शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं
Origin & Story
Traditional Vishnu Dhyana Shloka · Traditional · Classical
This single luminous verse is the classical dhyana (meditation) shloka of Lord Vishnu, recited across India before his worship and before the Vishnu Sahasranama. In one sweep it beholds Narayana asleep on the serpent Shesha upon the milk-ocean — serene, lotus-naveled, cloud-blue and lotus-eyed — the support of all the worlds and the remover of every fear.
✦ As told in scripture
Sages hold that to picture the Lord as this verse describes — serene upon the serpent, lotus-eyed and cloud-hued — is itself to be freed of fear; it is chanted first so that the mind, steadied on that peaceful form, may enter worship without agitation.
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Complete Text with Meaning
शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम् ।
Shantakaram bhujagashayanam padmanabham suresham Vishvadharam gaganasadrisham meghavarnam shubhangam
Meaning:Of serene form, reclining upon the serpent (Shesha), with a lotus springing from his navel, the Lord of the gods; the support of the universe, boundless as the sky, cloud-hued, with all-auspicious limbs;
लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥
Lakshmikantam kamalanayanam yogibhirdhyanagamyam Vande vishnum bhavabhayaharam sarvalokaikanatham
Meaning:the beloved of Lakshmi, lotus-eyed, attained by yogis in meditation — I bow to Vishnu, remover of the fear of worldly existence, the one Lord of all the worlds.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं
The supreme dhyana shloka (meditation verse) of Lord Vishnu, recited to bring his image to mind before worship, japa or the Vishnu Sahasranama.
Describes Vishnu reclining on Shesha with the lotus-navel, cloud-hued and lotus-eyed, deepening peace and devotion as one visualises the Lord.
Believed to remove the fear of worldly existence (bhava-bhaya) and bestow serenity, protection and the grace of Narayana.
Recited daily, and especially on Thursdays (Vishnu's day), on Ekadashi, and before reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama or Bhagavad Gita.
Chanted as the opening dhyana before Vishnu, Narayana, Krishna or Satyanarayan puja.
How to Chant शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं
Sit calmly before an image of Vishnu (or Narayana / Krishna), light a lamp, and recite the shloka slowly while visualising each detail of the Lord's form — the serpent couch, the lotus-navel, the cloud-blue body and lotus eyes. It is the traditional dhyana verse chanted before the Vishnu Sahasranama.
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