Vishnu Dhyana Shloka
Salutations to Vishnu — the peaceful one who reclines on the cosmic serpent and removes all fear.
Sanskrit Text (Devanagari)
Transliteration (Roman Script)
Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam Padmanabham Suresham | Vishvadharam Gaganasadrisham Meghavarnam Shubhangam | Lakshmikantam Kamalanayanam Yogibhirdhyanagamyam | Vande Vishnum Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaikanatham ||
Meaning & Translation
I salute Lord Vishnu who has a peaceful form, who reclines on the serpent Shesha, from whose navel springs the lotus, who is the lord of the gods, who is the support of the universe, who is vast as the sky, whose color is like clouds, whose limbs are auspicious, who is the beloved of Lakshmi, whose eyes are like lotuses, who is attainable through yogic meditation, who removes the fear of worldly existence, and who is the one lord of all worlds.
Benefits of Chanting Vishnu Dhyana Shloka
- ✓Creates a powerful meditative visualization of Lord Vishnu
- ✓Instills deep peace and removes anxiety
- ✓Invokes the protective and nurturing aspects of the divine
- ✓Prepares the mind for deeper meditation and prayer
- ✓Removes fear of worldly existence and suffering
How to Chant Vishnu Dhyana Shloka
- 1Recite before beginning meditation or puja as an invocation
- 2Visualize each attribute of Vishnu as described in the shloka
- 3Chant slowly, allowing the imagery to form in your mind's eye
- 4This is a dhyana (meditation) mantra — focus on visualization rather than repetition count
Best Time to Chant
Before any Vishnu puja, during morning meditation, and before sleep.
Recommended Repetitions
1-3 times with deep visualization, or 11 times for devotional practice
times per session (one mala = 108)
Source & Origin
Vishnu Purana and various Vaishnava devotional texts.
About Vishnu Dhyana Shloka
The Vishnu Dhyana Shloka is one of the most beautiful meditation verses in Hindu literature. It paints a complete picture of Lord Vishnu in his cosmic reclining form — resting on the serpent Ananta Shesha upon the cosmic ocean, with a lotus emerging from his navel (from which Brahma creates the universe), his dark cloud-like complexion glowing with auspicious marks, and Goddess Lakshmi at his side.
This is a dhyana (meditation) mantra rather than a japa (repetition) mantra. Its purpose is to help the devotee build a vivid internal image of the deity for the practice of saguna (with-form) meditation. Each adjective in the verse corresponds to a specific aspect of Vishnu's cosmic nature — 'Shantakaram' (peaceful form) reminds us that the foundation of all reality is peace; 'Bhujagashayanam' (serpent-bed) represents mastery over time and the kundalini energy.
The verse culminates with 'Bhavabhayaharam' — the remover of the fear of worldly existence. This is the central promise of Vishnu worship: that by contemplating the divine in this all-encompassing form, the devotee is freed from the fundamental anxiety of conditioned existence and rests in the same cosmic peace that Vishnu embodies.