Post 8- Bhishma tells the Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudishtira

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Bharathi199

Active Member
The Vishnu Sahasranama is chanted in millions of homes every single day and believed to be very powerful. These 1000 names of Lord Vishnu were first told to Yudishtira by Bhishma after the end of the great war. This is part of the Anushasana Parva in the great epic.
The war has ended, and after completing the last rites of all the warriors who has lost their lives, Yudishtira is very depressed. He feels that he has caused a great slaughter and he wants to go away to the forest and live the rest of his life there as a sanyasin, leaving his kingdom behind. Bhima, Arjuna, the twins, Draupadi and finally Krishna and Vyasa all talk to him and tell him that to go away now would be very wrong. Krishna teaches him that his duty is to become a good king and protect his people. Further, Krishna advices Yudisthira to go seek Bhishma’s blessings before it is time for Bhishma to leave the world. Bhishma is waiting for the sun to begin its northward movement. When it does so, he will give up his life.
Krishna explains to Yudishtira that when Bhishma dies, all his vast knowledge will die with him too. There is no one better than Bhishma to give Yudishtira the right knowledge about his duties as a king.
Yudishtira agrees and the Pandavas all go to Bhishma, along with Krishna. The old warrior is lying on the bed of arrows created by Arjuna, surrounded by rishis. On Krishna’s request, he starts telling Yudishtira what the various kinds of duties are. It is here when he is explaining this that Yudishtira asks him the 6 questions that come right after the introductory slokas of the Vishnu Sahasranama:

Yudishtira uvaacha:

Kim Ekam daivatam lOkE Kim vaapi Ekam paraayaNam
Stuvantah kam kam archantah paraapnuyur maanavaa: subham
ko dharma: sarva dharmaaNaam bhavata: paramO mata:
kim japan muchyatE jantu janma samsaara bandanaath

Meaning:
-Who is the ONE Supreme divinity?
-What is primary goal of life?
-Which divinity should be praised for attaining prosperity during life and eternal bliss after death?
-Who should be meditated upon to attain these?
-Which Mantra releases Man from the bondage of worldly ties?

-Which is the best means of attaining the grace of God?

Bhishma answers these questions by introducing Yudishtira to the sahasranama and tells him that chanting these 1000 names is the solution for his mental distress.
 

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