He, the Vasudeva resides in all the elements and in him all the elements reside. The five natural elements (Pancha Mahabhutas) are the essence of every being. Thus he is called Vasudeva (Vishnu Purana, Book 6, chapter 5). Mahabharata mentions Vasudeva as the God (the radiant 💡 light) of the Vasus (the 5 elements and the stars, sun and moon combined together), the one in whom all things reside and the one who shines like the sun.

Vasudeva derives from the word ‘Vas’ which means ‘live in’ or the one who lives in everything and every being or simply, he who dwells in all and all dwell in Him. This is the ultimate mantra in Shrimad Bhagavatam, whose 12 Chapters are taken as extensions of the 12 syllables of this Mantra. It is also the mantra to purify one’s mind and soul to see the real-self, the Eternal True Brahman that dwells inside us. In a nutshell, it means freedom from the desires of this material world (Samsara)which is nothing but a non-real world. What exactly is meant by the freedom from the cycle of births and deaths, this has been explained in some of our other mantra translations such as the Soham mantra. This twelve syllable mahamantra is known as a Mukti mantra (liberation mantra) and a spiritual formula for attaining freedom from the cycle of birth and deaths. Elongating the first “a” in sanskrit turns it into “the son of,” meaning that “vāsudeva” is the “son of vasudeva.” vāsudevāya: Addressing “vāsudeva,” a name for Krishna, whose father was Vasudeva. “All glory to…” bhagavate: Adressing Bhagavan, as in “I bow 🙇 to the lord.” Bhagavan mean “Lord” in the most spiritual, sacred sense of the word. namo: (Same as “namaha”) To honor or solute. 🕉oṃ: The eternal source-sound-vibration of creation. Translations: “Aum🕉, I bow to the Lord Vasudeva’ “In whom dwells the entire jagat, whose being lends existence to the very jagat, who is a source of blessing, unto him, Bhagavān Vāsudeva, our salutation” Dvadasaksara-mantra (“mantra of twelve syllables”) ॐ 🕉नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय Aum Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya!

Om namo bhagavate meaning