Shloka 2

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

हरिरुवाच / परेश्वरं परं ब्रह्म परमात्मानमव्ययम् / विष्णुं नामसहस्रेण स्तुवन्मुक्तो भवेन्नरः

Transliteration

hariruvāca / pareśvaraṃ paraṃ brahma paramātmānamavyayam / viṣṇuṃ nāmasahasreṇa stuvanmukto bhavennaraḥ

Translation

ஹரி கூறினார்—பரமேஸ்வரன், பரப்ரஹ்மம், அழிவற்ற பரமாத்மா ஆகிய விஷ்ணுவை ஆயிரநாமங்களால் ஸ்துதி செய்பவன் முக்தி அடைவான்.

Word by Word

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पर-ईश्वरम्: the supreme Lord
• पर-ईश्वरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परः ईश्वरः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (ब्रह्म इति)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परम-आत्मानम्: the supreme Self
• परम-आत्मानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (परमात्मानम् इति)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नाम-सहस्रेण: with the thousand names
• नाम-सहस्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नाम्नां सहस्रम्)

• स्तुवन्: praising
• स्तुवन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु) + शतृ → स्तुवन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle)

• मुक्तः: liberated
• मुक्तः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + क्त → मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stuti via Vishnu-sahasranāma grants mukti; Vishnu identified as supreme Brahman and imperishable Self.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as direct soteriology; saguna-upāsanā culminating in moksha; Vishnu as Brahman (theistic Vedānta compatibility).

Application: Regular recitation of Vishnu-sahasranāma with understanding of meanings; integrate nāma-smaraṇa into daily life, especially at liminal times (dawn/dusk).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.14.12 (continuous recitation leads to Vishnuloka); Garuda Purana 1.15.1 (question on japa answered here)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahman
• Paramatma

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu Sahasranama in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that praising Vishnu through the thousand names is a direct means to liberation, presenting nāma-stuti as a powerful bhakti-based practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It emphasizes moksha through devotion and remembrance of the Supreme (Vishnu as Parabrahman/Paramatma), implying release from bondage rather than continued post-death wandering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regular recitation or mindful chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama with understanding and reverence is presented as a simple, accessible discipline oriented toward inner purification and liberation.