Readers of the last post would recollect that the seventh post starts with what Vaisampayana says: Having heard about dharma and acts of purification, Yudhishthira, to Bhῑsma (son of Śantanu) spoke once again. What Yudhistra states forms the subject of this post. But from the perspective of Vishnu Sahasramanam, the first six slokas are not a part of the Mahabharata but are recited as a matter of practice. The Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata begins from the seventh Sloka, which we say in the previous post.
Sloka 8: Text
śrī yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
kimekaṁ daivataṁ lōke kiṁ vāpyekaṁ parāyaṇaṁ |
stuvaṁtaḥ kaṁ kamarcaṁtaḥ prāpnuyurmānavāḥ śubham || 8 ||
Meaning
Yudhishthira asked:
In this wide world, Oh Grandpa,
Which is that one God,
Who is the only shelter?
Who is He whom,
Beings worship and pray,
And get salvation great?
In this wide world, Oh Grandpa,
Which is that one God,
Who is the only shelter?
Who is He whom,
Beings worship and pray,
And get salvation great?
(Swami Krishnanda)
Another Meaning
Yudhisthira said:— Who is the One Supreme Being which the Scriptures declare? What is the one Supreme Goal which should be sought ? By the recitation of what mantra is a person released from the bonds of repeated birth and death? Which in your opinion is the highest form of religion? (Pandit U.Ve. Sri Rama Ramanuja Achari)
Comment
In the 8th and the 9th Slokas, Yudhishtra ask certain questions, which the Hindus regard as the fundamental questions regarding the purpose of life and how to pursue it. Since Vishnu Sahasranamam, through Bhishma, answers these questions, the Sahasranama is one of the most important works for a Hindu. You would hear the Sahasranamam being played in the morning in every Hindu home. The purpose of this is to be reminded of the answers to these fundamental questions.
kim: who
ekaṁ: greatest/ supreme
daivatam: Lord
lōke: in the world
parāyaṇaṁ: literally, chief object but here refers to shelter
stuvaṁtaḥ: by praising/ glorifying
kaṁ: whom
kamarcaṁtaḥ: worship
prāpnuyur: attain
mānavāḥ: beings
śubham: peace and prosperity
The important thing about the Vishnu Sahasranamam is that when Yudhishtra asks these questions and Bhishma answers it, Lord Krishna listens to it. More on what Yudhishtra says in the next post.
Tamil Explanation:
தர்மபுத்திரர் கூறியது:
உலகில் காணப்படும் வேதம் முதலான எல்லா நூல்களிலிலும் கூறப்படும் ஒன்றேயான தெய்வம் எது?
ஒன்றேயான புகலிடம் எது?
எவரை துதித்து மனிதர்கள் உயர் நலம் அடைவார்கள்?
எவரை அர்ச்சித்து உலகோர் எல்லா இன்பங்களையும் அடைவார்கள்?
