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Vishnu Shodasha Nama Stotram

विष्णु षोडश नाम स्तोत्रम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning immediately after waking and bathing (prātaḥ)·📜 Traditional Vaishnava stotra (smriti / Pauranic tradition)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Vishnu Shodasha Nama Stotram lists sixteen names of Lord Vishnu, each to be remembered in a specific situation — Janardana while eating, Madhusudana in danger, Narayana at death, and so on. Many of the names are forms of his Dashavatara (Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana/Trivikrama, Rama). Recited at dawn, it is believed to free the devotee from all sins and grant the realm of Vishnu.

Origin & Story

Traditional Vaishnava stotra (smriti / Pauranic tradition) · Traditional (anonymous) · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally said that one who keeps these sixteen names ready in the mind is guarded by the Lord in every danger — recalling Jalashayin in fire or Madhusudana in sudden crisis is believed to instantly summon Vishnu's protective grace.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

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

Meaning:One 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

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

Meaning:On 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

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

Meaning:Remember 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

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

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

Verse 5

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

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

Word-by-Word Meaning

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auṣadhe🔊while taking medicine

chintayed-viṣṇuṃ🔊one should meditate on Vishnu

bhojane cha janārdanam🔊and Janardana while eating

śayane padmanābhaṃ🔊Padmanabha while lying down to sleep

vivāhe cha prajāpatim🔊and Prajapati at the time of marriage

yuddhe chakra-dharaṃ🔊Chakradhara (wielder of the discus) in battle

pravāse cha trivikramam🔊and Trivikrama while traveling

nārāyaṇaṃ tanu-tyāge🔊Narayana at the time of leaving the body (death)

śrīdharaṃ priya-saṅgame🔊Shridhara when meeting a loved one

duḥsvapne smara govindaṃ🔊remember Govinda after a bad dream

saṅkaṭe madhusūdanam🔊Madhusudana in times of crisis/danger

kānane nārasiṃhaṃ🔊Narasimha while in the forest

pāvake jala-śāyinam🔊Jalashayin (one who reclines on water) in fire

jala-madhye varāhaṃ🔊Varaha while in the midst of water

parvate raghu-nandanam🔊Raghunandana (Rama) while on a mountain

gamane vāmanaṃ🔊Vamana while walking/going

sarva-kāryeṣu mādhavam🔊Madhava in all undertakings

ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni🔊these sixteen names

prātar-utthāya yaḥ paṭhet🔊whoever recites them upon rising at dawn

sarva-pāpa-vinirmuktaḥ🔊becomes freed from all sins

viṣṇu-loke mahīyate🔊is honored/exalted in the realm of Vishnu

Benefits of Chanting विष्णु षोडश नाम स्तोत्रम्

✦

Provides the right divine name to remember in every situation of life

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Invokes Vishnu's protection during illness, travel, danger and conflict

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Recited at dawn, it is said to free one from all accumulated sins

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Keeps the mind anchored in remembrance (smarana) of God throughout the day

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Includes the Dashavatara names, uniting daily life with the Lord's incarnations

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Traditionally chanted for safety in fire, water, forest and on journeys

✦

Grants the devotee a place of honor in Vishnuloka

How to Chant विष्णु षोडश नाम स्तोत्रम्

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning immediately after waking and bathing (prātaḥ)

Recite the five verses soon after rising at dawn, ideally after a bath, facing east. Learn the sixteen names and their situations so they can be recalled instantly through the day — Janardana while eating, Madhusudana in danger, Narayana at the final hour, and so on. The stotra is short and meant to be memorized so that the appropriate name of the Lord springs to mind in every circumstance.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete विष्णु षोडश नाम स्तोत्रम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

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.

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.

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.

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.