విష్ణు సూక్తం

విష్ణు సూక్తం 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, త్రీణి పదాని, 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 ధర్మాణి, 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 విష్ణు, ఉరుక్రమ, ఉరుగాయ, పరమం పదం, త్రేధా విచక్రమాణః, ధర్మాణి, 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?

ఓం-విఀష్ణో॒ర్నుకం॑-వీఀ॒ర్యా॑ణి॒ ప్రవో॑చం॒ యః పార్థి॑వాని విమ॒మే రాజాగ్ం॑సి॒ యో అస్క॑భాయ॒దుత్త॑రగ్ం స॒ధస్థం॑-విఀచక్రమా॒ణస్త్రే॒ధోరు॑గా॒యః ॥ 1 (తై. సం. 1.2.13.3)
విష్ణో॑ర॒రాట॑మసి॒ విష్ణోః᳚ పృ॒ష్ఠమ॑సి॒ విష్ణోః॒ శ్నప్త్రే᳚స్థో॒ విష్ణో॒స్స్యూర॑సి॒ విష్ణో᳚ర్ధ్రు॒వమ॑సి వైష్ణ॒వమ॑సి॒ విష్ణ॑వే త్వా ॥ 2 (తై. సం. 1.2.13.3)

Meaning (పదార్థ):
విష్ణోః వీర్యాణి ప్రవోచం - I proclaim the heroic powers of Vishnu
పార్థివాని రజాంసి విమమే - he measured out the earthly realms
ఉత్తరం సధస్థం అస్కభాయత్ - he propped up the higher station
త్రేధా విచక్రమాణః - striding in three ways
ఉరుగాయః - widely praised, wide-ranging
విష్ణోః అరాటం అసి - you are connected with Vishnu's offering or protection
విష్ణోః పృష్ఠం అసి - you are Vishnu's support or back
వైష్ణవం అసి - you belong to Vishnu
విష్ణవే త్వా - you are offered to Vishnu

Translation (భావార్థ):
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 (అనుసంధాన):
వీర్య here is cosmic capacity: the power to measure, uphold, and open space. ఉరుగాయ 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.

తద॑స్య ప్రి॒యమ॒భిపాథో॑ అశ్యామ్ । నరో॒ యత్ర॑ దేవ॒యవో॒ మదం॑తి । ఉ॒రు॒క్ర॒మస్య॒ స హి బంధు॑రి॒త్థా । విష్ణో᳚ ప॒దే ప॑ర॒మే మధ్వ॒ ఉథ్సః॑ ॥ 3 (తై. బ్రా. 2.4.6.2)
ప్ర తద్విష్ణు॑-స్స్తవతే వీ॒ర్యా॑య । మృ॒గో న భీ॒మః కు॑చ॒రో గి॑రి॒ష్ఠాః । యస్యో॒రుషు॑ త్రి॒షు వి॒క్రమ॑ణేషు । అధి॑క్ష॒యంతి॒ భువ॑నాని॒ విశ్వా᳚ ॥ 4 (తై. బ్రా. 2.4.3.4)

Meaning (పదార్థ):
తత్ అస్య ప్రియం పథః అశ్యాం - may I reach his beloved path or station
నరాః దేవయవః మదంతి - God-seeking people rejoice there
ఉరుక్రమస్య బంధుః - that is the bond or relation of the wide-strider
విష్ణోః పదే పరమే - in Vishnu's supreme station
మధ్వః ఉత్సః - a fountain of sweetness
స్తవతే వీర్యాయ - he is praised for heroic power
మృగః న భీమః - like a formidable roaming beast
త్రిషు విక్రమణేషు - in his three strides
భువనాని విశ్వా అధిక్షయంతి - all worlds dwell within them

Translation (భావార్థ):
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 (అనుసంధాన):
The phrase విష్ణోః పరమం పదం is central. పదం is a step, station, trace, or goal. The highest step is not barren transcendence; it is described as మధ్వః ఉత్సః, 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 పరమం ధామ 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.

ప॒రో మాత్ర॑యా త॒నువా॑ వృధాన । న తే॑ మహి॒త్వమన్వ॑శ్నువంతి । ఉ॒భే తే॑ విద్మ॒ రజ॑సీ పృథి॒వ్యా విష్ణో॑ దేవ॒త్వమ్ । ప॒ర॒మస్య॑ విథ్సే ॥ 5 (తై. బ్రా. 2.8.3.2)

Meaning (పదార్థ):
పరో మాత్రయా - beyond measure
తనువా వృధాన - expanding through form
న తే మహిత్వం అను అశ్నువంతి - they do not reach your greatness
ఉభే రజసీ - both realms, heaven and earth
పృథివ్యాః - of the earthly expanse
విష్ణో దేవత్వం - O Vishnu, your divine nature
పరమస్య విత్సే - you know the supreme

Translation (భావార్థ):
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 (అనుసంధాన):
పరో మాత్రయా 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.

విచ॑క్రమే పృథి॒వీమే॒ష ఏ॒తామ్ । క్షేత్రా॑య॒ విష్ణు॒ర్మను॑షే దశ॒స్యన్న్ । ధ్రు॒వాసో॑ అస్య కీ॒రయో॒ జనా॑సః । ఊ॒రు॒క్షి॒తిగ్ం సు॒జని॑మాచకార ॥ 6 (తై. బ్రా. 2.4.3.5)
త్రిర్దే॒వః పృ॑థి॒వీమే॒ష ఏ॒తామ్ । విచ॑క్రమే శ॒తర్చ॑సం మహి॒త్వా । ప్ర విష్ణు॑రస్తు త॒వస॒స్తవీ॑యాన్ । త్వే॒షగ్గ్ హ్య॑స్య॒ స్థవి॑రస్య॒ నామ॑ ॥ 7 (తై. బ్రా. 2.4.3.5)

Meaning (పదార్థ):
విచక్రమే పృథివీం ఏతాం - he strode across this earth
క్షేత్రాయ మనుషే దశస్యన్ - granting a field for human life
ధ్రువాసః కీరయః జనాసః - steady praising people
ఉరుక్షితిం సుజనిం ఆచకార - he made a wide dwelling and good birth
త్రిః దేవః విచక్రమే - the deity strode three times
మహిత్వా - by greatness
తవసా స్తవీయాన్ - greater through strength
స్థవిరస్య నామ - the mighty, firm name

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

The Gita later uses క్షేత్ర 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.

అతో॑ దే॒వా అ॑వంతు నో॒ యతో॒ విష్ణు॑ర్విచక్ర॒మే । పృ॒థి॒వ్యా-స్స॒ప్తధామ॑భిః । ఇ॒దం-విఀష్ణు॒ర్విచ॑క్రమే త్రే॒ధా నిద॑ధే ప॒దమ్ । సమూ॑ఢమస్య పాగ్ం సు॒రే ॥ త్రీణి॑ ప॒దా విచ॑క్రమే॒ విష్ణు॑ర్గో॒పా అదా᳚భ్యః । తతో॒ ధర్మా॑ణి ధా॒రయన్॑ । విష్ణోః॒ కర్మా॑ణి పశ్యత॒ యతో᳚ వ్ర॒తాని॑ పస్ప॒శే । ఇంద్ర॑స్య॒ యుజ్య॒స్సఖా᳚ ॥

Meaning (పదార్థ):
అతః దేవాః అవంతు నః - from there, may the gods protect us
యతః విష్ణుః విచక్రమే - from where Vishnu strode forth
పృథివ్యాః సప్త-ధామభిః - with the seven stations of earth
త్రేధా పదం నిదధే - he placed his step in threefold form
సమూఢం అస్య పాంసురే - hidden in its dust or track
విష్ణుః గోపా అదాభ్యః - Vishnu, guardian, not to be deceived
ధర్మాణి ధారయన్ - upholding the laws and orders
విష్ణోః కర్మాణి పశ్యత - behold the works of Vishnu
వ్రతాని పస్పశే - he has touched or established sacred vows
ఇంద్రస్య యుజ్యః సఖా - the fitting friend of Indra

Translation (భావార్థ):
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 (అనుసంధాన):
This section explicitly joins Vishnu's strides with ధర్మ and వ్రత. The divine step is not random expansion; it creates order, obligation, and protected space. గోపా 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 ధర్మ-సంస్థాపన 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.

తద్విష్ణోః᳚ పర॒మం ప॒దగ్ం సదా॑ పశ్యంతి సూ॒రయః॑ । ది॒వీవ॒ చక్షు॒రాత॑తమ్ । తద్విప్రా॑సో విప॒న్యవో॑ జాగృ॒వాగ్ం స॒స్సమిం॑ధతే । విష్ణో॒ర్యత్ప॑ర॒మం ప॒దమ్ । పర్యా᳚ప్త్యా॒ అనం॑తరాయాయ॒ సర్వ॑స్తోమోఽతి రా॒త్ర ఉ॑త్త॒మ మహ॑ర్భవతి సర్వ॒స్యాప్త్యై॒ సర్వ॑స్య॒ జిత్త్యై॒ సర్వ॑మే॒వ తేనా᳚ప్నోతి॒ సర్వం॑ జయతి ॥

Meaning (పదార్థ):
తత్ విష్ణోః పరమం పదం - that supreme station of Vishnu
సదా పశ్యంతి సూరయః - the seers always behold
దివీ ఇవ చక్షుః ఆతతం - like an eye spread in heaven
విప్రాసః విపన్యవః - inspired, discerning sages
జాగృవాంసః సమింధతే - wakeful ones kindle or illumine it
పర్యాప్త్యై - for completeness
అనంతరాయాయ - for freedom from obstruction
సర్వస్య ఆప్త్యై - for attainment of all
సర్వస్య జిత్యై - for victory over all

Translation (భావార్థ):
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 (అనుసంధాన):
The seeing of సూరయః, the illumined ones, is not occasional. సదా పశ్యంతి 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, జాగృవత్, 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.

ఓం శాంతిః॒ శాంతిః॒ శాంతిః॑ ॥

Meaning (పదార్థ):
ఓం - sacred syllable
శాంతిః - peace
త్రివారం - repeated three times

Translation (భావార్థ):
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 (అనుసంధాన):
After contemplating ఉరుక్రమ, the wide stride, and పరమం పదం, the supreme step, the hymn closes with peace. The supreme step must quiet the mind, not inflate spiritual ambition.

Vedic recitation places శాంతిః 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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