Vishnu Purana occupies pride of place among the Ashtaasasha Puranas. Maharshi Parashara conveyed to Maitreya that this Purana was first recited by Brahma himself to Sage Ribhu and was further recited to a galaxy of illustrious personalities including Priyavrata, Dadhichi, Sarasvata, Bhrigu, Purukutsa, Vaasuki, Pulstya, and now by Maharshi Parashara. Pathana-Shravana-Manana of this Sacred Purana even in parts bestows the fruit of performing Ashwamedha Yagna and its Avabhruta Snaana or the concluding Snaana at the end of the Yagna. Prolonged stay and daily worship of Bhagavan at several Punya Kshetras like Prayaga, Pushkara, Kurukshetra and Samudraas would yield the benefit of association with this Purana.

Yadagnihotrey suhrutey varshenaapnoti Maanavah,

Maha punya phalam Vipra tadasya shravanaatsakrut/

(A single reading of this Purana would accord the Maha Punya of Agni Homas for a year as per prescribed procedure!) The fruits of reading or hearing the Puranas are endless like Shri Krishna Darshana, day long worship and  fasting at Mathura after Yamuna Snaana on Jeyshtha Shukla Dwadashi; Pitru Pinda daana on that day besides reading even one chapter of the Purana preceded by worship to Shri Krishna and so on.

Etat Samsaara bheerunaam paritraanamanutthamam,

Shravyanaam paramam shraavyam pavitraanaamanutthamam/

Duhkha pranaashanam Nrunaam Sdarva dushta nibarhanam,

Mangalam Mangalaanaam cha bhaagurayebraveet/

(This Purana provides Raksha /Shield to all those who are constantly tormented by the complications and hitches of daily life ; it relieves them of fears of any kind, rids of sins, assures of propitiouness and success; enhances wealth and health; provides excellent progeny and happy family life and over-all contentment.)                                                                       

Vishnu ‘Paratwa Nirnaya’:

Yasminnyastamatirna yaati Narakam Swargopi yacchintaney

Vighno yatra niveshitaatma manaso Brahmopi lokolpakah,

Muktim chetaasi yah sthitomaladhiyaam Pumsaam Dadaatyavyayah kim

chitram yadagham prayaati Vilayam tannachyutey keeritey/                                                                                           

Yagnairyagnavido yajanti satatam Yagneswaram karmino

yam vai Brahma mayam paraavaramayam dhyaayanti cha jnaaninah,

Yam sanchintya na jaayatey na mriyatey no vardhatey heeyatey

naivaasanna cha sadbhavatyati tatah kim vaa Hareh Shruyataam/                           

Kavyam yah Pitrurupadhrugvidhi humtam havyam cha bhungttey

Vibhurdevatvey Bhagavaananaadi nidhanah Swaahaa Swadhaamsamjnitey,

Yassmin Brahmaani Sarva Shakti nilaey maanaani no maaninaam

Nishthaayai prabhavanti hanti kalusham shrotam sa yaato Harih/

(What is the surprise if sincere dedication is registered in a clean mind and a transparent heart while performing ‘Achyuta Kirthana’ so that one would not have to reach Naraka, let alone Swarga and even Brahma loka, as the ‘Avayaya Prabhu’ could grant Moksha itself!  What else could be expected when a person would neither be born nor dead,  grown nor diminished, and neither experienced with a Truthful Cause nor performed a deed involving an inventive lie or falsehood, if  he as a Yajnavetta executed  Yagnaas, or as a Gyani totally immersed in meditation  of Brahma Swarupa! That ‘Anaadinidhana Bhagavan’ assumes the forms of Devas and accepts the offerings of ‘Swaaha’ in Agni as also assumes the Pitru Rupa and accepts offerings of ‘Swadha’ and thus demolishes the sins through the medium of Homaas in Agni!)

Naantosti yasya na cha yasya samudbhavosti Vriddhirna yasya parinaamavivarjitasya,

Naapakshayam cha samupaitya vikaarivastuyastam natosmi Purushottama meeshameedyam/

Tastaiva yonu Gunabhuk bahudhaika eva shuddhyopya shudda ivabhaati hi Murtibhedhaih ,

Jnaanvitah Sakalasatwa vibhutikartaa tasmai Namostu Purushaaya Sadaavyayaaya/               

Jnana pravruttiniyamaikyamayaaya pumso bhagapradaana patavey Trigunaatmakaaya,

Avyaakrutaaya bhava bhaavana kaaranaaya Vandey Swarupabhaavanaaya Sadaajaraaya/

Vyomaanilaagni jalab hurachanaamayaaya shabdaai bhogya vishayopanayakshamaaya,

Pumsah karanairupakaarakaaya Vyaktaaya sukshma brihadaatmamavatey natosmi/                         

Iti Vividhamajasya yasya rupam Prakruti paraatmamayam  Sanaatanaysya,

Pradishatu Bhagavaanasesha pumsaam Harirapa janma Jaraadikam, sa siddhim/

(My salutations to Purushottama who is immesurable and is bereft of beginning, end, growth and decay; to that Pradhana Purusha who is Singular yet Multitudinal, as manifested in a variety of features and characteristics, who is essentially of the pristine and perfect Form but assumes multitude of shapes and profiles and who is the core of Jnaana and Realisation; to that Swayam-Siddha or Auto-Generated phenomenon of Infinity who is a grand mix of Jnaana-Pravrutti-Niyamana representing Satva-Raja-Tamasika Gunas and is the Symbol of Solitude and Seclusion but in the thick of happenings and events; to that Supreme and Unknown Energy manifested as Akasha-Vayu-Agni-Jala-Prithvi; and to that Sukshma-Virat Parama Purusha! May that Prakriti-Purusha-Bhagavan Vishnu endow us with the Siddhi or boon of Mukti by avoiding Janma-Jaraa-Maranas!)