The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Viṣṇusahasranāmastotram

Verse 498

तपत्' इति श्रुते ; लोकसार: प्रणवः, तेन प्रतिपत्तव्य इति वा; पृषोदरादित्वात्साधुत्वम् ।शोभनस्तन्तुर्विस्तीर्ण: प्रपञ्चोऽस्येति सुतन्तुः ।तमेव तन्तुं वर्धयति च्छेदयतीति वा तन्तुवर्धनः ।इन्द्रस्य कर्मेव कर्मास्येति इन्द्रकर्मा, ऐश्वर्यकर्मेत्यर्थः ।महान्ति वियदादीनि भूतानि कर्माणि कार्या ण्यस्येति महाकर्मा ।कृतमेव सर्व कृतार्थत्वात्, न कर्तव्यं किंचिदपि कर्मास्य विद्यत इति कृतकर्मा; धर्मात्मकं कर्म कृतवानिति वा ।कृतः वेदात्मक आगमो येनेति कृतागमः, अस्य महतो भूतस्य नि.श्वसितमेतत्' इत्यादिश्रुतेः ॥

In plain words

Based on the scriptural word 'shining', the Pranava is the very essence of the worlds, through whom He is to be realized—or the word's correctness is justified by irregular phonetic rules. Because His vast creation is a finely spun continuity, He is Sutantu. Because He weaves and unravels that cosmic fabric, He is Tantuvardhana. Because His acts are majestic like those of Indra, expressing supreme sovereignty, He is Indrakarma. Because vast elements like space and others are His cosmic effects, He is Mahakarma. Because His purpose is eternally fulfilled and no obligation remains for Him to perform, or because He embodies righteous action, He is Kṛtakarmā. Because the scriptures of the Vedas were breathed forth by Him—as the text declares, 'This is the breath exhaled by the great Being'—He is Kṛtāgama.

Close to the Sanskrit

Based on the Vedic text 'shining', the essence of the worlds is the Pranava, and by that He is to be attained, or else the correctness of the form is due to pṛṣodara rules. Sutantu: because His expanded manifestation is a glorious thread. Tantuvardhana: because He expands and cuts that very thread. Indrakarma: because His action is like Indra's, meaning the action of supreme lordship. Mahakarma: because great elements like space and others are His works and effects. Kṛtakarmā: because everything is already accomplished due to His fulfillment of purpose, and not even a minor action remains for Him to do, or because He has performed righteous actions. Kṛtāgama: because the scriptures in the form of Vedas were made by Him, from the Vedic text 'Of this great being, this is the exhaled breath'.