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

nAma 664. vIr> vIrah
a) The Valiant.
b) The swift Mover (into the hearts of His devotees or against demons).
c) He Who destroys His enemies
d) He Who makes the enemies tremble in front of Him and run, showing their
backs.
vIrAya namah.
This nAma was described earlier under Slokam 43 - nAma 402.
a) SrI BhaTTar derives the interpretation for the nAma from the root aja -
gatikshepaNayoh - to drive or to lead, and a grammatical rule which states
that vI is the substitute for aja under certain conditions (ashTAdhyAyI 2. 4.
56), and gives the meaning - He Who is valiant.
SrI kRshNa datta bhAradvAj uses the interpretation - vIrayate iti vIrah - He
who displays valor is called vIrah, and expands - ripu damanAya vikramate - It
is for the destruction of the enemies.
SrI BhaTTar describes that it is for the destruction of the enemies of His
devotees that He uses His valor. Thus, the anubhavam here, as in all the
vyAkhyAna-s of SrI BhaTTar, is that whatever bhagavAn does is for the sake
of His devotees. SrI BhaTTar describes the nature of this valor - He induces
terror in the hearts of His devotees' enemies - rakshsAm ati-bhaya calana
hetutvAt vIrah.
b) SrI Samkara gives an additional interpretation based on the root vI - gati,
vyApti, prajanana, kAnti, asana, khAdaneshu - to go, to pervade, to obtain, to
throw, to conceive, to be born, to shine, to be beautiful, to desire, to eat.
Thus, the root denotes motion, creation, radiance, existence and consumption.
As He has all these qualities, He is called vIrah -gatyAdimattvAt vIrah.
SrI anantakRshNa SAstry extends this anubhavam and gives the
interpretation that this speed is displayed in His swift entry into the hearts of
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