THEMES OF THE VISHNU SAHASRANAM
Graham Ajit Bond

Devotional Sanskrit hymns are often in the form of a dialog within a mythic setting. The Višņu Sahasranām is found in the great epic, Mahabharata, and is part of the teachings given to the young King Yudhisthira by the revered and elderly statesman Bhishma, as he lies dying on the battlefield…

When King Yudhishthira saw that Bhishma had rested, though mortally wounded
and lying pierced with countless arrows on the battlefield of Kurukshetra,
he of great virtue and intelligence respectfully said to the son of Shantanu,
“O Sire, please explain that supreme divinity which is the goal of all creation.”

“Who can mankind praise and worship to obtain all that is good and true?
What are those good actions and duties, which are highest of all?
Whose names can be repeated with devotion to obtain freedom from rebirth?
Tell me, o dear one, of He who is the ultimate source of all religion and true humanity.”

Bhishma replied, “Dear King, your question warms my heart as no other can.
One should regularly, with lively ardor put aside all dullness
and cheerfully sing the qualities of the supreme Lord, the Self of all.
Singing his praises, meditating on Him and merging in Him brings the highest joy.”

“This truly is the most excellent action and highest duty of all.
By constantly praising the infinite Lord Višņu, using His Thousand Names,
by constant and single-minded devotion, meditation and worship of Him,
an aspirant is freed and passes beyond all sorrow.”

Behind the sun, stood countless thousands of celestial beings with indescribable forms.
These radiant, eternal ones looked down with unblinking eyes,
seeing and breathing together as a choir joins under the majesty of a great conductor.
Divinely beautiful apsaras flew through the billowing clouds dropping petals of fragrant flowers.

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