Vishnusahasranama - Phalasruti

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Traditionally, all stotras end with the recitation of the phalasruti, enumerating the results to be gained by the chanting. There are two important reasons why the recitation of the phalasruti is considered as an integral part of the chanting of any stotra:

1. The devotee's faith, shraddha, in the spiritual discipline is strengthened by knowing what the scriptures guarantee to those who do the chanting regularly with devotion.

2. The chanting of Sanskrit mantras and stotras has a subtle effect on the devotee and his environment which cannot be perceived immediately or with the naked eye, called 'Adrishta phala'. Hence, the Rishis reveal the Adrishta phala by listing the phalasruti.

Recently, I met Dr. Rama Jayasundar, an NMR Physicist working at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. She did a small study on a group of people in Chennai using NMR spectrography. This control group was initiated into the Gayatri Mantra but were not regular in chanting it as per the prescribed norms. She requested them to volunteer for the study by chanting the Gayatri mantra 1008 times every morning in the Brahma muhurtam from 4.30 am onwards for a period of three months. Dr. Rama reveals that the NMR scans of the volunteers taken before and after the 3-month period exhibit striking changes in the brain and its chemistry. This is one example of how modern science is validating some of our traditional practices.

The phalasruti of the Vishnusahasranama consists of a total of 33 verses. What follows is a free translation of these verses:

1.This collection of thousand divine names of the praiseworthy Lord Kesava must be repeated without any addition or omission.

2.Whoever listens to or chants this Vishnusahasranama everyday, never does anything inauspicious happen to him.

3.A spiritual aspirant attains the goal of Vedanta (moksha) on reciting this; a warrior will gain victory in battle; a businessman who recites this will gain great prosperity and others who seek happiness will attain great happiness.

4.One who desires dharma (merit/ virtue) will attain merit; one who desires artha (prosperity) will attain prosperity; one who seeks kama (pleasure) will attain the objects of desire and one who seeks praja (children) will have progeny.

5.A devotee who chants these thousand names of Vasudeva after having purified himself physically and mentally, with devotion and concentration…

6.…Attains great fame, prominence and influence in any group, everlasting prosperity and the ultimate shreya (moksha)

7.Such a devotee will have nothing to fear and will gain energy and brilliance; he will never suffer from disease and will be endowed with strength, beauty, noble qualities and majesty. 8.A diseased person will be freed from disease; one who is in bondage will be liberated from bondage; one who is afflicted with fear will be freed from fear and one who is threatened with misfortune will be freed from it.

9.A person who praises Purusottama daily with devotion, through these thousand names, overcomes very quickly all the obstacles that afflict him in his path.

10.A devotee who seeks refuge in Vasudeva and for whom Vasudeva alone is the ultimate goal to be attained, such a person is purified of all his sins and attains the eternal Brahman.

To Be Continued