortaye sahasrapaadaakshishirorubaahave | sahasranaamne purushaaya shaashvate sahasrakoteeyugadhaarine namah || 28 ||
sahasrakoteeyugadhaarine om nama iti |
sanyjaya uvaacha |
yatra yogeshvarah krishno yatra paartho dhanurdharah | tatra shreervijayo bhootirdhruvaa neetirmatirmama || 29 ||
shree bhagavaanuvaacha |
ananyaashchintayanto maam ye janaah paryupaasate | teshaam nityaabhiyuktaanaam yogakshemam vahaamyaham || 30 ||
paritraanaaya saadhoonaam vinaashaaya cha dushkritaam | dharmasamsthaapanaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge || 31 ||
aartaa vishannaashshithilaashcha bheetaah ghoreshu cha vyaadhishu vartamaanaah | sangkeertya naaraayanashabdamaatram vimuktaduhkhaassukhino bhavanti || 32 ||
Additional Verses and Colophon
yadakshara padabhrashtam maatraaheenam tu yadbhavet | tatsarvam kshamyataam deva naaraayana namo'stu te ||
kaayena vaachaa manasendriyairvaa buddhyaatmanaa vaa prakritessvabhaavaat | karomi yadyatsakalam parasmai naaraayanaayeti samarpayaami ||
iti shreemahaabhaarate shatasahasrikaayaam samhitaayaam vaiyaasikyaam anushaasanaparvaantargata anushaasanikaparvani mokshadharme bheeshma yudhishthira samvaade shree vishnordivyasahasranaamastotram naama ekonapanychaashadadhikashatatamo'dhyaayah |
How Vishnu Sahasranama Is Traditionally Recited
Choose a clean, quiet place, sit comfortably and remember Lord Vishnu before beginning. Start with the prelude and dhyana, then continue through the thousand names, Uttarapithika, additional prayers and colophon in order.
Use the section jump links only to find your place; during recitation, read continuously and pause at complete verses. After finishing, sit quietly for a moment or offer a simple prayer. The Roman spelling is a reading aid, not a substitute for trained Sanskrit pronunciation.
Prepare a calm place
Bathe if convenient, or wash your hands and face, wear clean clothes and choose a seat where the long recitation can continue without hurry. Facing east or north is customary in some homes, but sincere attention matters more than direction.
Remember Lord Vishnu
An image of Vishnu is optional. If available, light a diya or incense safely and offer a flower, tulsi leaf, water or fruit according to your family practice. Join your hands and remember Vishnu before making a brief intention for the recitation.
Begin with the opening prayers
Start at the first line rather than jumping directly to the names. Read the invocations, Yudhishthira-Bhishma dialogue, nyasa material where retained, and dhyana so the complete source sequence is respected.
Read the complete Sahasranama
Continue through all thousand names at an even pace. Pause at verse endings, use the internal section links only to recover your place, and do not treat the names as a race. If needed, divide the long text into consecutive sections and resume without changing their order.
Conclude the path
Complete the Uttarapithika, additional prayers and colophon. Then sit quietly, offer the merit of the recitation to Vishnu, and close with pranam. A short aarti or distribution of simple prasada may be added, but neither is required for personal reading.
Traditional Benefits of Vishnu Sahasranama
In Vaishnava devotion, Vishnu Sahasranama is traditionally believed to support peace of mind, concentration, remembrance of the divine and steadiness during difficult periods. Devotees commonly use the thousand names to deepen Vishnu bhakti and maintain devotional discipline.
The phalashruti describes auspicious outcomes in the language of sacred tradition. These are devotional beliefs rather than guaranteed material, medical or supernatural results.
Remembrance of Vishnu
Moving through the thousand names keeps attention on Vishnu's qualities, forms and cosmic presence, making nama-smarana the central purpose of the practice.
Inner peace and clearer thought
The measured rhythm of a long recitation is traditionally associated with calming mental agitation and turning thought toward what is auspicious and sustaining.
Spiritual discipline
Regular reading develops continuity, patience and the habit of returning to prayer even when circumstances are unsettled.
Protection and well-being
The phalashruti speaks of freedom from fear, adversity and affliction. Devotees receive these lines as prayers for divine protection and well-being, not as guaranteed outcomes.
Peace within the household
Families sometimes recite or listen together as a shared Vishnu practice, praying for harmony, mutual patience and an atmosphere centered on remembrance.
Support during difficult periods
Because the hymn repeatedly presents Vishnu as refuge, devotees often turn to it when they need steadiness, perspective and faith while meeting responsibilities.
When Can Vishnu Sahasranama Be Recited?
Vishnu Sahasranama may be recited daily or whenever a longer Vishnu prayer fits your worship routine. Morning and evening are commonly chosen because they allow an unhurried practice, but the hymn imposes no compulsory clock time.
Ekadashi and other Vishnu-focused observances are customary occasions for the path. One complete reading is a sound practice; no extra repetition count is required unless it belongs to a tradition you already follow.
Meaning and Structure of Vishnu Sahasranama
Prelude and Questions
The opening invokes auspiciousness, honors Vyasa and Vishnu, and establishes the Mahabharata dialogue. Yudhishthira asks Bhishma about the supreme refuge, the highest dharma, and the recitation through which a person may become free from worldly bondage. Bhishma answers by directing attention to the thousand names of the imperishable Lord.
Dhyana
The meditation verses contemplate Vishnu through cosmic and iconic imagery: reclining on the serpent, lotus-eyed, bearing conch, discus and mace, adorned with Shrivatsa and Kaustubha, and present as the form of the three worlds. These verses prepare the mind before the sequence of names.
The Thousand Names
The central verses praise Vishnu through a continuous succession of names. Each name points to an attribute, relation, activity, cosmic function, form, or theological understanding of the divine—from Vishvam, the universe, and Vishnu, the all-pervading, through names associated with preservation, knowledge, time, compassion, sovereignty, and liberation. The Roman text keeps these names in their source order rather than rearranging them as an alphabetical list.
Closing Verses and Phalashruti
The Uttarapithika describes the devotional significance traditionally attached to hearing and reciting the names. It also records further dialogue and familiar concluding verses. Statements of outcomes belong to the hymn’s traditional devotional voice; they are not guarantees of material, medical, or supernatural results.
Additional Verses and Colophon
The final prayers ask forgiveness for errors in letters or meter and dedicate one’s actions to Narayana. The colophon identifies the Mahabharata setting and closes the complete stored recension.
About Vishnu Sahasranama
Vishnu Sahasranama means “the thousand names of Vishnu.” In the Mahabharata setting, Bhishma gives the hymn to Yudhishthira while answering questions about the highest refuge and the most sustaining form of dharma.
A sahasranama is not merely a vocabulary list. Its names are woven into metrical verses, surrounded by a prelude, meditation, dialogue and phalashruti. That full architecture is retained here so English readers can follow the work as a stotra rather than as a detached name list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Devotees recite it to remember Vishnu’s thousand names, cultivate peace and focus, and sustain a regular Vaishnava devotional practice.
Yes. Daily recitation is common, although no single schedule is compulsory on this page. Choose a quiet time you can maintain respectfully.
No elaborate setup is required for simple personal reading. A clean place, calm attention and respectful remembrance of Vishnu are sufficient.
Yes. It uses plain English letters and section links for a long recitation. Listening to a trained reciter can further improve pronunciation.
No. This is the metrical hymn. A Sahasranamavali usually presents individual names for archana with a salutation attached.
One complete, attentive recitation is a normal devotional practice. This page does not prescribe an additional fixed count; follow your family or teacher's tradition if you have one.
You may pause at a section boundary and resume from the next section later. Keep the source order and complete the remaining portion rather than selecting random passages as a substitute for the full path.
Read slowly and sincerely from the simple Roman text, avoiding rushed guessing. Listening to a careful traditional recitation can gradually improve unfamiliar names and consonant clusters.
No. Ekadashi is a widely observed Vishnu-focused occasion, but Vishnu Sahasranama may be recited daily or whenever you can give the text calm attention.
Original Sanskrit
Open this optional reference to view the complete unchanged Devanagari text from the Hindi source.