Lyrics (Devanagari)
॥ ध्यानम् ॥ शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्। लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम्॥ ॥ स्तोत्रम् (आरम्भ) ॥ विश्वं विष्णुर्वषट्कारो भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः। भूतकृद्भूतभृद्भावो भूतात्मा भूतभावनः॥ पूतात्मा परमात्मा च मुक्तानां परमा गतिः। अव्ययः पुरुषः साक्षी क्षेत्रज्ञोऽक्षर एव च॥ ... (सहस्रनाम — भगवान विष्णु के एक हजार नाम इसी क्रम में आगे बढ़ते हैं) ... ॥ फलश्रुति ॥ इति इदं कीर्तनीयस्य केशवस्य महात्मनः। नाम्नां सहस्रं दिव्यानामशेषेण प्रकीर्तितम्॥ य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं यश्चापि परिकीर्तयेत्। नाशुभं प्राप्नुयात्किंचित्सोऽमुत्रेह च मानवः॥
Shantakaram bhujagashayanam padmanabham suresham Vishvadharam gaganasadrisham meghavarnam shubhangam, Lakshmikantam kamalanayanam yogibhirdhyanagamyam Vande Vishnum bhavabhayaharam sarvalokaikanatham. Vishwam Vishnur vashatkaro bhootabhavyabhavatprabhuh, Bhootakrid bhootabhrid bhaavo bhootatma bhootabhavanah. ... (the 1000 names of Vishnu continue in sequence) ... Iti idam kirtaniyasya Keshavasya mahatmanah, Namnam sahasram divyanam asheshena prakirtitam.
Meaning
Composed by sage Veda Vyasa and found in the Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), recited to Yudhishthira by Bhishma on his deathbed, this stotram lists 1000 names of Vishnu describing his cosmic form, his role as sustainer of the universe, and his infinite attributes. This page presents the dhyana (meditation) verse and phalashruti (benefits) — the complete 1000-name list is available under the Namavali category.
When & Why It Is Recited
Considered one of the most powerful stotras in Hindu tradition, recited daily for peace, prosperity and spiritual merit, and especially on Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi. Believed to remove all sins and grant liberation.