THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ‘Vishnu Sahasranama,’ chanted by Bheeshma after the 18-day Kurukshetra battle as he neared his end, is getting a new English commentary. And guess who’s prepared it? Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the current head of the Travancore Royal Family.
‘Samarpanam,’ as the work has been named, contains an interpretation and English translation of the ‘Vishnu Sahasranama,’ Marthanda Varma told reporters at his residence, the Pattom Palace, on Saturday. The head of the Pejawar Math, Udupi, Vishwesha Thirtha, will release ‘Samarpanam’ at the Krishnavilasom Palace on July 16. Several years ago, Marthanda Varma had shared a dais with the then Chief Justice of India K. Subba Rao. Marthanda Varma had occasion to quote from the Vishnu Sahasranama and translate the lines into English. Subba Rao had then urged him to prepare an English commentary. That was the first ‘seed’ for the book, said Marthanda Varma. It has taken Marthanda Varma four years of diligent effort to bring the book to its present shape. Most of the work on ‘Samarpanam’ was done at the Pattom Palace itself.
Marthanda Varma is also planning to release two more books soon; his autobiography and a compilation of the photographs taken by him.