Vishnu Sahasra Naamam-Vol III-RR-edit.pub - Ibiblio

detailed etymological derivation of each nAma, which is thorough, with
references to the pANini sUtra-s, and detailed vedic references. In this
aspect, his vyAkhyAnam is superb.
nAma 680. mha³tu> mahA mahA-kratuh
mahA kratuh
a) He Who is worshiped by the great yAga-s.
b) He Who can be easily worshiped.
c) He Who can be worshiped in many ways
d) He Who is the Great Sacrifice (that gives the best results)
e) He Who performed the great sacrifice called the pA'ncarAtra kratu.
mahA-kratave namah.
The word "kratuh" occurred as nAma 449 in Slokam 48, and the meaning of the
term was explained there. Briefly recapitulating, the term "kratuh" refers to a
particular type of sacrifice, or can also refer to bhagavAn since He is the
object of the yAga-s. SrI satyadevo vAsishTha also gives the explanation
"karoti iti kratuh, kriyate vA kratuh" - One who performs is a kratuh, or that
which is performed is kratuh.
The term "mahA" is used in the sense of "great","many", "great because of its
ease", etc., in the different interpretations.
a) SrI aNNa'ngarAcArya gives the interpretation "He Who is the object of
worship of the great yAga-s". "mahA" is interpreted here with the meaning
"great".
b) SrI BhaTTar gives the interpretation that He is mahA-kratuh because "He
is the Great Lord Who has the easiest means of worship" - mahat
sarvasukaram ArAdhanam asya iti mahA-kratuh. Based on the supporting
references he has quoted in his interpretion, I feel that he is using the term
"mahA" or "great" here in two ways:
1. to mean "easy or simple for the devotee", and thus "great from the
point of view of the devotee",
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sadagopan.org