Vishnu Suktam

viṣṇu sūktam 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 enduring force of the hymn lies in its central image, trīṇi padāni, 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 dharmāṇi, and reveals a highest station that seers behold.

ōṃ viṣṇō̠rnuka̍ṃ vī̠ryā̍ṇi̠ pravō̍chaṃ̠ yaḥ pārthi̍vāni vima̠mē rājāgṃ̍si̠ yō aska̍bhāya̠dutta̍ragṃ sa̠dhastha̍ṃ vichakramā̠ṇastrē̠dhōru̍gā̠yaḥ ॥ 1 (tai. saṃ. 1.2.13.3)
viṣṇō̍ra̠rāṭa̍masi̠ viṣṇō̎ḥ pṛ̠ṣṭhama̍si̠ viṣṇō̠-śśnaptrē̎sthō̠ viṣṇō̠ssyūra̍si̠ viṣṇō̎rdhru̠vama̍si vaiṣṇa̠vama̍si̠ viṣṇa̍vē tvā ॥ 2 (tai. saṃ. 1.2.13.3)

Translation (bhāvārtha):
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.

tada̍sya pri̠yama̠bhipāthō̍ aśyām । narō̠ yatra̍ dēva̠yavō̠ mada̍nti । u̠ru̠kra̠masya̠ sa hi bandhu̍ri̠tthā । viṣṇō̎ pa̠dē pa̍ra̠mē madhva̠ uthsa̍ḥ ॥ 3 (tai. brā. 2.4.6.2)
pra tadviṣṇu̍-sstavatē vī̠ryā̍ya । mṛ̠gō na bhī̠maḥ ku̍cha̠rō gi̍ri̠ṣṭhāḥ । yasyō̠ruṣu̍ tri̠ṣu vi̠krama̍ṇēṣu । adhi̍kṣa̠yanti̠ bhuva̍nāni̠ viśvā̎ ॥ 4 (tai. brā. 2.4.3.4)

Translation (bhāvārtha):
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.

pa̠rō mātra̍yā ta̠nuvā̍ vṛdhāna । na tē̍ mahi̠tvamanva̍śnuvanti । u̠bhē tē̍ vidma̠ raja̍sī pṛthi̠vyā viṣṇō̍ dēva̠tvam । pa̠ra̠masya̍ vithsē ॥ 5 (tai. brā. 2.8.3.2)

Translation (bhāvārtha):
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.

vicha̍kramē pṛthi̠vīmē̠ṣa ē̠tām । kṣētrā̍ya̠ viṣṇu̠rmanu̍ṣē daśa̠syann । dhru̠vāsō̍ asya kī̠rayō̠ janā̍saḥ । ū̠ru̠kṣi̠tigṃ su̠jani̍māchakāra ॥ 6 (tai. brā. 2.4.3.5)
trirdē̠vaḥ pṛ̍thi̠vīmē̠ṣa ē̠tām । vicha̍kramē śa̠tarcha̍sa-mmahi̠tvā । pra viṣṇu̍rastu ta̠vasa̠stavī̍yān । tvē̠ṣagg hya̍sya̠ sthavi̍rasya̠ nāma̍ ॥ 7 (tai. brā. 2.4.3.5)

Translation (bhāvārtha):
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.

atō̍ dē̠vā a̍vantu nō̠ yatō̠ viṣṇu̍rvichakra̠mē । pṛ̠thi̠vyā-ssa̠ptadhāma̍bhiḥ । i̠daṃ viṣṇu̠rvicha̍kramē trē̠dhā nida̍dhē pa̠dam । samū̍ḍhamasya pāgṃ su̠rē ॥ trīṇi̍ pa̠dā vicha̍kramē̠ viṣṇu̍rgō̠pā adā̎bhyaḥ । tatō̠ dharmā̍ṇi dhā̠rayan̍ । viṣṇō̠ḥ karmā̍ṇi paśyata̠ yatō̎ vra̠tāni̍ paspa̠śē । indra̍sya̠ yujya̠ssakhā̎ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
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.

tadviṣṇō̎ḥ para̠ma-mpa̠dagṃ sadā̍ paśyanti sū̠raya̍ḥ । di̠vīva̠ chakṣu̠rāta̍tam । tadviprā̍sō vipa̠nyavō̍ jāgṛ̠vāgṃ sa̠ssamiṃ̍dhatē । viṣṇō̠ryatpa̍ra̠ma-mpa̠dam । paryā̎ptyā̠ anaṃ̍tarāyāya̠ sarva̍stōmō-'ti rā̠tra u̍tta̠ma maha̍rbhavati sarva̠syāptyai̠ sarva̍sya̠ jittyai̠ sarva̍mē̠va tēnā̎pnōti̠ sarvaṃ̍ jayati ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
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.

ōṃ śānti̠-śśānti̠-śśānti̍ḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
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.

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