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.

The hymn's concepts turn on sacred expansion. विष्णु is the one who pervades and makes room; उरुक्रम is the wide-striding power that opens ordered space for beings to live; त्रेधा विचक्रमाणः points to the threefold measuring of the worlds; and परमं पदम् is the highest station constantly seen by the seers. धर्माणि shows that this expansion is not disorderly growth but a widening held by truth and responsibility. In daily recitation, the hymn trains the mind to ask what expands life without confusion, what supports the higher goal, and what next step should be taken 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 विष्णोः॒ श्नप्त्रे᳚स्थो॒ विष्णो॒स्स्यूर॑सि॒ विष्णो᳚र्ध्रु॒वम॑सि वैष्ण॒वम॑सि॒ विष्ण॑वे त्वा ॥ 2 (तै. सं. 1.2.13.3)

Word Meanings (पदार्थ):
विष्णोः - of Vishnu
वीर्याणि - contextual word sense: I proclaim the heroic powers of Vishnu
प्रवोचम् - contextual word sense: I proclaim the heroic powers of Vishnu
पार्थिवानि - contextual word sense: he measured out the earthly realms
रजांसि - contextual word sense: he measured out the earthly realms
विममे - contextual word sense: he measured out the earthly realms
उत्तरम् - placed above, uppermost (in succession)
सधस्थम् - contextual word sense: he propped up the higher station
अस्कभायत् - contextual word sense: he propped up the higher station
त्रेधा - contextual word sense: striding in three ways
विचक्रमाणः - contextual word sense: striding in three ways
उरुगायः - widely praised, wide-ranging
विष्णोः - of Vishnu
अराटम् - contextual word sense: you are connected with Vishnu's offering or protection
असि - you are
विष्णोः - of Vishnu
पृष्ठम् - back; summit
असि - you are
वैष्णवम् - contextual word sense: you belong to Vishnu
असि - you are
विष्णवे - to Vishnu, the all-pervading Lord
त्वा - to you

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 (अनुसंधान):
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 मदं॑ति । उ॒रु॒क्र॒मस्य॒ स हि बंधु॑रि॒त्था । विष्णो᳚ प॒दे प॑र॒मे मध्व॒ उथ्सः॑ ॥ 3 (तै. ब्रा. 2.4.6.2)
प्र तद्विष्णु॑-स्स्तवते वी॒र्या॑य । मृ॒गो न भी॒मः कु॑च॒रो गि॑रि॒ष्ठाः । यस्यो॒रुषु॑ त्रि॒षु वि॒क्रम॑णेषु । अधि॑क्ष॒यंति॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा᳚ ॥ 4 (तै. ब्रा. 2.4.3.4)

Word Meanings (पदार्थ):
तत् - that
अस्य - of him; of this
प्रियम् - what is pleasant or desirable
पथः - path
अश्याम् - contextual word sense: may I reach his beloved path or station
नराः - people; men
देवयवः - contextual word sense: God-seeking people rejoice there
मदंति - contextual word sense: God-seeking people rejoice there
उरुक्रमस्य - of urukram
बंधुः - friend
विष्णोः - of Vishnu
पदे - contextual word sense: in Vishnu's supreme station
परमे - dative form, addressed in reverent offering or salutation
मध्वः - contextual word sense: a fountain of sweetness
उत्सः - contextual word sense: a fountain of sweetness
स्तवते - contextual word sense: he is praised for heroic power
वीर्याय - to/for vIry
मृगः - contextual word sense: like a formidable roaming beast
न - not
भीमः - He who is frightening, unleashing awe
त्रिषु - in the three
विक्रमणेषु - contextual word sense: in his three strides
भुवनानि - contextual word sense: all worlds dwell within them
विश्वा - all; universal
अधिक्षयंति - contextual word sense: 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 (अनुसंधान):
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 महि॒त्वमन्व॑श्नुवंति । उ॒भे ते॑ विद्म॒ रज॑सी पृथि॒व्या विष्णो॑ देव॒त्वम् । प॒र॒मस्य॑ विथ्से ॥ 5 (तै. ब्रा. 2.8.3.2)

Word Meanings (पदार्थ):
परो - contextual word sense: beyond measure
मात्रया - contextual word sense: beyond measure
तनुवा - contextual word sense: expanding through form
वृधान - contextual word sense: expanding through form
न - not
ते - to you; your
महित्वम् - contextual word sense: they do not reach your greatness
अनु - after; along
अश्नुवंति - contextual word sense: they do not reach your greatness
उभे - both
रजसी - contextual word sense: both realms, heaven and earth
पृथिव्याः - of the earthly expanse
विष्णो - O Vishnu
देवत्वम् - contextual word sense: O Vishnu, your divine nature
परमस्य - of param
वित्से - contextual word sense: 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 (अनुसंधान):
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 श॒तर्च॑सं महि॒त्वा । प्र विष्णु॑रस्तु त॒वस॒स्तवी॑यान् । त्वे॒षग्ग् ह्य॑स्य॒ स्थवि॑रस्य॒ नाम॑ ॥ 7 (तै. ब्रा. 2.4.3.5)

Word Meanings (पदार्थ):
विचक्रमे - contextual word sense: he strode across this earth
पृथिवीम् - earth
एताम् - this
क्षेत्राय - to/for kShEtr
मनुषे - contextual word sense: granting a field for human life
दशस्यन् - contextual word sense: granting a field for human life
ध्रुवासः - contextual word sense: steady praising people
कीरयः - contextual word sense: steady praising people
जनासः - contextual word sense: steady praising people
उरुक्षितिम् - contextual word sense: he made a wide dwelling and good birth
सुजनिम् - contextual word sense: he made a wide dwelling and good birth
आचकार - contextual word sense: he made a wide dwelling and good birth
त्रिः - thrice; three
देवः - the deity; shining one
विचक्रमे - contextual word sense: the deity strode three times
महित्वा - by greatness
तवसा - contextual word sense: greater through strength
स्तवीयान् - contextual word sense: greater through strength
स्थविरस्य - of sthavir
नाम - named, called

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 (अनुसंधान):
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 अ॑वंतु 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 । इंद्र॑स्य॒ युज्य॒स्सखा᳚ ॥

Word Meanings (पदार्थ):
अतः - therefore
देवाः - the gods; divine powers
अवंतु - contextual word sense: from there, may the gods protect us
नः - to us; for us; our
यतः - from whom
विष्णुः - विष्णु (the all-pervading one)
विचक्रमे - contextual word sense: from where Vishnu strode forth
पृथिव्याः - of the earth
सप्त-धामभिः - contextual word sense: with the seven stations of earth
त्रेधा - contextual word sense: he placed his step in threefold form
पदम् - place; state; goal
निदधे - dative form, addressed in reverent offering or salutation
समूढम् - contextual word sense: hidden in its dust or track
अस्य - of him; of this
पांसुरे - contextual word sense: hidden in its dust or track
विष्णुः - विष्णु (the all-pervading one)
गोपा - contextual word sense: Vishnu, guardian, not to be deceived
अदाभ्यः - contextual word sense: Vishnu, guardian, not to be deceived
धर्माणि - dharmas; sacred principles
धारयन् - considering (holding, regarding)
विष्णोः - of Vishnu
कर्माणि - actions (plural of कर्म)
पश्यत - see!
व्रतानि - contextual word sense: he has touched or established sacred vows
पस्पशे - contextual word sense: he has touched or established sacred vows
इंद्रस्य - of indr
युज्यः - contextual word sense: the fitting friend of Indra
सखा - friend

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 (अनुसंधान):
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 पर॒मं प॒दग्ं सदा॑ पश्यंति सू॒रयः॑ । दि॒वीव॒ चक्षु॒रात॑तम् । तद्विप्रा॑सो विप॒न्यवो॑ जागृ॒वाग्ं स॒स्समिं॑धते । विष्णो॒र्यत्प॑र॒मं प॒दम् । पर्या᳚प्त्या॒ अनं॑तरायाय॒ सर्व॑स्तोमोऽति रा॒त्र उ॑त्त॒म मह॑र्भवति सर्व॒स्याप्त्यै॒ सर्व॑स्य॒ जित्त्यै॒ सर्व॑मे॒व तेना᳚प्नोति॒ सर्वं॑ जयति ॥

Word Meanings (पदार्थ):
तत् - that
विष्णोः - of Vishnu
परमम् - highest; supreme
पदम् - place; state; goal
सदा - always
पश्यंति - perceive (see, realize)
सूरयः - the wise
दिवी - contextual word sense: like an eye spread in heaven
इव - like; as
चक्षुः - sight; the eye
आततम् - contextual word sense: like an eye spread in heaven
विप्रासः - contextual word sense: inspired, discerning sages
विपन्यवः - contextual word sense: inspired, discerning sages
जागृवांसः - contextual word sense: wakeful ones kindle or illumine it
समिंधते - contextual word sense: wakeful ones kindle or illumine it
पर्याप्त्यै - for completeness
अनंतरायाय - for freedom from obstruction
सर्वस्य - of all (beings)
आप्त्यै - contextual word sense: for attainment of all
सर्वस्य - of all (beings)
जित्यै - contextual word sense: 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 (अनुसंधान):
The seeing of सूरयः, the illumined ones, is not occasional. सदा पश्यंति 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 शांतिः॒ शांतिः॒ शांतिः॑ ॥

Word Meanings (पदार्थ):
ॐ - sacred syllable
शांतिः - 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 (अनुसंधान):
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 शांतिः 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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