viṣṇu sahasra nāmam

विष्णु viṣṇu
सहस्र sahasra (1000)
नामम् nāmam

hymne waarin de duizend namen van Vishnoe bezongen worden
stotra, leerdicht dat gezongen moet worden
(vs. śāstra, leerdicht dat gereciteerd wordt)

zijnde hoofdstuk 149 van de Anushasana Parva
अनुशासन anuśāsana (discipline)
पर्व parva (celebratie, viering)
"Het Boek der Instructies"

dat het 13de boek is (van 18) van de Mahabharata
[plus daaraan toegevoegde tekst, overigens...]

"The Parva starts with a visit to Bhishma, who is dying.

He is surrounded by sages and rishis including Vashishta, Maitreya, Sanatkumara, Valmiki, Kapila, Vyasadeva and Narada. As in the previous parva, Yudhishthira (leader of - succesful - Pandavas) asks for counsel and Bhishma replies.

It includes duties of the king, officials of a kingdom, men and women. The book dedicates several chapters to cows, their importance to household's food security, agriculture and wealth.

Chapter 149 of Anushasana Parva recites Vishnu sahasranama - a list of 1,000 names (sahasra nama) of Vishnu. Included in the list of 1000 names for Vishnu are Shiva, Sharva, Sthanu, Ishana and Rudra. This synonymous listing of Shiva and Vishnu as one, in Mahabharata, has led to the belief that all gods mentioned in Vedic literature are one."

~wikipedia~