This Vishnusahasranama stotra, which is the most widely known, is a garland of the thousand names of Lord Vishnu, strung in to a beautiful stotra by the legendary Rishi Veda Vyasa, acknowledged as one of the greatest exponents of the Vedic wisdom. Apart from the great epic Mahabharata, he also wrote the Brahma Sutras (he is also called Badarayana), a treatise expounding the essence of Hindu philosophy. His father is Rishi Parashara, the redoubtable astrologer-saint who laid the foundation stone for to-days Vedic astrology by systematizing our great predictive science in his famous treatise the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. The depth of his astrological knowledge was so great that, one day while crossing a river in a boat, he casually looked at his favorite stars in heaven, and suddenly realized that it was an exceptionally auspicious moment and if a child is conceived at that moment, he will be an expert in the shastras. So he told this to the lady rowing the boat and requested her to marry him. She agreed and the son born was Veda Vyasa!
It is in this Veda Vyasa’s Mahabharata, in the shanti parva, that we will find the Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra, which Bheeshma prescribes to King Yudhisthira. The backdrop to the prescription is as follows:
Soon after the death of Duryodhana, Yudhisthira was coroneted as the king. Though the war was over, Bheeshma was still lying on the bed of arrows as he vowed to leave this world only when the kingdom of Hastinapur is safe. Knowing this, immediately after the coronation, Yudhisthira, accompanied by Lord Krishna and his brothers, went to Bheeshma. Before leaving his mortal body, Bheeshma gives a long discourse to Yudhisthira on various aspects of life and Dharma. After listening to everything, Yudhisthira wants to know if there is any one thing through which one can achieve all; and Bheeshma prescribes the Viashnusahasranama stotra. The first 13 stanzas are the dialog between Yudhisthira and Bheeshma. The next three stanzas are the customary Dhyana verses.
The Greatest Hindu philosopher of India, Adi Shankaracharya, wrote the Bhashya (word-to-word meaning) of the 1000 names of Vishnu that are there in this sahasranama stotra, in the 6th century ad. The story of writing this is also an interesting one. Actually, being a great Devi devotee he wanted to write the commentary on the Lalita sahasranama stotra and asked a deciple to bring the text. The dicple brought the Vishnu sahasranama text. Twice this mistake was repeated and then Shree Shankaracharya heard a Divine voice asking him to write the commentary on the Vishnu sahasranama.
Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra
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Asya shriivishhnor-divyasahasranaama stotra mahaa mantrasya
Shri Vedavyaaso bhagavaan rishhih
Anushhtuph chhandah
Shri mahaavishnuh paramaatmaa shriimannaaraayano devataa
Amritaam shuudbhavo bhaanuriti bieejam
Devakee nandanah srashteti shaktih
Udbhavah kshobhano deva iti paramo mantrah
Shankha-bhrinnandakii chakriiti keelakam
Shaarngadhanvaa gadaadhara ityastram
Rathaangapaani rakshobhya iti netram
Trisaamaa saamagah saameti kavacham
Aanandam parabrahmeti yonih
Rituh sudarshanah kaala iti digbandhah
Shri vishvaruupa iti dhyaanam
Shri mahaavishhn priityartham sahasranaama jape viniyogah
Dhyanam
Ksheero danvatpradeshe shuchimanivilasat saikate-rmauktikaanaam
Maalaa kliptaasanasthah sphatikamani nibhair mauktikair manditaangah
Shubhrai rabhrai radabhrai ruparivirachitai-rmukta piiyuushha varshhaih
Aanandii nah puniiyaa darinalinagadaa shankhapaanir-mukundah 1
Bhuuh paadau yasya naabhir viyadasuranila-shchandra suuryau cha netre
Karnaavaashaah shiro dyaurmukhamapi dahano yasya vaasteyamabdhih
Antahstham yasya vishvam suranarakhaga gobhogi gandharvadaityaih
Chitram ranramyate tan tribhuvana vapushham vishhnumiisham namaami 2
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Shaantaakaaram bhujagashayanam padmanaabham suresham
Vishvaadhaaram gaganasadrisham meghavarnam shubhaangamh
Lakshmiikaantam kamalanayanam yogibhirdhyaanagamyam
Vande vishhnum bhavabhayaharam sarvalokaikanaathamh 3
Megha shyaamam piita kausheyavaasam
Shriivatsaankam kaustubho-dbhaasitaangamh
Punyopetam pundariikaayataaxam
Vishhnum vande sarvalokaikanaathamh 4
Namah samasta bhuutaanaam aadibhuutaaya bhuubhrite
Anekaruuparuupaaya vishhnave prabhavishhnave 5
Sashankhachakram sakiriitakundalam
Sapiitavastram sarasiiruhexanamh
Sahaara vaxahsthala shobhikaustubham
Namaami vishhnum shirasaa chaturbhujamh 6
Chhaayaayaam paarijaatasya hema sinhaasanopari
Aasiinamam budashyaama maayataaxamalankritamh
Chandraananan chaturbaahum shriivatsaankita vaxasam
Rukminii satyabhaamaabhyaam sahitam krishhnamaashraye 7
Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra
Om vishvam vishnur-vashatkaro bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh
Bhutakrud bhutabhrud bhavo bhutatma bhuta-bhavanah ..1
Putatma paramatma cha muktanam parama gatih
Avyayah purusha sakshi kshetrajno~kshara eva cha ..2
Yogo yogavidam neta pradhana-purushesvarah
Narasimha-vapu shriman kesavah purushottamah ..3
Sarvah sarvah sivah sthanur-bhutadir-nidhir-avyayah
Sambhavo bhavano bharta prabhavah prabhur-isvarah ..4
Svayambhuh sambhur-adityah pushkaraksho mahasvanah
Anandi-nidhano dhata vidhata dhaturuttamah ..5
Aprameyo hrishikesah padma-nabho~mara-prabhuh
Visvakarma manustvashta sthavishtah sthaviro-dhruvah ..6
Agrahyah sasvatah krishno lohitakshah pratardanah
Prabhutas-trikakubdhama pavitram mangalam param ..7
Isanah pranadah prano jyeshthah sreshthah prajapatih
Hiranyagarbho bhugarbho madhavo madhusudanah .. 8
Ishvaro vikrami dhanvi medhavi vikramah kramah
Anuttamo duradharsah krutajnah krutiratmavan ..9
Suresah sharanam sharma vishvaretah prajabhavah
Ahah samvasaro vyalah pratyayah sarvadarshanah …10
Ajah sarveshvarah siddhah siddhih sarvadir acyutah
Vrushakapir ameyatma sarva-yoga-vinihshrutah …11
Vasur vasumanah satyah samatma sammitah samah
Amoghah pundarikaksho vrusha-karma vrushakrutih …12
Rudro bahushira babhrur vishva-yonih shuchi sravah
Amrutah shashvata-sthanur vararoho maha-tapah …13
Sarvagah sarva-vid-bhanur vishvaksheno janardanah
Vedo vedavid avyango vedango vedavit kavih..14
Lokadhyakshah suradhyaksho dharmadhyakshah krutakrutah
Chaturatma chaturvyuhas chaturdamstras chatur-bhujah ..15
Bhrajishnur-bhojanam bhokta sahishnur jagad-adhijah
Anagho vijayo jeta vishva-yonih punar-vasuh ..16
Upendro vamanah pramshur amoghah suchir urjitah
Atindrah samgrahah sargo dhrutatma niyamo yamah ..17
Upendro: One born as the younger brother of Indra.
Vedyo vaidyah sada-yogi viraha madhavo madhuh
Atindriyo mahamayo mahotsaho mahabalah ..18
Mahabuddir mahaviryo mahasaktir mahadyutih
Anirdesyavapuh shriman ameyatma mahadridhruk ..19
Maheshvaso mahibharta shrinivasah satam gatih
Aniruddhah suranando govindo govidam patih ..20
Marichir-damano hamsah suparno bhujagottamah
Hiranya-nabha sutapah padmanabhah prajapatih ..21
Amrutyuh sarva-druk simhah sandhata sandhiman sthirah
Ajo durmarshanah shasta vishrutatma surariha ..22
Gurur gurutamo dhama satyah satya-parakramah
Nimisho animishah sragvi vachaspatir udaradhih ..23
Agranir gramanih shriman nyayo neta samiranah
Sahsra-murdha vishvatma sahasraksha sahasrapat ..24
Avrtano nivrutatma samvrutah sampramardanah
Ahah samvartako vahnir anilo dharani-dharah ..25
Suprasadah prasannatma vishva-dhrug vishva-bhug vibhuh
Sat-karta sat-krutah sadhur jahnur narayano narah ..26
Asankhyeyo prameyatma visistah shishtakruch chucih
Siddharthah siddha-sankalpah siddhidah siddhisadhanah ..27
Vrushahi vrushabho vishnur vrushaparva vrushodarah
Vardhano vardhamanascha viviktah shruti-sagarah ..28
Subhujo durdharo vagmi mahendro vasodo vasuh
Naikarupo bruhad-rupah shipivishtah prakashana ..29
Ojas tejo dyuti-dharah prakashatma pratapanah
Vruddhah spahstaksharo mantras chandramshur bhaskaradyutih ..30
Amrtamshu dbhavo bhanuh shashabinduh sureshvarah
Aushadham jagatah setuh satya-dharma-prarakramah ..31
Bhuta-bhavya-bhavan-nathah pavanah pavano analah
Kamaha kamakrut kantah kamah kamapradah prabhuh ..32
Yugadikrud yugavarto naikamayo mahashanah
Adrushyo vyakta-rupascha sahasrajid anantajit ..33
Ishtovishistah shishtestah sikhandi nahusho vrushah
Krodhaha krodhakrut karta vishva-bahur mahidharah ..34
Achyutah prathitah pranah pranado vasavanujah
Apam-nidhir adhishthanam apramattah pratishtitah ..35
Skandah skanda-dharo dhuryo varado vayuvahanah
Vashudevo bruhad-bhanur adidevah purandarah ..36
Ashokas-taranas-tarah surah saurir janeshvarah
Anukulah shatavartah padmi padma-nibhekshanah ..37
Padmanabho aravindakshah padmagarbhah sarirabhrut
Mahardhir ruddho vruddhatma mahaksho garuda-dhvajah ..38
Atulah sarabho bhimah samayagno havirharih
Sarvalakshana lakshanyo lakshmivan samitinjayah ..39
Viksharo rohito margo hetur-damodarah sahah
Mahidharo mahabhago vegavan amitashanah ..40
Udbhavah kshobhano devan shrigarbhah parameshvarah
Karanam kaaranam karta vikarta gahano guhah ..41
Vyavasayo vyavasthanah samsthanah sthanado dhruvah
Parardhih parama-spashtas tushtah pushtah subhekshanah ..42
Ramo viramo virato margo neyo nayonayah
Virah shaktimatam shreshtho dharmo dharma-vid uttamah ..43
Vaikunthah purushah pranah pranadah pranavah pruthuh
Hiranya-garbhah shatrughno vyapto vayur adhokshajah ..44
Rituh sudarshanah kalah parameshti parigrahah
Ugrah samvatsaro daksho vishramo vishva-dakshinah ..45
Vistarah sthavara-sthanuh pramanam bijam avyayam
Arthonartho mahakosho mahabhogo mahadhanah ..46
Anirvinnah sthavishthobhur dharma-yupo maha-makhah
Nakshatra-nemir nakshatri kshamah kshamah samihanah ..47
Yajna ijyo mahejyas cha kratuh satram satamgatih
Sarvadarshi vimuktatma sarvagyo gynanam-uttamam ..48
Suvratah sumukhah sukshmah sughoshah sukhadah suhrut
Manoharo jita-krodho virabahur vidaranah ..49
Svapanah svavasho vyapi naikatma naika-karma-krut
Vatsaro vatsalo vatsi ratna-garbho dhaneshvarah ..50
Dharmagub dharmakrud dharmi sad-asatksharam aksharam
Avigyata sahashramsur vidhata kruta-lakshanah ..51
Gabhasti-nemih sattvasthah simho bhuta-maheshvarah
Adidevo mahadevo devesho devabhrud-guruh ..52
Uttaro gopatir gopta gyanagamyah puratanah
Sharira-bhuta-bhrud bhokta kapindro bhuridakshinah ..53
Somapo amrutapah somah purujit purushottamah
Vinayo jayah satyasandho dasharhah satvatampatih ..54
Jivo vinayita-sakshi mukundo amita vikramah
Ambhonidhir anantatma mahodadhishayonatakah ..55
Ajo maharhah svabhavyo jitamitrah pramodanah
Anando nandano nandah satya-dharma trivikramah ..56
Maharshih kapilacharyah krutagyo medini-patih
Tripadas tridashadhyaksho mahashrungah krutantakrut ..57
Mahavaraho goivindah sushenah kanakangadi
Guhyo gabhiro gahano guptas chakra-gadadharah ..58
Vedhah svango ajitah krishno drudhah sankarshano acyutah
Varuno vaaruno vrukshah pushkaraksho mahamanah ..59
Bhagavan bhagahanandi vanamali halayudhah
Adityo jyotir-adityah sahishnur gatisattamah ..60
Sudhanva-khandaparashur-daruno dravinapradah
Divah-spruk sarva-drug vyaso vachaspatir ayonijah ..61
Trisama samagah sama nirvanam bheshajam bhishak
Sanyasakrut chamah santo nishtha shantih parayanam ..62
Shubhangah shantidah srashta kumudah kuvalesayah
Gohito gopatir gopta vrushabhaksho vrushapriyah ..63
Anivarti nivrutatma samkshepta kshema-kruchivah
Shrivasta-vakshah shrivasah shripatih shrimatam-varah ..64
Shridah shrishah shrinivasah shrinidhih shri-vibhavanah
Shridharah shrikarah shreyah shriman loka-trayashrayah ..65
Svakshah svangah shatanando nandir jyotir-ganeshvarah
Vijitatma vidheyatma satkirtischinna-samsayah ..66
Udirnah sarvata-chakshur-anisah sasvata-sthirah
Bhushayo bhushano bhutir vishokah shoka-nashanah ..67
Archishman architah kumbho vishuddhatma vishodhanah
Aniruddho pratirathah pradyumno amita-vikramah ..68
Kalaneminiha virah saurih sura-janeshvarah
Trilokatma trilokeshah keshavah keshiha harih ..69
Kamadevah kamapalah kami kantah krutagamah
Anirdeshya-vapur vishnur viro ananto dhananjayah ..70
Brahmanyo brahmakrud-brahma brahma brahma-vivardhanah
Brahmavid brahmano brahmi brahmgno brahmana-priyah ..71
Mahakramo mahakarma mahateja mahoragah
Mahakratur mahayajva mahayagyo mahahavih ..72
Stavyah Stavapriyah stotram stutih stota ranapriyah
Purnah purayita punyah punyakirtir anamayah ..73
Manojavas tirthakaro vasureta vasupradah
Vasuprado vasudevo vasur vasumana havih ..74
Sadgatih sat-krutih satta sad-bhutih sat-parayanah
Suraseno yadushreshthah sannivasah suyamunah ..75
Bhutavaso vasudevah sarvasu-nilayo analah
Darpaha darpado drupto durdharo-atha-parajitah ..76
Vishvamurtir mahamurtir diptamurtir amurtiman
Anekamurtir avyaktah shatamurtih shatananah ..77
Eko naikah savah kah kim yat tat padam-anuttamam
Lokabandhur lokanatho madhavo bhakta-vastalah ..78
Eko: One without any kind of differences that are internal or that relate to similar objects external or to dissimilar objects.
Suvarna varno hemango varangas chandanangadi
Viraha vishamah sunyo ghrutasir achalaschalah ..79
Amani manado manyo lokasvami triloka-dhruk
Sumedha medhajo dhanyah satyamedha dharadharah ..80
Tejovrusho dyuti-dharah sarva-shastra-bhrutam-varah
Pragrahonigraho vyagro naikashrungo gadagrajah ..81
Chaturmurtis chaturbahus chaturvyuhas chaturgatih
Chaturatma chaturbhavas chaturvedavid ekapat ..82
Samavarto anivrutatma durjayo duratikramah
Durlabho durgamo durgo duravaso durariha ..83
Shubhango lokasarangah sutantus tantu-vardhanah
Indrakarma mahakarma krutakarma krutagamah ..84
Udbhavah sundarah sundo ratnanabhah sulochanah
Arko vajasanah shrungi jayantah sarva-vij-jayi ..85
Suvarna-bindur-akshobhyah sarva-vagishvareshvarah
Mahahrado maha-garto maha-bhuto maha-nidhih ..86
Kumudah kundarah kundah parjanyah pavano anilah
Amrutasho amrutavapuh sarvagyah sarvato-mukha ..87
Sulabhah suvratah siddhah shatru-jit shatru-tapanah
Nyagrodho adumbaro-svatthas chanurandhra-nishudhanah ..88
Sahasrarchi sapta-jihvah saptaidhah sapta-vahanah
Amurtir anagho achintyo bhayakrud bhaya-nashanah ..89
Anur bruhat krusah sthulo gunabrun nirguno mahan
Adhrutah svadhrutah svasyah pragvamsho vamshavardhanah ..90
Bhara-bhrut kathito yogi yogishah sarva-kamadah
Ashramah shramanah kshamah suparno vayu-vahanah ..91
Dhanurdharo dhanurvedo dando damayita damah
Aparajitah sarvasaho niyanta niyamo yamah ..92
Satvavan satvikah satyah satya-dharma-parayanah
Abhiprayah priyarho-rhah priyakrut pritivardhanah ..93
Vihayasagatir jyotih suruchir huta-bhug vibhuh
Ravir virochanah suryah savita ravilochanah ..94
Ananto huta-bhug bhokta sukhado naikajo-grajah
Anirvinnah sadamarshi lokadhishthana-madbhutah ..95
Sanat sanatana-tamah kapilah kapir avyayah
Svastidah svastikrut svasti svastibhuk svasti-dakshinah ..96
Araudrah kundali chakri vikramyurjita-shasanah
Shabdatigah shabdasahah sisirah sarvari-karah ..97
Akrurah peshalo daksho dakshinah kshiminam varah
Vidvattamo vitabhayah punya-shravana-kirtanah ..98
Uttarano dushkrutiha punyo duh-svapna-nasanah
Viraha rakshanah santo jivanah paryavasthitah ..99
Ananta-rupo ananta-shri jitamanyur bhayapahah
Chaturashro gabhiratma vidisho vyadisho dishah ..100
Anadi bhurbhuvo lakshmih suviro ruchirangadah
Janano janajanmadir bhimo bhima-parakramah ..101
Adharanilayo dhata pushpahasah prajagarah
Urdhvagah sat-pathacharah pranadah pranavah panah ..102
Prmanam prananilayah pranabhrut pranajivanah
Tatvam tatvavidekatma janma-mrutyu-jaratigah ..103
Bhurbhuvah svastarus-tarah savita prapitamahah
Yagyo yagya-patir-yajva yagyango yagya-vahanah ..104
Yagyabhrud yagyakrud yagyi yagyabhrug yagyasadhanah
Yagyanantakrud yagyaguhyam annam annada eva cha ..105
Atmayonih svayamjato vaikhanah samagayanah
Devaki-nandanah srashtha kshitishah papanashanah ..106
Shankhabrun -nandaki chakri sharangadhnva gadadharah
Rathanga panirakshobhyah sarva-praharanayudhah ..107
Vanamali gadi sharangi shankhi chakri cha nandaki
Shriman narayano vishnur-vasudevo-abhirakshatu ..108
Om Tat Sat
There is one more Vishnu sahasranama stotras in the puranas, given to Narada by Lord. Shiva (Also known as Sri Narada pancharatragamoktam) but somehow it is not popular.
There is also a Vishnu sahasranama in the famous Sikh scripture Sundar Gutka, written by Guru Arjun Singh, one of the main Sikh Gurus. It is known as “Sahasaranama”. I have put an authentic photocopy of this in this site as Vishnu shasranama in Sikhismpages 465 to 471 of Sundar Gutka put together.
Click to read the Devanagiri version
