Vishnu in the Rig Veda

Therefore may the Gods protect us from that source where Vishnu strode out, establishing the seven domains of the Earth—those ordered habitations of the manifested being.

This is Vishnu who has strode forth; in threefold fashion he has set down his step—one of his steps is hidden and packed in the dust, in the depths of the inconscient.

Three steps Vishnu strode forth—an unfailing guardian; from that act he holds up the laws and right workings of the worlds within us.

Behold the works of Vishnu, from where he has looked upon and set in view the laws of action; he is the yoked companion of Indra—power allied with luminous force.

That highest step of Vishnu the illumined seers behold always—like an eye stretched out in heaven: a constant seeing of the supreme station of consciousness.

That the seers—adoring, wakeful—kindle together: the flame of realization of Vishnu’s highest step, the supreme station they strive to make manifest within.

Even as soon as he was born, in his mother’s pressings, he drank the great delight, the lovely food. Strong Viṣṇu stole the cooking; he pierced the boar, casting him beyond the rock—an image of the power that breaks through the stony cover…

They, self-powered in their own force, grew vast by their greatness; they took their station in the heaven and made wide their seat of being. And when Vishnu set the impetuous Bull in motion—he who does not fall from the ecstasy—they…

And may our thoughts, led by the rays of Light, be made to move rightly—O Pūṣan, O Viṣṇu of wide going—become for us the maker of a state filled with well-being.

Peace to us from Mitra, peace from Varuṇa; peace to us may Aryaman become. Peace to us from Indra and Bṛhaspati; peace to us from Viṣṇu of the wide stride—may all these powers establish harmony in our being.

Now I declare the heroic powers of Viṣṇu: he who measured out the earthly realms, he who propped up the higher station; striding forth, the Wide-Praised established the threefold movement of the worlds within us.

Therefore Viṣṇu is praised for his might: like a formidable roaming wild one, dwelling on the heights. In his three wide strides all the worlds take their habitation.

Let our thought go forth to Viṣṇu with force—him who dwells on the heights, wide in his praise, the strong one—who alone measured this long-stretched seat by just three steps.

May we attain to that dear path where the god-seeking souls rejoice; for this indeed is the true kinship of the Wide-Strider: in Viṣṇu’s highest step is the spring of honeyed delight.

Bring forward your hymning for Viṣṇu, the great heroic Power, who is drunk with the clarified delight and who awakens the thought. He who stands on the mountain-summits, unconquerable, vast in being, firm and straight like a good steed.

Fierce indeed is the battle of you two impetuous Powers, O Indra and Viṣṇu; the Soma-drinker widens for you the safe way. And when for the mortal the hostile force is set against him, even from the fire’s blaze and from the onrush you two…

Become for us like Mitra, gracious and friendly—one whose offering is clarified richness, whose glory is wide-spread, who goes by the straight path and is vast in extension. Then for you, O Viṣṇu, even by the knower, the hymn and the…

He who gives to Viṣṇu—the ancient Seer and yet ever-new, the one who awakens the good understanding—he who speaks greatly of the greatness that is born of him, that man indeed wins by the powers of inspired hearing even what is hard to…

Him—the ancient one—may we know, O singers, as we know the womb of Ṛta which he fills by his very birth. Knowing even his name, declare it forth; O Viṣṇu of the Vast, we share in your good understanding.

Of him, Varuṇa the king takes his sovereign regard; the Aśvins join themselves to his effective will; the Marut-wise power upholds the supreme discernment that finds the Day. And Viṣṇu, the Friend, unveils also the luminous enclosure…