Vishnu

The Shloka

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शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं

पद्मनाभं सुरेशम् ।

विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं

मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम् ॥

लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं

योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम् ।

वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं

सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥

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śāntākāraṁ bhujagaśayanaṁ

padmanābhaṁ sureśam।

viśvādhāraṁ gaganasadṛśaṁ

meghavarṇaṁ śubhāṅgam॥

lakṣmīkāntaṁ kamalanayanaṁ

yogibhirdhyānagamyam।

vande viṣṇuṁ bhavabhayaharaṁ

sarvalokaikanātham॥

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Meaning / Summary

The shloka is significant because it encapsulates the essence of Lord Vishnu’s divine qualities, emphasizing his peaceful nature, his role as the sustainer of the universe, and his accessibility through devotion and meditation. Chanting this shloka is believed to bring peace, protection, and spiritual progress.

I bow to Lord Vishnu, who has a peaceful form, who reclines on the serpent bed, who has a lotus in his navel, who is the lord of the gods, who is the support of the universe, who is all-pervading like the sky, whose color is like the clouds, who has an auspicious body, who is the beloved of Lakshmi, who has lotus-like eyes, who is attained by yogis through meditation, who removes the fear of worldly existence, and who is the sole master of all the worlds.

This shloka is a prayer to Lord Vishnu, praising his peaceful form, his role as the sustainer of the universe, and his accessibility through devotion.

This shloka is a prayer dedicated to Lord Vishnu, describing his divine attributes and seeking his blessings. It emphasizes his peaceful nature, his role as the sustainer of the universe, and his accessibility through devotion and meditation. The imagery used paints a picture of a benevolent and powerful deity who is both immanent and transcendent.

Sentence - 1

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शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं

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Meaning

Who has a peaceful form and who reclines on the serpent bed.

Meaning of Words

शान्ताकारं	śāntākāraṁ
Peaceful form Describes the serene and tranquil appearance of Lord Vishnu. ‘Shanta’ means peace, calm, and ‘Akaram’ means form or appearance.
भुजगशयनं	bhujagaśayanaṁ
Serpent bed Refers to Lord Vishnu reclining on the coiled serpent Shesha. ‘Bhujaga’ means serpent and ‘shayanam’ means reclining or lying down.

Sentence - 2

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पद्मनाभं सुरेशम्।

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Meaning

Who has a lotus in his navel, who is the lord of the gods.

Meaning of Words

पद्मनाभं	padmanābhaṁ
Lotus-navelled Describes Lord Vishnu with a lotus emerging from his navel, from which Brahma is born. ‘Padma’ means lotus and ‘nabham’ means navel.
सुरेशम्	sureśam
Lord of gods Refers to Lord Vishnu as the supreme lord of all the gods. ‘Sura’ means gods and ‘isham’ means lord or master.

Sentence - 3

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विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं

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Meaning

Who is the support of the universe, who is like the sky.

Meaning of Words

विश्वाधारं	viśvādhāraṁ
Support of the universe Describes Lord Vishnu as the foundation and sustainer of the entire universe. ‘Vishva’ means universe and ‘adharam’ means support or foundation.
गगनसदृशं	gaganasadṛśaṁ
Like the sky Compares Lord Vishnu to the vastness and all-encompassing nature of the sky. ‘Gagana’ means sky or space and ‘sadrisham’ means like or similar to.

Sentence - 4

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मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्॥

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Meaning

Whose color is like the clouds, who has an auspicious body.

Meaning of Words

मेघवर्णं	meghavarṇaṁ
Cloud-colored Describes the complexion of Lord Vishnu as being like the color of dark clouds, often associated with rain and nourishment. ‘Megha’ means cloud and ‘varnam’ means color.
शुभाङ्गम्	śubhāṅgam
Auspicious body Refers to the divine and benevolent nature of Lord Vishnu’s form. ‘Shubha’ means auspicious or good and ‘angam’ means body or form.

Sentence - 5

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लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं

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Meaning

Who is the beloved of Lakshmi, who has lotus-like eyes.

Meaning of Words

लक्ष्मीकान्तं	lakṣmīkāntaṁ
Beloved of Lakshmi Refers to Lord Vishnu as the consort of the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. ‘Lakshmi’ is the name of the goddess and ‘kantam’ means beloved or husband.
कमलनयनं	kamalanayanaṁ
Lotus-eyed Describes the eyes of Lord Vishnu as being beautiful and pure like a lotus flower. ‘Kamala’ means lotus and ‘nayanam’ means eye.

Sentence - 6

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योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम्।

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Meaning

Who is attained by yogis through meditation.

Meaning of Words

योगिभिर्	yogibhirdhyāna
By yogis Refers to those who practice yoga and meditation. ‘Yogibhi’ is the instrumental plural of ‘yogi’.
ध्यानगम्यम्	dhyānagamyam
Attainable through meditation Describes Lord Vishnu as being accessible and realized through the practice of meditation. ‘Dhyana’ means meditation and ‘gamyam’ means attainable or reachable.

Sentence - 7

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वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं

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Meaning

I bow to Vishnu, who removes the fear of worldly existence.

Meaning of Words

वन्दे	vande
I bow Expresses reverence and salutations. It is a verb meaning ‘I praise’ or ‘I salute’.
विष्णुं	viṣṇuṁ
Refers to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe.
भवभयहरं	bhavabhayaharaṁ
Remover of the fear of worldly existence Describes Lord Vishnu as the one who alleviates the fear of birth, death, and suffering in the material world. ‘Bhava’ means worldly existence, ‘bhaya’ means fear, and ‘haram’ means remover.

Sentence - 8

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सर्वलोकैकनाथम्॥

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Meaning

The sole master of all the worlds.

Meaning of Words

सर्वलोकैकनाथम्	sarvalokaikanātham
Sole master of all the worlds Refers to Lord Vishnu as the supreme ruler and protector of all the realms and beings. ‘Sarva’ means all, ‘loka’ means world or realm, ‘eka’ means one or sole, and ‘natham’ means master or lord.

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