551. Dridhah - "The Finn." One who is firm in His convictions, judgements, love and mercy. It is in this sense that the Bhakti Marga describes the Lord often as 'A-Dridhah^ especially when a sinner prostrates before Him; meaning that in full repentance were a criminal to surrender himself to the Lord's Feet, the Infinite Justice even wavers and becomes anxious to help the sinner out of his mistaken notions and his consequent ugly actions. The Lord is ever vigilant to re-establish such a one in his own wisdom, which is his real nature.
552. Sankarshano-achyutah During the great dissolution of the entire universe of names and forms, He, being the one who merges the entire plurality into His own essenceHe is called ^Sankarshanah.'1 When an individual sleeps, his entire world of experiences get absorbed into himself and they all remain in seed condition in the 'Causal-body* as mere vaasanaas. One who never falls away from His own ess- ential nature is called 'Achyutah'one who knows no fall (Chyutih). The one expression used here for the Lord is the combination of both these terms. The Lord Narayana who absorbs the whole world into Himself at the time of the deluge, and He who never falls away from His own Real Nature.
553. Varunah Since, in the evening, the sun reaches the western horizon (Varuna-Dik) the sun is called Varunah. Also after his day's functioning in the world, in the dusk he gathers his scorching rays unto himself and disappears. Like the setting sun, the Lord withdraws all the pluralistic world unto Himself. The Eternal Reality, functioning through the sun as the sun's energy and light, is described in the Upanishads as the 'Golden One', and hence the appropriateness of using this term Varunah for Narayana. The designation Soorya- Narayana is very familiar to the students of Purana.
554. Vaarunah The son of Varunah is called Vaarunah. Both Vasishtha and Agastya are traditionally consi- dered as sons of Varunah. Therefore, the term indicates the Lord, who manifested himself as Vasishtha or Agastya. Where- ever there is an explosive expression of any spectacular glory of stupendous achievement, "understand them all as coming out of my glory," says Krishna in the Bhagavad Geeta.*
The term can also be read in some manuscripts as A- Vaarunahmeaning, according to some commentators, "one whose nature is never subject to veiling."
555. Vrikshah In the Upanishads the world emerging out of the Supreme Brahman is described meta- phorically as a 'Tree'; in the Kathopanishad and in the Geeta, we read of the Samsaara-Vrikshathe Tree of Lifeexhaus lively described. In the Puranas, again we find, in more than 3 or 4 places, exhaustive descriptions of the world manifested from the Lord as a 'Tree.'
556. Pushkaraakshah One who has eyes (Aksha) as beautiful as the lotus flowers (Pushkara); the de- scriptive epithet: 'Lotus-eyed.' The Sanskrit term ' Pushkara' also means the Universal-Space, thus, it also has the inter- pretation, "one who is ever pervading all space."
557. Mahaamanaah "One who has a great mind." Narayana as the Lord (Eesvara) is the Supreme Con- sciousness functioning through the Total-Mind, and He, with His Mind, creates, sustains and destroys, fulfilling the great game of Samsar, continuously.
558. Bhagavaan The word Bhaga according to the Great Vishnu Purana means, "One who has all the Six Great GloriesWealth, Power, Dharma, Fame, Character, Knowledge and Dispassionis called 'Bhagavaan'." Again, Vishnu Purana says: "He is named Bhagavaan who knows (a) the beginning and the end, (b) the arrival and the departure of beings, and also (c) Vidyaa and Avidyaa." One who has all these Six Glories in Himself alone is Bhagavan and these great mighty powers automatically come to Him, because His equipment is the Total-mind.
559. Bhagahaa One who destroys, during the deluge, the Six Glories just mentioned. At this time, the Lord absorbs everything unto Himself, and in this sense the term, "destroyer of all these great glories" (Bhagahaa) means only a destruction as in the case, say, of Napoleon who, while sleeping, absorbed unto himself all his glories. When thus the Total- mind rests from its self-willed projections, the world of plurality appears to have been absorbed by the Lord unto Himself.
560. Aanandee "The one who gives delight." The Lord is Himself Absolute Bliss, and those devotees who move towards Him in pure surrender, come to share His divine nature of All-Bliss. There is a version wherein we read this term as 'Nandee' . Here, too, there is no difference in meaning. Also this term indicates: "Son of Nandagopaala" Lord KrishnaWho was nurtured and tended by Yasodaa and Nandagopaala throughout His childhood.
561. Vanamaalee One who wears always a garland of leaves and flowers named Vaijayantee. Vaishnavas declare this to represent the subtle aspect of the very five ele- ments themselves, (Bhoota-tanmaatraas).
562. Halaayudhah "One who has the plough as His weapon." He is the brother of Lord Krishna, Bala- bhadra, who is considered as the eighth Incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Even today in our country the farmers repeat Bala- rama's name while ploughing for a successful cultivation and profitable harvest.
563. Aadityah One who was born as the son of Aditi and Kasyapa as Vaamana, who begged of Emperor Bali three steps of ground and got all the three worlds.
564. Jyotir-aadityah "The Supreme who is the resplendence in the Sun." The Atman expressing as the glorious light and energy in the Sun is meditated upon as Lord Vishnu. "One must meditate upon Vishnu who is adorned fully, holding in His hands the Conch and the Discus, sitting in Padmaasana, enveloped in golden hue, in the centre of the orb of the Sun." The Deity residing in t1- , disc of the Sun is Narayana Himself, "^"'from Vishnu'; "ityah"to be obtained'. From Vishnu, salvation is to be obtained and so He is called as Aaditya. This interpretation gives us an insight into the meaning of the word Sun, in Sanskrit'Aaditya'': "One from whom all creatures have to receive"! The great-grand- giver is the Sun.
565. Sahishnuh One who calmly endures the pairs-of-opposites. One who is above them, and thus is never influenced by these experiences of the physical and mental realms.
566. Gatisattamah The ultimate refuge for all devotees; the best (Highest) destination and at once the noblest path. Lord Narayana represents the Supreme Brahman, the final state of liberation, and the path to reach. It is also worship of, and meditation upon. Lord Narayana. "Gati" means both the goal and the path. In short. One who is Himself the very essence of spiritual liberation.
567. Sudhanvaa (^^rr)One who has His glorious bowcalled "Saarnga." According to some, it represents the sense organs and their activities.
568. Khanda-parasuh One who has the axe- weaponcalled "Parasu." The Lord used this weapon in His Incarnation as Parasuraama, the son of Jamadagni. It is endo- wed with terrible prowess in cutting down the unholy enemies of the nobler life and so it is called as the "Khanda-Parasu." As such it means 'one who wields the invincible Parasu.'
569. Daarunah "The one who is merciless towards the unrighteous." Up to a point the Lord is All-mercy but when He finds that no other method can save the individual, like a surgeon at the operation theatre. He appears to be relentlessmerciless.
570. Dravina-pradah One who lavishly gives wealth asked for by His devotees. According to Vyasa, Lord Vishnu gives to his true devotees the wealth of the Sastra knowledgethe deeper and clearer understanding of the Science of Reality.
571. Divah-sprik "The Sky-reaching." The Lord who revealed His Universal Form to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita.
572. Sarva-drik-vyaasah When considered as one word it means: "One who creates many omniscient men of wisdom." One who encourages the spread of knowledge and thus turns out many men of wisdom and clearer understanding of life and the world. Or taken as two words its interpretation can mean: "One who is Omniscient and Vyasa." This would mean, "The Lord who has expressed Him- self as Sri Veda Vyasa." Vyasa is the poet-philosopher who codified, compiled and edited the Vedas and published them in four volumesRig Veda, with its 21 branches; Yajur Veda, with its 101 branches: Saama Veda, with its 1000 branches and the Atharvana Veda, with its 9 branches (or Saakhaas). He is the one who gave us the 18 Puranas and the Brahmasootras. Hence he is called: "The Omniscient Vyasa."
573. Vaachaspatir-ayonijah One who is a master of all knowledge (Vidyaas) and who is unborn through a mother's womb.
574. Trisaamaa "One who has been glorified by the three Saamas." 'Saama' means divine songshence, Veda. The one who has been praised by the singers of the Saama-Veda, those called as the Devas, the Vratas and the Saamans.
575. Saamagah "The singer of the Saaman songs." One who performs the actions prescribed in the Saama Veda and who invokes the Lord is called, in Vedic terminology, the 'Udgaataa.
576. Saama The Lord is the Saama Veda. This is to indicate the sacredness of the very Book. Lord Krishna has confessed in the Geeta: "Of Vedas I am the Saama Veda."*
577. Nirvaanam The Lord is of the very nature of "Ever-liberated, Ever-free." There is no trace of imperfection and sorrow in Him whose nature is, All-Bliss.
578. Bheshajam 'Bheshajam' means 'medicine.' Hence, He who is the very specific cure for the disease of Samsar (change, becoming).
579. Bhishak One who is the 'Physician,' who is the 'cure' for the disease of Samsar. Or it can also mean that the Lord manifested during the "churning of the Milky Ocean" as the Deity of Medicine, holding the pot of Amrita in His hand The Lord Dhanvantari. In Indian systems of Medi- cines, He is considered as the presiding Deity of the Medical Sciences. Vishnu manifested as this Lord of Doctors, whereupon this name for Him: "Doctor" (Bhishak).
580. Samnyaasa-krit Lord is the institutor of the fourth stage of life (Aasrama) called 'Samnyaasa' which is meant for those who walk the path of total renunciation. The One who, in His Infinite Grace, gives the needed qualifications unavoidable for Samnyaasa.
581. Samah "The Calm." One who exists without the mind running out into the passions of the sense-organs.
In Samnyaasa, He teaches the life of calmness and quietud and in the accumulated inner peace, the final experience is gained. The Smriti* prescribes the duties of the four stage; as: "The duty of the 'Brahmachari' is service; for the 'House holder', charity; for the 'Forest-dweller' is the duty of restraint and for the 'Samnyaasin' 'Calmness'. Samnyaasa without Same is inconceivable and this 'Calmness' is His nature.
582. Saantah One who is quiet within, as in Him the sense-organs are perfectly controlled. The Upanishads glorify the Supreme State as actionless, partless, peaceful. This is a declaration from Sveta-asvatara Upanishad.
583. Nishthaa The Abode of all beings, not only while living, but during the Pralaya (deluge). During this Cosmic dissolution, the entire living creatures merge back into their Vaasanaas, (seed-form), and remain in Him. Therefore, He is called, "The Abode of the Universe."
584. Saantih "One whose very nature is Peace." Agitations are caused by desires and the consequent temptations to strive for, acquire and indulge in them. In the All-Full, there is no desire, hence He need not seek His ful- filment among the perishable objects of the universe, and so He is Peace.
585. Paraayanam The Supreme Goal is Narayana. After reaching Him there is no return.*** In short, the term indicates that Narayana is the way to the Supreme Liberation (Moksha).
586. Subhaangah One who has the most beautiful form. That one who is enchanting, most handsome.
587. Saantidah Narayana dispenses that Peace which puts an end to likes and dislikes (Raaga-Dvesha). He is the One who cleanses the mind of His devotees and gives to each the inner Peace and Joy.
588. Srashtaa "The Creator of all beings." In the beginning. He has created all from Himself as the Great Five Elements: (Viranchi). 589. Kwnudah The reveller in the Earth. The term 'AM' means Earth. Therefore, the term means "He who delights in the Earth."
590. Kuvalesayah He who reclines in the waters (Kuvala). Waters surround the earth, thus it is called as Kuvala. The term can also mean the 'Crawler'meaning Ser- pent. In this sense it indicates" Sarpa-Saaye": "One who reclines upon the Great Sesha"the Divine "Sesha-Saaye."
591. Go-hitah One who does the Cow-wel- fare-work, always. Sree Krishna, through many incidents, helps to develop and conserve the sacred animal, Cow, for, the very existence of Bharat's dispensation depends upon the Cow; the agriculture being essentially Cow-centred also means Earth. Thus: "One who saved the world" from the materialists and their designs of excesses and imperfect vision. One who protects against the irresponsible havoc, for example, of Ravana and others; all inimical to the genius of the natural Bhaarateeya Samskriti.
592. Go-patih "The husband of the Earth." Or, 6ne who is the Lord protecting all those who are weary of their samsaaric life c 'passions and desires. Such ones, exhausted by grazing in the pastures of dissipation and enervated from the world of happenings, are comparable to cows. Hence Narayana is called here as the "Lord of the Cows",'Gopaala.' 'Go' also may be interpreted as 'sense-organs'. In this way the term suggests "Lord of the Sense-Organs," Sri Narayana, the Self.
593. Goptaa The root 'Gup' (ni) has two meanings: to protect; to veil. Thus 'Goptaa' can imply "One who protects the universe" or "One who, by His Maayaa, veils the glory of the Divine Self within."
594. Vrishabhaakshah One whose eyes rain fulfilment of all desires of His devotees. He sees the un- expressed desires of His devotees and fulfils them easily. Or it can be taken that Sri Narayana is "One whose eyes are Dharma Itself"; meaning. One who sees righteousness clearly and continuously. If one wants to see clearly righteousness, he must cultivate and develop the Narayana vision.
595. Vrisha-priyah: Vishnu delights in Dharma. 'Vrisha' means 'Dharma,' so the term can be dissolved as "One who delights in Dharma". Or it can signify, "One who is beloved of the virtuous, the Good."
596. Anivartee "One who never knows retreat." During the clashes between the Good (Devas) and the Bad (A suras), Narayana never retreats. He is One Who never turns back from Dharma; for He is its friend and protector.
597. Nivritta-atmaa One who is fully restrained from all sense indulgences. So long as the equipments of our experiencesthe Body, Mind and Intellectare roaming about in their pleasuresamong objects, emotions and thoughtsour attention is dissipated and is not available for the contemplation of the Higher, the Self. Narayana is the Atman in all, and to reach Him we have to retire from the fields of our indulgences. Hence, He is indicated as the "Re- strained-Self." 598. Samksheptaa The One who absorbs unto Himself the entire universe of multiplicity during the dissolutionthe "Involver." Narayana presides over not only the evolution but also is the controller at the involution. In some readings, we find this term as "Asamksheptaa"meaning "One who never abandons His devotees."
599. Kshema-krit "The doer of Good"; One who protects and guides the devotees. "Kshema" signifies protecting what has been gained, and it includes " Yoga" also, meaning "acquiring things not yet gained." In Geeta, Lord Krishna promises that "I shall govern both your 'Yoga' and 'Kshema' when you are a true devotee."*
600. Sivah Lord Narayana is adored here as Sivah and, at the same time, all Vaishnavites repeat Vishnu- sahasranaama. Human prejudices have no logic or reason. Sri Narayana is Siva (auspiciousness) and there is no difference between the two. "I am the dweller of Vaikuntha, Vishnu. Between us there is no difference," **so says Lord Siva Himself. Vishnu is the "Purifier" (Siva), as His names, when chanted, and His form-divine, when meditated upon, become a means of quietening the mind and sharpening our perceptions of the subtler and the transcendental.
