Vishnu Sahasranama: Names 256 to 512, with Meaning

वृषाही vṛṣāhī

The lord of the holy rites. Vṛṣa means dharma, and the “days” are sacrifices.

Shankara: Shankara takes vṛṣa as dharma, merit. A rite such as the twelve-day sacrifice is “a day of dharma” (vṛṣāha). He who has these rites is Vṛṣāhī. He adds a note of grammar on the form of the word. (p. 76)

Dictionary: vṛṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1012, col. 1 “just or virtuous act, virtue, moral merit”

वृषभः vṛṣabhaḥ

The one who showers what his devotees wish for.

Shankara: He rains down (varṣati) on his devotees the things they wish for. (p. 76)

Dictionary: vṛṣabha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1012, col. 3 “a bull (in Veda epithet of various gods, as of Indra, Bṛihas-pati, Parjanya &c.; according to Sāy. = varshayitṛi, ‘a showerer of bounties, benefactor’)”

विष्णुः viṣṇuḥ

The one who strides over all. Vishnu.

Shankara: Shankara quotes Vyasa: he is called Viṣṇu because he strides (vikramaṇa). (p. 76)

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

वृषपर्वा vṛṣaparvā

The one whose steps are dharma: a stairway for those who climb to the highest place.

Shankara: For one who wants to climb to the highest abode, he gives steps (parvan) made of dharma, like the steps of a stair. (p. 76)

Dictionary: vṛṣa-parvan, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1012, col. 2 “N. of Vishṇu”

वृषोदरः vṛṣodaraḥ

The one from whose belly all beings come, as rain comes from a cloud.

Shankara: His belly seems to rain forth (varṣati) all beings. (p. 76)

Dictionary: vṛṣodara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1012, col. 2 “‘bull-bellied,’ id., MBh.”

वर्द्धनः varddhanaḥ

The one who makes all things grow.

Shankara: He makes (beings) grow (vardhayati). (p. 76)

Dictionary: vardhana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 926, col. 1 “a granter of increase, bestower of prosperity”

वर्द्धमानः varddhamānaḥ

The one who grows as the world.

Shankara: He himself grows in the form of the whole world. (p. 76)

Dictionary: vardhamāna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 926, col. 1 “increasing, growing, thriving, prosperous”

विविक्तः viviktaḥ

The one who stays apart, untouched by what he becomes.

Shankara: Though he grows as the world, he still stays separate from it. (p. 76)

Dictionary: vi-vikta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 987, col. 3 “separated, kept apart, distinguished, discriminated”

श्रुतिसागरः śrutisāgaraḥ

The ocean in which all the Vedas are held.

Shankara: The śrutis, the Vedas, are kept in him as waters are kept in the ocean. (p. 76)

Dictionary: śruti, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1101, col. 3 “that which has been heard or communicated from the beginning, sacred knowledge orally transmitted by the Brāhmans from generation to generation, the Veda”; sāgara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1198, col. 2 “the ocean”

सुभुजः subhujaḥ

The one with fine arms that protect the world.

Shankara: His arms are fine (śobhana) and they guard the world. (p. 77)

Dictionary: su-bhuja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1230, col. 1 “having handsome arms”

दुर्धरः durdharaḥ

The one whom no one can hold or hold back.

Shankara: He holds up the earth and the other supports of the worlds, which no one else can hold, but no one can hold him. Or: seekers of freedom hold him in the heart in meditation only with great effort. (p. 77)

Dictionary: dur-dhara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 485, col. 3 “difficult to be carried or borne or suffered, unrestrainable, irresistible”

वाग्मी vāgmī

The master of speech; the Veda came from him.

Shankara: From him came forth speech that is made of Brahman, the Veda. (p. 77)

Dictionary: vāgmin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 937, col. 1 “speaking well, eloquent”

महेन्द्रः mahendraḥ

The great lord, lord even of the lords.

Shankara: He is great and he is Indra, the lord: the lord even of the lords. (p. 77)

Dictionary: mahendra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 802, col. 1 “the great Indra, AV. &c. &c. (also applied to Vishṇu [R.] and Śiva [Śivag.])”

वसुदः vasudaḥ

The giver of wealth.

Shankara: He gives wealth (vasu). Shankara quotes the śruti “annādo vasudānaḥ”. (p. 77)

Dictionary: vasu-da, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 931, col. 1 “granting w° or treasures”

वसुः vasuḥ

The wealth itself; also the one who dwells in all.

Shankara: He is also the wealth that is given. Or he covers his own nature with māyā. Or he is Vāyu, the wind, who dwells in the sky alone: “vasur antarikṣasat”. (p. 77)

Dictionary: vasu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 930, col. 3 “N. of the gods (as the ‘good or bright ones,’ esp. of the Ādityas, Maruts, Aśvins, Indra, Ushas, Rudra, Vāyu, Vishṇu, Śiva, and Kubera)”

नैकरूपः naikarūpaḥ

The one of many forms.

Shankara: He has not one form but many. Shankara quotes “indro māyābhiḥ pururūpa īyate” and a smṛti that names Viṣṇu in the lights of the sky. (p. 77)

Dictionary: naika-rūpa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 523, col. 3 “multiform, various”

बृहद्रूपः bṛhadrūpaḥ

The one whose forms are vast, such as the Boar.

Shankara: His forms, such as the Boar (Varāha), are vast (bṛhat). (p. 77)

Dictionary: bṛhat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 735, col. 3 “lofty, high, tall, great, large, wide, vast, abundant”; rūpa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 885, col. 3 “any outward appearance or phenomenon or colour (often pl.), form, shape, figure”

शिपिविष्टः śipiviṣṭaḥ

The one who dwells in the rays, and in the sacrifice.

Shankara: Śipi means the animals of the sacrifice; he dwells in them as the sacrifice (“yajño vai viṣṇuḥ”). Or śipi means rays of light, and he is set in them. Shankara quotes a verse: rays are called śipi because they drink and keep water; the Lord who enters them is Śipiviṣṭa. (p. 77–78)

Dictionary: śipi-viṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1072, col. 1 “(accord. to Sāy.) pervaded by rays (applied to Rudra-Śiva and Vishṇu; cf. RTL. 416)”

प्रकाशनः prakāśanaḥ

The one who lights up all things.

Shankara: It is his nature to make all things shine and be known. (p. 78)

Dictionary: pra-kāśana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 653, col. 2 “illuminating, giving light”

ओजस्तेजोद्युतिधरः ojastejodyutidharaḥ

The one who holds strength, valour and radiance.

Shankara: Ojas is the strength of the life-breath, tejas is valour and such qualities, dyuti is radiance; he holds all three. Shankara also allows two names here, ojas and tejas (Gita 7.11 and 10.36), and a third, dyutidhara, the holder of the light of knowledge. (p. 78)

Dictionary: ojas, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 235, col. 2 “bodily strength, vigour, energy, ability, power”; tejas, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 454, col. 2 “the sharp edge (of a knife &c.), point or top of a flame or ray, glow, glare, splendour, brilliance, light, fire”; dyuti, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 500, col. 1 “splendour (as a goddess, Hariv. 14035), brightness, lustre, majesty, dignity”

प्रकाशात्मा prakāśātmā

The one whose very self is light.

Shankara: His self (ātman) is light by nature. (p. 78)

Dictionary: pra-kāśātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 653, col. 1 “brilliant in character or nature, brilliant, shining”

प्रतापनः pratāpanaḥ

The one who gives heat to the world, as the sun.

Shankara: Through his powers, such as the sun, he heats the whole world. (p. 78)

Dictionary: pra-tāpana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 661, col. 2 “making hot, paining, tormenting”

ऋद्धः ṛddhaḥ

The one rich in every good quality.

Shankara: He is endowed with dharma, knowledge, detachment and the like. (p. 79)

Dictionary: ṛddha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 226, col. 1 “increased, thriving, prosperous, abundant, wealthy”

स्पष्टाक्षरः spaṣṭākṣaraḥ

The one whose syllable, Om, is clear.

Shankara: His syllable (akṣara) is clear and high-pitched: the syllable Om. (p. 79)

Dictionary: spaṣṭākṣara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1268, col. 3 “‘containing distinct sounds or syllables,’ distinctly pronounced or spoken”

मंत्रः maṃtraḥ

The sacred word of the Vedas.

Shankara: He is the mantras of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas. Or he is the one whom the mantras make known. (p. 79)

Dictionary: mantra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 786, col. 1 “N. of Vishṇu”; mantra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 785, col. 3 “‘instrument of thought,’ speech, sacred text or speech, a prayer or song of praise”

चंद्रांशुः caṃdrāṃśuḥ

Cool like moonlight to those burnt by the troubles of life.

Shankara: For minds burnt by the hot rays of the heat of saṃsāra, he gives joy like the rays of the moon. (p. 79)

Dictionary: candrāṃśu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 387, col. 3 “= °dra-pāda”; candra-pāda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 387, col. 1 “a moon-beam”

भास्करद्युतिः bhāskaradyutiḥ

The one who shines like the sun.

Shankara: His radiance is like the sun's. (p. 79)

Dictionary: bhās-kara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 756, col. 1 “the sun”; dyuti, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 500, col. 1 “splendour (as a goddess, Hariv. 14035), brightness, lustre, majesty, dignity”

अमृतांशूद्भवः amṛtāṃśūdbhavaḥ

The one from whom the moon was born.

Shankara: When the ocean of milk was churned, the moon, “the one with nectar rays”, came forth from him. (p. 79)

Dictionary: amṛtāṃśu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 82, col. 3 “the moon”; ud-bhava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 190, col. 2 “existence, generation, origin, production, birth”

भानुः bhānuḥ

The one who shines.

Shankara: He shines (bhāti). Shankara quotes the śruti “tam eva bhāntam”: all shines after him. (p. 79)

Dictionary: bhānu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 751, col. 1 “appearance, brightness, light or a ray of light, lustre, splendour”

शशबिंदुः śaśabiṃduḥ

The moon, which bears the mark of a hare; he nourishes beings as the moon does.

Shankara: The moon has a mark (bindu) like a hare (śaśa). Like the moon, he nourishes all beings. Shankara quotes Gita 15.13: becoming the moon, he feeds all plants. (p. 79)

Dictionary: śaśa-bindu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1060, col. 1 “‘h°-spotted,’ the moon”

सुरेश्वरः sureśvaraḥ

The lord of the gods.

Shankara: He is the lord of the suras, the gods, and of all who give what is good. (p. 79)

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

औषधम् auṣadham

The medicine for the illness of worldly life.

Shankara: He is the medicine for the disease that is saṃsāra. (p. 79)

Dictionary: auṣadha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 240, col. 2 “herbs used in medicine, simples, a medicament, drug, medicine in general”

जगतः सेतुः jagataḥ setuḥ

The bridge of the world, and its boundary wall.

Shankara: One name in two words. He is the means by which the worlds cross over. Or, like a dike, he keeps the order of varṇa and āśrama from mixing. Shankara quotes the śruti “eṣa setur vidharaṇaḥ”. (p. 79)

Dictionary: setu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1246, col. 1 “a ridge of earth, mound, bank, causeway, dike, dam, bridge”

सत्यधर्मपराक्रमः satyadharmaparākramaḥ

The one whose virtues and valour are true.

Shankara: His dharmas, that is, his qualities such as knowledge, and his valour are true, never false. (p. 79–80)

Dictionary: satya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1135, col. 3 “true, real, actual, genuine, sincere, honest, truthful, faithful, pure, virtuous, good”; parā-krama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 589, col. 3 “bold advance, attack, heroism, courage, power, strength, energy, exertion, enterprise”

भूतभव्यभवन्नाथः bhūtabhavyabhavannāthaḥ

The lord of all beings, past, future and present.

Shankara: He is the lord of the beings of the past, the future and the present. They appeal to him, or he rules and guides them. (p. 80)

Dictionary: nātha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 534, col. 3 “a protector, patron, possessor, owner, lord”

पवनः pavanaḥ

The one who purifies, as the wind.

Shankara: He purifies. Shankara quotes Gita 10.31: among purifiers he is the wind. (p. 80)

Dictionary: pavana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 610, col. 3 “‘purifier,’ wind or the god of wind, breeze, air”

पावनः pāvanaḥ

The one who makes the wind move.

Shankara: He makes (the wind) blow. Shankara quotes the śruti: from fear of him the wind blows. (p. 80)

Dictionary: pāvana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 623, col. 2 “purifying, purificatory; pure, holy”

अनलः analaḥ

Fire; the life in all; the one who has no limit.

Shankara: Shankara gives three readings. He is the jīva, who takes the breaths as himself. Or the name means “without smell”, as the śruti says “agandham arasam”. Or “na alam”: nothing is enough to bound him. (p. 80)

Dictionary: anala, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 26, col. 2 “fire; the god of fire”

कामहा kāmahā

The one who ends desire in those who seek freedom.

Shankara: He destroys the desires of seekers of freedom and of devotees. He also destroys those who do harm. (p. 80)

Dictionary: kāma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 271, col. 3 “wish, desire, longing”

कामकृत् kāmakṛt

The one who fulfils the wishes of the good.

Shankara: He fulfils the wishes of good (sāttvika) people. Or he is the father of Kāma, that is, of Pradyumna. (p. 80)

Dictionary: kāma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 271, col. 3 “wish, desire, longing”

कान्तः kāntaḥ

The most beautiful one.

Shankara: He is the most beautiful of all (abhirūpatama). (p. 80)

Dictionary: kānta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 270, col. 3 “desired, loved, dear, pleasing, agreeable, lovely, beautiful ...; N. of Kṛishṇa, L.”

कामः kāmaḥ

The one whom all desire.

Shankara: Those who seek the aims of life (puruṣārtha) desire him. (p. 80)

Dictionary: kāma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 271, col. 3 “wish, desire, longing ... of Vishṇu, Gal.”

कामप्रदः kāmapradaḥ

The one who grants wishes freely.

Shankara: He gives his devotees what they wish for, in full measure. (p. 80)

Dictionary: kāma-prada, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 272, col. 2 “granting desires”

प्रभुः prabhuḥ

The lord, who is above all.

Shankara: He exists in the highest degree (prakarṣeṇa bhavanāt). (p. 80)

Dictionary: pra-bhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 684, col. 3 “a master, lord, king (also applied to gods, e.g. to Sūrya and Agni, RV.; to Prajā-pati, Mn.; to Brahmā, ChUp.; to Indra, R.; to Śiva, MBh.; to Vishṇu, L.)”

युगादिकृत् yugādikṛt

The maker of the ages and of time's divisions.

Shankara: He makes the yuga and the other divisions of time. Or he begins the yugas. In Shankara's count this is the three-hundredth name. (p. 81)

Dictionary: yugādi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 854, col. 2 “the commencement of a Yuga, the beginning of the world”

युगावर्तः yugāvartaḥ

The one who turns the wheel of the ages.

Shankara: As Time, he makes the yugas, such as the Kṛta, turn round again and again. (p. 81)

Dictionary: yuga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 854, col. 1 “an age of the world, long mundane period of years”; ā-varta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 156, col. 1 “turning, winding, turning round, revolving”

नैकमायः naikamāyaḥ

The one of many powers of māyā.

Shankara: He has not one māyā but many. Shankara adds a note of grammar on “naika”. (p. 81)

Dictionary: naika-māya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 523, col. 3 “using many artifices or stratagems”

महाशनः mahāśanaḥ

The great eater, who takes all back at the end of an age.

Shankara: At the end of a kalpa he swallows all things, so his eating is great. (p. 81)

Dictionary: mahāśana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 801, col. 1 “eating much, voracious, a great eater”

अदृश्यः adṛśyaḥ

The one whom the senses cannot see.

Shankara: He is beyond the reach of all the senses of knowing. (p. 81)

Dictionary: a-dṛśya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 18, col. 3 “invisible, latent; not fit to be seen”

अव्यक्तरूपः avyaktarūpaḥ

The one whose form is not manifest.

Shankara: Shankara's text reads vyaktarūpaḥ here, “whose form is manifest”: he is manifest in his gross form, the world; or he is manifest to yogins, because he shines by himself. (p. 81)

Dictionary: a-vyakta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 111, col. 2 “undeveloped, not manifest, unapparent, indistinct, invisible, imperceptible ...; (as), m. (= paramâtman) the universal Spirit, Mn. ix, 50; N. of Vishṇu, L.”; vy-akta-rūpa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1029, col. 2 “‘having a manifested form,’ N. of Vishṇu, MW.”

सहस्रजित् sahasrajit

The one who defeats thousands.

Shankara: He defeats the asuras by thousands in battle. (p. 81)

Dictionary: sahasra-jit, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1195, col. 3 “conquering or winning a th°, RV.; m. N. of Vishṇu, L.”

अनंतजित् anaṃtajit

The one who is ever victorious.

Shankara: By power beyond thought he wins over all beings everywhere, in battle, in play and in all else. (p. 81)

Dictionary: an-anta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 25, col. 1 “endless, boundless, eternal, infinite; (as), m., N. of Vishṇu”

इष्टः iṣṭaḥ

The one who is loved, and worshipped in sacrifice.

Shankara: He is dear because he is supreme bliss. Or he is worshipped by sacrifice (yajña). (p. 82)

Dictionary: iṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 169, col. 2 “wished, desired; liked, beloved; agreeable; cherished”

अविशिष्टः aviśiṣṭaḥ

The one who is the same in all.

Shankara: As the inner ruler of all, he has no special mark that sets him apart in one being more than another. (p. 82)

Dictionary: vi-śiṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 990, col. 2 “distinguished, distinct, particular, peculiar”

शिष्टेष्टः śiṣṭeṣṭaḥ

The one dear to the wise, to whom the wise are dear.

Shankara: He is dear to the learned (śiṣṭa). Or the learned are dear to him, as Gita 7.17 says. Or he is worshipped by the learned. (p. 82)

Dictionary: śiṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1076, col. 3 “disciplined, cultured, educated, learned, wise (m. a learned or well-educated or wise man)”; iṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 169, col. 2 “wished, desired; liked, beloved; agreeable; cherished”

शिखंडी śikhaṃḍī

The one who wears a peacock feather.

Shankara: He wears a crest of peacock feathers (śikhaṇḍa) as an ornament, in the dress of a cowherd. (p. 82)

Dictionary: śikhaṇḍin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1070, col. 2 “wearing a tuft or lock of hair, tufted, crested (applied to various gods) ...; N. of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa, MBh.”

नहुषः nahuṣaḥ

The one who binds beings with his māyā.

Shankara: He binds (nahyati) beings with māyā. (p. 82)

Dictionary: nahuṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 532, col. 2 “(prob.) N. of a man ...; of an ancient king (son of Āyu or Āyus ... and father of Yayāti) ...; of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa, MBh.”

वृषः vṛṣaḥ

Dharma itself.

Shankara: He is dharma, because he showers what people wish for. Shankara quotes the Mahabharata: the Lord is known in the worlds as vṛṣa, dharma. (p. 82)

Dictionary: vṛṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1012, col. 1 “N. of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa, MBh.”

क्रोधहा krodhahā

The one who ends anger in the good.

Shankara: He destroys anger in good people. (p. 82)

Dictionary: krodha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 322, col. 1 “anger, wrath, passion”

क्रोधकृत्कर्त्ता krodhakṛtkarttā

The one who is angry at wrong, and cuts down those who cause anger.

Shankara: Shankara first explains two names: krodhakṛt, who is angry with the wicked, and kartā, the maker of the world, which is what is made (karma). He then gives a reading as one name: krodhakṛtkartā, the one who cuts down (kartā) the daityas and others who cause anger. (p. 82)

Dictionary: krodha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 322, col. 1 “anger, wrath, passion”; kartṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 257, col. 3 “one who makes or does or acts or effects, a doer, maker, agent, author”

विश्वबाहुः viśvabāhuḥ

The one whose arms are everywhere.

Shankara: He is the support of all. Or his arms are in all places; Shankara quotes the śruti “viśvatobāhuḥ”. (p. 82–83)

Dictionary: viśva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 992, col. 2 “all, every, every one; whole, entire, universal”; bāhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 730, col. 2 “the arm, (esp.) the fore-arm”

महीधरः mahīdharaḥ

The one who holds up the earth, and receives worship.

Shankara: He holds (dharati) mahī, which means worship, or the earth. (p. 83)

Dictionary: mahī-dhara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 803, col. 2 “‘e°-bearing,’ supporting the earth, Hariv.; m. a mountain, MBh.; Kāv. &c.; N. of Vishṇu, VP.”

अच्युतः acyutaḥ

The one who never falls or changes.

Shankara: He is free of the six changes of being, such as birth and decay. Shankara quotes the śruti “śāśvataṃ śivam acyutam”. (p. 83)

Dictionary: a-cyuta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 9, col. 2 “not fallen; firm, solid; imperishable, permanent; not leaking or dripping; (as), m., N. of Vishṇu”

प्रथितः prathitaḥ

The one who is famous for his deeds.

Shankara: He is well known for his acts, such as the making of the world. (p. 83)

Dictionary: prathita, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 678, col. 3 “spread, extended, increased; divulged, displayed, published, known, celebrated”

प्राणः prāṇaḥ

The life-breath that keeps all beings alive.

Shankara: As the thread-self (sūtrātman) he makes beings breathe and live. The Rigvedins say “prāṇo vā aham asmi”. (p. 83)

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

प्राणदः prāṇadaḥ

The giver of life and strength.

Shankara: He gives breath and strength to the gods and to the asuras; or he cuts it off. (p. 83)

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

वासवानुजः vāsavānujaḥ

The younger brother of Indra, as Vāmana.

Shankara: He was born to Kaśyapa and Aditi as the younger brother of Vāsava, that is, Indra. (p. 83)

Dictionary: vāsava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 948, col. 1 “N. of Indra (as chief of the Vasus)”; anu-ja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 32, col. 2 “a younger brother, a cadet”

अपांनिधिः apāṃnidhiḥ

The ocean, where all waters gather.

Shankara: He is the place where the waters are stored. Shankara quotes Gita 10.24: of lakes he is the ocean. (p. 83)

Dictionary: apāṃ-nidhi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 47, col. 3 “the ocean”

अधिष्ठानम् adhiṣṭhānam

The ground on which all things rest.

Shankara: He is Brahman, in which beings rest because it is their material cause. Shankara quotes Gita 9.4: all beings are in him. (p. 83)

Dictionary: adhi-ṣṭhāna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 22, col. 2 “standing by, being at hand, approach; standing or resting upon; a basis, base”

अप्रमत्तः apramattaḥ

The one who is never careless.

Shankara: He gives each person the fruit that fits his deeds, and he never makes a mistake. (p. 83)

Dictionary: a-pramatta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 58, col. 2 “not careless, careful, attentive, vigilant”

प्रतिष्ठितः pratiṣṭhitaḥ

The one who rests in his own greatness.

Shankara: He stands in his own greatness. Shankara quotes the Chandogya Upanishad: “in his own greatness”. (p. 83)

Dictionary: prati-ṣṭhita, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 671, col. 3 “standing, stationed, placed, situated in or on (loc. or comp.) ...; m. N. of Vishṇu, A.”

स्कंदः skaṃdaḥ

The one who flows as nectar and dries up as the wind.

Shankara: He flows (skandati) in the form of nectar, or he dries things up in the form of wind. (p. 84)

Dictionary: skanda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1256, col. 1 “spurting, effusing, effusion, spilling, shedding”

स्कंदधरः skaṃdadharaḥ

The one who upholds the path of dharma.

Shankara: Skanda here means the path of dharma; he holds it up. (p. 84)

Dictionary: skanda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1256, col. 1 “spurting, effusing, effusion, spilling, shedding”; dhara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 510, col. 1 “bearing, supporting (scil. the world, said of Kṛishṇa and Śiva)”

धुर्यः dhuryaḥ

The one who carries the burden of the world.

Shankara: He bears the burden (dhur) of the birth and life of all beings. (p. 84)

Dictionary: dhurya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 517, col. 3 “being at the head of, foremost, best”

वरदः varadaḥ

The giver of boons.

Shankara: He gives the boons people wish for. Or, as the sacrificer, he gives the gift (vara) to the priests; Shankara quotes the śruti “gaur vai varaḥ”, “the cow is the gift”. (p. 84)

Dictionary: vara-da, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 922, col. 2 “granting wishes, conferring a boon, ready to fulfil requests or answer prayers (said of gods and men)”

वायुवाहनः vāyuvāhanaḥ

The one who makes the winds move.

Shankara: He makes the seven winds, such as Āvaha, move. (p. 84)

Dictionary: vāyu-vāhana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 942, col. 3 “‘id.,’ N. of Vishṇu, L.”

वासुदेवः vāsudevaḥ

The one in whom all dwell, and who dwells in all.

Shankara: Vāsu: he dwells in all, makes all dwell and covers all. Deva: he plays, shines and is praised. He is both. Shankara quotes verses from the Udyoga Parva and the Viṣṇu Purāṇa: all beings dwell in him and he dwells in all, so he is Vāsudeva. (p. 84–85)

Dictionary: vāsudeva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 948, col. 2 “(fr. vasu-d°) patr. of Kṛishṇa”

बृहद्भानुः bṛhadbhānuḥ

The one whose great rays light the world.

Shankara: His great rays (bhānu), which reach the moon, the sun and the rest, light up the whole world. (p. 85)

Dictionary: bṛhad-bhānu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 736, col. 3 “shining brightly, RV.; Lāṭy.; m. fire or the god of fire”

आदिदेवः ādidevaḥ

The first god, the cause of all.

Shankara: He is the cause (ādi) and he is a god (deva), because he shines. (p. 85)

Dictionary: ādi-deva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 137, col. 1 “‘the first god;’ N. of Brahman, Vishṇu, Śiva, Gaṇeśa, the sun”

पुरन्दरः purandaraḥ

The one who breaks the strongholds of the enemies of the gods.

Shankara: He breaks (dāraṇa) the cities (pura) of the enemies of the gods. Shankara notes Pāṇini's rule for the form of the word. (p. 85)

Dictionary: puraṃ-dara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 635, col. 3 “‘destroyer of strongholds,’ N. of Indra, RV. &c. &c.”

अशोकः aśokaḥ

The one who has no sorrow.

Shankara: He is free of the six waves (ūrmi) of life, which begin with grief. (p. 85)

Dictionary: a-śoka, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 113, col. 3 “not causing sorrow ...; not feeling sorrow”

तारणः tāraṇaḥ

The one who carries people across the sea of worldly life.

Shankara: He carries (beings) across the ocean of saṃsāra. (p. 85)

Dictionary: tāraṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 444, col. 1 “causing or enabling to cross, helping over a difficulty, liberating, saving, MBh. xiii, 1232 (Śiva) & 6986 (Vishṇu)”

तारः tāraḥ

The saviour who frees from the fear of birth and death.

Shankara: He saves (beings) from the fear of the womb, birth, old age and death. (p. 85)

Dictionary: tāra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 443, col. 3 “carrying across, a saviour, protector (Rudra), VS. xvi, 40; ŚiraUp.; (Vishṇu) MBh. xiii, 6986”

शूरः śūraḥ

The brave one.

Shankara: He is valiant (vikrama). (p. 85)

Dictionary: śūra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1086, col. 1 “strong, powerful, valiant, heroic, brave”

शौरिः śauriḥ

The descendant of Śūra: Krishna, son of Vasudeva.

Shankara: He is a descendant of Śūra: the son of Vasudeva. (p. 85)

Dictionary: śauri, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1093, col. 2 “patr. of Vasu-deva, MBh.; BhP.; of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa (also among the names of the sun)”

जनेश्वरः janeśvaraḥ

The lord of all living beings.

Shankara: He is the lord of people, that is, of all living beings. (p. 85)

Dictionary: jana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 410, col. 1 “creature, living being, man, person, race”; īśvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 171, col. 1 “master, lord, prince, king ...; God; the Supreme Being”

अनुकूलः anukūlaḥ

The one who is kind to all.

Shankara: He is favourable to all, because he is the self of all; no one acts against his own self. (p. 85–86)

Dictionary: anu-kūla, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 31, col. 2 “favourable, agreeable; conformable to; friendly, kind, well-disposed”

शतावर्त्तः śatāvarttaḥ

The one who comes into the world again and again to protect dharma.

Shankara: He has a hundred returns, that is, appearances (prādurbhāva), to protect dharma. Or, as the life-breath, he moves in the hundred channels (nāḍī) of the body. (p. 86)

Dictionary: śatāvarta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1050, col. 3 “having a h° tufts or curls (on the head; said of Śiva), MBh.; m. N. of Vishṇu, L.”

पद्मी padmī

The one who holds a lotus.

Shankara: He has a lotus (padma) in his hand. (p. 86)

Dictionary: padmin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 585, col. 2 “possessing lotuses”

पद्मनिभेक्षणः padmanibhekṣaṇaḥ

The one whose eyes are like lotuses.

Shankara: His eyes are like lotuses. (p. 86)

Dictionary: padma-nibhekṣaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 584, col. 3 “having eyes like lotus-leaves”

पद्मनाभः padmanābhaḥ

The one who dwells in the centre of the lotus of the heart.

Shankara: He stands in the centre (nābhi), the seed-pod, of the lotus (of the heart). (p. 86)

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

अरविंदाक्षः araviṃdākṣaḥ

The lotus-eyed one.

Shankara: His eyes are like the lotus (aravinda). (p. 86)

Dictionary: aravinda, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 87, col. 2 “a lotus, Nelumbium Speciosum or Nymphæa Nelumbo”; akṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 3, col. 3 “[only ifc. (f. ī) for akshi], the eye”

पद्मगर्भः padmagarbhaḥ

The one worshipped in the lotus of the heart.

Shankara: He is to be worshipped in the middle of the lotus that is the heart. (p. 86)

Dictionary: padma-garbha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 584, col. 3 “the interior or calyx of a l° ...; ‘sprung from a l° or containing lotuses,’ N. of Brahmā ...; of Vishṇu, Hariv.”

शरीरभृत् śarīrabhṛt

The one who sustains all bodies.

Shankara: He holds up the bodies of all embodied beings, feeding them as food or as breath. Or he takes on bodies by his own māyā. (p. 86)

Dictionary: śarīra-bhṛt, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1058, col. 1 “‘containing the (future) body’ and ‘endowed with a body’ (said of seed and the soul)”

महर्द्धिः maharddhiḥ

The one of great glory.

Shankara: His ṛddhi, that is, his glory and power (vibhūti), is great. (p. 86)

Dictionary: ṛddhi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 226, col. 2 “increase, growth, prosperity, success, good fortune, wealth, abundance”

ऋद्धः ṛddhaḥ

The one who grows as the world.

Shankara: He grows in the form of the world. (p. 86)

Dictionary: ṛddha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 226, col. 1 “increased, thriving, prosperous, abundant, wealthy”

वृद्धात्मा vṛddhātmā

The ancient self.

Shankara: His self is old (vṛddha), that is, ancient. (p. 86)

Dictionary: vṛddha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1010, col. 2 “increased, augmented, great, large, RV. &c. &c.; grown up, full-grown, advanced in years, aged, old”; ātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 135, col. 1 “the breath, RV.; the soul, principle of life and sensation”

महाक्षः mahākṣaḥ

The one with great eyes.

Shankara: He has two great eyes, or many great eyes. (p. 86)

Dictionary: mahākṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 795, col. 2 “having great eyes (N. of Śiva)”

गरुडध्वजः garuḍadhvajaḥ

The one whose banner bears Garuda.

Shankara: His banner bears the sign of Garuḍa. (p. 86)

Dictionary: garuḍa-dhvaja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 348, col. 3 “having Garuḍa in its banner (Kṛishṇa's chariot), BhP. x; m. = -ketu”

अतुलः atulaḥ

The one beyond compare.

Shankara: Nothing can be compared (tulā) with him. Shankara quotes the śruti “na tasya pratimā asti” and Gita 11.43: none is equal to him. (p. 87)

Dictionary: a-tula, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 16, col. 2 “unequalled”

शरभः śarabhaḥ

The one who shines within all bodies.

Shankara: Śara means the bodies, because they perish (śīryante). He shines (bhāti) in them as the inner self. (p. 87)

Dictionary: śarabha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1057, col. 2 “a kind of deer or (in later times) a fabulous animal (supposed to have eight legs and to inhabit the snowy mountains ...) ...; N. of Vishṇu, MW.”

भीमः bhīmaḥ

The one held in awe by all.

Shankara: All things stand in awe of him; Shankara gives Pāṇini's rule for the form. Or the word can be read as abhīma: he is not fearsome to those who walk the good path. (p. 87)

Dictionary: bhīma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 758, col. 1 “fearful, terrific, terrible, awful, formidable, tremendous”

समयज्ञः samayajñaḥ

The one who knows the right time for all things.

Shankara: He knows the times (samaya) of creation, keeping and dissolution. Or he knows the six systems of thought. Or his worship (yajana) is to treat all beings the same; Shankara quotes Prahlāda: sameness is the worship of Acyuta. (p. 87)

Dictionary: samaya-jña, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1164, col. 1 “knowing the right time (said of Vishṇu)”

हविर्हरिः havirhariḥ

The one who receives the offerings of the sacrifice.

Shankara: He takes (harati) the share of the oblation (havis) in sacrifices; Shankara quotes Gita 9.24: he is the enjoyer of all sacrifices. Shankara also reads two names here: havis, the oblation itself, and hari, who takes away sin and saṃsāra when he is remembered, or who is tawny in colour. (p. 87–88)

Dictionary: havis, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1294, col. 1 “an oblation or burnt offering, anything offered as an oblation with fire”; hari, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1289, col. 3 “(esp.) N. of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa (in this sense thought by some to be derived from √hṛi, ‘to take away or remove evil or sin’)”

सर्वलक्षणलक्षण्यः sarvalakṣaṇalakṣaṇyaḥ

The one whom every means of knowing points to.

Shankara: All the means of knowing (lakṣaṇa) produce knowledge; that knowledge rightly rests on him alone, because he alone is the highest truth. (p. 88)

Dictionary: lakṣaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 892, col. 1 “a mark, sign, symbol, token, characteristic, attribute, quality”; lakṣaṇya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 892, col. 2 “having auspicious marks or signs”

लक्ष्मीवान् lakṣmīvān

The one with whom Lakshmi always dwells.

Shankara: Lakṣmī always dwells on his chest. (p. 88)

Dictionary: lakṣmī-vat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 893, col. 1 “possessed of fortune or good luck, lucky, prosperous, wealthy”

समितिंजयः samitiṃjayaḥ

The one who wins in battle.

Shankara: He wins (jayati) in battle (samiti). (p. 88)

Dictionary: samitiṃ-jaya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1164, col. 2 “‘victorious in battle’ or ‘eminent in an assembly’ (also N. of Yama and Vishṇu)”

विक्षरः vikṣaraḥ

The one who never perishes.

Shankara: Kṣara, perishing, has gone (vigata) from him: he has no end. (p. 88)

Dictionary: vi-kṣara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 956, col. 2 “pouring out, Hariv.; m. effluence, AV.; N. of Vishṇu-Kṛishṇa, MBh.”

रोहितः rohitaḥ

The one of reddish form, who also became the fish.

Shankara: By his own will he takes a red (rohita) form, or the form of the fish called rohita. (p. 88)

Dictionary: rohita, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 890, col. 3 “red, reddish ...; a kind of fish, Cyprinus Rohitaka”

मार्गः mārgaḥ

The way, and the one whom seekers search for.

Shankara: Seekers of freedom search for (mārgayanti) him. Or he is the way by which supreme bliss is reached. (p. 88)

Dictionary: mārga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 812, col. 2 “N. of Vishṇu (as ‘the way,’ scil. to final emancipation)”

हेतुः hetuḥ

The cause of all.

Shankara: He alone is the cause, both the material cause and the efficient cause. (p. 88)

Dictionary: hetu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1303, col. 3 “‘impulse,’ motive, cause, cause of, reason for”

दामोदरः dāmodaraḥ

The one bound with a rope at the waist; the one reached by self-control.

Shankara: Shankara gives three readings. He is reached by the high mind (udara) through self-control (dama); the Mahabharata says “damād dāmodaraṃ viduḥ”. Or Yaśodā tied him with a rope (dāman) round the belly; he quotes the Brahma Purāṇa. Or all the worlds (dāman) are in his belly, as Vyasa says. (p. 88–89)

Dictionary: dāmodara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 474, col. 3 “‘having a rope round waist,’ N. of Kṛishṇa”

सहः sahaḥ

The one who overcomes all, and who bears with all.

Shankara: He overpowers all. Or he bears with all (kṣamate). (p. 89)

Dictionary: saha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1193, col. 1 “powerful, mighty, RV.; (ifc.) overcoming, vanquishing, MBh.; bearing, enduring, withstanding”

महीधरः mahīdharaḥ

The one who holds up the earth as the mountains.

Shankara: In the form of mountains he holds up the earth. Shankara quotes the Viṣṇu Purāṇa: forests, mountains and the directions are Viṣṇu. (p. 89)

Dictionary: mahī-dhara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 803, col. 2 “‘e°-bearing,’ supporting the earth, Hariv.; m. a mountain, MBh.; Kāv. &c.; N. of Vishṇu, VP.”

महाभागः mahābhāgaḥ

The most blessed one.

Shankara: Taking a body at will, he enjoys great and noble enjoyments. Or great is his fortune (bhāgya) in his avatāras. (p. 89)

Dictionary: mahā-bhāga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 798, col. 1 “one to whom a gr° portion or lot has fallen, highly fortunate, eminent in the highest degree, illustrious, highly distinguished”

वेगवान् vegavān

The swift one.

Shankara: He has great speed. Shankara quotes the Isha Upanishad: the One, unmoving, is swifter than the mind. (p. 89)

Dictionary: vega-vat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1013, col. 3 “agitated (as the ocean), R.; impetuous, rapid, hasty, swift, violent”

अमिताशनः amitāśanaḥ

The one who eats without measure: he takes in the whole world at the end.

Shankara: At the time of dissolution he eats up the whole world. (p. 89)

Dictionary: a-mita, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 81, col. 3 “unmeasured, boundless, infinite”; aśana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 112, col. 2 “eating, ŚBr. &c.; food”

उद्भवः udbhavaḥ

The source of the world; also the one beyond worldly becoming.

Shankara: He is the material cause from which the world arises. Or he has risen above becoming (bhava), that is, above saṃsāra. (p. 89)

Dictionary: ud-bhava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 190, col. 2 “existence, generation, origin, production, birth”

क्षोभणः kṣobhaṇaḥ

The one who stirs nature into creation.

Shankara: At creation he entered prakṛti and puruṣa and stirred them into action. Shankara quotes the Viṣṇu Purāṇa on this. (p. 89)

Dictionary: kṣobhaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 331, col. 3 “shaking, agitating, disturbing, causing emotion ...; (as), m., N. of Śiva, MBh. xii, 10384; of Vishṇu, ib. xiii, 6990”

देवः devaḥ

The shining god.

Shankara: He plays (dīvyati) in creation and the rest, seeks to overcome the asuras, acts in all beings, shines as the self, is praised and goes everywhere. Shankara quotes the mantra “eko devaḥ”, “the one god”. (p. 89–90)

Dictionary: deva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 492, col. 2 “a deity, god”

श्रीगर्भः śrīgarbhaḥ

The one who holds all glory within himself.

Shankara: Śrī, glory in the form of the world, lies within him. (p. 90)

Dictionary: śrī-garbha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1099, col. 1 “having welfare for its inner nature (applied to the sword and punishment), MBh.; m. N. of Vishṇu, Hariv.”

परमेश्वरः parameśvaraḥ

The supreme lord.

Shankara: He is supreme and he rules by nature. Shankara quotes Gita 13.27: the supreme lord dwells the same in all beings. (p. 90)

Dictionary: parameśvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 588, col. 3 “the supreme lord, Supreme Being, God; N. of Śiva; of Vishṇu; of Indra”

करणम् karaṇam

The chief means by which the world is made.

Shankara: He is the most effective instrument in the making of the world. (p. 90)

Dictionary: karaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 254, col. 1 “the act of making, doing, producing, effecting”

कारणम् kāraṇam

The cause of the world.

Shankara: He is the cause, both material and efficient. (p. 90)

Dictionary: kāraṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 274, col. 2 “cause, reason, the cause of anything”

कर्त्ता karttā

The maker, free in his action.

Shankara: He is the independent agent (svatantra). (p. 90)

Dictionary: kartṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 257, col. 3 “one who makes or does or acts or effects, a doer, maker, agent, author”

विकर्त्ता vikarttā

The maker of the varied world.

Shankara: He makes the varied world; he is the Lord Viṣṇu himself. (p. 90)

Dictionary: vi-kartṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 954, col. 2 “a transformer”

गहनः gahanaḥ

The one too deep to be known.

Shankara: His nature, his power and his acts cannot be known. (p. 90)

Dictionary: gahana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 352, col. 1 “deep, dense, thick, impervious, impenetrable, inexplicable, hard to be understood”

गुहः guhaḥ

The hidden one.

Shankara: He hides (gūhate) his own nature with his own māyā. (p. 90)

Dictionary: guha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 360, col. 2 “N. of Śiva, MBh. xiii, 1263; of Vishṇu, W.”

व्यवसायः vyavasāyaḥ

Pure awareness, firm and certain.

Shankara: His nature is pure consciousness (saṃvit) alone. (p. 90)

Dictionary: vy-avasāya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1033, col. 3 “strenuous effort or exertion, Car.; settled determination, resolve, purpose, intention”

व्यवस्थानः vyavasthānaḥ

The one in whom all things are set in order.

Shankara: All things are fixed in him. Or he sets in order the offices of the guardians of the world, the kinds of living beings, the varṇas and āśramas and their duties. He adds a note of grammar on the form. (p. 90–91)

Dictionary: vy-avasthāna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1033, col. 3 “persistent (applied to Vishṇu), MBh. xiii, 6991; n. steadiness, perseverance, continuance in (loc.)”

संस्थानः saṃsthānaḥ

The one in whom all beings come to rest at the end.

Shankara: Beings come to their final rest (dissolution) in him. Or his place (sthāna) is the best. (p. 91)

Dictionary: saṃ-sthāna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1121, col. 3 “standing together, MW.; like, resembling, W.; applied to Vishṇu, MBh.”

स्थानदः sthānadaḥ

The giver of each one's rightful place.

Shankara: He gives Dhruva and others places that fit their deeds. (p. 91)

Dictionary: sthāna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1263, col. 1 “place of standing or staying, any place, spot, locality, abode, dwelling, house, site”

ध्रुवः dhruvaḥ

The one who is firm and never perishes.

Shankara: He is imperishable. (p. 91)

Dictionary: dhruva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 521, col. 2 “fixed, firm, immovable, unchangeable, constant, lasting, permanent, eternal”

परर्द्धिः pararddhiḥ

The one whose glory is the highest.

Shankara: His ṛddhi, his glory and power, is the highest (parā). (p. 91)

Dictionary: ṛddhi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 226, col. 2 “increase, growth, prosperity, success, good fortune, wealth, abundance”; para, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 586, col. 1 “better or worse than, superior or inferior to, best or worst, highest, supreme, chief”

परमस्पष्टः paramaspaṣṭaḥ

The highest one, who is clear as awareness itself.

Shankara: One name in Shankara's reading. Parama: his splendour (mā) is the highest, or he is above all because his perfection depends on no other. Spaṣṭa: he is clear, because he is consciousness itself. (p. 91)

Dictionary: parama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 588, col. 1 “chief, highest, primary, most prominent or conspicuous; best, most excellent”; spaṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1268, col. 2 “clearly perceived or discerned, distinctly visible, distinct, clear, evident, plain, intelligible”

तुष्टः tuṣṭaḥ

The one who is always content.

Shankara: He is content, because he is supreme bliss alone. (p. 91)

Dictionary: tuṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 452, col. 1 “satisfied, pleased”

पुष्टः puṣṭaḥ

The one who is full in every way.

Shankara: He is full in every way. (p. 91)

Dictionary: puṣṭa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 639, col. 1 “nourished, cherished, well-fed, thriving, strong, fat, full, complete, perfect, abundant, rich, great, ample”

शुभेक्षणः śubhekṣaṇaḥ

The one whose glance brings good.

Shankara: His glance is auspicious. It gives freedom to those who seek freedom and enjoyment to those who seek it; it cuts all doubt, purifies those who have done wrong, cuts the knot of the heart and ends ignorance. Shankara quotes the śruti “bhidyate hṛdayagranthiḥ”. (p. 91)

Dictionary: śubhekṣaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1083, col. 3 “having auspicious or fair eyes”

रामः rāmaḥ

The one in whom yogis delight; also Rama, son of Dasharatha.

Shankara: Yogins delight (ramante) in him, who is eternal bliss; Shankara quotes the Padma Purāṇa. Or, by his own will, he took a lovely body as Rāma, son of Daśaratha. (p. 91–92)

Dictionary: rāma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 877, col. 1 “pleasing, pleasant, charming, lovely, beautiful”

विरामः virāmaḥ

The one in whom all things come to rest.

Shankara: In him all beings come to their end (avasāna). (p. 92)

Dictionary: vi-rāma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 982, col. 2 “cessation, termination, end ...; N. of Vishṇu, MBh.”

विरजः virajaḥ

The pure one, free of passion.

Shankara: Shankara's text reads virataḥ here: his delight in the objects of the senses has gone. (p. 92)

Dictionary: vi-raja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 982, col. 1 “free from dust, clean, pure (also fig. ‘free from passion’)”; vi-rata, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 982, col. 2 “stopped, ceased, ended”

मार्गः mārgaḥ

The path to freedom.

Shankara: Knowing him, yogins who seek freedom become fit for immortality; so he alone is the path. Shankara quotes the śruti 'nānyaḥ panthā vidyate “yanāya”. (p. 92)

Dictionary: mārga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 812, col. 2 “N. of Vishṇu (as ‘the way,’ scil. to final emancipation)”

नेयः neyaḥ

The one to whom the soul is led.

Shankara: By the path of right knowledge the jīva is led to be the supreme self. (p. 92)

Dictionary: neya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 569, col. 2 “to be led or guided or managed or governed”

नयः nayaḥ

The one who leads.

Shankara: He leads; he is the leader. Shankara says: the path, the one who is led and the one who leads, he is thought of in these three forms. (p. 92)

Dictionary: naya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 528, col. 2 “leading (of an army), R.; conduct, behaviour, (esp.) prudent c° or b°, good management, polity”

अनयः anayaḥ

The one who has no leader over him.

Shankara: No one leads him. In Shankara's count this is the four-hundredth name. (p. 92)

Dictionary: naya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 528, col. 2 “leading (of an army), R.; conduct, behaviour, (esp.) prudent c° or b°, good management, polity”

वीरः vīraḥ

The hero.

Shankara: He is full of valour (vikrama). (p. 92)

Dictionary: vīra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1005, col. 2 “a man, (esp.) a brave or eminent man, hero, chief (sometimes applied to gods, as to Indra, Vishṇu &c.; pl. men, people, mankind, followers, retainers)”

शक्तिमतां श्रेष्ठः śaktimatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ

The greatest of the mighty.

Shankara: One name in two words. He has power even over the mighty, such as Brahmā. (p. 92)

Dictionary: śakti-mat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1044, col. 3 “possessed of ability, powerful, mighty”; śreṣṭha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1102, col. 3 “most splendid or beautiful ...; most excellent, best, first, chief”

धर्मः dharmaḥ

Dharma itself, which holds up all beings.

Shankara: He holds up (dhāraṇa) all beings; Shankara quotes the śruti “aṇur eṣa dharmaḥ”. Or he is the one worshipped by the dharmas. (p. 92)

Dictionary: dharma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 510, col. 3 “Law or Justice personif. (as Indra, ŚBr. &c.; as Yama, MBh.; ... as Vishṇu, Hariv. ...)”

धर्मविदुत्तमः dharmaviduttamaḥ

The highest of those who know dharma.

Shankara: The śrutis and smṛtis are his commands; so he is the highest of all who know dharma. (p. 92)

Dictionary: dharma-vid, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 512, col. 1 “knowing the l° or duty, virtuous, pious”; ut-tama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 177, col. 3 “uppermost, highest, chief; most elevated, principal; best, excellent”

वैकुण्ठः vaikuṇṭhaḥ

The one who joined the elements together at creation.

Shankara: Vikuṇṭhā means the checking of motion. At the start of the world he joined the scattered elements to each other and so checked their separate motion. Shankara quotes the Śānti Parva on this. (p. 92–93)

Dictionary: vaikuṇṭha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1020, col. 2 “(fr. vi-kuṇṭha) N. of Indra, ŚBr.; KaushUp.; of Vishṇu (Kṛishṇa), MBh.”

पुरुषः puruṣaḥ

The one who was before all; the one who dwells in the body.

Shankara: He was before all things, or he burnt away all sin; Shankara quotes the Bṛhadāraṇyaka śruti. Or he lies in the city (puri śaya) of the body. (p. 93)

Dictionary: puruṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 637, col. 1 “the Supreme Being or Soul of the universe (sometimes with para, parama or uttama; also identified with Brahmā, Vishṇu, Śiva and Durgā)”

प्राणः prāṇaḥ

The life-breath that moves all.

Shankara: As the knower of the field (kṣetrajña) he lives, or as the life-breath he makes beings move. Shankara quotes the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. (p. 93)

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

प्राणदः prāṇadaḥ

The one who takes back the breath of beings at the end.

Shankara: Here Shankara takes it as: he cuts off (khaṇḍayati) the breaths of beings at dissolution and other times. (p. 93)

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

प्रणवः praṇavaḥ

The syllable Om.

Shankara: He praises (praṇauti), as the śruti says. Or he is the one to whom the Vedas bow; Shankara quotes Sanatkumāra. (p. 93)

Dictionary: pra-ṇava, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 660, col. 3 “the mystical or sacred syllable Om”

पृथुः pṛthuḥ

The vast one.

Shankara: He is spread wide in the form of the world. (p. 93)

Dictionary: pṛthu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 646, col. 2 “broad, wide, expansive, extensive, spacious, large; great, important; ample, abundant”

हिरण्यगर्भः hiraṇyagarbhaḥ

The one who holds the golden egg within.

Shankara: The golden egg, born of his seed and the cause of the birth of Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā), is his womb. (p. 93)

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

शत्रुघ्नः śatrughnaḥ

The destroyer of the enemies of the gods.

Shankara: He kills the enemies of the gods. (p. 93)

Dictionary: śatru-ghna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1051, col. 2 “foe-killing, destroying enemies”

व्याप्तः vyāptaḥ

The one who pervades all.

Shankara: Being their cause, he pervades all effects. (p. 93)

Dictionary: vy-āpta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1037, col. 2 “spread through, pervaded, extended, covered or filled with, thoroughly occupied or penetrated by (as the universe by spirit)”

वायुः vāyuḥ

The wind; the one who brings fragrance.

Shankara: He blows (vāti) and he makes fragrance. Shankara quotes Gita 7.9: he is the pure fragrance in the earth. (p. 93)

Dictionary: vāyu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 942, col. 2 “wind, air (as one of the 5 elements; in MBh. 7 winds are reckoned)”

अधोक्षजः adhokṣajaḥ

The one who never falls from his nature; known when the senses turn within.

Shankara: Shankara gives three readings. The Udyoga Parva says he never falls (na kṣīyate) below. Or between the sky (akṣa) and the earth (adhas) he was born as Virāj. Or when the senses (akṣa) are turned down and inward, knowledge of him is born. (p. 93)

Dictionary: adho-'kṣa-ja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 20, col. 1 “N. of Vishṇu or Kṛishṇa”

ऋतुः ṛtuḥ

The seasons; Time itself.

Shankara: As Time, he is meant by the word ṛtu, “season”. (p. 94)

Dictionary: ṛtu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 224, col. 1 “an epoch, period (esp. a division or part of the year), season”

सुदर्शनः sudarśanaḥ

The one whose sight is a blessing; easily seen by devotees.

Shankara: His sight, that is, knowledge of him, is good and its fruit is freedom. Or his eyes are fine and long like lotus petals. Or his devotees see him easily. (p. 94)

Dictionary: su-darśana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1224, col. 2 “good-looking, beautiful, handsome, lovely”

कालः kālaḥ

Time, which measures all.

Shankara: He counts and measures (kalayati) all. Shankara quotes Gita 10.30: of those who count, he is Time. (p. 94)

Dictionary: kāla, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 278, col. 1 “a fixed or right point of time, a space of time, time (in general)”

परमेष्ठी parameṣṭhī

The one who dwells in the highest place, in the heart.

Shankara: It is his nature to stay in his own highest greatness, in the space of the heart. Shankara quotes a mantra: the Parameṣṭhī shines. (p. 94)

Dictionary: parame-ṣṭhin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 588, col. 3 “standing at the head, highest, chief, principal, AV. &c. &c.; m. N. of any supreme being ...; of Vishṇu, Ragh.”

परिग्रहः parigrahaḥ

The one whom seekers take refuge in; the one who accepts offerings.

Shankara: Those who seek refuge hold on to him from all sides, because he is everywhere. Or he is known on all sides. Or he accepts the leaves, flowers and other things that devotees offer. (p. 94)

Dictionary: pari-graha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 593, col. 1 “laying hold of on all sides, surrounding, enclosing, fencing round”

उग्रः ugraḥ

The mighty one, before whom even the sun keeps its course.

Shankara: He is the cause of awe even for the sun and the other powers. Shankara quotes the śruti: from fear of him the sun rises. (p. 94)

Dictionary: ugra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 172, col. 2 “powerful, violent, mighty, impetuous, strong, huge, formidable, terrible; high, noble; cruel, fierce, ferocious, savage; angry, passionate, wrathful”

संवत्सरः saṃvatsaraḥ

The year; the one in whom all beings dwell.

Shankara: All beings dwell together (saṃvasanti) in him. (p. 94)

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

दक्षः dakṣaḥ

The skilful one, who does all things quickly.

Shankara: He grows in the form of the world. Or he does all acts quickly. (p. 94)

Dictionary: dakṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 465, col. 1 “able, fit, adroit, expert, clever, dexterous, industrious, intelligent”

विश्रामः viśrāmaḥ

The giver of rest, of final freedom.

Shankara: In the ocean of saṃsāra, tossed by the six waves such as hunger and thirst and ruled by ignorance and the other afflictions, people long for rest. He gives them rest, that is, freedom. (p. 94)

Dictionary: vi-śrāma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 992, col. 1 “rest, repose, relaxation, calm, tranquillity”

विश्वदक्षिणः viśvadakṣiṇaḥ

The one more able than all.

Shankara: He is more able (dakṣiṇa, śakta) than all. Or he is skilful in all acts. (p. 94)

Dictionary: viśva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 992, col. 2 “all, every, every one; whole, entire, universal”; dakṣiṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 465, col. 2 “able, clever, dexterous”

विस्तारः vistāraḥ

The one in whom all the worlds are spread out.

Shankara: All the worlds are spread out (vistīryante) in him. (p. 95)

Dictionary: vi-stāra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1001, col. 3 “spreading, expansion, extent, width”

स्थावरस्थाणुः sthāvarasthāṇuḥ

The steady one, in whom all steady things stand.

Shankara: One name in Shankara's reading. Sthāvara: steady by nature. Sthāṇu: the earth and other steady things stand in him. He is both. (p. 95)

Dictionary: sthāvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1264, col. 1 “standing still, not moving, fixed, stationary, stable, immovable (opp. to jaṅgama, q.v.)”; sthāṇu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1262, col. 3 “standing firmly, stationary, firm, fixed, immovable, motionless”

प्रमाणम् pramāṇam

The measure of all knowing: awareness itself.

Shankara: He is the means of knowing, being consciousness itself. (p. 95)

Dictionary: pramāṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 685, col. 3 “measure, scale, standard”

बीजमव्ययम् bījamavyayam

The seed that never changes.

Shankara: One name with its qualifier: the cause (seed) that does not change into something else. (p. 95)

Dictionary: bīja, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 732, col. 2 “seed (of plants), semen (of men and animals), seed-corn, grain ...; any germ, element, primary cause or principle, source, origin”; a-vyaya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 111, col. 3 “not liable to change, imperishable, undecaying”

अर्थः arthaḥ

The one whom all seek.

Shankara: All seek (arthyate) him, because he is happiness. (p. 95)

Dictionary: artha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 90, col. 2 “aim, purpose”

अनर्थः anarthaḥ

The one who needs nothing.

Shankara: He has no aim to gain, because all his wishes are fulfilled. (p. 95)

Dictionary: artha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 90, col. 2 “aim, purpose”

महाकोशः mahākośaḥ

The one covered by great sheaths.

Shankara: The great sheaths (kośa), such as the sheath of food, cover him. (p. 95)

Dictionary: mahā-kośa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 795, col. 2 “a large sheath”

महाभोगः mahābhogaḥ

The one whose joy is great.

Shankara: His great enjoyment (bhoga) is happiness itself. (p. 95)

Dictionary: 3. mahā-bhoga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 798, col. 2 “(fr. 2. bhoga) gr° enjoyment, Kathās.; mf(ā)n. causing gr° enj°”; bhoga, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 767, col. 2 “enjoyment, eating, feeding on”

महाधनः mahādhanaḥ

The one of great wealth.

Shankara: His great wealth is the means of enjoyment. (p. 95)

Dictionary: mahā-dhana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 796, col. 3 “great spoil or booty (taken in battle), RV.; a gr° contest, gr° battle, ib.; Naigh.; great wealth or riches”; dhana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 508, col. 2 “any valued object, (esp.) wealth, riches, (movable) property, money, treasure, gift”

अनिर्विण्णः anirviṇṇaḥ

The one who never tires or loses heart.

Shankara: He has no weariness (nirveda), because all his wishes are fulfilled. (p. 96)

Dictionary: a-nirviṇṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 30, col. 1 “not downcast”

स्थविष्ठः sthaviṣṭhaḥ

The vastest one, the cosmic form.

Shankara: He stands in the cosmic form (Virāj). Shankara quotes the Muṇḍaka Upanishad: fire is his head, the sun and moon his eyes. (p. 96)

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

अभूः abhūḥ

The unborn one.

Shankara: He is unborn. Or, read as bhūḥ, he is “the one who is”; or he is the earth. (p. 96)

Dictionary: a-bhū, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 75, col. 1 “‘unborn,’ N. of Vishṇu”

धर्मयूपः dharmayūpaḥ

The post to which all dharma is tied.

Shankara: As the animal is tied to the sacrificial post (yūpa), the dharmas, which are his worship, are tied to him. (p. 96)

Dictionary: yūpa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 856, col. 1 “a post, beam, pillar, (esp.) a smooth post or stake to which the sacrificial victim is fastened, any sacrificial post or stake”

महामखः mahāmakhaḥ

The one through whom sacrifice becomes great.

Shankara: Sacrifices (makha) offered to him become great, because they give the fruit of freedom (nirvāṇa). (p. 96)

Dictionary: makha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 772, col. 1 “a sacrifice, sacrificial oblation”

नक्षत्रनेमिः nakṣatranemiḥ

The hub of the wheel of stars.

Shankara: Shankara quotes a verse: the stars and planets are tied to Dhruva by cords of wind. Dhruva stands in the tail of the star-dolphin (śiśumāra); Viṣṇu stands in its heart and drives the wheel of lights like the rim (nemi) of a wheel. (p. 96)

Dictionary: nakṣatra-nemi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 524, col. 2 “the pole-star, L.; the moon, L.; N. of Vishṇu, MBh.”

नक्षत्री nakṣatrī

The moon among the stars.

Shankara: He is the moon. Shankara quotes Gita 10.21: among the stars he is the moon. (p. 96)

Dictionary: nakṣatrin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 524, col. 3 “‘having or holding the stars,’ N. of Vishṇu, MBh. xiii, 6996 (cf. °tra-nemi)”

क्षमः kṣamaḥ

The able one; the patient one.

Shankara: He is able in all tasks. Or he is patient; Shankara quotes Vālmīki: in patience like the earth. (p. 96)

Dictionary: kṣama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 326, col. 2 “patient (said of the earth ...); ifc. ... enduring, suffering, bearing, submissive, resisting”

क्षामः kṣāmaḥ

The one who remains when all change has worn away.

Shankara: When all changes have worn away, he stays as his own self. Shankara adds a rule of grammar for the form. (p. 96)

Dictionary: kṣāma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 333, col. 1 “burning to ashes, charring ...; scorched, singed ...; dried up, emaciated, wasted, thin, slim, slender”

समीहनः samīhanaḥ

The one who works with care for the world.

Shankara: He strives well (samyag īhate) for creation and the rest. (p. 96)

Dictionary: sam-īhana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1165, col. 2 “zealous, eager (said of Vishṇu)”

यज्ञः yajñaḥ

The sacrifice itself.

Shankara: He is every sacrifice. Or he acts in the form of sacrifice to please all the gods. Shankara quotes the śruti “yajño vai viṣṇuḥ”. (p. 97)

Dictionary: yajña, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 839, col. 2 “worship, devotion, prayer, praise; act of worship or devotion, offering, oblation, sacrifice ...; N. of a form of Vishṇu, Pur.”

इज्यः ijyaḥ

The one to be worshipped.

Shankara: He alone is the one to be worshipped. Shankara quotes the Harivaṃśa: those who worship gods and ancestors with sacrifice worship Viṣṇu alone. (p. 97)

Dictionary: ijya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 164, col. 2 “to be revered or honoured ...; (as), m. a teacher, BhP.; a deity, god”

महेज्यः mahejyaḥ

The most worthy of worship.

Shankara: Of all the gods who are worshipped, he is the most worthy, because he gives the fruit of freedom. (p. 97)

Dictionary: ijya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 164, col. 2 “to be revered or honoured ...; (as), m. a teacher, BhP.; a deity, god”

क्रतुः kratuḥ

The sacrifice with the sacrificial post.

Shankara: He is a sacrifice with a sacrificial post (yūpa). (p. 97)

Dictionary: kratu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 319, col. 1 “a sacrificial rite or ceremony, sacrifice (as the Aśva-medha sacrifice), offering, worship”

सत्रम् satram

The great sacrificial session; the protector of the good.

Shankara: He is the sattra, the sacrifice marked by its own rule of injunction. Or he protects (trāyate) the good (sat). (p. 97)

Dictionary: sattra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1138, col. 2 “‘session,’ a great Soma sacrifice (lasting, accord. to some, from 13 to 100 days and performed by many officiating Brāhmans; also applied to any oblation or meritorious work equivalent to the performance of a Sattra ...)”

सतां गतिः satāṃ gatiḥ

The goal of the good.

Shankara: One name in two words. For the good, the seekers of freedom, there is no other goal. (p. 97)

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

सर्वदर्शी sarvadarśī

The one who sees all.

Shankara: By his own natural knowing he sees all that every being has done and not done. (p. 97)

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

विमुक्तात्मा vimuktātmā

The self that is ever free.

Shankara: His self is free by nature. Or he is the free self. Shankara quotes the śruti “vimuktaś ca vimucyate”. (p. 97)

Dictionary: vi-mukta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 980, col. 2 “unloosed, unharnessed &c.; set free, liberated (esp. from mundane existence)”; ātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 135, col. 1 “the breath, RV.; the soul, principle of life and sensation, RV.; AV. &c.; the individual soul, self, abstract individual”

सर्वज्ञः sarvajñaḥ

The one who knows all.

Shankara: He is all, and he is the knower. Shankara quotes the śruti “idaṃ sarvaṃ yad ayam ātmā”. (p. 97)

Dictionary: sarva-jña, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1185, col. 2 “all-knowing, omniscient (said of gods and men, esp. of ministers and philosophers)”

ज्ञानमुत्तमम् jñānamuttamam

The highest knowledge, Brahman.

Shankara: One name with its qualifier. Knowledge that is highest, unborn and unlimited, the chief means of all: Brahman. Shankara quotes the śruti “satyaṃ jñānam anantaṃ brahma”. (p. 97)

Dictionary: jñāna, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 426, col. 1 “knowing, becoming acquainted with, knowledge, (esp.) the higher knowledge (derived from meditation on the one Universal Spirit)”; ut-tama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 177, col. 3 “uppermost, highest, chief; most elevated, principal; best, excellent”

सुव्रतः suvrataḥ

The one whose vow is noble: he protects all who come to him.

Shankara: His vow (vrata) is noble. Shankara quotes Rāma's words in the Rāmāyaṇa: to anyone who comes once and says "I am yours", he gives safety; that is his vow. (p. 98)

Dictionary: su-vrata, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1234, col. 1 “strict in observing religious vows, very religious or virtuous (often in voc.)”

सुमुखः sumukhaḥ

The one with a bright and kind face.

Shankara: His face is fair; Shankara quotes the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Or he is Rāma, whose face stayed glad when he was sent to the forest; he quotes the Rāmāyaṇa. Or he teaches all knowledge. (p. 98)

Dictionary: su-mukha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1231, col. 2 “having a good or beautiful mouth, fair-faced, handsome”

सूक्ष्मः sūkṣmaḥ

The subtle one.

Shankara: He is free of the gross causes such as sound, which make the elements grosser one after another. Shankara quotes the śruti “sarvagataṃ susūkṣmam”. (p. 98)

Dictionary: sūkṣma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1240, col. 3 “acute, subtle, keen (understanding or mental operation ...) ...; subtle, atomic, intangible”

सुघोषः sughoṣaḥ

The one whose voice is the Veda; deep like thunder.

Shankara: His sound, the Veda, is good. Or his voice is deep like a cloud. (p. 98)

Dictionary: su-ghoṣa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1223, col. 1 “making a loud noise, very noisy, MBh.; having a pleasant sound”

सुखदः sukhadaḥ

The giver of happiness to the good.

Shankara: He gives happiness to those who live well. Or he cuts off (dyati) the happiness of the wicked. (p. 98–99)

Dictionary: sukha-da, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1221, col. 1 “giving pleasure or delight, Kāv.; VarBṛS.; m. N. of Vishṇu, MBh.”

सुहृत् suhṛt

The true friend, who helps without asking anything back.

Shankara: He does good without looking for any return. (p. 99)

Dictionary: su-hṛd, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1239, col. 3 “‘good-hearted,’ ‘kind-hearted,’ ‘well-disposed,’ a friend, ally”

मनोहरः manoharaḥ

The one who steals the heart.

Shankara: He wins the mind because he is bliss beyond compare. Shankara quotes the śruti: the infinite is happiness; there is no happiness in the small. (p. 99)

Dictionary: mano-hara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 785, col. 3 “‘heart-stealing,’ taking the fancy, fascinating, attractive, charming, beautiful”

जितक्रोधः jitakrodhaḥ

The one who has conquered anger.

Shankara: He has conquered anger. He kills the enemies of the gods to keep the order set by the Veda, not because anger rules him. (p. 99)

Dictionary: jita-krodha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 420, col. 3 “one who has subdued anger”; krodha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 322, col. 1 “anger, wrath, passion”

वीरबाहुः vīrabāhuḥ

The one with mighty arms.

Shankara: Killing the foes of the gods and keeping the order of the Veda, his arms are full of valour. (p. 99)

Dictionary: vīra-bāhu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1005, col. 3 “‘strong-armed,’ N. of Vishṇu”

विदारणः vidāraṇaḥ

The one who tears apart the unrighteous.

Shankara: He tears apart those who are unrighteous. (p. 99)

Dictionary: vi-dāraṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 966, col. 2 “tearing or rending asunder, breaking, splitting, cleaving, piercing, crushing, lacerating”

स्वापनः svāpanaḥ

The one who puts beings to sleep in māyā.

Shankara: By māyā he makes beings sleep, cut off from knowing the Self. (p. 99)

Dictionary: svāpana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1280, col. 3 “(fr. Caus.) causing to sleep, making sleepy (said of a mystic weapon)”

स्ववशः svavaśaḥ

The one who depends on none.

Shankara: He is independent, because he is the cause of the rise, keeping and end of the world. (p. 99)

Dictionary: sva-vaśa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1276, col. 3 “having control of one's self, self-controlled, subject to one's self or to one's own will, independent, free”

व्यापी vyāpī

The one who pervades all, like space.

Shankara: He is everywhere like space; Shankara quotes the śruti: “like space, everywhere and eternal”. Or, as their cause, he pervades all effects. (p. 99)

Dictionary: vy-āpin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1037, col. 2 “reaching through, pervading, covering, diffusive, comprehensive, spreading everywhere ...; m. ‘pervader,’ N. of Vishṇu, MW.”

नैकात्मा naikātmā

The one who takes many forms.

Shankara: He stands in many ways, through the glories (vibhūti) whose powers act as causes in creation and the rest. (p. 99)

Dictionary: naikātman, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 523, col. 3 “of manifold nature (Śiva)”

नैककर्मकृत् naikakarmakṛt

The doer of countless deeds.

Shankara: He does many acts: the creation of the world, its prosperity, its decline and more. (p. 99)

Dictionary: karma-kṛt, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 258, col. 3 “performing any work, skilful in work”

वत्सरः vatsaraḥ

The one in whom all things dwell.

Shankara: All things dwell (vasati) in him. (p. 99)

Dictionary: vatsara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 916, col. 1 “the Year personified ... (as a son of Dhruva and Bhrami, BhP.; also applied to Vishṇu, MBh.)”

वत्सलः vatsalaḥ

The loving one, tender to his devotees.

Shankara: He loves his devotees. Shankara adds a rule of grammar for the form. (p. 99–100)

Dictionary: vatsala, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 916, col. 1 “kind, loving, tender, fond of or devoted to”

वत्सी vatsī

The father of the world, for whom beings are like calves.

Shankara: He protects the calves (vatsa). Or all beings are calves to him, the father of the world. (p. 100)

Dictionary: vatsin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 916, col. 1 “having a calf, RV.; m. ‘having many children (?),’ N. of Vishṇu, MBh.”

रत्नगर्भः ratnagarbhaḥ

The ocean, holding jewels within.

Shankara: He is the ocean, which holds jewels within it. (p. 100)

Dictionary: ratna-garbha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 864, col. 2 “filled with precious stones, containing jewels, set with j°, MBh.; R.; m. the sea”

धनेश्वरः dhaneśvaraḥ

The lord of riches.

Shankara: He is the lord of all riches. (p. 100)

Dictionary: dhaneśvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 508, col. 3 “‘treasure-lord,’ N. of Kubera”

धर्मगुप् dharmagup

The protector of dharma.

Shankara: He guards (gopayati) dharma. Shankara quotes Gita 4.8: he is born in age after age to set dharma firm. (p. 100)

Dictionary: dharma-gup, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 511, col. 1 “protecting or observing the law”

धर्मकृत् dharmakṛt

The one who acts by dharma, to keep its bounds.

Shankara: Though he is beyond dharma and adharma, he does dharma to keep its bounds. (p. 100)

Dictionary: 1. dharma-kṛt, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 510, col. 3 “doing one's duty, virtuous”

धर्मी dharmī

The one who upholds all dharmas.

Shankara: He holds up all the dharmas. (p. 100)

Dictionary: dharmin, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 512, col. 3 “knowing or obeying the law, faithful to duty, virtuous, pious, just ...; endowed with any characteristic mark or peculiar property”

सत् sat

The real; the highest Brahman.

Shankara: He is the supreme Brahman, which is true and not false. Shankara quotes the śruti “sad eva somyedam”. (p. 100)

Dictionary: sat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1134, col. 2 “being, existing, occurring, happening, being present”

असत् asat

The changing world of names and forms, which is also he.

Shankara: He is the lower Brahman, the world of effects. Shankara quotes the śruti: change is only a name, arising from speech. (p. 100)

Dictionary: a-sat, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 118, col. 2 “not being, not existing, unreal ...; untrue, wrong”

क्षरम् kṣaram

All beings that perish.

Shankara: He is all beings, which perish. (p. 100)

Dictionary: kṣara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 327, col. 1 “melting away, perishable”

अक्षरम् akṣaram

The imperishable.

Shankara: He is the unchanging one (kūṭastha). Shankara quotes Gita 15.16: there are two persons in the world, the perishable and the imperishable. (p. 100)

Dictionary: a-kṣara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 3, col. 2 “imperishable; unalterable; (as), m. a sword, L.; Śiva, L.; Vishṇu, L.”

अविज्ञाता avijñātā

The one who is not a knower in the way the bound soul is.

Shankara: The idea of being an agent and a knower is only imagined in the self. The jīva, wrapped in those impressions, is the knower (vijñātā). Viṣṇu is unlike the jīva, so he is avijñātā. (p. 100–101)

Dictionary: a-vijñātṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 108, col. 2 “not perceiving, ChUp.; ignorant, Nir. ii, 3; (tā), m. a N. of Vishṇu, MBh. xiii, 7000”

सहस्रांशुः sahasrāṃśuḥ

The thousand-rayed one, the light in the sun.

Shankara: The rays in the sun and other lights are his; so he is the true “thousand-rayed”. Shankara quotes a śruti and Gita 15.12: the light in the sun is his. (p. 101)

Dictionary: sahasrāṃśu, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1196, col. 2 “th°-rayed; m. the sun”

विधाता vidhātā

The one who holds up those who hold up the world.

Shankara: He holds up, in a special way, Śeṣa, the elephants of the quarters and the mountains, which hold up all beings. (p. 101)

Dictionary: vi-dhātṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 967, col. 3 “distributing, arranging, disposing &c.; m. a distributer, disposer, arranger, accomplisher, maker, author, creator”

कृतलक्षणः kṛtalakṣaṇaḥ

The one who made the scriptures, and who bears the Śrīvatsa mark.

Shankara: His nature is ever-present awareness. Or he made the lakṣaṇas, the scriptures. Or he made the marks that set all things apart. Or he bears on his chest the Śrīvatsa mark he made. (p. 101)

Dictionary: kṛta-lakṣaṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 302, col. 2 “marked, stamped, branded ...; noted for good qualities, excellent, amiable”

गभस्तिनेमिः gabhastinemiḥ

The one at the centre of the wheel of rays.

Shankara: As the sun, he stands in the middle of the wheel of rays (gabhasti). (p. 101)

Dictionary: gabhasti-nemi, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 346, col. 2 “‘the felly of whose wheel is sharp-edged (?),’ N. of Kṛishṇa, MBh. xii, 1512”

सत्त्वस्थः sattvasthaḥ

The one who abides in goodness, and in all beings.

Shankara: He rules chiefly through sattva, the quality that gives light. Or he stays in all beings. (p. 101)

Dictionary: sattva-stha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1135, col. 2 “being in the nature (of anything), W.; adherent in firmness of character, resolute, energetic”

सिंहः siṃhaḥ

The lion; Narasimha.

Shankara: He is like a lion in valour. Or the name stands for Nṛsiṃha, with the first part dropped, as Satyabhāmā is called Bhāmā. (p. 101)

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

भूतमहेश्वरः bhūtamaheśvaraḥ

The great lord of all beings.

Shankara: He is the great lord of beings. Or, taking bhūta as “true”: he alone is truly the highest great lord. (p. 101–102)

Dictionary: bhūta-maheśvara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 762, col. 1 “= -bhartṛi, R.”

आदिदेवः ādidevaḥ

The first god, into whom all are taken back.

Shankara: Here Shankara takes ādi from “to take”: all beings are taken in (ādīyante) by him. He is ādi and he is a god. (p. 102)

Dictionary: ādi-deva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 137, col. 1 “‘the first god;’ N. of Brahman, Vishṇu, Śiva, Gaṇeśa, the sun”

महादेवः mahādevaḥ

The great god.

Shankara: Leaving all other states of being, he is glorified in the great lordship of self-knowledge and yoga. (p. 102)

Dictionary: mahā-deva, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 796, col. 2 “of Vishṇu, MBh.; Hariv.; RāmatUp.”

देवेशः deveśaḥ

The lord of the gods.

Shankara: He is the chief lord of the gods. (p. 102)

Dictionary: deveśa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 495, col. 2 “‘chief of the g°,’ N. of Brahmā or Vishṇu or Śiva or Indra”

देवभृद्गुरुः devabhṛdguruḥ

The teacher and ruler even of Indra.

Shankara: Devabhṛt, “the one who supports the gods”, is Indra; he rules even Indra. Or he is guru because he supports the gods and teaches all knowledge. (p. 102)

Dictionary: guru, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 359, col. 2 “venerable, respectable; m. any venerable or respectable person (father, mother, or any relative older than one's self)”

उत्तरः uttaraḥ

The one who rises above the bonds of birth; the highest.

Shankara: He rises above (uttarati) the bond of birth and saṃsāra. Or he is the highest of all; Shankara quotes the śruti “viśvasmād indra uttaraḥ”. (p. 102)

Dictionary: uttara, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 178, col. 1 “upper, higher, superior”

गोपतिः gopatiḥ

The lord of the cows; the lord of the earth.

Shankara: In a cowherd's dress he protects the cows. Or he is the lord of the earth (go). (p. 102)

Dictionary: go-pati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 365, col. 2 “‘the chief of herdsmen,’ Kṛishṇa or Vishṇu, MBh. xiii, 7002 & 7012”

गोप्ता goptā

The protector of the world.

Shankara: He protects all beings; he is the guardian of the world. (p. 102)

Dictionary: goptṛ, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 368, col. 2 “one who preserves or protects or defends or cherishes”

ज्ञानगम्यः jñānagamyaḥ

The one reached by knowledge alone.

Shankara: He is reached neither by action nor by knowledge joined with action, but by knowledge alone. (p. 102)

Dictionary: jñāna-gamya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 426, col. 1 “attainable by the understanding (Śiva)”

पुरातनः purātanaḥ

The ancient one.

Shankara: Time does not bound him; he was there even before all. (p. 102)

Dictionary: purā-tana, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 635, col. 1 “belonging to the past, former, old, ancient”

शरीरभूतभृत् śarīrabhūtabhṛt

The one who sustains the elements that make the body.

Shankara: In the form of the life-breath he sustains the elements that build the body. (p. 102)

Dictionary: śarīra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1057, col. 3 “the body, bodily frame, solid parts of the body”; bhūta, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 761, col. 3 “an element, one of the 5 elements”

भोक्ता bhoktā

The protector; the one who enjoys supreme bliss.

Shankara: He is the protector. Or he enjoys the fullness of supreme bliss. In Shankara's count this is the five-hundredth name. (p. 102)

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

कपींद्रः kapīṃdraḥ

The lord who took the form of the Boar; Rama, lord of the monkeys.

Shankara: Kapi here means the boar (varāha); he took a boar's body and is the lord (indra). Or he is the lord of the monkeys: Rāma, of the line of Raghu. (p. 103)

Dictionary: kapīndra, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 250, col. 3 “‘lord of monkeys,’ N. of Vishṇu, MBh. xiii, 7002”

भूरिदक्षिणः bhūridakṣiṇaḥ

The one who gives rich gifts in sacrifice.

Shankara: When he performs sacrifice to show the bounds of dharma, his gifts to the priests (dakṣiṇā) are many. (p. 103)

Dictionary: bhūri-dakṣiṇa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 764, col. 1 “attended with rich presents or rewards, MBh.; bestowing rich presents (esp. on Brāhmans at a sacrifice), liberal”

सोमपः somapaḥ

The one who drinks the soma in every sacrifice.

Shankara: As the deity worshipped in all sacrifices, he drinks the soma. Or he drinks it as the sacrificer, to show the bounds of dharma. (p. 103)

Dictionary: soma-pa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1250, col. 1 “drinking or entitled to drink Soma-juice”

अमृतपः amṛtapaḥ

The one who drinks the nectar of his own self.

Shankara: He drinks the nectar of his own self. Or he saved the nectar (amṛta) from the asuras, gave it to the gods to drink, and drank it himself. (p. 103)

Dictionary: a-mṛta-pa, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 82, col. 2 “drinking nectar; (as), m., N. of a Dānava, MBh. i, 2537; N. of Vishṇu”

सोमः somaḥ

The moon, who nourishes the plants.

Shankara: As the moon (soma) he nourishes the plants. Or he is Śiva together with Umā (sa-Umā). (p. 103)

Dictionary: soma, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1249, col. 3 “the moon or moon-god”

पुरुजित् purujit

The one who conquers many.

Shankara: He conquers many (puru) foes. (p. 103)

Dictionary: puru-jit, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 636, col. 2 “‘conquering many,’ N. of a hero on the side of the Pāṇḍus and brother of Kunti-bhoja”

पुरुसत्तमः purusattamaḥ

The one who is all and the best of all.

Shankara: Puru: he is many, because he is the form of all. Sattama: he is the highest. (p. 103)

Dictionary: puru, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 636, col. 2 “much, many, abundant”; sat-tama, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1134, col. 3 “very good or right, the best, first, chief of (gen. or comp.)”

विनयः vinayaḥ

The one who disciplines the wicked.

Shankara: He gives vinaya, that is, punishment, to the wicked. (p. 103)

Dictionary: vi-naya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 971, col. 3 “leading away or asunder, separating ...; leading, guidance, training”

जयः jayaḥ

Victory itself.

Shankara: He conquers all beings. (p. 103)

Dictionary: jaya, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 412, col. 3 “conquest, victory, triumph, winning, being victorious”

सत्यसंधः satyasaṃdhaḥ

The one whose resolve is always true.

Shankara: His resolve (sandhā) is true. Shankara quotes the śruti “satyasaṅkalpaḥ”. (p. 103)

Dictionary: satya-saṃdha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1136, col. 3 “true to engagements, keeping one's agreement or promise, faithful”

दाशार्हः dāśārhaḥ

The one worthy of gifts; born in the Dashārha family.

Shankara: He is worthy (arhati) of dāśa, that is, gifts. Or he was born in the family of the Daśārhas. (p. 103–104)

Dictionary: dāśārha, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 477, col. 1 “a prince of the D°, N. of Kṛishṇa”

सात्वतांपतिः sātvatāṃpatiḥ

The lord of the Sātvatas, his devotees.

Shankara: One name in two words. Sāttvata is the name of a Tantra (the Pāñcarātra). Those who make it their own are the Sāttvats; he is their lord, who gives them what they need and keeps it safe (yoga-kṣema). (p. 104)

Dictionary: sātvata, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 1200, col. 2 “relating to the Satvats or the Sātvatas, belonging or sacred to Sātvata or Kṛishṇa”; pati, Monier-Williams 1899, p. 582, col. 1 “a master, owner, possessor, lord, ruler, sovereign”