Viṣṇusahasranāma

Viṣṇusahasranāma is an Adhyāya (sub-chapter) out of a total 168 from the 13th Parva (chapter) of the epic Mahābhārata, that is Anuśāsanaparva. They are a total of 18 Parvas. The Anuśāsanaparva is traditionally divided into 2 sub-parvas Dāna-dharma Parva (containing 152 Adhyāyas) and Bhīṣma-svargārohana Parva (containing the rest of the 16). The title Viṣṇusahasranāma means 1000 names of (supreme Hindu deity) Viṣṇu. In the text a dying Bhīṣma is giving king Yudhiṣṭhira a speech on spiritual philosophy and liberation after succumbing to his death during the Kurukṣetra war. The text is considered particularly important for the Vaiṣṇava school of Hindu philosophy. Viṣṇu is attributed to be paramount in the incarnation of beings and deities. 1000 names of Viṣṇu and similar themes are also present in the Padma, Garuḍa and Skanda Purāṇa texts. This Ms. contains the following speaker introduction titles Vaiśampāyana, Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma Uvāca. In (f.20a–21a) from verse No. 22 there are 5 verses which are not present in the popular edition containing speaker title Arjuna and Śrībhagavāna Uvāca. This Ms. is written 7 lines per folio. Cover and back page contain title enclosed in a red hexagon and horizontal and vertical margins creating a frame. There are 2 double red vertical margins on each side of the folio. Some folios are coloured yellow. The Ms. is dated Saṃvata 1919 in (f.20b) and Śaka 1784 in (f.21a).