Chapter 305 - The fifty-five names of (Lord) Viṣṇu and their greatness

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1. A person who repeats the fifty-five names of (Lord) Viṣṇu would get the fruits of repeating the mantras and the worship (with these names) at the sacred places (of pilgrimage) would have undiminishing fruits.

2. Puṇḍarīkākṣa (lotus-eyed) (should be contemplated) at Puṣkara, Gadādhara (one who wields the club) at Gayā, Rāghava (Rāma as the scion of Raghu) at Citrakūṭa and Daityasūdana (the destroyer of the demons) at Prabhāsa.

3. Similarly Jaya (the victor) (should be worshipped) at Jayantī, Jayanta (one who gains victory) at Hastināpura, Vārāha (manifestation as boar) at Vardhamāna and Cakrapāṇi (one who holds the disc) at Kāśmīra.

4. (One should contemplate) Janārdana (one that removes the difficulties of people) at Kubjāmra, Keśava at Mathurā, Hṛṣīkeśa (lord of the senses) at Kubjāmra and Jaṭādhara (one who bears the matted hair) at the place where the Ganges enters the plains.

5. (One should contemplate) Mahāyoga (one who ardently practises Yoga) at Śālagrāma, Hari at the Govardhana mountain, Caturbāhu (one having four arms) at Piṇḍāraka and Śaṅkhin (the holder of the conch) at Śaṅkhadvāra..

6. Vāmana (the Dwarf manifestation) (is worshipped) at Kurukṣetra, Trivikrama (the conqueror of three worlds) at (the river) Yamunā, Viśveśvara (the lord of the universe) at (the river) Śoṇā and Kapila (propounder of the Sāṅkhya philosophy) on (the banks of) the eastern ocean.

7. (One should repeat the name of) Viṣṇu (on the shore of) the great ocean at the confluence of the river Ganges with the ocean, Vanamāla (the bearer of garland of wild flowers) at Kiṣkindhā and Deva (lord) at Raivataka.

8. Mahāyoga (the great yoga) (is contemplated) at Kāśī, Ripuñjaya (the conqueror of enemies) at Vīrajā, Ajita (the unconquered) at Viśākhayūpa and Lokabhāvana (the creator of the world) at Nepāla.

9. One should know that (one has to repeat the name) Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā, Madhusūdana (the slayer of the demon Madhu) at Mandara (mountain) and Ripuhara (the destroyer of enemies) at Lokākula and one should think of Hari at Śālagrāma.

10. (One should repeat the name) Puruṣa (the Supreme person) at Puruṣavaṭa, Jagatprabhu (the lord of the world) at Vimala, Ananta (the endless) at the Saindhava forest and Śārṅgadhārin (the wielder of the bow) at Daṇḍaka (forest).

11. Śauri (the hero) (should be contemplated) at the whirlpool (called) Utpala, Śriyaḥpati (the consort of Lakṣmī) at (the river) Narmadā, Dāmodara (having the enlarged belly) at Raivataka and Jalaśāyin (one who reclines on the water) at Nandā.

12. It is known that (one has to repeat the name) Gopīśvara on (the shore of) the Sindhu ocean, Acyuta (unswerving) at Māhendra (hill), Devadeveśa (the lord of gods) at the Sahya mountain and Vaikuṇṭha (one who has united the earth etc.), at the Māgadha forest.

13. (One should repeat the name) Sarvapāpahara (Destroyer of all sins) at the Vindhya (mountain) and Puruṣottama (the foremost among men) in (the region of) Oḍhra. One should know the universal soul (residing) in one’s heart. The recitation (of these names) confers enjoyment and emancipation.

14. (One has to contemplate) the Vaiśravaṇa (the great fig tree) at every fig tree, (Lord) Śiva (the auspicious) at every quadrangle, Rāma on every mountain and Madhusūdana (the slayer of the demon Madhu) everywhere.

15. One who contemplates the Supreme spirit on the earth and sky, the god having eagle in the banner in (the great sage) Vasiṣṭha and Vāsudeva (epithet of Kṛṣṇa) everywhere would get enjoyment and emancipation.

16-17. One would obtain all (the desires) by the repetition of these names of (Lord) Viṣṇu. The (performance of) ancestral rites, (offering) gifts, repetition (of the names of god) and (offering of waters of) libation in all these sacred places will have manifold (benefits). One would become verily the Brahman after one’s death. One who reads or listens to this (will become) free from impurity and will obtain heaven.