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

protection of the virtuous".
vasu as a noun can mean a class of deities (deva-bhedah), fire (analah), a ray of
light (raSmi), a rein or halter (vasU), gem (ratna), wealth (dhana), vishNu, the
intelligent or wise (vedhAh), etc.
The following is from amara koSam (3-4- 288):
deva-bhede'nale raSmau vasU ratne dhane vasu |
vishNau ca vedhAh strI tvASIr-hitASamsAhidamshTrayoh ||
The word retah is derived from the root rI - sravaNe - to flow. The term
retas is used to refer to the semen or seed, cause, etc.
a) SrI BhaTTar uses the meaning "lustre", related to "raSmi" for the word
vasu - vasu iti jyotih paryAyah, and the meaning "cause or source" for the word
retas, in his interpretation for the nAma, and thus gives the meaning "He Who
is the Source of the Divine Lustre". He is also the One from Whom the other
objects including the Sun get their light.
The nirukti summary for the nAma is -
vasu Sabdo jyotir-artho retas-tat-kAraNam matam |
divya-jyotih kAraNatvAt vasu-retAh prakIrtitah ||
SrI aNNa'ngarAcArya gives the interpretation for the nAma as "He Who has
His divya tejas as the cause for His incarnations".
SrI v.v.rAmAnujan gives the example of His kRshNa incarnation, where He
entered the garbham of devaki in the form of His jyoti.
b) SrI Samkara's interpretation is - vasu suvarNam retAh asya iti vasu-retAh.
This has been translated as "He Whose essence is gold" by one translator. SrI
Samkara quotes the following from vyAsa in support:
devah pUrvam apah sRTvA tAsu vIryam upAsRjat |
tad-aNDam abhavat haimam brahmaNah kAraNam param ||
"The Lord created the waters, and cast His Power into them. It became the
golden Egg, the prime source of Brahma".
As extract of the description of SrI cinmayAnanda for the above follows: "In
149
sadagopan.org