Naama 257-265: The Lord who is the embodiment of dharma

वृषाही वृषभो विष्णुः वृषपर्वा वृषोदरः ।

वर्धनो वर्धमानश्च विविक्तः श्रुतिसागरः ॥ २८ ॥

vṛṣāhī vṛṣabhō viṣṇuḥ vṛṣaparvā vṛṣōdaraḥ |

vardhanō vardhamānaśca viviktaḥ śrutisāgaraḥ || 28 ||

257. vṛṣāhī · वृषाही

The one who makes the day on which a devotee first approaches Him a day of dharma, from which all auspiciousness flows.

(oṃ) vṛṣāhiṇē namaḥ

When Akrura set out to see Lord Krishna in Gokulam, he said, "Today my birth has become fruitful, for I am going to see the lotus-eyed face of Vishnu. This night of mine has ended in an auspicious dawn." Such is the day on which one first turns towards the Lord.

258. vṛṣabhaḥ · वृषभः

The one who showers His grace upon those who approach Him and are scorched by the fire of samsara.

(oṃ) vṛṣabhāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "abhigacchatsu tatkālāt sudhāvarṣaṇāt", "on those who approach Him, He showers nectar at that very moment." The scorching heat of samsara is cooled by the rain of His grace, just as the parched earth is cooled by the first rain.

259. viṣṇuḥ · विष्णुः

The one who pervades everything while showering His grace on all. Though He is inseparable from everything, He remains greater than all because of the many kinds of help He renders to those who are lower.

(oṃ) viṣṇavē namaḥ

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, "There is no object, moving or non-moving, which can exist without Me."

Sri Bhattar explains this pervasion with an example from the science of logic. Wherever there is smoke, there is fire; but where there is fire, there need not be smoke, as in a red-hot ball of iron. In the same way, the Lord is inseparably associated with all things, yet He is greater than all of them because of the many kinds of help He gives to those below Him. This naama occurred earlier as the 2nd naama and occurs again as the 663rd naama.

260. vṛṣaparvā · वृषपर्वा

The one who has provided the various dharmas of the different varnas and ashramas as steps for us to climb up and reach Him.

(oṃ) vṛṣaparvaṇē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that the various dharmas of the varnas and the ashramas are like the steps of a ladder by which a person climbs up to the Lord. Other commentators include among these steps listening to the stories of the Lord (śravaṇam), reflecting on them (mananam), singing His names (kīrtanam), and the company of the good (satsaṅgam).

261. vṛṣōdaraḥ · वृषोदरः

The one whose belly is easily filled by the offerings that His devotees make to Him with devotion, and who keeps the devotees in His belly and protects them when they are in distress.

(oṃ) vṛṣōdarāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "bhaktaiḥ yathālabdha havirādibhiḥ supūratvēna sarvātisvēna dhārmikōdaratvāt vṛṣōdaraḥ", "His belly is easily filled by whatever offerings His devotees are able to make." Lord Krishna was satisfied by a single leaf from Draupadi's vessel, and through that one leaf, Sage Durvasa and his thousands of disciples felt full.

262. vardhanaḥ · वर्धनः

The one who, like a mother, keeps His devotees in His womb and nourishes them.

(oṃ) vardhanāya namaḥ

One commentator gives the example of Kuchela (Sudama), Lord Krishna's childhood friend, who offered the Lord a handful of beaten rice (aval). The Lord received it with great joy and, in return, made Kuchela richer than Kubera, without Kuchela even asking. This is how the Lord makes His devotees grow.

263. vardhamānaḥ · वर्धमानः

The one who grows as He makes others grow. His growth does not stop with such help alone; He makes everything more and more prosperous.

(oṃ) vardhamānāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord grows happier as He sees His devotees grow. His growth never stops, no matter how much He gives away. Some commentators also see here a reference to the Vamana incarnation, in which the Lord kept growing until He covered all three worlds.

264. viviktaḥ · विविक्तः

The one whose every activity is extraordinary and superior to that of anyone else in the world.

(oṃ) viviktāya namaḥ

The Rig Veda gives the example of two birds sitting on the same tree: one eats the fruits, while the other simply watches (dvā suparṇā sayujā sakhāyā). The Lord is like the second bird. He is present in all beings, yet He remains separate and unique, untouched by the fruits of their actions.

265. śrutisāgaraḥ · श्रुतिसागरः

The one who is the final resting place of all the Vedas, just as the ocean is the final resting place of all the rivers.

(oṃ) śrutisāgarāya namaḥ

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, "I am the one who is to be known by all the Vedas." All the Vedas speak only of Narayana and finally reach Him.

Sri Bhattar quotes the Srimad Bhagavatam, "The Vedas have Narayana as their goal" (nārāyaṇa parā vēdāḥ), and the Gita, "I alone am to be known by all the Vedas" (vēdaiśca sarvairahamēva vēdyaḥ). Just as all rivers flow into the ocean, all the Vedas finally lead to Him.