Vishnusahasranama is considered one of the five jewels of epic Mahabharata..and this great stotram can be broadly divided into four parts. Preface (poorvapithika), Dhyanaslokam, then the stotram main, and ofcourse the Falasruti.



When Udhishthira goes to Bheeshma as per Sri Krishna's advice...he wanted to know more from Pitahmah Bheeshma . He wanted to know which is the most desirable thing to attain and how to attain that, which should give ultimate happiness. It should be easy to do but the fruits should be fantastic. He says you have told me all the dharma but what is your own view on this?



So we come back to the stotram which sage Vaishampayana is telling king Janamejay


श्रुत्वा धर्मानशेषेण पावनानी च सर्वशः I
युधिष्ठिरः शांतनवं पुनारेवाभ्याभाषत II
after listening to all the dharma in entirety , in its totality which gives you prosperity here and now and hereafter, Udhishthira again addressed the son of Shantanu-Bheeshma.



Udhishthira asks...
किमेकं दैवतं लोके किं वाप्येकं परायणं I
स्तुवन्तः कं कमर्चन्तः प्राप्नुयुर्मानावाश्शुभमII
को धर्मः सर्वधार्माणां भवतः परमो मतः I
किं जपन मुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मा संसार बन्धनात II

Who is the cognised God in the world...

what is the one supreme goal that one should seek...

who or what is that god, worshipping whom,and practicing whom, mankind can achieve "shubham"...

what according to you , your belief, your evaluation is the highest dharma....

and lastly

what is it by reciting which, a human being can attain freedom from bondage of birth and death...