विष्णु सूक्तम्

विष्णु सूक्तम् celebrates Vishnu as the wide-striding divine power who measures, supports, and illumines the worlds. Its best-known core is the Rigvedic Vishnu hymn, especially Rigveda 1.154, and this Vedic hymn also preserves Taittiriya Samhita and Taittiriya Brahmana passages, as shown by the source notes embedded in the basetxt. The result is a liturgical collection around Vishnu's cosmic strides.

The enduring force of the hymn lies in its central image, त्रीणि पदानि, the three steps or stations: divine order creates habitable space. Vishnu does not merely move through the world; he measures it, stabilizes it, opens room for beings, upholds धर्माणि, and reveals a highest station that seers behold.

The main ideas are Vedic and cosmic: the measuring of earthly realms, the support of the higher seat, the three strides, the "supreme step" of Vishnu, the sweetness found there, and the vigilant seers who keep that vision bright. The hymn can be read devotionally as praise of Lord Vishnu and contemplatively as a meditation on the divine order that gives space, stability, and direction to every being.

Key concepts include विष्णु, उरुक्रम, उरुगाय, परमं पदम्, त्रेधा विचक्रमाणः, धर्माणि, and the seer's constant seeing. In daily recitation, this hymn trains the mind to ask: what expands life without disorder, what supports the higher goal, and what step should be taken next in alignment with dharma?

ॐ-विँष्णो॒र्नुकं॑-वीँ॒र्या॑णि॒ प्रवो॑चं॒ यः पार्थि॑वानि विम॒मे राजाग्ं॑सि॒ यो अस्क॑भाय॒दुत्त॑रग्ं स॒धस्थं॑-विँचक्रमा॒णस्त्रे॒धोरु॑गा॒यः ॥ 1 (तै. सं. 1.2.13.3)
विष्णो॑र॒राट॑मसि॒ विष्णोः᳚ पृ॒ष्ठम॑सि॒ विष्णो॒-श्श्नप्त्रे᳚स्थो॒ विष्णो॒स्स्यूर॑सि॒ विष्णो᳚र्ध्रु॒वम॑सि वैष्ण॒वम॑सि॒ विष्ण॑वे त्वा ॥ 2 (तै. सं. 1.2.13.3)

Meaning (पदार्थ):
विष्णोः वीर्याणि प्रवोचम् - I proclaim the heroic powers of Vishnu
पार्थिवानि रजांसि विममे - he measured out the earthly realms
उत्तरं सधस्थं अस्कभायत् - he propped up the higher station
त्रेधा विचक्रमाणः - striding in three ways
उरुगायः - widely praised, wide-ranging
विष्णोः अराटं असि - you are connected with Vishnu's offering or protection
विष्णोः पृष्ठं असि - you are Vishnu's support or back
वैष्णवं असि - you belong to Vishnu
विष्णवे त्वा - you are offered to Vishnu

Translation (भावार्थ):
I proclaim the heroic powers of Vishnu, who measured the earthly realms, upheld the higher station, and strode widely in threefold form. The ritual object is consecrated as belonging to Vishnu, supported by Vishnu, made firm by Vishnu, and offered to Vishnu.

Commentary (अनुसन्धान):
वीर्य here is cosmic capacity: the power to measure, uphold, and open space. उरुगाय suggests both wide praise and wide movement. Vishnu's three strides are not merely motion; they establish habitable order from earth to the higher realm.

The Rigvedic Vishnu hymn makes this the central theme, and later Vaishnava tradition receives the same wide-striding Lord as the sustainer of the universe. In Vedantic reflection, "measuring the worlds" can also indicate the divine intelligence by which all experience has order, law, and direction.

Practically, this mantra asks us to create space for others to live well. A good leader, parent, teacher, or teammate does not crowd every situation with ego; they measure, support, and stabilize the field so others can grow.

तद॑स्य प्रि॒यम॒भिपाथो॑ अश्याम् । नरो॒ यत्र॑ देव॒यवो॒ मद॑न्ति । उ॒रु॒क्र॒मस्य॒ स हि बन्धु॑रि॒त्था । विष्णो᳚ प॒दे प॑र॒मे मध्व॒ उथ्सः॑ ॥ 3 (तै. ब्रा. 2.4.6.2)
प्र तद्विष्णु॑-स्स्तवते वी॒र्या॑य । मृ॒गो न भी॒मः कु॑च॒रो गि॑रि॒ष्ठाः । यस्यो॒रुषु॑ त्रि॒षु वि॒क्रम॑णेषु । अधि॑क्ष॒यन्ति॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा᳚ ॥ 4 (तै. ब्रा. 2.4.3.4)

Meaning (पदार्थ):
तत् अस्य प्रियं पथः अश्याम् - may I reach his beloved path or station
नराः देवयवः मदन्ति - God-seeking people rejoice there
उरुक्रमस्य बन्धुः - that is the bond or relation of the wide-strider
विष्णोः पदे परमे - in Vishnu's supreme station
मध्वः उत्सः - a fountain of sweetness
स्तवते वीर्याय - he is praised for heroic power
मृगः न भीमः - like a formidable roaming beast
त्रिषु विक्रमणेषु - in his three strides
भुवनानि विश्वा अधिक्षयन्ति - all worlds dwell within them

Translation (भावार्थ):
May I reach Vishnu's beloved path, where God-seeking people rejoice, for in the supreme step of the wide-striding Vishnu there is a fountain of sweetness. Vishnu is praised for his power; in his three vast strides all the worlds find their dwelling.

Commentary (अनुसन्धान):
The phrase विष्णोः परमं पदम् is central. पदम् is a step, station, trace, or goal. The highest step is not barren transcendence; it is described as मध्वः उत्सः, a spring of sweetness.

The Rigvedic hymn presents Vishnu's steps as cosmic space and also as an aspirational goal for seers. Later Vedanta can read this as the highest realization where the seeker recognizes the sustaining Lord as the ground of all worlds. The Gita's परमं धाम language resonates with this vision of supreme divine station.

In life, the "highest step" becomes the highest standard that guides lower actions. Keep one clear noble aim: truth, service, God-remembrance, or liberation. Without a high step, daily work becomes scattered; with it, even small duties become connected.

प॒रो मात्र॑या त॒नुवा॑ वृधान । न ते॑ महि॒त्वमन्व॑श्नुवन्ति । उ॒भे ते॑ विद्म॒ रज॑सी पृथि॒व्या विष्णो॑ देव॒त्वम् । प॒र॒मस्य॑ विथ्से ॥ 5 (तै. ब्रा. 2.8.3.2)

Meaning (पदार्थ):
परो मात्रया - beyond measure
तनुवा वृधान - expanding through form
न ते महित्वं अनु अश्नुवन्ति - they do not reach your greatness
उभे रजसी - both realms, heaven and earth
पृथिव्याः - of the earthly expanse
विष्णो देवत्वम् - O Vishnu, your divine nature
परमस्य वित्से - you know the supreme

Translation (भावार्थ):
O Vishnu, growing through your manifestation yet beyond all measure, beings do not reach the full extent of your greatness. You know both realms and the supreme divine reality.

Commentary (अनुसन्धान):
परो मात्रया means beyond measure. The hymn does not reduce Vishnu to a measurable cosmic function. Even while he manifests through form, his greatness exceeds conceptual grasp.

This supports the Upanishadic pattern: the divine is approached through symbols and functions, but cannot be exhausted by them. Shankara often warns that name and form are teaching aids; the highest reality is not captured by finite predicates.

For practical life, respect what exceeds your measurement. In relationships, organizations, and spiritual practice, humility prevents premature judgment. Good understanding begins when we know the limits of our current understanding.

विच॑क्रमे पृथि॒वीमे॒ष ए॒ताम् । क्षेत्रा॑य॒ विष्णु॒र्मनु॑षे दश॒स्यन्न् । ध्रु॒वासो॑ अस्य की॒रयो॒ जना॑सः । ऊ॒रु॒क्षि॒तिग्ं सु॒जनि॑माचकार ॥ 6 (तै. ब्रा. 2.4.3.5)
त्रिर्दे॒वः पृ॑थि॒वीमे॒ष ए॒ताम् । विच॑क्रमे श॒तर्च॑स-म्महि॒त्वा । प्र विष्णु॑रस्तु त॒वस॒स्तवी॑यान् । त्वे॒षग्ग् ह्य॑स्य॒ स्थवि॑रस्य॒ नाम॑ ॥ 7 (तै. ब्रा. 2.4.3.5)

Meaning (पदार्थ):
विचक्रमे पृथिवीं एताम् - he strode across this earth
क्षेत्राय मनुषे दशस्यन् - granting a field for human life
ध्रुवासः कीरयः जनासः - steady praising people
उरुक्षितिं सुजनिं आचकार - he made a wide dwelling and good birth
त्रिः देवः विचक्रमे - the deity strode three times
महित्वा - by greatness
तवसा स्तवीयान् - greater through strength
स्थविरस्य नाम - the mighty, firm name

Translation (भावार्थ):
Vishnu strode across this earth, granting a field for human life and making a wide dwelling fit for noble birth. The divine one strode three times in greatness; may mighty Vishnu be strong for us, for his name is firm and powerful.

Commentary (अनुसन्धान):
क्षेत्र is a field, and here it is the field of human life. Vishnu's stride creates room for मनुष, the human being, to live, act, and grow. Wide space is a divine gift, but it must be used well.

The Gita later uses क्षेत्र as the body-field in chapter 13, where knowledge is knowing both field and knower. This Vedic mantra prepares the imagination: life is a field granted by divine order, not private property for careless use.

Use your field responsibly. Your home, body, workplace, and community are all "earth" given for dharma. Keep them clean, spacious, and conducive to good birth in the sense of fresh noble actions.

अतो॑ दे॒वा अ॑वन्तु नो॒ यतो॒ विष्णु॑र्विचक्र॒मे । पृ॒थि॒व्या-स्स॒प्तधाम॑भिः । इ॒दं-विँष्णु॒र्विच॑क्रमे त्रे॒धा निद॑धे प॒दम् । समू॑ढमस्य पाग्ं सु॒रे ॥ त्रीणि॑ प॒दा विच॑क्रमे॒ विष्णु॑र्गो॒पा अदा᳚भ्यः । ततो॒ धर्मा॑णि धा॒रयन्॑ । विष्णोः॒ कर्मा॑णि पश्यत॒ यतो᳚ व्र॒तानि॑ पस्प॒शे । इन्द्र॑स्य॒ युज्य॒स्सखा᳚ ॥

Meaning (पदार्थ):
अतः देवाः अवन्तु नः - from there, may the gods protect us
यतः विष्णुः विचक्रमे - from where Vishnu strode forth
पृथिव्याः सप्त-धामभिः - with the seven stations of earth
त्रेधा पदं निदधे - he placed his step in threefold form
समूढं अस्य पांसुरे - hidden in its dust or track
विष्णुः गोपा अदाभ्यः - Vishnu, guardian, not to be deceived
धर्माणि धारयन् - upholding the laws and orders
विष्णोः कर्माणि पश्यत - behold the works of Vishnu
व्रतानि पस्पशे - he has touched or established sacred vows
इन्द्रस्य युज्यः सखा - the fitting friend of Indra

Translation (भावार्थ):
May the gods protect us from the realm from which Vishnu strode. Vishnu placed his step threefold, hidden even in the dust of the earth. Behold Vishnu's works: as guardian, undefeated, he upholds dharmas and establishes sacred vows, the worthy friend of Indra.

Commentary (अनुसन्धान):
This section explicitly joins Vishnu's strides with धर्म and व्रत. The divine step is not random expansion; it creates order, obligation, and protected space. गोपा means guardian, one who watches and preserves.

The Vedic image anticipates later Vishnu as preserver. In Vedantic terms, the cosmic order is not merely physical law but moral and spiritual intelligibility. The Gita's धर्म-संस्थापन theme stands in continuity with this preserving function.

Daily application is direct: do not ask for protection while ignoring order. Keep vows, honor commitments, and protect the vulnerable spaces entrusted to you. Vishnu's path is wide, but it is not lawless.

तद्विष्णोः᳚ पर॒म-म्प॒दग्ं सदा॑ पश्यन्ति सू॒रयः॑ । दि॒वीव॒ चक्षु॒रात॑तम् । तद्विप्रा॑सो विप॒न्यवो॑ जागृ॒वाग्ं स॒स्समिं॑धते । विष्णो॒र्यत्प॑र॒म-म्प॒दम् । पर्या᳚प्त्या॒ अनं॑तरायाय॒ सर्व॑स्तोमो-ऽति रा॒त्र उ॑त्त॒म मह॑र्भवति सर्व॒स्याप्त्यै॒ सर्व॑स्य॒ जित्त्यै॒ सर्व॑मे॒व तेना᳚प्नोति॒ सर्वं॑ जयति ॥

Meaning (पदार्थ):
तत् विष्णोः परमं पदम् - that supreme station of Vishnu
सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः - the seers always behold
दिवी इव चक्षुः आततम् - like an eye spread in heaven
विप्रासः विपन्यवः - inspired, discerning sages
जागृवांसः समिन्धते - wakeful ones kindle or illumine it
पर्याप्त्यै - for completeness
अनन्तरायाय - for freedom from obstruction
सर्वस्य आप्त्यै - for attainment of all
सर्वस्य जित्यै - for victory over all

Translation (भावार्थ):
The seers ever behold that supreme station of Vishnu, like an eye extended in heaven. The inspired and wakeful sages kindle awareness of Vishnu's supreme step. Through this completeness and freedom from obstruction, one attains and conquers all that is truly to be attained.

Commentary (अनुसन्धान):
The seeing of सूरयः, the illumined ones, is not occasional. सदा पश्यन्ति means steady vision. The supreme station is compared to a heavenly eye: open, vast, and illuminating.

This line is beloved in Vaishnava tradition and also fits Vedantic contemplation. The "highest step" can be adored as Vishnu's transcendent abode and contemplated as the ever-visible reality to purified insight. Wakefulness, जागृवत्, is the condition for such seeing.

Practically, keep the highest goal visible. A person becomes what they repeatedly behold: resentment, distraction, or the supreme ideal. Set up your environment so that noble sight is frequent: study, worship, good company, and reminders of duty.

ॐ शान्ति॒-श्शान्ति॒-श्शान्तिः॑ ॥

Meaning (पदार्थ):
ॐ - sacred syllable
शान्तिः - peace
त्रिवारं - repeated three times

Translation (भावार्थ):
May peace settle at every level: in divine forces, in the outer world, and within the mind, so that the vision of Vishnu's supreme step may remain unobstructed.

Commentary (अनुसन्धान):
After contemplating उरुक्रम, the wide stride, and परमं पदम्, the supreme step, the hymn closes with peace. The supreme step must quiet the mind, not inflate spiritual ambition.

Vedic recitation places शान्तिः at the end so the fruit of praise settles into body, speech, mind, and environment. In Vaishnava and Vedantic reading, preservation is not only cosmic maintenance but the peace in which dharma can be practiced steadily.

In daily life, end achievement with calm gratitude. Wide action without peace becomes exhaustion; wide action rooted in peace becomes service.

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