Vishnu Sahasranamam in English

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Commentary on a hymn

 

BHAGAVADGUNA DARPANA — Part III: Sri Parasara Bhatta's commentary on

Sri Vishnu Sahasranama; Published by Sri Vishnu Sahasranama

Satsangham, C-8519, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Price not

mentioned.

 

 

THE BEST expedient that could liberate a soul from the worldly

bondage in Kali Yuga is the constant rendering of the names of the

Lord. Though there are quite a number of Sahasranamas on several

gods, Vishnu Sahasranama holds a unique place, as it was taught by

Bhishma to Yudhishtra while answering a query from him to enunciate

what is the foremost among the eminent doctrines that could be taken

up for deeper investigation.

 

These names have been carefully selected by various sages starting

from Sanaka and compiled by Veda Vyasa. This forms a part of the

Mahabharata, one of our great epics.

 

It should not be misconstrued that Sahasranama is a mere arrangement

of names. But every name essentially is a connotation of a form of

the Formless, to make the ardent devotee to comprehend Him. Praise is

nothing but an expression of ecstasy from those who have experienced

the excellence of the Lord with an intent that others should also

beget His benign grace.

 

The commentary of Parasara Bhatta is based on the concept of

Visishtadvaita. That of Sathyasandha Yatiswara is akin to

Madhwasampradaya. Pranava Nirukthi is an abridged version of Sri

Parasara Bhatta's commentary, containing 792 verses.

 

Sri Varadachariar's research was on grammatical and etymological

aspects of the Names. According to Parasara Bhatta the names amply

illustrate the blemishless, auspicious and glorious resplendency of

Sriman Narayana, who exhibits His Supreme Soul in

Para-Vyuha-Vibhava-Avatara-Archa manifestations. They also describe

the avatars the Lord has taken and the Leelas enacted by Him to

protect His devotees, who have abjectly surrendered to Him for

succour.

 

The book under review is the third volume of the Bhagavadguna Darpana

published by the Satsangham. This book has taken up from Namavali 501

to the last for the present edition. As in earlier books, the verses

and their meanings are given in Devanagari script, with an English

translation. The epilogue has also been translated.

 

Parasara Bhatta has arranged the names in subject-wise groups. For

example, names 503-519 refer to the incarnation of Rama; 520 to 528

to Kurma; 529 to 538 to Kapila; 539 to 543 to Varaha and 544 to 562

to Suddhasatva and so on.

 

For the names Vrishabhaksha and Vrishapriya that appear at the

beginning of the seventh sathaka for explanation he has drawn the

source from Dramidacharya, echoing the view that with the sole

objective of getting the fruit of an action, the human beings resort

to please the Lord.

 

He has also quoted extensively from Vedas, Upanishads, the

Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Vishnupurana in support of his

several observations.

 

The book has been brought out with neat printing on quality paper.

Their attempt is laudable. These books should form part of a

cherished collection of a devotee.

 

 

P.V. SIVARAMA DIKSHITAR

 

 

 

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