Vishnu Shodasha Nama Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

विष्णु षोडश नाम स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

← Full Page Complete Lyrics Benefits & How to Chant

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Vishnu Shodasha Nama Stotram with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Jump to a verse ▾

Verse 1. Auṣadhe chintayed-viṣṇuṃ
Verse 2. Yuddhe chakra-dharaṃ devaṃ
Verse 3. Duḥsvapne smara govindaṃ
Verse 4. Jala-madhye varāhaṃ cha
Verse 5. Ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni

Verse 1#

औषधे चिन्तयेद्विष्णुं भोजने च जनार्दनम्। शयने पद्मनाभं च विवाहे च प्रजापतिम्॥१॥

Auṣadhe chintayed-viṣṇuṃ bhojane cha janārdanam। śayane padmanābhaṃ cha vivāhe cha prajāpatim॥1॥

MeaningOne should meditate on Vishnu while taking medicine, on Janardana while eating, on Padmanabha while lying down to sleep, and on Prajapati at the time of marriage.

Verse 2#

युद्धे चक्रधरं देवं प्रवासे च त्रिविक्रमम्। नारायणं तनुत्यागे श्रीधरं प्रियसङ्गमे॥२॥

Yuddhe chakra-dharaṃ devaṃ pravāse cha trivikramam। nārāyaṇaṃ tanu-tyāge śrīdharaṃ priya-saṅgame॥2॥

MeaningOn Chakradhara (the discus-bearer) in battle, on Trivikrama while traveling, on Narayana when leaving the body, and on Shridhara when meeting a loved one.

Verse 3#

दुःस्वप्ने स्मर गोविन्दं सङ्कटे मधुसूदनम्। कानने नारसिंहं च पावके जलशायिनम्॥३॥

Duḥsvapne smara govindaṃ saṅkaṭe madhusūdanam। kānane nārasiṃhaṃ cha pāvake jala-śāyinam॥3॥

MeaningRemember Govinda after a bad dream, Madhusudana in danger, Narasimha when in the forest, and Jalashayin (who reclines on the waters) when caught in fire.

Verse 4#

जलमध्ये वराहं च पर्वते रघुनन्दनम्। गमने वामनं चैव सर्वकार्येषु माधवम्॥४॥

Jala-madhye varāhaṃ cha parvate raghu-nandanam। gamane vāmanaṃ chaiva sarva-kāryeṣu mādhavam॥4॥

MeaningRemember Varaha when in the midst of water, Raghunandana (Rama) when on a mountain, Vamana while walking, and Madhava in all undertakings.

Verse 5#

षोडशैतानि नामानि प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते॥५॥

Ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni prātar-utthāya yaḥ paṭhet। sarva-pāpa-vinirmukto viṣṇu-loke mahīyate॥5॥

MeaningWhoever recites these sixteen names upon rising at dawn is freed from all sins and is exalted in the realm of Vishnu.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

औषधे

auṣadhe

while taking medicine

चिन्तयेद्विष्णुं

chintayed-viṣṇuṃ

one should meditate on Vishnu

भोजने च जनार्दनम्

bhojane cha janārdanam

and Janardana while eating

शयने पद्मनाभं

śayane padmanābhaṃ

Padmanabha while lying down to sleep

विवाहे च प्रजापतिम्

vivāhe cha prajāpatim

and Prajapati at the time of marriage

युद्धे चक्रधरं

yuddhe chakra-dharaṃ

Chakradhara (wielder of the discus) in battle

प्रवासे च त्रिविक्रमम्

pravāse cha trivikramam

and Trivikrama while traveling

नारायणं तनुत्यागे

nārāyaṇaṃ tanu-tyāge

Narayana at the time of leaving the body (death)

श्रीधरं प्रियसङ्गमे

śrīdharaṃ priya-saṅgame

Shridhara when meeting a loved one

दुःस्वप्ने स्मर गोविन्दं

duḥsvapne smara govindaṃ

remember Govinda after a bad dream

सङ्कटे मधुसूदनम्

saṅkaṭe madhusūdanam

Madhusudana in times of crisis/danger

कानने नारसिंहं

kānane nārasiṃhaṃ

Narasimha while in the forest

पावके जलशायिनम्

pāvake jala-śāyinam

Jalashayin (one who reclines on water) in fire

जलमध्ये वराहं

jala-madhye varāhaṃ

Varaha while in the midst of water

पर्वते रघुनन्दनम्

parvate raghu-nandanam

Raghunandana (Rama) while on a mountain

गमने वामनं

gamane vāmanaṃ

Vamana while walking/going

सर्वकार्येषु माधवम्

sarva-kāryeṣu mādhavam

Madhava in all undertakings

षोडशैतानि नामानि

ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni

these sixteen names

प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्

prātar-utthāya yaḥ paṭhet

whoever recites them upon rising at dawn

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः

sarva-pāpa-vinirmuktaḥ

becomes freed from all sins

विष्णुलोके महीयते

viṣṇu-loke mahīyate

is honored/exalted in the realm of Vishnu

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Vaishnava stotra (smriti / Pauranic tradition)

Author: Traditional (anonymous)

Period: Classical

This well-loved short stotra teaches the practice of constant remembrance (smarana) of God by assigning a specific name of Vishnu to each common situation of human life. By naming Vishnu in illness, food, sleep, marriage, travel, danger, fire, water, forest and death, it weaves devotion into every moment of daily living. Many of the sixteen names — Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana/Trivikrama and Rama — are the Lord's celebrated Dashavatara forms, linking everyday life to his cosmic descents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Vishnu Shodasha Nama Stotram?▼

It is a short hymn that gives sixteen ('shodasha') names of Lord Vishnu, prescribing a particular name to remember in a particular situation — for example, Janardana while eating, Trivikrama while traveling, Madhusudana in danger, and Narayana at the time of death.

What are the sixteen names of Vishnu in this stotra?▼

Vishnu, Janardana, Padmanabha, Prajapati, Chakradhara, Trivikrama, Narayana, Shridhara, Govinda, Madhusudana, Narasimha, Jalashayin, Varaha, Raghunandana (Rama), Vamana and Madhava — sixteen names, several of them Dashavatara forms.

When should the sixteen names be chanted?▼

The closing verse says they should be recited upon rising at dawn ('prataḥ utthaya'). Beyond that, each individual name is to be remembered in its specific circumstance — in fire, water, forest, battle, bad dreams, illness and so on.

What is the benefit of reciting these sixteen names?▼

The stotra declares that whoever recites them at dawn becomes freed from all sins ('sarva-papa-vinirmukta') and is exalted in the realm of Vishnu. It also keeps the mind continually turned toward God in daily life.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →