vishnusahasranamam1000-namesmahabharata

Vishvam Vishnur Vashatkaro

विश्वं विष्णुर्वषट्कारः

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Thursday mornings, Ekadashi, or during Vishnu / Satyanarayana worship·📜 Vishnu Sahasranama, first naama verse (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva)

Also known as: vishvam vishnur vashatkaro · om vishvam vishnur vashatkaro · vishnu sahasranama first verse · vishwam vishnur vashatkaro bhutabhavyabhavatprabhuh

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is the very first verse of the thousand names of the Vishnu Sahasranama, opening with 'Hari Om' and the names Vishvam, Vishnu and Vashatkara. In a few syllables it declares the Lord to be the universe itself, the all-pervading one, lord of all three times, and the creator, sustainer, indwelling soul and nourisher of every being. It is the seed from which the whole Sahasranama unfolds.

Origin & Story

Vishnu Sahasranama, first naama verse (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva) · Sage Veda Vyasa; spoken by Bhishma to Yudhishthira · Itihasa period (traditionally Dvapara Yuga)

The Vishnu Sahasranama appears in the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata, where Bhishma, lying on the bed of arrows, answers Yudhishthira's question — who is the one supreme refuge? — by reciting the thousand names of Vishnu. After the preliminary salutations and meditation verses, the names themselves begin here, with 'Vishvam Vishnur Vashatkaro', naming the Lord as the universe and the all-pervading reality.

✦ As told in scripture

The phalashruti of the Sahasranama promises that one who hears or recites these names daily, with devotion, meets with nothing inauspicious and crosses all difficulties. Devotees regard the very first verse as auspicious enough to begin any worship, invoking the Lord who is the universe and the Self within all beings.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

हरिः ॐ ।

Harih Om

Meaning:Hari Om. He is the Universe (Vishvam); the All-Pervading Vishnu; He who is invoked by the Vashatkara in sacrifice; the Lord of past, present and future. He is the creator of beings (Bhutakrit), the sustainer of beings (Bhutabhrit), pure Existence (Bhava), the Self of all beings (Bhutatma) and the nourisher of all beings (Bhutabhavana).

Verse 2

विश्वं विष्णुर्वषट्कारो भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः । भूतकृद्भूतभृद्भावो भूतात्मा भूतभावनः ॥

Vishvam vishnurvashatkaro bhutabhavyabhavatprabhuh Bhutakridbhutabhridbhavo bhutatma bhutabhavanah

Word-by-Word Meaning

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विश्वम्🔊VishvamThe Universe — He who is the universe itself

विष्णुः🔊VishnuhThe All-Pervading One who enters everywhere

वषट्कारः🔊VashatkarahHe who is invoked by the 'Vashat' call in every sacrifice

भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः🔊Bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuhLord of the past, the future and the present

भूतकृत्🔊BhutakritThe creator of all beings

भूतभृत्🔊BhutabhritThe sustainer of all beings

भावः🔊BhavahPure existence; He who becomes all

भूतात्मा🔊BhutatmaThe innermost Self of all beings

भूतभावनः🔊BhutabhavanahHe who nourishes and brings forth all beings

हरिः ॐ🔊Harih OmThe auspicious invocation 'Hari is Om' that begins the recitation

Benefits of Chanting Vishvam Vishnur Vashatkaro

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The sacred opening verse of the Vishnu Sahasranama — traditionally chanted first to begin the thousand names

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Establishes Vishnu as the universe itself and the Self of all beings within the very first names

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Reciting these opening names is believed to bring peace, protection and purification of the mind

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An ideal short verse for those who wish to begin a daily Vishnu Sahasranama practice

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Especially auspicious on Thursdays, Ekadashi and during Vishnu worship

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Said to dispel inauspiciousness and grant the steady remembrance of the Lord

How to Chant Vishvam Vishnur Vashatkaro

Repetitions9times

Best TimeThursday mornings, Ekadashi, or during Vishnu / Satyanarayana worship

Begin with the invocation 'Hari Om', then recite the verse slowly and clearly, dwelling on each name. It may be chanted on its own as a daily opening, or as the first verse of the complete Vishnu Sahasranama. Sit facing east before an image of Vishnu, with a calm and devoted mind, ideally after the preliminary dhyana verses such as 'Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam'.

Frequently Asked Questions

The very first name is 'Vishvam' — 'the Universe', meaning the Lord who is the universe itself. It is followed immediately by 'Vishnu' (the all-pervading) and 'Vashatkara', opening the thousand names of the Lord.

'Hari Om' is the traditional auspicious invocation chanted before the names. 'Hari' is a name of Vishnu and 'Om' is the supreme sound (Pranava); together they sanctify the beginning of the Sahasranama recitation.

They declare the Lord to be the universe (Vishvam), the all-pervading (Vishnu), the one invoked in sacrifice (Vashatkara), and the Lord of past, present and future, who creates, sustains, indwells and nourishes all beings.

Yes. While the full Sahasranama has a thousand names, chanting this first verse with devotion is a beautiful way to begin a practice or to invoke Vishnu when time is short.