What is the meaning of Vishnu ?
What is the meaning of Vishnu ?

Meaning of Vishnu

विष्णुः ( Vishnu)  is made of  विष् धातु (to pervade, to spread) when used with नुक् प्रत्यय​

As mentioned by Adi Sankara in Vishnu Sahasranamam commentary 

  “वेवेष्टि व्याप्नोतीति विष्णु:” – the one who pervade everything  is called as Vishnu


Reference in Mahabharata :

व्याप्ते मे रोदसी पार्थ क्रान्तिश्चाभ्यधिका स्थिता।
क्रमणाच्चाप्यहं पार्थ विष्णुरित्यभिसंज्ञितः  –  Mahabharata  Shantiparva 341.42

O Partha, this earth and sky resides in me and and I pervades everything, because of this pervasiveness I am called as “Vishnu”


Reference in Visnhu Purana:

यस्माद्विष्टमिदं सर्वं तस्य शक्त्या महात्मन: !
तस्मादेवोच्यते विष्णुर्विशेर्धातो: प्रवेशनात्  –  Visnhu Purana 3.1.45

The power of that great Atman is pervaded in this whole universe, that is why it is called as Vishnu, because विष्  धातु means to pervade.

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