Vishnu Sahasranama — Dhyana Shloka
The dhyana verse that leads the Vishnu Sahasranama: meditate on the white-robed, four-armed Vishnu with a gracious face, to calm all obstacles.
Verses
Dhyāna & Invocation
Opening meditation and sacred mantra invoking divine presence before the 108 names.
We meditate on Vishnu, clad in white, radiant like the moon, four-armed, of serene countenance — meditating thus dispels all obstacles. Traditionally recited as the opening invocation before the Vishnu Sahasranama.
The Thousand Divine Names (Sahasranāma)
The sacred transcendental verses enshrining the one thousand divine names of the Supreme Being.
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)
Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)
Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering
- Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home
Background
The Vishnu Sahasranama, the thousand names of Vishnu, is taught by Bhishma to Yudhishthira in the Mahabharata's Anushasana Parva, chapter 149. Printed editions place a set of preliminary verses (purva-pithika) before it, beginning with this dhyana verse; they are recited as a prayer but are liturgical additions, not part of Bhishma's discourse. The verse is also used on its own and in Ganesha worship, and its author is unknown.
About this Text
Composed by: Maharishi Vedavyasa · Ancient Vedic Rishi · Traditional antiquity
Traditionally credited as the compiler of the four Vedas and the author of the Mahabharata (within which the Bhagavad Gita appears) and the Puranas — making him one of the most cited authorial figures in the entire Hindu canon, spanning philosophy, epic narrative, and devotional literature.
Did You Know?
Placement
In Stotra Nidhi's text of the stotram the verse is number 1 of the pūrvapīṭhikā, the preliminary verses recited before the thousand names begin.
Meaning
The meditator is told to contemplate Vishnu in white garments (shuklambaradharam), moon-coloured (shashivarnam), four-armed (chaturbhujam) and gracious of face (prasannavadanam), for the calming of all obstacles (sarvavighnopashantaye).
The Verses That Follow
Verse 2 of the same preliminary set takes refuge in Vishvaksena, whose attendants, the elephant-faced one among them, ever remove obstacles. Verses 3 and 4 salute Vyasa. The set prepares the reciter before the names.
Symbolism
White garments and a moon-like hue speak of purity and calm. The four arms, in tradition, hold the conch, discus, mace and lotus.
Metre
The verse is a 32-syllable shloka of four lines of eight syllables, the Anushtubh metre in which most of the Mahabharata is composed.
Vishnu
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