The Glory of Vishnu Sahasranamam

Prologue

Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram is credited to have been composed by Sanaka and other Rishies. Later, when Bhishma, the grand sire of the Pandavas and Kauravas, was in his last stage, on a bed of arrows, Lord Krishna adviced Yudishtira to seek upadesa, the words of wisdom from the senior most of the Kuru dynasty, Bhishma. Lord Krishna further added that, at this stage of his life, whatever words come from Bhisma, they will stay in the world like nectar extracted from the Vedas. Bhishma agreed.

After hearing Bhishma on various Dharmas, the ethical codes of conduct and duties, Yudishtra asked him six questions, in an order as occurred in his mind:-
(a) Who is the Supreme Almighty?
(b) What should be one’s goal, according to scriptures?
(c) Whom should the people worship to attain that goal?
(d) Chanting and praying whose name, will people attain exalted places?
(e) What is the best path of Dharma to follow, according to you?
(f) Which hymn should one chant to attain liberation from worldly life of bondage of birth, death and this cycle?

The Anusasanika Parva of Mahabharata is considered as the heart for a deterministic statement of all the ethical codes and duties (Dharma) and their secrets and these questions, their answers by Bhishma and the subsequent compilation of the thousand names (Sahasranama) by Sage Vyasa through the words of Bhishma find the most important place in Anusasanika Parva of Mahabharata towards the end.