Vishnu Sahasranama: Names 1 to 255, with Meaning

विश्वम् viśvam

The whole universe. Vishnu is called the universe because it comes from him and is not apart from him.

Shankara: Shankara gives several readings. Brahman is called “the universe” because it is the cause of the universe; the word for the effect names the cause. Or the universe is, in truth, not other than the supreme Person. Or the name comes from viś, “to enter”: Brahman enters what it made, and all beings enter it at the end. He then writes at length (to p. 44) on Om as Brahman and on praising Vishnu with faith and with an equal mind towards all. (pp. 33–44)

Dictionary: viśva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 992, col. 2 “all-pervading or all-containing, omnipresent (applied to Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa, the soul, intellect &c.)”

विष्णुः viṣṇuḥ

The all-pervading one. Vishnu is present everywhere, without limit of place, time or thing.

Shankara: From viṣ, “to pervade”: he is free from every limit of place, time and thing, and Narayana stands pervading all, inside and out. Or from viś, “to enter”. He quotes the Vishnu Purana (the universe is entered by his power) and the Mahabharata (Vishnu is so named because he pervades heaven and earth and strides across them). (p. 44)

Dictionary: viṣṇu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 999, col. 1 “(prob. fr. √vish, ‘All-pervader’ or ‘Worker’) N. of one of the principal Hindū deities”

वषट्कारः vaṣaṭkāraḥ

The one for whom “vaṣaṭ” is cried. Vishnu is the sacrifice and the one to whom its offerings go.

Shankara: He is the one for whose sake “vaṣaṭ” is said at the sacrifice, or the sacrifice in which it is said, since the Veda says “the sacrifice is Vishnu”. Or he is the mantra “vaṣaṭ” itself, by which the gods are pleased, or the deity Vashatkara. (pp. 44–45)

Dictionary: vaṣaṭ-kāra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 930, col. 1 “the exclamation V° (also personified as a deity)”

भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभुः bhūtabhavyabhavatprabhuḥ

Lord of the past, the future and the present.

Shankara: He is the Lord of what was, what will be and what is. His lordship does not depend on divisions of time; it belongs to pure being. (p. 45)

Dictionary: bhūta-bhavya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 762, col. 1 “past and future”; prabhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 684, col. 3 “a master, lord, king”

भूतकृत् bhūtakṛt

Maker of beings. He creates beings, and at the end he also cuts them down.

Shankara: Taking up rajas, in the form of Brahma he makes beings. Taking up tamas, in the form of Rudra he cuts them down (kṛt read from kṛnt, “to cut”). (p. 45)

Dictionary: bhūta-kṛt, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 761, col. 3 “mfn. forming beings, creative, AV.; m. the creator”

भूतभृत् bhūtabhṛt

Upholder of beings. He sustains and nourishes all beings.

Shankara: Taking up sattva, he bears, protects, holds and nourishes beings. (p. 45)

Dictionary: bhūta-bhṛt, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 762, col. 1 “sustaining the elements or creatures”

भावः bhāvaḥ

Being itself. He is what exists, and the world is his becoming.

Shankara: He becomes, in the form of the world; or he simply is. Or bhāva means being, existence itself. (p. 45)

Dictionary: bhāva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 754, col. 1 “becoming, being”

भूतात्मा bhūtātmā

The self of all beings, their inner ruler.

Shankara: He is the self of beings, the inner controller, as the Upanishad says: “this is your self, the inner controller, the immortal”. (p. 45)

Dictionary: bhūtātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 762, col. 2 “‘soul of all beings,’ N. of Brahmā, R.; of Mahā-purusha, i. e. Vishṇu”

भूतभावनः bhūtabhāvanaḥ

He who brings beings into being and makes them grow.

Shankara: He brings beings into being, or makes them grow. (p. 45)

Dictionary: bhūta-bhāvana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 762, col. 1 “creating or causing the welfare of living beings, MBh.; N. of Śiva or Vishṇu or Brahmā”

पूतात्मा pūtātmā

The pure Self. He is untouched by the qualities of nature.

Shankara: His self is pure. The Upanishad calls him “alone and without qualities”; any colouring by the qualities is only taken on by his own will. (p. 46)

Dictionary: pūtātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 641, col. 1 “pure-minded (°ma-tā, f.), Hariv.; m. N. of Vishṇu”

परमात्मा paramātmā

The supreme Self, beyond cause and effect.

Shankara: He is the highest and he is the Self: other than cause and effect, by nature always pure, awake and free. (p. 46)

Dictionary: paramātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 588, col. 2 “the Supreme Spirit”

मुक्तानां परमा गतिः muktānāṃ paramā gatiḥ

The highest goal of the freed. Those who reach him do not come back to birth.

Shankara: He is the highest goal of the freed, the deity they go to, because one who reaches him does not return. Shankara quotes the Gita: “having come to me, there is no rebirth”. (p. 46)

Dictionary: gati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 347, col. 3 “refuge, resource”

अव्ययः avyayaḥ

The imperishable. He has no decay and no change.

Shankara: There is no loss, destruction or change in him; the Upanishad calls him “ageless, deathless, imperishable”. (p. 46)

Dictionary: avyaya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 111, col. 3 “not liable to change, imperishable, undecaying”

पुरुषः puruṣaḥ

The Person who dwells in the body, the “city” of nine gates.

Shankara: He lies (śete) in the city (pura), the body; the Mahabharata calls the body a holy city of nine gates. Shankara gives other derivations too: he existed before all (pūrva), he grants many fruits, he fills all (pūraṇa). (p. 46)

Dictionary: puruṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 637, col. 1 “the Supreme Being or Soul of the universe”

साक्षी sākṣī

The witness. He sees everything directly, by his own knowing.

Shankara: He sees all directly, without anything between, by his own nature as knowing. Shankara cites Panini for the form sākṣin. (pp. 46–47)

Dictionary: sākṣin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1198, col. 1 “seeing with the eyes, observing, witnessing; an eye-witness”

क्षेत्रज्ञः kṣetrajñaḥ

The knower of the field. The field is the body.

Shankara: The field (kṣetra) is the body, and he knows it. Shankara quotes the Gita, “know me also as the knower of the field”, and the Brahma Purana. (p. 47)

Dictionary: kṣetrajña, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 332, col. 2 “‘knowing the body,’ i. e. the soul, the conscious principle in the corporeal frame”

अक्षरः akṣaraḥ

The imperishable one.

Shankara: He does not perish (na kṣarati), so the supreme Self is akṣara. The word “eva” in the verse shows that the knower of the field and the imperishable are in truth one; the word “ca” allows a difference only in everyday speech. (p. 47)

Dictionary: akṣara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 3, col. 2 “imperishable; unalterable”

योगः yogaḥ

Yoga itself, the one reached by joining the self with the supreme.

Shankara: Yoga is holding back the senses with the mind and knowing the oneness of the self and the supreme Self. Because he is reached by it, he is called Yoga. (p. 47)

Dictionary: yoga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 856, col. 3 “application or concentration of the thoughts, abstract contemplation, meditation”

योगविदां नेता yogavidāṃ netā

The guide of those who know yoga.

Shankara: He leads those who know yoga and bears their welfare, as the Gita says: “I carry the welfare of those who are always devoted”. (pp. 47–48)

Dictionary: yoga-vid, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 857, col. 2 “conversant with the Yoga”; netṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 568, col. 3 “leader, guide, conductor”

प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः pradhānapuruṣeśvaraḥ

Lord of nature and of the soul.

Shankara: Pradhāna is nature (prakṛti, māyā) and puruṣa is the individual soul; he is the lord of both. (p. 48)

Dictionary: pradhāna-puruṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 681, col. 1 “‘the supreme soul,’ N. of Śiva”

नारसिंहवपुः nārasiṃhavapuḥ

He whose body is part man and part lion.

Shankara: His body shows the limbs of a man and of a lion. (p. 48)

Dictionary: nārasiṃha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 537, col. 2 “relating or belonging to the man-lion (Vishṇu in his 4th Avatāra)”

श्रीमान् śrīmān

He on whose chest Shri (Lakshmi) always lives.

Shankara: Shri always dwells on his chest. (p. 48)

Dictionary: śrī-mat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1100, col. 2 “beautiful, charming, lovely, pleasant, splendid, glorious”

केशवः keśavaḥ

Keshava, he of beautiful hair; also the slayer of the demon Keshi.

Shankara: His hair (keśa) is beautiful. Or ka, a and īśa (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) are under his control. Or he killed Keshi; Shankara quotes the Vishnu Purana, where Narada names Krishna Keshava for this. (p. 48)

Dictionary: keśava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 310, col. 3 “having long or much or handsome hair, AV. viii, 6, 23; ŚBr.; KātyŚr.; (as), m., N. of Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

पुरुषोत्तमः puruṣottamaḥ

The highest of persons.

Shankara: He is the highest of persons. Shankara explains the grammar of the compound and quotes the Gita: “since I am beyond the perishable and higher than the imperishable, I am known as Purushottama”. (p. 48)

Dictionary: puruṣottama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 637, col. 3 “the highest being, Supreme Spirit, N. of Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

सर्वः sarvaḥ

The All. He is the source and the end of all that is and is not.

Shankara: He is the origin and the end of all, existent and non-existent, and he always knows all; Shankara quotes Vyasa for this. (p. 49)

Dictionary: sarva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1184, col. 3 “whole, entire, all, every”

शर्वः śarvaḥ

He who destroys all beings at the end of time.

Shankara: At the time of dissolution he destroys all creatures (from śṛ, “to crush”). (p. 49)

Dictionary: śarva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1057, col. 1 “of Vishṇu, MW.”

शिवः śivaḥ

The pure and auspicious one.

Shankara: He is pure because he is free from the three qualities. Since scripture says “he is Brahma, he is Shiva”, it is Hari who is praised by names such as Shiva. (p. 49)

Dictionary: śiva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1074, col. 1 “auspicious, propitious, gracious, favourable, benign, kind, benevolent, friendly, dear”

स्थाणुः sthāṇuḥ

The firm one, who does not move.

Shankara: He is called sthāṇu because he is firm. (p. 49)

Dictionary: sthāṇu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1262, col. 3 “standing firmly, stationary, firm, fixed, immovable”

भूतादिः bhūtādiḥ

The first cause of all beings.

Shankara: He is the first cause of beings. (p. 49)

Dictionary: bhūtādi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 762, col. 2 “m. ‘original or originator of all beings,’ N. of Mahā-purusha or the Supreme Spirit”

निधिरव्ययः nidhiravyayaḥ

The treasure that never wastes away. At the end of time all things are laid up in him.

Shankara: At dissolution all is laid down (nidhīyate) in him, so he is the store (nidhi); “avyaya” qualifies it: a store that does not perish. The two words are one name. (p. 49)

Dictionary: nidhi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 548, col. 3 “a store, hoard, treasure”; avyaya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 111, col. 3 “not liable to change, imperishable, undecaying”

संभवः saṃbhavaḥ

He who takes birth by his own will.

Shankara: His birth is good and is by his own will, as the Gita says: “to establish dharma I am born in age after age”. (p. 49)

Dictionary: sam-bhava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1179, col. 1 “birth, production, origin, source”

भावनः bhāvanaḥ

He who gives all beings the fruits of their actions.

Shankara: He brings about (bhāvayati) the fruits for all who enjoy them; that he gives all fruits is shown in the Brahma Sutras (“phalam ata upapatteḥ”). (p. 49)

Dictionary: bhāvana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 755, col. 1 “m. a creator, producer”

भर्ता bhartā

The upholder. He supports the world as its ground.

Shankara: He bears the world as its ground (adhiṣṭhāna). (pp. 49–50)

Dictionary: bhartṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 748, col. 1 “a preserver, protector, maintainer, chief, lord, master”

प्रभवः prabhavaḥ

The source from which the great elements come.

Shankara: The great elements are born from him; or his birth is exalted. (p. 50)

Dictionary: pra-bhava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 684, col. 2 “m. production, source, origin, cause of existence”

प्रभुः prabhuḥ

The mighty Lord, able in every act.

Shankara: He has the highest power in every action. (p. 50)

Dictionary: prabhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 684, col. 3 “a master, lord, king”

ईश्वरः īśvaraḥ

The Lord, whose lordship depends on nothing.

Shankara: His lordship has no condition; the Upanishad says “he is the lord of all”. (p. 50)

Dictionary: īśvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 171, col. 1 “God; the Supreme Being”

स्वयंभूः svayaṃbhūḥ

The self-existent. He comes from no one.

Shankara: He exists by himself; Manu says “he himself appeared”. Or he is above all and exists of himself. Or he is free, depending on no other. (p. 50)

Dictionary: svayam-bhū, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1278, col. 3 “self-existing, independent”

शंभुः śaṃbhuḥ

He who brings happiness to his devotees.

Shankara: He brings happiness (śam) to his devotees. (p. 50)

Dictionary: śam-bhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1055, col. 1 “being or existing for happiness or welfare, granting or causing happiness, beneficent, benevolent”

आदित्यः ādityaḥ

The golden Person in the sun.

Shankara: He is the golden Person within the disc of the sun. Or he is Vishnu among the twelve Adityas (“of the Adityas I am Vishnu”). Or as the one sun looks like many in many pots of water, the one Self looks like many in many bodies. (pp. 50–51)

Dictionary: āditya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 137, col. 2 “N. of Vishṇu in his Vāmana or dwarf avatāra (as son of Kaśyapa and Aditi)”

पुष्कराक्षः puṣkarākṣaḥ

Lotus-eyed.

Shankara: His eyes are like lotuses. (p. 51)

Dictionary: puṣkarākṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 638, col. 3 “l°-eyed, MBh.; m. N. of Vishṇu”

महास्वनः mahāsvanaḥ

He of the great sound, the Veda.

Shankara: His great and honoured sound is the Veda: “the Rig Veda and the Yajur Veda are the breath of this great being”. (p. 51)

Dictionary: mahā-svana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 802, col. 1 “making a loud noise, loud-sounding”

अनादिनिधनः anādinidhanaḥ

Without beginning and without end.

Shankara: He has neither birth (ādi) nor death (nidhana). (p. 51)

Dictionary: an-ādi-nidhana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 28, col. 1 “having neither beginning nor end, eternal”

धाता dhātā

The supporter, who holds up the world.

Shankara: He bears the world in forms such as Ananta (the serpent). (p. 51)

Dictionary: dhātṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 514, col. 1 “later chiefly the creator and maintainer of the world”

विधाता vidhātā

The ordainer of actions and their fruits.

Shankara: He is the maker of actions and their fruits. Or he upholds in a special way even those who uphold, such as Ananta. (p. 51)

Dictionary: vi-dhātṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 967, col. 3 “a distributer, disposer, arranger, accomplisher, maker, author, creator”

धातुरुत्तमः dhāturuttamaḥ

The highest ground of all, higher than all the elements.

Shankara: One name with a qualifier: the highest ground. Or higher than Brahma the creator; or two names. He is consciousness, higher than all elements such as earth, and is the ground (dhātu) that holds cause and effect. (p. 51)

Dictionary: dhātu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 513, col. 3 “element, primitive matter”; ut-tama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 177, col. 3 “uppermost, highest, chief; most elevated, principal; best, excellent”

अप्रमेयः aprameyaḥ

Beyond all measure. No means of knowing can grasp him.

Shankara: He has no sound or other quality, so the senses cannot perceive him; there is no sign to infer him and nothing like him. Scripture shows him only by removing what is wrongly placed on him, because he is the witness of all knowing. (p. 52)

Dictionary: a-prameya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 58, col. 3 “immeasurable, unlimited, unfathomable”

हृषीकेशः hṛṣīkeśaḥ

Lord of the senses.

Shankara: He is the lord of the senses (hṛṣīka), or the senses are under his control. Or, as sun and moon, his rays (keśa) give joy to the world. (pp. 52–53)

Dictionary: hṛṣīka, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1303, col. 2 “an organ of sense”; hṛṣīkeśa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1303, col. 2

पद्मनाभः padmanābhaḥ

He from whose navel the lotus grows.

Shankara: The lotus, the cause of the whole world, is in his navel. (p. 53)

Dictionary: padma-nābha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 584, col. 3 “m. ‘l°-naveled,’ N. of Vishṇu (from whose navel sprang the lotus which contained Brahmā, the future creator)”

अमरप्रभुः amaraprabhuḥ

Lord of the immortals, the gods.

Shankara: He is the lord of the immortals. (p. 53)

Dictionary: amara-prabhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 80, col. 3 “one of the thousand names of Vishṇu”

विश्वकर्मा viśvakarmā

Maker of all. The whole world is his work.

Shankara: All action is his, or the world is his work; or he has the power to make wonderful things; or he is like the divine craftsman. (p. 53)

Dictionary: viśva-karman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 994, col. 2 “the creator of all things and architect of the universe”

मनुः manuḥ

The thinker; also the sacred word, the mantra.

Shankara: He thinks (manana): “there is no other thinker”. Or he is the mantra, or Prajapati. (p. 53)

Dictionary: manu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 784, col. 2 “thinking, wise, intelligent”; manu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 784, col. 2 “a sacred text, prayer, incantation, spell (= mantra)”

त्वष्टा tvaṣṭā

He who makes all beings small at the end of time.

Shankara: At dissolution he makes the bodies of all beings thin (from tvakṣ, “to make thin”). (p. 53)

Dictionary: tvaṣṭṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 464, col. 1 “‘creator of living beings,’ the heavenly builder”

स्थविष्ठः sthaviṣṭhaḥ

The most vast.

Shankara: He is the most gross, the vastest. (p. 53)

Dictionary: sthaviṣṭha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1265, col. 3 “very broad or thick or solid or strong”

स्थविरो ध्रुवः sthaviro dhruvaḥ

The ancient one who is firm and does not change.

Shankara: He is ancient (sthavira), and firm (dhruva). The two words are one name with a qualifier. (p. 53)

Dictionary: sthavira, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1265, col. 2 “old, ancient, venerable”; dhruva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 521, col. 2 “fixed, firm, immovable, unchangeable, constant, lasting, permanent, eternal”

अग्राह्यः agrāhyaḥ

He who cannot be grasped by the organs of action or by the mind.

Shankara: The organs of action cannot grasp him: “from which words turn back, with the mind, not reaching it”. (p. 53)

Dictionary: a-grāhya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 6, col. 3 “not to be conceived or perceived or obtained or admitted or trusted”

शाश्वतः śāśvataḥ

The eternal, who exists at all times.

Shankara: He exists at all times; scripture calls him “eternal, auspicious, unfailing”. (pp. 53–54)

Dictionary: śāśvata, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1068, col. 3 “eternal, constant, perpetual”

कृष्णः kṛṣṇaḥ

Krishna: being and bliss; also the dark-coloured one.

Shankara: He is being, consciousness and bliss: Vyasa explains kṛṣi as “being” and ṇa as “bliss”. Or he is dark in colour, as the Mahabharata says. (p. 54)

Dictionary: kṛṣṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 306, col. 2 “N. of a celebrated Avatār of the god Vishṇu, or sometimes identified with Vishṇu himself”

लोहिताक्षः lohitākṣaḥ

Red-eyed.

Shankara: His eyes are red; scripture says “that red-eyed bull”. (p. 54)

Dictionary: lohitākṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 909, col. 2 “r°-eyed, ŚBr.; ŚvetUp. &c.; m. a kind of snake, Suśr.; the Indian cuckoo, L.; N. of Vishṇu”

प्रतर्दनः pratardanaḥ

He who destroys beings at the end of time.

Shankara: At dissolution he strikes and destroys beings. (p. 54)

Dictionary: pra-tardana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 674, col. 2 “piercing, destroying (said of Vishṇu)”

प्रभूतः prabhūtaḥ

The great one, rich in knowledge, lordship and every virtue.

Shankara: He is endowed with knowledge, lordship and other qualities. (p. 54)

Dictionary: pra-bhūta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 684, col. 3 “abundant, much, numerous, considerable, high, great”

त्रिककुब्धाम trikakubdhāma

The ground of the three regions: above, below and between.

Shankara: He is the abode (dhāma) of the three regions (kakubh): above, below and middle. One name. (p. 54)

Dictionary: kakubh, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 241, col. 2 “space, region or quarter of the heavens”

पवित्रम् pavitram

The pure, who makes others pure.

Shankara: That by which one is purified, or one who purifies, a seer or a deity, is pavitra; Shankara cites Panini for the suffix. (p. 54)

Dictionary: pavitra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 611, col. 1 “purifying, averting evil, pure, holy, sacred, sinless, beneficent”

मङ्गलं परम् maṅgalaṃ param

The highest blessing.

Shankara: He removes what is not auspicious and spreads what is good, by mere remembrance (Vishnu Purana); and he is the highest, above all beings. The two words are one name. (p. 54)

Dictionary: maṅgala, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 772, col. 3 “happiness, felicity, welfare, bliss”

ईशानः īśānaḥ

The ruler. He governs all beings.

Shankara: He is Ishana because he rules over all beings. (p. 55)

Dictionary: īśāna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 171, col. 1 “a ruler, master”

प्राणदः prāṇadaḥ

Giver of life-breath. He sets the breath of beings moving.

Shankara: He gives the life-breaths and makes them move: the Upanishad asks “who could breathe” without him. Shankara also gives other readings: as Time he cuts the breaths off, or he purifies them, or he takes them away. (p. 55)

Dictionary: prāṇa-da, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 705, col. 2 “life-giving, saving or preserving life”

प्राणः prāṇaḥ

The life-breath. He is the life in all that lives.

Shankara: He is the one who breathes: the knower of the field, or the supreme Self, as scripture says “the breath of the breath”; or the chief life-breath. (p. 55)

Dictionary: prāṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 705, col. 1 “the breath of life, breath, respiration, spirit, vitality”

ज्येष्ठः jyeṣṭhaḥ

The eldest. He was before all things.

Shankara: He is the oldest of all, as the grammar of the word shows. Or he is the eldest because he is the cause of all. (p. 55)

Dictionary: jyeṣṭha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 426, col. 3 “eldest”

श्रेष्ठः śreṣṭhaḥ

The best, the most worthy of praise.

Shankara: He is the most praiseworthy. Scripture calls the chief breath “eldest and best”; or he is best because he excels all. (p. 55)

Dictionary: śreṣṭha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1102, col. 3 “most excellent, best, first, chief”

प्रजापतिः prajāpatiḥ

Lord of all creatures.

Shankara: As the Lord, he is the master of all creatures. (p. 55)

Dictionary: prajā-pati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 658, col. 2 “‘lord of creatures’”

हिरण्यगर्भः hiraṇyagarbhaḥ

The golden womb: Brahma the creator, who is one with him.

Shankara: He is Brahma (Virinchi), who lives inside the golden egg, and Vishnu is his self. Scripture says “Hiranyagarbha arose in the beginning”. (p. 55)

Dictionary: hiraṇya-garbha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1299, col. 3 “N. of Brahmā (so called as born from a golden egg ...)”

भूगर्भः bhūgarbhaḥ

He who holds the earth within him.

Shankara: The earth (bhū) is in his womb (garbha). (p. 55)

Dictionary: bhū, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 761, col. 1 “the earth”; garbha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 349, col. 2 “the womb”

माधवः mādhavaḥ

Husband of Lakshmi; also the one known by silence, meditation and yoga.

Shankara: He is the husband (dhava) of Ma, that is, Shri. Or he is known through the “madhu” knowledge of the Upanishad. Or, as Vyasa says, “know Madhava by silence, meditation and yoga”. (pp. 55–56)

Dictionary: mādhava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 808, col. 2 “a son or descendant of Madhu, a man of the race of Yadu (sg. esp. N. of Kṛishṇa-Vishṇu ...)”

मधुसूदनः madhusūdanaḥ

Slayer of the demon Madhu.

Shankara: He killed the asura named Madhu. Shankara quotes the Mahabharata: the Supreme Person killed the great asura Madhu, born from the wax of the ear, and so gods, men and sages call him Madhusudana. (p. 56)

Dictionary: madhu-sūdana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 780, col. 3 “‘destroyer of the demon Madhu,’ N. of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa”

ईश्वरः īśvaraḥ

The Lord, who has all power.

Shankara: He is Ishvara because he has every power. (p. 56)

Dictionary: īśvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 171, col. 1 “master, lord, prince, king”

विक्रमी vikramī

The valiant one.

Shankara: Vikrama means valour; he has it, so he is vikramī. (p. 56)

Dictionary: vi-kramin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 955, col. 3 “striding (said of Vishṇu)”

धन्वी dhanvī

The bowman.

Shankara: He has a bow. In the Gita he says “among wielders of weapons I am Rama”. (p. 56)

Dictionary: dhanvin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 509, col. 3 “armed with a bow, a b°-man”

मेधावी medhāvī

The wise one, who holds all learning.

Shankara: Medha is the power to hold many books in the mind; he has it. (p. 56)

Dictionary: medhā-vat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 833, col. 1 “possessing wisdom, intelligent, wise”

विक्रमः vikramaḥ

He who strode across the universe.

Shankara: He strode across the universe, so he is vikrama. Or he moves (krama) with the bird (vi), Garuda. (p. 56)

Dictionary: vi-krama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 955, col. 2 “a step, stride, pace”

क्रमः kramaḥ

The one who moves and spreads.

Shankara: He is krama because he moves or is the cause of moving. Manu says “Vishnu in the step”. (pp. 56–57)

Dictionary: krama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 319, col. 3 “a step”

अनुत्तमः anuttamaḥ

The one above whom there is no one.

Shankara: There is no one higher than he. Scripture says “there is nothing higher than him”, and the Gita says “there is none equal to you, how could there be one greater”. (p. 57)

Dictionary: an-uttama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 33, col. 1 “unsurpassed, incomparably the best or chief, excellent”

दुराधर्षः durādharṣaḥ

He whom no one can overpower.

Shankara: Daityas and others cannot overcome him. (p. 57)

Dictionary: dur-ādharṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 484, col. 3 “d° to be attacked or approached, dangerous, invincible, irresistible”

कृतज्ञः kṛtajñaḥ

He who knows what beings have done; he who is grateful.

Shankara: He knows the good and bad deeds that beings have done. Or he gives freedom to one who offers him even a little, a leaf or a flower. (p. 57)

Dictionary: kṛta-jña, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 302, col. 1 “knowing what is right ...; acknowledging past services or benefits, mindful of former aid or favours, grateful”

कृतिः kṛtiḥ

Action itself.

Shankara: Kṛti is a person's effort or action; since he is the self of all, he is its ground. Or he is known through action. (p. 57)

Dictionary: kṛti, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 303, col. 2 “action, activity”

आत्मवान् ātmavān

He who rests in his own greatness.

Shankara: He stands in his own greatness. Scripture asks “on what does he rest?” and answers “on his own greatness”. (p. 57)

Dictionary: ātma-vat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 135, col. 3 “self-possessed, composed, prudent”

सुरेशः sureśaḥ

Lord of the gods.

Shankara: He is the lord of the suras, the gods. Or the lord of those who give good things. (p. 57)

Dictionary: sureśa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1235, col. 2 “a lord of the gods”

शरणम् śaraṇam

The refuge.

Shankara: He takes away the pain of those in distress. (p. 57)

Dictionary: śaraṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1057, col. 1 “refuge, protection”

शर्म śarma

Bliss.

Shankara: He is the highest bliss. (p. 57)

Dictionary: śarman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1058, col. 2 “shelter, protection, refuge, safety ...; joy, bliss, comfort, delight, happiness”

विश्वरेताः viśvaretāḥ

Seed of the universe.

Shankara: He is the cause of the universe. (p. 57)

Dictionary: viśva-retas, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 993, col. 3 “‘seed of all things,’ N. of Brahmā, L.; of Vishṇu”

प्रजाभवः prajābhavaḥ

Source of all creatures.

Shankara: All creatures come into being from him. (p. 57)

Dictionary: prajā, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 658, col. 2 “a creature, animal, man, mankind”; bhava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 748, col. 3 “coming into existence, birth, production, origin”

अहः ahaḥ

The day: he is light.

Shankara: He is the day because he is light. (p. 57)

Dictionary: ahar, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 124, col. 3 “a day”

संवत्सरः saṃvatsaraḥ

The year: he is Time.

Shankara: Vishnu, standing as Time, is called the year. (pp. 57–58)

Dictionary: sam-vatsara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1114, col. 1 “a full year, a year”

व्यालः vyālaḥ

He who cannot be grasped, like a serpent.

Shankara: Like a vyāla (a serpent), he cannot be seized. (p. 58)

Dictionary: vyāla, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1038, col. 2 “a beast of prey ...; a snake”

प्रत्ययः pratyayaḥ

Awareness itself.

Shankara: Pratyaya is knowing, awareness; scripture says “Brahman is awareness” (prajñānam brahma). (p. 58)

Dictionary: pratyaya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 673, col. 3 “consciousness, understanding, intelligence, intellect”

सर्वदर्शनः sarvadarśanaḥ

He who sees everything; all eyes are his.

Shankara: All eyes, which are made for seeing, are his, because he is the self of all. Scripture says “with eyes everywhere”. (p. 58)

Dictionary: sarva-darśana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1185, col. 3 “all-viewing”

अजः ajaḥ

The unborn.

Shankara: He is not born. Scripture says “he was not born and will not be born”; in the Mahabharata he says “I was never born, am not born and will not be born; I am the knower of the field in all beings, so I am called Aja”. (p. 58)

Dictionary: a-ja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 9, col. 3 “not born, existing from all eternity”

सर्वेश्वरः sarveśvaraḥ

Lord of all, lord even of the lords.

Shankara: He is the lord of all lords; scripture says “he is the lord of all”. (p. 58)

Dictionary: sarveśvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1188, col. 3 “the lord of all”

सिद्धः siddhaḥ

The ever-perfect.

Shankara: He is siddha because his nature is always complete; nothing remains for him to gain. (p. 58)

Dictionary: siddha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1215, col. 1 “perfected, become perfect, beatified”

सिद्धिः siddhiḥ

The highest attainment.

Shankara: He is the awareness in all things, or the goal beyond which there is nothing higher. Heaven and other rewards pass away and so are not the true fruit. (p. 58)

Dictionary: siddhi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1216, col. 2 “accomplishment, performance, fulfilment, complete attainment (of any object), success”

सर्वादिः sarvādiḥ

The beginning of all.

Shankara: He is the first cause of all beings. (p. 58)

Dictionary: sarvādi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1188, col. 2 “the beginning or first of all things”

अच्युतः acyutaḥ

The one who never falls from what he is.

Shankara: By the power of his own nature he has not fallen, does not fall and will not fall. Scripture calls him “eternal, auspicious, unfallen”; and he says “because I have never fallen before, I am Achyuta”. With this name the first hundred names end. (pp. 58–59)

Dictionary: a-cyuta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 9, col. 2 “not fallen; firm, solid; imperishable, permanent ...; N. of Vishṇu”

वृषाकपिः vṛṣākapiḥ

He who is dharma and the Boar.

Shankara: Vṛṣa is dharma, because it pours out all wishes; kapi is the Boar, who raised the earth from the water. He is both. The Mahabharata says “Kapi is the Boar, the best; dharma is called vṛṣa; so Kashyapa Prajapati called me Vrishakapi”. (p. 59)

Dictionary: vṛṣā-kapi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1013, col. 1 “of Vishṇu”

अमेयात्मा ameyātmā

He whose nature cannot be measured.

Shankara: No one can measure his self and say “he is this much”. (p. 59)

Dictionary: ameyātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 83, col. 1 “possessing immense powers of mind, magnanimous, MBh.; Ragh. x, 18; (ā), m., N. of Vishṇu”

सर्वयोगविनिःसृतः sarvayogaviniḥsṛtaḥ

Free from every bond.

Shankara: He has gone out of every connection; scripture says “this Person is unattached”. Or he stands apart from the many kinds of yoga taught in the various scriptures. (p. 59)

Dictionary: vi-niḥsṛta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 969, col. 3 “(often vi-nisṛita) gone forth or out, issued forth, sprung from”

वसुः vasuḥ

He in whom all beings dwell, and who dwells in them.

Shankara: All beings dwell in him, and he dwells in them. Or he is Vasu as the Gita says: “among the Vasus I am Pavaka (fire)”. (p. 59)

Dictionary: vasu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 930, col. 3 “excellent, good, beneficent ...; N. of the gods (as the ‘good or bright ones,’ ...)”

वसुमनाः vasumanāḥ

He whose mind is noble.

Shankara: Vasu, “wealth”, here means “excellent”. His mind is excellent, because passion, hatred, pride and other stains do not cloud it. (pp. 59–60)

Dictionary: vasu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 930, col. 3 “excellent, good, beneficent”; manas, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 783, col. 3 “mind (in its widest sense as applied to all the mental powers)”

सत्यः satyaḥ

The truth.

Shankara: He is the supreme Self, who is not false: “Brahman is truth, knowledge, the infinite”. Or he is both the formed and the formless; or he is breath (sat), food (ti) and the sun (yam); or he is good to the good. (p. 60)

Dictionary: satya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1135, col. 3 “true, real, actual, genuine, sincere, honest, truthful”

समात्मा samātmā

He whose mind is even towards all.

Shankara: His mind is even, untouched by liking and hatred. Or he is the one Self, the same in all beings; scripture says “knowing the Self as the same”. (p. 60)

Dictionary: sama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1152, col. 1 “same, equal, similar ...; always the same, constant, unchanged, fair, impartial towards”; ātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 135, col. 1 “the soul, principle of life and sensation”

असंमितः asaṃmitaḥ

He who cannot be measured by anything.

Shankara: He is not limited or measured by any of the things that exist. (p. 60)

Dictionary: a-sammita, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 119, col. 3 “not measured, immeasurable”

समः samaḥ

The ever-same.

Shankara: At all times he is free from every change. Or he is “with Ma”, that is with Lakshmi. (p. 60)

Dictionary: sama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1152, col. 1 “always the same, constant, unchanged”

अमोघः amoghaḥ

He who never fails.

Shankara: When he is worshipped, praised or remembered, he gives the whole fruit and makes nothing vain. Or his will is always true: “his wish is true, his will is true”. (p. 60)

Dictionary: a-mogha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 83, col. 1 “unerring, unfailing, not vain, efficacious”

पुण्डरीकाक्षः puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ

The lotus-eyed; he who is seen in the lotus of the heart.

Shankara: He pervades the lotus of the heart and is seen there; scripture speaks of “the lotus in the middle of the city (the body)”. Or his two eyes are shaped like lotuses. (p. 60)

Dictionary: puṇḍarīkākṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 631, col. 3 “‘l°-eyed,’ N. of Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

वृषकर्मा vṛṣakarmā

He whose deeds are dharma.

Shankara: His acts have the mark of dharma. (p. 60)

Dictionary: vṛṣa-karman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1012, col. 2 “acting like a bull (as Vishṇu)”

वृषाकृतिः vṛṣākṛtiḥ

He who takes form for dharma.

Shankara: He takes a body for the sake of dharma, as he says in the Gita: “to set up dharma I come into being age after age”. (p. 60)

Dictionary: vṛṣākṛti, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1012, col. 2 “bull-shaped (applied to Vishṇu)”

रुद्रः rudraḥ

He who makes beings weep at the end of time; he who drives away sorrow.

Shankara: At the time of dissolution he draws beings in and makes them weep. Or he gives speech (ruda), or he drives away sorrow (ruḥ) and its cause. Shankara quotes the Linga Purana for the last sense. (p. 61)

Dictionary: rudra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 883, col. 1 “‘Roarer or Howler,’ N. of the god of tempests and father and ruler of the Rudras and Maruts”

बहुशिराः bahuśirāḥ

The many-headed.

Shankara: He has many heads; the hymn says “the Person has a thousand heads”. (p. 61)

Dictionary: bahu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 724, col. 2 “much, many, frequent, abundant, numerous”; śiras, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1072, col. 2 “the head, skull”

बभ्रुः babhruḥ

He who bears the worlds.

Shankara: He bears (bibharti) the worlds. (p. 61)

Dictionary: babhru, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 721, col. 3 “N. of Kṛishṇa-Vishṇu or of Śiva”

विश्वयोनिः viśvayoniḥ

Source of the universe.

Shankara: He is the cause of the universe. (p. 61)

Dictionary: viśva-yoni, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 993, col. 3 “the source or creator of the universe”

शुचिश्रवाः śuciśravāḥ

He whose names are pure to hear.

Shankara: His names are pure and worth hearing. (p. 61)

Dictionary: śuci-śravas, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1081, col. 2 “‘having bright renown,’ N. of Vishṇu”

अमृतः amṛtaḥ

The deathless.

Shankara: There is no death for him; scripture calls him “ageless and deathless”. (p. 61)

Dictionary: a-mṛta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 82, col. 2 “not dead, MBh.; immortal, RV. &c.; imperishable”

शाश्वतस्थाणुः śāśvatasthāṇuḥ

Eternal and unmoving.

Shankara: He is eternal and he is unmoving: the two words make one name. (p. 61)

Dictionary: śāśvata, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1068, col. 3 “eternal, constant, perpetual”; sthāṇu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1262, col. 3 “standing firmly, stationary, firm, fixed, immovable, motionless”

वरारोहः varārohaḥ

The highest place to rise to, from which no one returns.

Shankara: His lap (āroha) is the best. Or rising to him is the best rise, since those who reach him do not come back: “and he does not return” (Upanishad); “having reached which they do not return” (Gita). (p. 61)

Dictionary: varāroha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 922, col. 3 “m. N. of Vishṇu”

महातपाः mahātapāḥ

He whose tapas, his knowledge, is great.

Shankara: His tapas is knowledge of what is to be created, and it is great; scripture says “whose tapas is made of knowledge”. Or his lordship and power are great. (pp. 61–62)

Dictionary: mahā-tapas, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 796, col. 1 “practising severe penance or great religious austerities, Mn.; MBh.; R.; m. a great ascetic, MW.; N. of Vishṇu”

सर्वगः sarvagaḥ

He who goes everywhere, pervading all as their cause.

Shankara: He goes everywhere, because as the cause he pervades all. (p. 62)

Dictionary: sarva-ga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1185, col. 1 “all-pervading, omnipresent”

सर्वविद्भानुः sarvavidbhānuḥ

He who knows all and shines.

Shankara: He knows all (sarvavit) and he shines (bhānu): “all shines after him as he shines” (Upanishad). The two words make one name. (p. 62)

Dictionary: sarva-vid, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1187, col. 2 “all-knowing, omniscient”; bhānu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 751, col. 1 “appearance, brightness, light or a ray of light, lustre, splendour”

विष्वक्सेनः viṣvaksenaḥ

He before whom the demon armies flee in every direction.

Shankara: At the mere sign of his going to battle, the army of the Daityas runs away in every direction (viṣvak). (p. 62)

Dictionary: viṣvak-sena, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 998, col. 1 “‘whose hosts or powers go everywhere,’ N. of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa”

जनार्दनः janārdanaḥ

He who troubles the wicked; he to whom people pray.

Shankara: He strikes down wicked people and sends them to hell and other places. Or people ask (ardana) him for the goals of life, worldly good and final good. (p. 62)

Dictionary: janārdana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 410, col. 3 “‘exciting or agitating men,’ Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

वेदः vedaḥ

The Veda: he who makes known.

Shankara: He makes things known. In the Gita he says that, out of compassion, he destroys the darkness born of ignorance with the lamp of knowledge. (p. 62)

Dictionary: veda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1015, col. 1 “knowledge, true or sacred knowledge or lore”

वेदवित् vedavit

Knower of the Veda.

Shankara: He knows the meaning of the Veda as it is; in the Gita he says “I am the maker of the Vedanta and the knower of the Veda”. Shankara also quotes the Mahabharata: all Vedas, all sciences and all sacrifices are Krishna. (p. 62)

Dictionary: veda-vid, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1016, col. 1 “knowing the V°, conversant with it”

अव्यङ्गः avyaṅgaḥ

He who lacks nothing.

Shankara: He is full in knowledge and every quality, with nothing missing. Or he is not manifest; the Gita says “he is unmanifest”. (p. 63)

Dictionary: a-vyaṅga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 111, col. 2 “not mutilated, perfect”

वेदाङ्गः vedāṅgaḥ

He whose limbs are the Vedas.

Shankara: The Vedas are his limbs. (p. 63)

Dictionary: vedāṅga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1016, col. 3 “‘a limb (for preserving the body) of the Veda,’ N. of certain works”

वेदवित् vedavit

He who reflects on the Vedas.

Shankara: He considers and reflects on the Vedas. (p. 63)

Dictionary: veda-vid, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1016, col. 1 “N. of Vishṇu”

कविः kaviḥ

The seer who sees beyond.

Shankara: He sees beyond (krāntadarśī) and sees all: “there is no other seer than he” (Upanishad); “the seer, the wise” (mantra). (p. 63)

Dictionary: kavi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 264, col. 2 “gifted with insight, intelligent, knowing, enlightened, wise”

लोकाध्यक्षः lokādhyakṣaḥ

Overseer of the worlds.

Shankara: He oversees all the worlds as their chief witness. (p. 63)

Dictionary: loka, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 906, col. 1 “the wide space or world”; adhy-akṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 23, col. 1 “an inspector, superintendent”

सुराध्यक्षः surādhyakṣaḥ

Overseer of the gods.

Shankara: He is the overseer of the guardians of the worlds and the other gods. (p. 63)

Dictionary: surādhyakṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1235, col. 1 “‘sovereign of the g°,’ N. of Brahmā, Hariv.; of Kṛishṇa”

धर्माध्यक्षः dharmādhyakṣaḥ

Overseer of right and wrong.

Shankara: He sees dharma and adharma directly, to give each its fitting fruit. (p. 63)

Dictionary: dharmādhyakṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 512, col. 2 “‘overseer of justice,’ minister of j°, judge”

कृताकृतः kṛtākṛtaḥ

The made and the unmade.

Shankara: He is made, as the effect, and unmade, as the cause. (p. 63)

Dictionary: kṛtākṛta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 302, col. 3 “done and not done”

चतुरात्मा caturātmā

He of four forms.

Shankara: For creation, preservation and the rest he has four distinct forms. Shankara quotes the Vishnu Purana: Brahma, Daksha and others, Time and all creatures are the forms of Hari for creation; Vishnu, the Manus, Time and all beings for preservation; Rudra, Time, Death and all creatures for dissolution. (p. 64)

Dictionary: catur-ātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 384, col. 2 “representing 4 persons, having 4 faces or shapes”

चतुर्व्यूहः caturvyūhaḥ

He who shows himself in four forms.

Shankara: Vyasa says that Janardana divides himself in four, as Vasudeva and the other forms, and so makes creation and the rest. (p. 64)

Dictionary: catur-vyūha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 385, col. 2 “having 4 kinds of appearance”

चतुर्दंष्ट्रः caturdaṃṣṭraḥ

He of four tusks, as the Man-Lion.

Shankara: He has four tusks, in his Man-Lion form. Or “tusk” means horn, as scripture speaks of “four horns”. (p. 64)

Dictionary: catur-daṃṣṭra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 384, col. 2 “having 4 tusks, AV. xi, 9, 17; MBh.; R. v; m. a beast of prey, Gal.; Vishṇu”

चतुर्भुजः caturbhujaḥ

He of four arms.

Shankara: He has four arms. (p. 64)

Dictionary: catur-bhuja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 384, col. 3 “four-armed”

भ्राजिष्णुः bhrājiṣṇuḥ

He who shines.

Shankara: He is pure light alone. (p. 65)

Dictionary: bhrājiṣṇu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 770, col. 2 “shining, splendid, radiant”

भोजनम् bhojanam

That which is enjoyed: nature.

Shankara: Nature (prakṛti), maya, is called bhojana because it is what is enjoyed. (p. 65)

Dictionary: bhojana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 768, col. 1 “a meal, food ...; anything enjoyed or used”

भोक्ता bhoktā

The enjoyer.

Shankara: As the Person (puruṣa) he enjoys nature. (p. 65)

Dictionary: bhoktṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 760, col. 1 “one who enjoys or eats, enjoyer, eater, experiencer”

सहिष्णुः sahiṣṇuḥ

He who overcomes the demons.

Shankara: He bears down and overcomes Hiranyaksha and the other demons. (p. 65)

Dictionary: sahiṣṇu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1193, col. 2 “patient, forbearing; bearing, enduring”

जगदादिजः jagadādijaḥ

He who is born at the beginning of the world.

Shankara: As Hiranyagarbha he himself comes into being at the beginning of the world. (p. 65)

Dictionary: jagad-ādi-ja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 408, col. 2 “‘first-born of the world,’ Śiva”

अनघः anaghaḥ

The sinless.

Shankara: There is no sin in him; scripture says “free from evil”. (p. 65)

Dictionary: an-agha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 24, col. 2 “sinless; faultless”

विजयः vijayaḥ

Victory: he excels the world in every quality.

Shankara: He surpasses the universe in knowledge, dispassion, lordship and other qualities. (p. 65)

Dictionary: vi-jaya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 960, col. 1 “contest for victory, victory, conquest, triumph, superiority”

जेता jetā

The victor over all beings.

Shankara: By his very nature he excels all beings. (p. 65)

Dictionary: jetṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 424, col. 3 “victorious, triumphant, gaining, (m.) conqueror”

विश्वयोनिः viśvayoniḥ

The universe and its source.

Shankara: The universe has its source in him; or he is both the universe and its source. (p. 65)

Dictionary: viśva-yoni, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 993, col. 3 “the source or creator of the universe”

पुनर्वसुः punarvasuḥ

He who dwells again and again in bodies.

Shankara: As the knower of the field he dwells in bodies again and again. (p. 65)

Dictionary: punar-vasu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 634, col. 1 “N. of Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

उपेन्द्रः upendraḥ

Indra's younger brother; he who is above Indra.

Shankara: He came to Indra as his younger brother; or he is above (upari) Indra. Shankara quotes the Harivamsha: the gods on earth will sing of Krishna as Upendra. (p. 65)

Dictionary: upendra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 215, col. 3 “‘younger brother of Indra,’ N. of Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

वामनः vāmanaḥ

The Dwarf.

Shankara: In the form of a dwarf he begged from Bali. Or he is the one to be worshipped: “all the gods worship the dwarf seated in the middle” (Upanishad). (p. 65)

Dictionary: vāmana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 941, col. 3 “‘the Dwarf,’ N. of Vishṇu in his fifth Avatāra or descent”

प्रांशुः prāṃśuḥ

The tall one, who grew to cross the three worlds.

Shankara: He became tall as he strode across the three worlds. Shankara quotes the Harivamsha: when the water fell on his hand, the dwarf was a dwarf no more and showed his form made of all the gods. (p. 66)

Dictionary: prāṃśu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 702, col. 3 “high, tall, long”

अमोघः amoghaḥ

He whose acts are never in vain.

Shankara: Nothing he does is in vain. (p. 66)

Dictionary: a-mogha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 83, col. 1 “unerring, unfailing, not vain, efficacious”

शुचिः śuciḥ

The pure, who makes pure.

Shankara: He purifies those who remember, praise and worship him; the mantra says “untouched, great, pure”. (p. 66)

Dictionary: śuci, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1081, col. 1 “clear, clean, pure (lit. and fig.), holy, unsullied”

ऊर्जितः ūrjitaḥ

The mighty.

Shankara: He has the highest strength. (p. 66)

Dictionary: ūrjita, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 221, col. 3 “endowed with strength or power, strong, mighty, powerful”

अतीन्द्रः atīndraḥ

He who is beyond Indra.

Shankara: He stands beyond Indra in knowledge, lordship and the rest, which are his by nature. (p. 66)

Dictionary: ati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 12, col. 2 “As a prefix ... expresses beyond, over”; indra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 166, col. 2 “the god of the atmosphere and sky”

संग्रहः saṃgrahaḥ

He who draws all things in.

Shankara: At dissolution he draws all things back into himself. (p. 66)

Dictionary: saṃ-graha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1129, col. 2 “drawing together”

सर्गः sargaḥ

Creation.

Shankara: He is the creation, as what is made; or he is its cause. (p. 66)

Dictionary: sarga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1184, col. 1 “emission or creation of matter, primary creation”

धृतात्मा dhṛtātmā

He who holds his self steady.

Shankara: He holds his self in one form, free from birth and the rest. (p. 66)

Dictionary: dhṛtātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 519, col. 2 “firm-minded, steady, calm”

नियमः niyamaḥ

He who appoints all to their places.

Shankara: He appoints creatures to their own duties. (p. 66)

Dictionary: ni-yama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 552, col. 1 “restraining, checking, holding back, preventing, controlling”

यमः yamaḥ

The inner controller.

Shankara: He controls all from within. (p. 66)

Dictionary: yama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 846, col. 1 “the act of checking or curbing, suppression, restraint”

वेद्यः vedyaḥ

He who is to be known.

Shankara: Those who seek the highest good should know him. (p. 67)

Dictionary: vedya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1017, col. 2 “to be learnt or known or understood, that which is learnt”

वैद्यः vaidyaḥ

He who knows all learning.

Shankara: He knows all the branches of learning. (p. 67)

Dictionary: vaidya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1022, col. 3 “versed in science, learned”

सदायोगी sadāyogī

He who is always in yoga.

Shankara: His true nature is always manifest. (p. 67)

Dictionary: sadā, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1139, col. 2 “always, ever, every time, continually, perpetually”; yogin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 857, col. 3 “a follower of the Yoga system, a Yogin ... or contemplative saint, devotee, ascetic”

वीरहा vīrahā

Slayer of the mighty demons.

Shankara: To protect dharma he kills the heroes (vīra) among the asuras. (p. 67)

Dictionary: vīra-han, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1006, col. 2 “slaying men or enemies, TS.; Br.; MBh.; R.; ... N. of Vishṇu”

माधवः mādhavaḥ

Lord of knowledge.

Shankara: He is the lord (dhava) of Ma, knowledge. Shankara quotes the Harivamsha: “Ma” is called the knowledge of Hari; you are its lord, so you are called Madhava. (p. 67)

Dictionary: mādhava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 808, col. 2 “a son or descendant of Madhu ... (sg. esp. N. of Kṛishṇa-Vishṇu ...)”

मधुः madhuḥ

Honey: he gives the highest joy.

Shankara: As honey gives the greatest delight, so does he. (p. 67)

Dictionary: madhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 779, col. 2 “honey”

अतीन्द्रियः atīndriyaḥ

Beyond the senses.

Shankara: He has no sound or other sense-qualities, so the senses cannot reach him; scripture calls him “without sound, without touch”. (p. 67)

Dictionary: atīndriya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 16, col. 2 “beyond the (cognizance of the) senses”

महामायः mahāmāyaḥ

Master of the great power of maya.

Shankara: He casts maya even over those who wield maya; in the Gita he says “my maya is hard to cross”. (p. 67)

Dictionary: mahā-māya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 799, col. 1 “m. N. of Vishṇu”

महोत्साहः mahotsāhaḥ

He of great energy.

Shankara: He is always ready to create, keep and dissolve the world. (p. 67)

Dictionary: mahotsāha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 802, col. 2 “having gr° power or strength or energy”

महाबलः mahābalaḥ

The mightiest.

Shankara: He is stronger than the strong. (p. 67)

Dictionary: mahā-bala, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 798, col. 1 “exceedingly strong, very powerful or mighty”

महाबुद्धिः mahābuddhiḥ

He of the greatest wisdom.

Shankara: He is wiser than the wise. (p. 67)

Dictionary: mahā-buddhi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 798, col. 1 “having gr° understanding, extremely clever”

महावीर्यः mahāvīryaḥ

He of great power.

Shankara: His power is ignorance (avidyā), the cause of the great principle (mahat), and it is great. (p. 67)

Dictionary: mahā-vīrya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 800, col. 3 “of gr° strength or energy, very powerful”

महाशक्तिः mahāśaktiḥ

He of great might.

Shankara: His strength and ability are great. (p. 67)

Dictionary: mahā-śakti, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 801, col. 1 “very powerful or mighty”

महाद्युतिः mahādyutiḥ

He of great light.

Shankara: His light, outside and within, is great: scripture calls him “self-luminous” and “the light of lights”. (pp. 67–68)

Dictionary: mahā-dyuti, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 796, col. 2 “of gr° splendour, very bright or glorious”

अनिर्देश्यवपुः anirdeśyavapuḥ

He whose form cannot be pointed out.

Shankara: His form cannot be shown to another as “this” or “that”, because only he knows it himself. (p. 68)

Dictionary: a-nirdeśya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 30, col. 1 “undefinable, inexplicable, incomparable”; vapus, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 920, col. 1 “(ifc. f. ushī) the body”

श्रीमान् śrīmān

He who has all glory.

Shankara: He has full splendour, which is lordship. (p. 68)

Dictionary: śrī-mat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1100, col. 2 “possessed of fortune, fortunate, auspicious, wealthy, prosperous, eminent, illustrious”

अमेयात्मा ameyātmā

He whose mind no one can measure.

Shankara: No being can measure his mind (ātmā). (p. 68)

Dictionary: ameyātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 83, col. 1 “possessing immense powers of mind, magnanimous, MBh.; Ragh. x, 18; (ā), m., N. of Vishṇu”

महाद्रिधृक् mahādridhṛk

He who held up the great mountains.

Shankara: He held up the great mountains: Mandara at the churning for nectar, and Govardhana to protect the cows. (p. 68)

Dictionary: adri, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 19, col. 2 “a stone, a rock, a mountain”; dhṛk, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 519, col. 2 “(only nom. sg.) = (& v. l. for) dhṛit, mfn. holding, bearing, supporting”

महेष्वासः maheṣvāsaḥ

The great archer.

Shankara: His bow and the shooting of his arrows are great. (p. 68)

Dictionary: maheṣvāsa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 802, col. 2 “a gr° archer”

महीभर्ता mahībhartā

Upholder of the earth.

Shankara: He held up the goddess Earth when she was sunk in the one ocean. (p. 68)

Dictionary: mahī-bhartṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 803, col. 2 “‘e°-supporter,’ a king”

श्रीनिवासः śrīnivāsaḥ

Home of Shri.

Shankara: Shri, who never leaves him, lives on his chest. (p. 68)

Dictionary: śrī-nivāsa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1099, col. 2 “abode of Śrī, Kāv.; N. of Vishṇu”

सतां गतिः satāṃ gatiḥ

The way and goal of the good.

Shankara: For the good, who follow the Veda, he is the means of reaching the goals of life. (p. 68)

Dictionary: gati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 347, col. 3 “refuge, resource”

अनिरुद्धः aniruddhaḥ

He whom no one can stop.

Shankara: When he appears in the world, no one can hold him back. (p. 68)

Dictionary: a-niruddha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 30, col. 1 “unobstructed, ungovernable, self-willed”

सुरानन्दः surānandaḥ

He who gives joy to the gods.

Shankara: He gladdens the gods. (p. 68)

Dictionary: sura, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1234, col. 2 “a god, divinity, deity”; ānanda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 139, col. 3 “happiness, joy, enjoyment”

गोविन्दः govindaḥ

He who found the earth; he whom speech reaches.

Shankara: Shankara quotes the Mokshadharma: “I found the lost earth (go) hidden in the deep, so the gods praised me as Govinda.” He also quotes the Harivamsha: Indra made him lord of the cows, and he obtains speech (go). (pp. 68–69)

Dictionary: go-vinda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 366, col. 3 “(= -vid ...) Kṛishṇa (or Vishṇu)”

गोविदां पतिः govidāṃ patiḥ

Lord of those who know speech.

Shankara: Go means speech; those who know it are govid; he is above all their master. (p. 69)

Dictionary: go-vid, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 366, col. 3 “acquiring or procuring cows or cattle”; pati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 582, col. 1 “a master, owner, possessor, lord, ruler, sovereign”

मरीचिः marīciḥ

The ray of light, the brightness of the bright.

Shankara: He is the brilliance of the brilliant; the Gita says “I am the brilliance of the brilliant”. (p. 69)

Dictionary: marīci, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 790, col. 1 “a ray of light (of the sun or moon)”

दमनः damanaḥ

He who restrains.

Shankara: As Vaivasvata (Yama) and in other forms, he restrains creatures who neglect their own duties. (p. 69)

Dictionary: damana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 469, col. 3 “taming, subduing, overpowering”

हंसः haṃsaḥ

The swan: he who ends the fear of the world.

Shankara: He takes away the fear of samsara from those who know “I am he” (aham saḥ). Or he goes (hanti) into all bodies: “the swan seated in the bright” (mantra). (p. 69)

Dictionary: haṃsa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1286, col. 1 “the soul or spirit ...; sometimes ‘the Universal Soul or Supreme Spirit,’ identified with ... Vishṇu”

सुपर्णः suparṇaḥ

He of beautiful wings.

Shankara: His wings (leaves) are fine; the mantra says “two birds of fine wings”. (p. 69)

Dictionary: su-parṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1227, col. 3 “any mythical or supernatural bird (often identified with Garuḍa ...)”

भुजगोत्तमः bhujagottamaḥ

The best of serpents.

Shankara: He is the best of those that move on their arms (bhuja), the serpents. (p. 69)

Dictionary: bhujaga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 759, col. 2 “‘going in curves,’ a snake, serpent, serpent-demon”; uttama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 177, col. 3 “best, excellent”

हिरण्यनाभः hiraṇyanābhaḥ

He of the golden navel.

Shankara: His navel is fair like gold; or it is good and pleasing. (pp. 69–70)

Dictionary: hiraṇya-nābha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1300, col. 1 “‘having a g° navel,’ N. of Vishṇu”

सुतपाः sutapāḥ

He of good tapas.

Shankara: As Nara and Narayana at Badarikashrama he practised fine tapas. “The one-pointedness of mind and senses is the highest tapas” (smriti). (p. 70)

Dictionary: su-tapas, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1223, col. 3 “practising severe austerity”

पद्मनाभः padmanābhaḥ

He whose navel is like a lotus.

Shankara: His navel is round like a lotus; or he shines in the navel, the middle, of the lotus of the heart. (p. 70)

Dictionary: padma-nābha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 584, col. 3 “m. ‘l°-naveled,’ N. of Vishṇu (from whose navel sprang the lotus which contained Brahmā, the future creator)”

प्रजापतिः prajāpatiḥ

Father of all creatures.

Shankara: He is the lord, the father, of creatures. (p. 70)

Dictionary: prajā-pati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 658, col. 2 “‘lord of creatures’”

अमृत्युः amṛtyuḥ

The deathless.

Shankara: There is no death in him, and no cause of death. (p. 70)

Dictionary: a-mṛtyu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 82, col. 3 “non-death, immortality, ŚBr. xiii; KaushUp.; (mfn.), immortal”

सर्वदृक् sarvadṛk

He who sees all.

Shankara: By his own natural knowledge he sees all that beings have done and not done. (p. 70)

Dictionary: sarva-dṛś, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1185, col. 3 “all-seeing”

सिंहः siṃhaḥ

The lion: he who strikes down.

Shankara: He strikes down (hinasti); the word is formed by the rule for irregular words. With this name the second hundred names end. (p. 70)

Dictionary: siṃha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1213, col. 1 “‘the powerful one,’ a lion (also identified with ātman)”

संधाता saṃdhātā

He who joins beings to the fruits of their acts.

Shankara: He joins persons with the fruits of their actions. (p. 70)

Dictionary: sam-dhātṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1144, col. 2 “one who puts together or joins, RV.; m. N. of Śiva and Vishṇu”

संधिमान् saṃdhimān

He who is joined with those fruits.

Shankara: He himself is also the one who receives those fruits. The scan of this line is damaged; this is the reading of what can be seen. (p. 70)

Dictionary: saṃdhi-mat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1145, col. 1 “being or existing in peace (said of Vishṇu)”

स्थिरः sthiraḥ

The steady one.

Shankara: He is always of one form. (p. 70)

Dictionary: sthira, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1264, col. 3 “firm, hard, solid, compact, strong ...; fixed, immovable, motionless, still, calm”

अजः ajaḥ

He who goes and drives away.

Shankara: He is aja because he goes (aj) or throws (drives things away). (p. 70)

Dictionary: aja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 9, col. 2 “a driver, mover, instigator, leader”

दुर्मर्षणः durmarṣaṇaḥ

He whom the demons cannot withstand.

Shankara: The enemies of the gods are not able to bear him. (pp. 70–71)

Dictionary: dur-marṣaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 486, col. 2 “unmanageable, unbearable, insupportable, MBh.; R.; ... of Vishṇu, MBh. xiii, 6971”

शास्ता śāstā

The teacher of all.

Shankara: Through the shruti, the smriti and other texts he teaches and governs all. (p. 71)

Dictionary: śāstṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1069, col. 1 “a ruler, commander, TS. &c. &c.; a teacher, instructor”

विश्रुतात्मा viśrutātmā

He whose nature is well known.

Shankara: His self, marked by truth, knowledge and the rest, is specially heard of. (p. 71)

Dictionary: vi-śruta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 992, col. 2 “heard of far and wide, heard, noted, notorious, famous, celebrated”

सुरारिहा surārihā

Slayer of the enemies of the gods.

Shankara: He kills the enemies of the gods. (p. 71)

Dictionary: surāri, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1235, col. 1 “an enemy of the gods, an Asura (also a Rākshasa) ...; -han, m. ‘destroyer of the enemy of the g°,’ N. of Śiva, MBh.; -hantṛi, m. ‘demon-killer,’ N. of Vishṇu”

गुरुः guruḥ

The teacher; the father of all.

Shankara: He teaches all branches of knowledge, or he is the begetter of all. (p. 71)

Dictionary: guru, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 359, col. 2 “a spiritual parent or preceptor”

गुरुतमः gurutamaḥ

The highest teacher.

Shankara: He passes on the knowledge of Brahman even to Brahma and the others; the mantra says “he who first made Brahma”. (p. 71)

Dictionary: guru-tama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 359, col. 2 “(superl.) most important, W.; m. the best teacher”

धाम dhāma

The light; the abode.

Shankara: Dhāma is light: “Narayana is the highest light”. Or he is the resting place of all desires: “the highest Brahman, the highest abode”. (p. 71)

Dictionary: dhāman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 514, col. 3 “dwelling-place, house, abode ...; effect, power, strength, majesty, glory, splendour, light”

सत्यः satyaḥ

The truth.

Shankara: He is the dharma of truthful speech: “so they call truth the highest”. Or he is the truth of truth: “the life-breaths are truth, and he is their truth”. (p. 71)

Dictionary: satya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1135, col. 3 “true, real, actual, genuine”

सत्यपराक्रमः satyaparākramaḥ

He whose valour is true.

Shankara: His valour never fails. (p. 71)

Dictionary: satya-parākrama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1136, col. 1 “truly brave or mighty”

निमिषः nimiṣaḥ

He whose eyes are closed.

Shankara: His eyes are closed, for he is given to yoga-sleep. (p. 71)

Dictionary: ni-miṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 551, col. 2 “twinkling, shutting the eye ...; of Vishṇu”

अनिमिषः animiṣaḥ

The ever-wakeful.

Shankara: He is always awake by nature. Or he is unblinking as the Fish, or as the Self. (pp. 71–72)

Dictionary: a-nimiṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 29, col. 3 “not winking, looking steadily, vigilant”

स्रग्वी sragvī

He who wears the garland.

Shankara: He always wears the garland called Vaijayanti, made of the subtle elements. (p. 72)

Dictionary: srag-vat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1274, col. 1 “possessed of garlands, wearing a wreath”; srag-vin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1274, col. 1 “id.”

वाचस्पतिरुदारधीः vācaspatirudāradhīḥ

Lord of speech, whose mind grasps all things.

Shankara: He is the lord of speech, that is, of knowledge; his mind takes in every object. Shankara says the two words make one name. (p. 72)

Dictionary: vācas-pati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 937, col. 2 “‘lord of voice or speech’”; ud-āra-dhī, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 185, col. 2 “highly intelligent, wise, sagacious”

अग्रणीः agraṇīḥ

He who leads seekers forward.

Shankara: He leads those who seek freedom to the highest place. (p. 72)

Dictionary: agra-ṇī, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 6, col. 2 “taking the lead, foremost”

ग्रामणीः grāmaṇīḥ

Leader of all beings.

Shankara: He is the leader of the host of beings. (p. 72)

Dictionary: grāma-ṇī, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 373, col. 2 “the leader or chief of a village or community, lord of the manor, squire, leader of a troop or army, chief, superintendent”

श्रीमान् śrīmān

He whose splendour excels all.

Shankara: His splendour (śrī) surpasses all. (p. 72)

Dictionary: śrī-mat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1100, col. 2 “beautiful, charming, lovely, pleasant, splendid, glorious”

न्यायः nyāyaḥ

Right reasoning.

Shankara: He is the reasoning that supports the means of knowledge and leads to the knowledge of non-difference. (p. 72)

Dictionary: ny-āya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 572, col. 2 “that into which a thing goes back i.e. an original type, standard, method, rule ...; right or fit manner or way”

नेता netā

The guide who runs the world.

Shankara: He keeps the machine of the world running. (p. 72)

Dictionary: netṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 568, col. 3 “leading, guiding, one who leads or will lead ...; N. of Vishṇu, RTL. 106”

समीरणः samīraṇaḥ

He who moves all beings as breath.

Shankara: In the form of breath he makes beings move. (p. 72)

Dictionary: sam-īraṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1165, col. 1 “setting in motion, causing activity ...; breeze, wind, air, breath”

सहस्रमूर्धा sahasramūrdhā

The thousand-headed.

Shankara: He has a thousand heads. (p. 72)

Dictionary: sahasra-mūrdhan, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1196, col. 1 “th°-headed, ib.; Pañcar.; m. N. of Śiva, MBh.; of Vishṇu”

विश्वात्मा viśvātmā

The Self of the universe.

Shankara: He is the self of the universe. (p. 72)

Dictionary: viśvātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 994, col. 1 “the Soul of the Universe, the Universal Spirit”

सहस्राक्षः sahasrākṣaḥ

The thousand-eyed.

Shankara: He has a thousand eyes. (p. 72)

Dictionary: sahasrākṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1196, col. 2 “th°-eyed, RV.; VS.; TS. &c.; all-perceiving, all inspecting”

सहस्रपात् sahasrapāt

The thousand-footed.

Shankara: He has a thousand feet. Scripture says “the Person has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet”. (p. 72)

Dictionary: sahasra-pad, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1195, col. 3 “(sahásra-; strong base -pād), mfn. th°-footed”

आवर्तनः āvartanaḥ

He who turns the wheel of the world.

Shankara: It is his nature to keep the wheel of samsara turning. (p. 73)

Dictionary: ā-vartana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 156, col. 2 “turning round or towards; revolving”

निवृत्तात्मा nivṛttātmā

He who is free from the bonds of the world.

Shankara: His self, his true nature, has turned away from the bond of samsara. (p. 73)

Dictionary: ni-vṛttātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 560, col. 2 “N. of Vishṇu”

संवृतः saṃvṛtaḥ

He who is hidden by ignorance.

Shankara: He is covered by ignorance (avidyā), which hides him. (p. 73)

Dictionary: sam-vṛta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1116, col. 2 “covered, shut up, enclosed or enveloped in”

संप्रमर्दनः saṃpramardanaḥ

He who crushes the wicked.

Shankara: Through his powers such as Rudra and Kala (Time) he crushes thoroughly. (p. 73)

Dictionary: sam-pramardana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1175, col. 3 “crushing down, destroying”

अहःसंवर्तकः ahaḥsaṃvartakaḥ

He who brings round the day: the sun.

Shankara: As the sun, he sets the day properly in motion. (p. 73)

Dictionary: ahar, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 124, col. 3 “a day”; saṃ-vartaka, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1116, col. 3 “rolling up, destroying (all things at the end of the world)”

वह्निः vahniḥ

Fire, who carries the offerings.

Shankara: He carries (the offerings). (p. 73)

Dictionary: vahni, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 933, col. 3 “the conveyer or bearer of oblations to the gods (esp. said of Agni, ‘fire’ ...)”

अनिलः anilaḥ

Air; he who has no fixed home and no beginning.

Shankara: He has no fixed abode; or he has no beginning; or he takes nothing; or he is not bound. Each reading is taken from the letters a-nila. (p. 73)

Dictionary: anila, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 30, col. 1 “air or wind; the god of wind”

धरणीधरः dharaṇīdharaḥ

Bearer of the earth.

Shankara: As Shesha and as the Boar he holds up the earth. (p. 73)

Dictionary: dharaṇī-dhara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 510, col. 2 “bearing or sustaining the earth; m. N. of Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

सुप्रसादः suprasādaḥ

He whose grace is great.

Shankara: His grace is fine: he gave freedom even to those who wronged him, such as Shishupala. (p. 73)

Dictionary: su-prasāda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1229, col. 1 “easily placable, Mn.; MBh.; R.; very gracious or kind, auspicious”

प्रसन्नात्मा prasannātmā

He whose mind is clear and kind.

Shankara: His inner mind is not clouded by rajas and tamas. Or his nature is gracious, that is, he is kind. Or, having every wish fulfilled, he is at peace. (pp. 73–74)

Dictionary: pra-sannātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 696, col. 3 “gracious-minded, propitious”

विश्वधृक् viśvadhṛk

He who holds the world.

Shankara: He holds the universe firmly (from dhṛṣ, “to be bold”). (p. 74)

Dictionary: viśva-dhṛk, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 993, col. 1 “or -dhṛit, mfn. sustaining everything”

विश्वभुक् viśvabhuk

He who enjoys and protects the world.

Shankara: He enjoys the universe, or he protects it. (p. 74)

Dictionary: viśva-bhuj, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 993, col. 2 “all-enjoying, all-possessing, W.; eating all things”

विभुः vibhuḥ

He who becomes many.

Shankara: As Hiranyagarbha and the rest he comes to be in many forms; the mantra says “eternal, all-pervading”. (p. 74)

Dictionary: vi-bhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 978, col. 3 “being everywhere, far-extending, all-pervading, omnipresent, eternal”

सत्कर्ता satkartā

He who honours.

Shankara: He does honour, he worships. (p. 74)

Dictionary: sat-kartṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1134, col. 2 “doing good, acting well, treating w° or kindly, a benefactor ...; m. N. of Vishṇu”

सत्कृतः satkṛtaḥ

He who is honoured by the honoured.

Shankara: He is worshipped even by those who are worshipped. (p. 74)

Dictionary: sat-kṛta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1134, col. 2 “honoured, treated with respect or hospitality ...; worshipped, adored”

साधुः sādhuḥ

The righteous one, who brings things to pass.

Shankara: He acts according to what is right. Or he accomplishes; or, since no one thing to be done is named, he accomplishes all that is to be done. (p. 74)

Dictionary: sādhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1201, col. 2 “good, virtuous, honourable, righteous”

जह्नुः jahnuḥ

He who takes people away at the end; he who leads his own on.

Shankara: At the time of dissolution he takes people away (hides them). Or he leaves the ignorant who are not devoted and leads them away, and leads his devotees to the highest. (p. 74)

Dictionary: jahnu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 416, col. 3 “N. of Vishṇu”

नारायणः nārāyaṇaḥ

Narayana: the dwelling of all beings, and the one who dwells in all.

Shankara: Nara is the Self; what comes from it, space and the rest, are nāra; he pervades them as their cause, so they are his dwelling (ayana). Or he is the dwelling of all souls at dissolution. Shankara quotes the Upanishad, the Mahabharata, the Brahmavaivarta, Manu (“the waters are called nārāḥ”), and a verse of the Narasimha Purana that calls “namo nārāyaṇāya” the true mantra against the poison of samsara. (pp. 74–75)

Dictionary: nārāyaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 536, col. 3 “(patr. fr. nára, q. v.) the son of the original Man ...; he is identified with Brahmā ...; with Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

नरः naraḥ

The eternal leader.

Shankara: He leads, so he is nara. Vyasa says: “Nara is so called because he leads; he is the eternal supreme Self.” (p. 75)

Dictionary: nara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 528, col. 3 “the primeval Man or eternal Spirit pervading the universe (always associated with Nārāyaṇa ...)”

असंख्येयः asaṃkhyeyaḥ

He who cannot be counted.

Shankara: In him there is no number, no name, form or division. (p. 75)

Dictionary: a-saṃkhyeya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 118, col. 1 “innumerable”

अप्रमेयात्मा aprameyātmā

He whose nature cannot be measured.

Shankara: His self, his true nature, cannot be measured. (p. 75)

Dictionary: aprameyātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 58, col. 3 “‘of inscrutable spirit,’ N. of Śiva”; a-prameya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 58, col. 3 “immeasurable, unlimited, unfathomable”

विशिष्टः viśiṣṭaḥ

He who excels all.

Shankara: He surpasses everything. (p. 75)

Dictionary: vi-śiṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 990, col. 2 “pre-eminent, excellent ...; m. N. of Vishṇu, MBh.”

शिष्टकृत् śiṣṭakṛt

He who gives the law and protects the good.

Shankara: He gives commands (śiṣṭa = śāsana). Or he makes and protects the good (śiṣṭa). (pp. 75–76)

Dictionary: śiṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1076, col. 3 “taught, directed, ordered, commanded”

शुचिः śuciḥ

The stainless.

Shankara: He is without stain (nirañjana). (p. 76)

Dictionary: śuci, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1081, col. 1 “clear, clean, pure (lit. and fig.), holy, unsullied, undefiled”

सिद्धार्थः siddhārthaḥ

He whose aims are fulfilled.

Shankara: What he seeks is already accomplished; scripture says “his desires are true”. (p. 76)

Dictionary: siddhārtha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1215, col. 3 “one who has accomplished an aim or object, successful, prosperous”

सिद्धसंकल्पः siddhasaṃkalpaḥ

He whose will is always fulfilled.

Shankara: His resolve is accomplished; scripture says “his will is true”. (p. 76)

Dictionary: siddha-saṃkalpa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1215, col. 3 “one whose wishes are accomplished”

सिद्धिदः siddhidaḥ

He who gives fruit to those who act.

Shankara: He gives doers their fruit, each according to his own fitness. (p. 76)

Dictionary: siddhi-da, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1216, col. 3 “conferring felicity or beatitude”

सिद्धिसाधनः siddhisādhanaḥ

The means of every attainment.

Shankara: He is the one who brings about attainment. This is the last name of the first quarter; the next verse begins with vṛṣāhī. (p. 76)

Dictionary: siddhi-sādhana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1216, col. 3 “a means of obtaining beatitude or perfection or magical power”