Deity

Vishnu

विष्णुViṣṇu

verses
27,752
books
36
chapters
4,696
Avatars
Krishna, Rama, Balarama, Parashurama, Narasimha, Vamana, Varaha, Matsya, Kurma, Kalki
Consort of
Lakshmi

What the texts say

In the Vishnu Purana, Vishnu is the Supreme Self who pervades the universe and stands as the ground of its creation, continuance and dissolution. Vishnu Purana 1.2.4, 1.2.2 The same text names Lakshmi as the divine consort of Vishnu. Vishnu Purana 1.10.2 In the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu, there called Narayana, lies on the bed of Ananta Shesha and draws the whole universe into himself during the occasional dissolution, while Lord Brahma sleeps. Bhagavatam 12.4.4 The Vamana Purana tells how Vishnu, disguised as Vamana, took away the sovereignty of the three worlds from the asura Bali. Vamana Purana 1.1, 65.17 In the Narasimha Purana, Vishnu takes the man-lion form of Narasimha and tears apart Hiranyakashipu with his claws. Narasimha Purana 1.44.43, 1.10.13 Elsewhere in the Bhagavata Purana, Vaikuntha is described as the realm where Vishnu is manifest, and one who goes there never returns. Bhagavatam 10.88.25

Where to read

Every verse that names Vishnu, book by book.

  1. Skanda Purana

    5,812 verses · 909 chapters

    All 5,812 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 1.4.9.1

      Nandikeshwar ne kaha ki dono mein bohot ahankaar tha. Brahma aur Vishnu dono sochte the ki main hi sabse bada hoon. Isi wajah se dono mein jhagda ho gaya. Yeh sab unke dimag kharab hone ki wajah se hua.

    • 2.8.6.9

      Margashirsh mahine mein yahan naha ke insan phir se janam nahi leta. Aur agar kisi aur time bhi nahao, toh Vishnu ke paas jaate ho. Yeh bahut badi baat hai.

    • 2.1.9.4

      Woh Purushottam ka bhakt ban gaya aur shyamake ke jungle ki raksha karne laga. Woh shyamake ke daane pakake usme shahad milata tha.

  2. Padma Purana

    5,481 verses · 545 chapters

    All 5,481 verses in the Padma Purana
    • 1.17.1

      Bhishma ne kaha, dwij shreshth. Us yagya mein koi khaas baat hui thi kya? Mujhe batao. Rudra wahan kaise the? Aur Vishnu bhi wahan the, deviyon mein sabse bade. Woh sab kaise baithe the wahan?

    • 1.16.2

      Arre muni, wahan Vishnu aur Shankar bhagwan the. Unhone wahan jo kiya, woh poora bata do. Tum rishiyon mein bade ho, isliye tumse pooch raha hoon.

    • 6.71.7

      Yeh Vishveshwar khud Bhagwan hain. Yeh Narayan hain, Hari hain. Yeh sab ka Paramatma hain. Yeh Hrishikesh hain. Yeh har jeev ke paas hain, sabke andar hain.

  3. Narada Purana

    2,034 verses · 183 chapters

    All 2,034 verses in the Narada Purana
    • 1.1.11.3

      Sanaka bole, Narad sun. Jo log Hari ke bhakt hain, unki baat sun. Jo log Hari ko dil mein basaaye hain, unhe kaun pareshan kar sakta hai?

    • 1.1.4.1

      Sanaka ne kaha dharam mein shraddha sabse zaroori hai. Jo bhi tum mann mein chahte ho woh shraddha se milta hai. Shraddha se sab kaam ho jaata hai. Aur shraddha se hi Hari prashann ho jaate hain.

    • 1.1.5.1

      Narad ne poocha, bhai, woh Bhagwan Mrikandu ka beta kaise bana? Hari ne kya kiya? Batao mujhe.

  4. Shiva Purana

    1,670 verses · 321 chapters

    All 1,670 verses in the Shiva Purana
    • 2.2.39.3

      Vishnu ne kaha. Dadhichi rishi, aap Shiv bhakt ho, aap se ek cheez maangta hoon. Aap woh mujhe de dijiye.

    • 2.5.6.6

      Vishnu ne kaha, Maheshwar bhagwan, aapko namaskar. Aap hi sabse bade hain. Narayan roop mein bhi aapko namaskar. Rudra roop mein bhi aapko namaskar. Brahma roop mein bhi aapko namaskar. Aap hi sab kuch hain.

    • 2.5.4.7

      Vishnu ji bole, main tumhe batata hoon tum kyun banaye gaye ho. Tum meri hi se ho, tumhari samajh bahut hai. Tum mere jaise ho, isme koi shak nahi.

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Vishnu matters most.

  1. Viṣṇu’s Disguise and Dadhīca’s Fearlessness (Kṣu’s Request)

    Shiva Purana 2.2.39 · 34 verses

    Petitioner who adopts brāhmaṇa-disguise (chala) to obtain a boon

  2. Dhruva’s Darśana, Transformative Prayers, and the Boon of the Dhruva-loka (Pole Star)

    Bhagavatam 4.9 · 4 verses

    Bestows direct vision, empowers Dhruva’s speech and…

  3. Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

    Narada Purana 1.1.11 · 54 verses

  4. Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha-Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat (Hari-Hara-Śakti Synthesis)

    Kurma Purana 1.15 · 79 verses

  5. Brahmā-Viṣṇu Garva-vivāda and the Disruption of Cosmic Order (ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोर्गर्वविवादः)

    Skanda Purana 1.4.9 · 9 verses

  6. Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

    Bhagavatam 4.8 · 3 verses

    The ultimate protector (poṣaṇa) who assures the devas He will…

  7. The Lord Appears to the Devas and Instructs the Truce; Mandara Is Brought for Churning

    Bhagavatam 8.6 · 2 verses

    Protector and strategist

  8. Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti

    Bhagavatam 8.8 · 10 verses

  9. शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam): “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

    Shiva Purana 2.5.6 · 17 verses

    Lead supplicant and theologian whose hymn performs sectarian…

  10. Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation

    Shiva Purana 2.5.4 · 15 verses

    Agent of māyā and cosmic administration

Key episodes

  1. Dhruva, the Pole Star

    Bhagavatam 4.8-4.12

  2. Gajendra Moksha: The Elephant King's Prayer

    Bhagavatam 8.2-8.4

  3. Madhu and Kaitabha (Devi Mahatmya, Chapter 1)

    Markandeya Purana 81

  4. Durga Slays Mahishasura

    Markandeya Purana 82-84

  5. Brahma's Sacrifice at Pushkara and Savitri's Curse

    Padma Purana 1.16-1.17

  6. The Pillar of Fire: Brahma, Vishnu and the Endless Linga

    Shiva Purana 1.1.6-1.1.9

  7. Daksha's Sacrifice and Sati's Self-Immolation

    Shiva Purana 2.2.26-2.2.43

  8. The Birth of Kartikeya and the Slaying of Taraka

    Shiva Purana 2.4.1-2.4.12

  9. The Birth of Ganesha and His Elephant Head

    Shiva Purana 2.4.13-2.4.18

  10. Shiva Destroys the Three Cities (Tripura)

    Shiva Purana 2.5.1-2.5.12

  11. Arunachala: The Hill That Is a Pillar of Fire

    Skanda Purana 1.3.1-1.4.16

  12. Srinivasa and Padmavati (Venkateswara's Wedding)

    Skanda Purana 2.1.3-2.1.8

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