Yam Brahma Varunendra Rudra Marutah — Vishnu Dhyana Shloka — Word-by-Word Meaning

यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्ररुद्रमरुतः — विष्णु ध्यान श्लोक

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

यं

yam

whom

ब्रह्मा वरुण इन्द्र रुद्र मरुतः

brahma varuna indra rudra marutah

Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts

स्तुन्वन्ति दिव्यैः स्तवैः

stunvanti divyaih stavaih

praise with divine hymns

वेदैः

vedaih

by the Vedas

साङ्गपदक्रमोपनिषदैः

sanga-pada-krama-upanishadaih

complete with their auxiliaries (angas), the pada and krama recitations, and the Upanishads

गायन्ति यं सामगाः

gayanti yam samagah

whom the singers of the Sama Veda sing

ध्यानावस्थिततद्गतेन मनसा

dhyana-avasthita-tad-gatena manasa

with a mind absorbed in meditation and fixed on Him

पश्यन्ति यं योगिनः

pashyanti yam yoginah

whom the yogis behold

यस्य अन्तं न विदुः

yasya antam na viduh

whose end / limit they do not know

सुरासुरगणाः

sura-asura-ganah

the hosts of gods and demons

देवाय तस्मै नमः

devaya tasmai namah

to that Divine Being, salutations

Complete Translation

Whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise with divine hymns; whom the singers of the Sama Veda sing with the Vedas complete with their auxiliaries, the pada and krama recitations and the Upanishads; whom the yogis behold with minds absorbed and fixed in meditation; and whose limit the hosts of gods and demons do not know — to that Divine Lord (Vishnu) I bow.

Origin & History

Source: Dhyana-shloka of the Vishnu Sahasranama (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva tradition)

Author: Traditional (part of the Vishnu Sahasranama prelude)

Period: Ancient

This verse belongs to the set of Dhyana-shlokas chanted before the thousand names of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranama. Before reciting the holy names, the worshipper first meditates upon the Lord through such verses. This particular shloka paints a vast vision of the Supreme: praised by the highest gods, sung by the Vedas and the Sama-singers, beheld only by yogis in deep absorption, and infinite beyond the knowledge of all gods and demons. With this contemplation the devotee bows to that boundless Lord and begins the worship of Vishnu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is 'Yam Brahma Varunendra Rudra Marutah' from?▼

It is one of the celebrated Dhyana (meditation) verses recited at the beginning of the Vishnu Sahasranama. It is also chanted independently as a morning meditation and invocation of Lord Vishnu.

What is the essence of this shloka?▼

It salutes Vishnu as the Supreme Being whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise, whom the Sama-singers sing, whom yogis behold in meditation, and whose limit even gods and demons cannot know — the infinite Lord beyond all comprehension.

When should it be recited?▼

It is ideally recited in the morning and just before chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama or beginning Vishnu puja, as a dhyana-shloka to settle the mind and turn it toward the Divine.

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