Chapter 5: Phalashruti: the fruits of the names

इतीदं कीर्तनीयस्य केशवस्य महात्मनः ।
नाम्नां सहस्रं दिव्यानामशेषेण प्रकीर्तितम्

itīdaṃ kīrtanīyasya keśavasya mahātmanaḥ |
nāmnāṃ sahasraṃ divyānāmaśeṣeṇa prakīrtitam

Bhishma said: Thus have I recited in full the thousand divine names of Keshava, the great-souled Lord who is worthy of all praise.

य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं यश्चापि परिकीर्तयेत् ।
नाशुभं प्राप्नुयात्किंचित्सोऽमुत्रेह च मानवः

ya idaṃ śṛṇuyānnityaṃ yaścāpi parikīrtayet |
nāśubhaṃ prāpnuyātkiṃcitso'mutreha ca mānavaḥ

Whoever hears these names daily, or recites them aloud, meets with no misfortune at all, in this world or in the next.

वेदान्तगो ब्राह्मणः स्यात्क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् ।
वैश्यो धनसमृद्धः स्याच्छूद्रः सुखमवाप्नुयात्

vedāntago brāhmaṇaḥ syātkṣatriyo vijayī bhavet |
vaiśyo dhanasamṛddhaḥ syācchūdraḥ sukhamavāpnuyāt

By it a brahmana masters the Vedanta, a kshatriya becomes victorious, a vaishya grows rich in wealth, and a shudra attains happiness.

धर्मार्थी प्राप्नुयाद्धर्ममर्थार्थी चार्थमाप्नुयात् ।
कामानवाप्नुयात्कामी प्रजार्थी चाप्नुयात्प्रजाम्

dharmārthī prāpnuyāddharmamarthārthī cārthamāpnuyāt |
kāmānavāpnuyātkāmī prajārthī cāpnuyātprajām

One who seeks dharma gains dharma, one who seeks wealth gains wealth, one who has desires attains them, and one who longs for children is blessed with offspring.

भक्तिमान् यः सदोत्थाय शुचिस्तद्गतमानसः ।
सहस्रं वासुदेवस्य नाम्नामेतत्प्रकीर्तयेत्

bhaktimān yaḥ sadotthāya śucistadgatamānasaḥ |
sahasraṃ vāsudevasya nāmnāmetatprakīrtayet

The devotee who rises early every day and, pure and with his mind fixed on Him, recites these thousand names of Vasudeva...

यशः प्राप्नोति विपुलं ज्ञातिप्राधान्यमेव च ।
अचलां श्रियमाप्नोति श्रेयः प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्

yaśaḥ prāpnoti vipulaṃ jñātiprādhānyameva ca |
acalāṃ śriyamāpnoti śreyaḥ prāpnotyanuttamam

...wins wide fame and a leading place among his kin. He gains prosperity that does not waver, and the highest good, unsurpassed.

न भयं क्वचिदाप्नोति वीर्यं तेजश्च विन्दति ।
भवत्यरोगो द्युतिमान्बलरूपगुणान्वितः

na bhayaṃ kvacidāpnoti vīryaṃ tejaśca vindati |
bhavatyarogo dyutimānbalarūpaguṇānvitaḥ

He knows no fear anywhere. He gains valour and radiance, becomes free of disease, bright of countenance, and endowed with strength, beauty and good qualities.

रोगार्तो मुच्यते रोगाद्बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात् ।
भयान्मुच्येत भीतस्तु मुच्येतापन्न आपदः

rogārto mucyate rogādbaddho mucyeta bandhanāt |
bhayānmucyeta bhītastu mucyetāpanna āpadaḥ

The sick are freed from illness, the bound from their bonds, the frightened from fear, and one fallen into calamity from that calamity.

दुर्गाण्यतितरत्याशु पुरुषः पुरुषोत्तमम् ।
स्तुवन्नामसहस्रेण नित्यं भक्तिसमन्वितः

durgāṇyatitaratyāśu puruṣaḥ puruṣottamam |
stuvannāmasahasreṇa nityaṃ bhaktisamanvitaḥ

A person who daily praises Purushottama, the Supreme Person, with these thousand names and with devotion, quickly crosses all difficulties.

वासुदेवाश्रयो मर्त्यो वासुदेवपरायणः ।
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा याति ब्रह्म सनातनम्

vāsudevāśrayo martyo vāsudevaparāyaṇaḥ |
sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā yāti brahma sanātanam

The mortal who takes refuge in Vasudeva and holds Him as the supreme goal is cleansed of every sin and reaches the eternal Brahman.

न वासुदेवभक्तानामशुभं विद्यते क्वचित् ।
जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिभयं नैवोपजायते

na vāsudevabhaktānāmaśubhaṃ vidyate kvacit |
janmamṛtyujarāvyādhibhayaṃ naivopajāyate

For the devotees of Vasudeva there is no misfortune anywhere. The fear of birth, death, old age and disease never arises in them.

इमं स्तवमधीयानः श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः ।
युज्येतात्मसुखक्षान्तिश्रीधृतिस्मृतिकीर्तिभिः

imaṃ stavamadhīyānaḥ śraddhābhaktisamanvitaḥ |
yujyetātmasukhakṣāntiśrīdhṛtismṛtikīrtibhiḥ

One who studies this hymn with faith and devotion is joined with inner happiness, patience, prosperity, steadiness, memory and good name.

न क्रोधो न च मात्सर्यं न लोभो नाशुभा मतिः ।
भवन्ति कृतपुण्यानां भक्तानां पुरुषोत्तमे

na krodho na ca mātsaryaṃ na lobho nāśubhā matiḥ |
bhavanti kṛtapuṇyānāṃ bhaktānāṃ puruṣottame

In devotees of Purushottama who have earned merit, there arises no anger, no jealousy, no greed and no evil thought.

द्यौः सचन्द्रार्कनक्षत्रा खं दिशो भूर्महोदधिः ।
वासुदेवस्य वीर्येण विधृतानि महात्मनः

dyauḥ sacandrārkanakṣatrā khaṃ diśo bhūrmahodadhiḥ |
vāsudevasya vīryeṇa vidhṛtāni mahātmanaḥ

Heaven with the moon, sun and stars, the sky, the directions, the earth and the great ocean are all upheld by the power of great-souled Vasudeva.

ससुरासुरगन्धर्वं सयक्षोरगराक्षसम् ।
जगद्वशे वर्ततेदं कृष्णस्य सचराचरम्

sasurāsuragandharvaṃ sayakṣoragarākṣasam |
jagadvaśe vartatedaṃ kṛṣṇasya sacarācaram

This whole world of moving and unmoving beings, with devas, asuras and gandharvas, yakshas, nagas and rakshasas, stands under the sway of Krishna.

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिः सत्त्वं तेजो बलं धृतिः ।
वासुदेवात्मकान्याहुः क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञ एव च

indriyāṇi mano buddhiḥ sattvaṃ tejo balaṃ dhṛtiḥ |
vāsudevātmakānyāhuḥ kṣetraṃ kṣetrajña eva ca

The senses, mind, intellect, sattva, radiance, strength and fortitude, the field (the body) and the knower of the field, all these, the wise say, have Vasudeva as their Self.

सर्वागमानामाचारः प्रथमं परिकल्प्यते ।
आचारप्रभवो धर्मो धर्मस्य प्रभुरच्युतः

sarvāgamānāmācāraḥ prathamaṃ parikalpyate |
ācāraprabhavo dharmo dharmasya prabhuracyutaḥ

Of all the scriptures, right conduct is placed first. Dharma springs from right conduct, and the lord of dharma is Achyuta, the Unfailing.

ऋषयः पितरो देवा महाभूतानि धातवः ।
जङ्गमाजङ्गमं चेदं जगन्नारायणोद्भवम्

ṛṣayaḥ pitaro devā mahābhūtāni dhātavaḥ |
jaṅgamājaṅgamaṃ cedaṃ jagannārāyaṇodbhavam

The rishis, the pitris (ancestors), the devas, the great elements and the bodily constituents, this whole world of moving and unmoving things, has come forth from Narayana.

योगो ज्ञानं तथा सांख्यं विद्याः शिल्पादिकर्म च ।
वेदाः शास्त्राणि विज्ञानमेतत्सर्वं जनार्दनात्

yogo jñānaṃ tathā sāṃkhyaṃ vidyāḥ śilpādikarma ca |
vedāḥ śāstrāṇi vijñānametatsarvaṃ janārdanāt

Yoga, knowledge, Sankhya, the branches of learning, the crafts and arts, the Vedas, the shastras and all understanding, all this comes from Janardana.

एको विष्णुर्महद्भूतं पृथग्भूतान्यनेकशः ।
त्रींल्लोकान्व्याप्य भूतात्मा भुङ्क्ते विश्वभुगव्ययः

eko viṣṇurmahadbhūtaṃ pṛthagbhūtānyanekaśaḥ |
trīṃllokānvyāpya bhūtātmā bhuṅkte viśvabhugavyayaḥ

Vishnu alone is the great Being, appearing as the many separate beings. Pervading the three worlds, He, the Self of all beings, imperishable, enjoys all as the enjoyer of the universe.

इमं स्तवं भगवतो विष्णोर्व्यासेन कीर्तितम् ।
पठेद्य इच्छेत्पुरुषः श्रेयः प्राप्तुं सुखानि च

imaṃ stavaṃ bhagavato viṣṇorvyāsena kīrtitam |
paṭhedya icchetpuruṣaḥ śreyaḥ prāptuṃ sukhāni ca

The person who wishes to gain the highest good and happiness should recite this hymn to Bhagwan Vishnu, sung by Maharshi Vyasa.

विश्वेश्वरमजं देवं जगतः प्रभुमव्ययम् ।
भजन्ति ये पुष्कराक्षं न ते यान्ति पराभवम्
न ते यान्ति पराभवम् ॐ नम इति ।

viśveśvaramajaṃ devaṃ jagataḥ prabhumavyayam |
bhajanti ye puṣkarākṣaṃ na te yānti parābhavam
na te yānti parābhavam oṃ nama iti |

Those who worship the lotus-eyed One, Lord of the universe, the unborn God, imperishable master of the world, never meet defeat. They never meet defeat. Om, salutations.

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्ष पद्मनाभ सुरोत्तम ।
भक्तानामनुरक्तानां त्राता भव जनार्दन

padmapatraviśālākṣa padmanābha surottama |
bhaktānāmanuraktānāṃ trātā bhava janārdana

Arjuna said: O You whose eyes are wide as lotus petals, Padmanabha (from whose navel the lotus springs), best of the devas, Janardana, be the protector of Your loving devotees.

यो मां नामसहस्रेण स्तोतुमिच्छति पाण्डव ।
सोऽहमेकेन श्लोकेन स्तुत एव न संशयः
स्तुत एव न संशय ॐ नम इति ।

yo māṃ nāmasahasreṇa stotumicchati pāṇḍava |
so'hamekena ślokena stuta eva na saṃśayaḥ
stuta eva na saṃśaya oṃ nama iti |

Shri Bhagwan said: Pandava, whoever wishes to praise Me with the thousand names, I am praised by him even with a single verse; of this there is no doubt. Om, salutations.

वासनाद्वासुदेवस्य वासितं भुवनत्रयम् ।
सर्वभूतनिवासोऽसि वासुदेव नमोऽस्तु ते
श्रीवासुदेव नमोऽस्तु त ॐ नम इति ।

vāsanādvāsudevasya vāsitaṃ bhuvanatrayam |
sarvabhūtanivāso'si vāsudeva namo'stu te
śrīvāsudeva namo'stu ta oṃ nama iti |

Vyasa said: Because Vasudeva dwells in all, the three worlds are pervaded by Him. You are the dwelling place of all beings. Vasudeva, salutations to You. Om, salutations.

केनोपायेन लघुना विष्णोर्नामसहस्रकम् ।
पठ्यते पण्डितैर्नित्यं श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं प्रभो

kenopāyena laghunā viṣṇornāmasahasrakam |
paṭhyate paṇḍitairnityaṃ śrotumicchāmyahaṃ prabho

Parvati said: Lord, by what easy means do the learned recite the thousand names of Vishnu every day? I wish to hear it.

रामरामेति रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनामतत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने
श्रीरामनाम वरानन ॐ नम इति ।

rāmarāmeti rāmeti rame rāme manorame |
sahasranāmatattulyaṃ rāmanāma varānane
śrīrāmanāma varānana oṃ nama iti |

Ishvara (Bhagwan Shiva) said: Beautiful one, I delight in Rama, saying 'Rama, Rama, Rama'. The name of Rama is equal to the whole thousand names. Om, salutations.

ब्रह्मोवाच ।
नमोऽस्त्वनन्ताय सहस्रमूर्तये
सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोरुबाहवे ।
सहस्रनाम्ने पुरुषाय शाश्वते
सहस्रकोटियुगधारिणे नमः
सहस्रकोटियुगधारिणे नम ॐ नम इति ।

brahmovāca |
namo'stvanantāya sahasramūrtaye
sahasrapādākṣiśirorubāhave |
sahasranāmne puruṣāya śāśvate
sahasrakoṭiyugadhāriṇe namaḥ
sahasrakoṭiyugadhāriṇe nama oṃ nama iti |

Brahma said: Salutations to the Infinite One of a thousand forms, with a thousand feet, eyes, heads, thighs and arms; to the eternal Purusha of a thousand names, who upholds thousands of crores of yugas. Salutations. Om, salutations.

यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः ।
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम

yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ |
tatra śrīrvijayo bhūtirdhruvā nītirmatirmama

Sanjaya said: Where Krishna, the Lord of yoga, is, and where Partha the archer is, there are fortune, victory, prosperity and steady righteousness. This is my conviction.

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्

ananyāścintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate |
teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham

Shri Bhagwan said: Those who worship Me, thinking of no other, ever united with Me, I carry to them what they lack and preserve what they have.

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām |
dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya saṃbhavāmi yuge yuge

To protect the good, to destroy the wicked and to establish dharma firmly, I come into being age after age.

आर्ता विषण्णाः शिथिलाश्च भीता घोरेषु च व्याधिषु वर्तमानाः ।
संकीर्त्य नारायणशब्दमात्रं विमुक्तदुःखाः सुखिनो भवन्तु

ārtā viṣaṇṇāḥ śithilāśca bhītā ghoreṣu ca vyādhiṣu vartamānāḥ |
saṃkīrtya nārāyaṇaśabdamātraṃ vimuktaduḥkhāḥ sukhino bhavantu

Those in distress and despair, the weak and the frightened, and those suffering terrible diseases, merely by chanting the word 'Narayana' may be freed of sorrow and be happy.

कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतिस्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयामि

kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā buddhyātmanā vā prakṛtisvabhāvāt |
karomi yadyatsakalaṃ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi

Whatever I do with body, speech, mind or senses, with intellect or heart, or from the bent of my nature, all of it I offer to the Supreme, saying 'to Narayana'.