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

tri-loka-dhRte namah.
a) SrI bhaTTar’s interpretation is that He is One Who has the burden of
responsibility for the support and nourishment of the entire Universe, and so
He is called tri-loka-dhRt – aSeshANAmapi dhAraNa poshakayoh
bhArakatvAtloka-svAmI (the root involved is dhR – dhAraNe – to hold, to bear,
to support). Because He created us, therefore He necessarily has the burden
of responsibility for supporting us, just like the responsibility of a father to
his children.
SrI Sa’nkara bhAshyam is: trIn-lokAn dhArayati iti tri-loka-dhRt – The
Supporter of the three worlds.
b) In addition to the meaning “world” for the word “loka”, SrI cinmayAnanda
also gives an alternate interpretation where he takes tri-loka to mean the
three states of waking, dream and deep sleep. He then gives the interpretation
that bhagavAn has this nAma because He is the Supporter, in the form of
Consciousness, of the three states of experience, since without the kindling
support of life in the bosom, it would be impossible for us to have any
experience.
Another variant of the nAma is tri-loka-dhRk. The interpretation given is
essentially the same as for tri-loka-dhRt. SrI baladeva vidyA bhUshaN gives
the interpretation – tir-loka-dRg-iti dhArakatayA pAlakatayASca tri-lokIm
dharjati gacchati iti tasyasvAbhAviko’yam dharmah – It is His dharma to
sustain this universe and keep it going by supporting and protecting all the
creatures of the three worlds. Here he uses the root dhRj – gatau – to go, to
move, as the root for this explanation.
SrI satya sandha yatirAja gives the interpretation – tri-lokAndyu pRthivi
antarikshAn dharati iti tri-loka-dhRk, where the root dhR –dhAraNe – to hold
(dharati) is used.
Without getting into intricate grammatical rules, it is difficult to distinguish
between the two versions. However, it is to be noted that SrI Sa’nkara and
SrI bhaTTar have explained the nAma using the version tri--loka-dhRt, and
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