Traditional dhyana verse preceding the Vishnu Sahasranama (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva tradition)

Transliteration

Śāntākāraṃ Bhujagaśayanaṃ Padmanābhaṃ Sureśaṃ Viśvādhāraṃ Gaganasadṛśaṃ Meghavarṇaṃ Śubhāṅgam, Lakṣmīkāntaṃ Kamalanayanaṃ Yogibhirdhyānagamyam Vande Viṣṇuṃ Bhavabhayaharaṃ Sarvalokaikanātham

Translation

Of tranquil form, resting on the serpent-couch, lotus-navelled, lord of the gods; support of the universe, boundless as the sky, cloud-dark and radiant of limb; beloved of Lakshmi, lotus-eyed, reached by sages only through meditation — I bow to Vishnu, remover of worldly fear, sole lord of all realms.

Meaning

The classic meditative portrait recited before invoking Vishnu, gathering his cosmic scale, gentleness, and role as refuge from fear into a single visualized image.