Rig Veda Sukta 156
Mandala 1Sukta 1565 Mantras

Sukta 156

Sukta 1.156

Rishi

Dīrghatamas Aucathya (traditional for RV 1.156)

Devata

Viṣṇu

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Ce bref hymne en triṣṭubh loue Viṣṇu comme le vaste et très ancien soutien du Ṛta (l’ordre cosmique), le priant d’être bienveillant à la manière de Mitra et de faire réussir l’hymne et le sacrifice. Il met en relief la présence expansive de Viṣṇu, son rôle d’établir le sacrifiant dans la « part du Ṛta », ainsi que sa compagnie divine avec Indra, qui donne force à l’action juste et à la clairvoyance.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.156

Mantras

Mantra 1

भवा मित्रो न शेव्यो घृतासुतिर्विभूतद्युम्न एवया उ सप्रथाः । अधा ते विष्णो विदुषा चिदर्ध्यः स्तोमो यज्ञश्च राध्यो हविष्मता ॥

Sois pour nous tel Mitra, bienveillant et ami, dont l’offrande est ghr̥ta, dont la gloire s’étend au loin, qui suit la voie droite et se déploie largement. Alors, ô Viṣṇu, même par le connaissant, l’hymne et le sacrifice doivent être accomplis comme il se doit, avec l’oblation.

Mantra 2

यः पूर्व्याय वेधसे नवीयसे सुमज्जानये विष्णवे ददाशति । यो जातमस्य महतो महि ब्रवत्सेदु श्रवोभिर्युज्यं चिदभ्यसत् ॥

Celui qui offre à Viṣṇu — l’antique Voyant et pourtant toujours neuf, l’éveilleur de la bonne intelligence — celui qui proclame magnifiquement la grandeur née de lui, celui-là, par les puissances de l’écoute inspirée (śrávas), obtient vraiment même ce qui est difficile à atteler (yújya).

Mantra 3

तमु स्तोतारः पूर्व्यं यथा विद ऋतस्य गर्भं जनुषा पिपर्तन । आस्य जानन्तो नाम चिद्विवक्तन महस्ते विष्णो सुमतिं भजामहे ॥

Lui — l’Ancien — puissions-nous le connaître, ô chanteurs, comme nous connaissons le sein du Ṛta qu’il emplit par sa propre naissance. Connaissant même son nom, proclamez-le; ô Viṣṇu du Vaste, nous prenons part à ta bonne pensée (sumatí).

Mantra 4

तमस्य राजा वरुणस्तमश्विना क्रतुं सचन्त मारुतस्य वेधसः । दाधार दक्षमुत्तममहर्विदं व्रजं च विष्णुः सखिवाँ अपोर्णुते ॥

De lui, le roi Varuṇa prend la garde souveraine; à sa volonté efficace (krátu) s’attachent les Aśvins; la sagesse marutique soutient le discernement suprême qui trouve le Jour. Et Viṣṇu, l’Ami, lui dévoile aussi l’enclos lumineux (vraja).

Mantra 5

आ यो विवाय सचथाय दैव्य इन्द्राय विष्णुः सुकृते सुकृत्तरः । वेधा अजिन्वत्त्रिषधस्थ आर्यमृतस्य भागे यजमानमाभजत् ॥

Celui qui est venu à la compagnie divine — Viṣṇu, plus parfaitement bienfaisant envers l’auteur du bien — a éveillé le Voyant inspiré (Vedhā) pour Indra. Établi dans les trois sièges, il a fait participer le sacrifiant à la part du Ṛta, la part noble (ārya) de l’ordre-vérité.

Inside Sukta 156

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct petition to Viṣṇu to be gracious and friendly like Mitra, and to accept hymn and sacrifice rightly performed with oblation.

  2. Development

    Viṣṇu is praised as vast and ancient, known as the ‘womb of Ṛta’—the sustaining ground of truth-order—whose very being fills and supports it.

  3. Climax

    The hymn crystallizes Viṣṇu’s greatness (mahas) as the source of sumati (good understanding), urging the singers to declare his name and recognize his foundational role in Ṛta.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes by placing Viṣṇu in divine companionship with Indra and affirming that he apportions the sacrificer to Ṛta’s rightful share—securing noble participation in the truth-order.

The deity: Viṣṇu

  • In the VedaIn the Rig Veda, Viṣṇu is the all-pervading, wide-striding deity whose greatness is measured by vastness (mahat), whose stations are exalted, and who supports Ṛta by his expansive presence and orderly movement.
  • Cosmic functionHe establishes and sustains cosmic order through his pervasive ‘striding’—marking out the world-space, securing the divine realms, and allotting beings (including the sacrificer) their rightful portion in Ṛta.
  • Inner significanceViṣṇu signifies the power of inner expansion—clarity that ‘widens’ consciousness, aligns intention with truth-order (ṛta), and carries the seeker along a straight, unobstructed path of right understanding and right action.

The seer

  • Dīrghatamas AucathyaAucathya (descendant of Ucathya; associated with the Aṅgirasa/Bṛhaspati-related seer milieu in later tradition) · A visionary poet famed for profound, symbolic hymns on Ṛta, speech, and cosmic structure (notably the enigmatic RV 1.164), and for presenting reality through layered riddles and correspondences.

Famous verses

भवा मित्रो न शेव्यो घृतासुतिर्विभूतद्युम्न एवया उ सप्रथाः । अधा ते विष्णो विदुषा चिदर्ध्यः स्तोमो यज्ञश्च राध्यो हविष्मता ॥
Verse 1.156.1Sets the hymn’s devotional and ritual aim: Viṣṇu is asked to be Mitra-like (benevolent) and to make praise and sacrifice ‘rightly accomplished’ with oblation—linking devotion to correct ritual order.Read verse 1.156.1 →
ṛtasya garbhaṃ
Verse 1.156.3A central theological statement: Viṣṇu is the ancient one connected to the ‘womb of Ṛta’; the verse ties knowing/declaring the deity’s name to receiving sumati (right understanding).Read verse 1.156.3 →
triṣadhastha
Verse 1.156.5Concludes with Viṣṇu’s cooperation with Indra and his role as allocator of the sacrificer to Ṛta’s share, emphasizing ethical-ritual alignment and the ‘three seats’ motif.Read verse 1.156.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Wide-striding, all-pervading presence
  • Upholder and distributor of Ṛta’s portion
  • Gracious and friendly like Mitra
  • Vast (mahān), ancient (pūrvya)
  • Ally/companion of Indra in divine action
  • Establishes the sacrificer in the noble (ārya) share of truth-order

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda 1.140–1.164 (traditional attribution, including the famed riddle-hymn RV 1.164)
  • Traditions in later Vedic/Itihāsa literature that remember him as a seer of deep metaphysical insight and a master of poetic enigmas

The rite, step by step

  • Establish the sacred fire(s) and prepare the altar space with purity and intention aligned to Ṛta.
  • Offer preliminary oblations (āghāra/introductory ghee offerings) while reciting invocatory verses to make the deity ‘friendly like Mitra’.
  • Recite the sukta as a Viṣṇu-stuti during the main offering sequence, emphasizing the ‘straight path’ and expansive protection.
  • Make the principal offering (ghee/Soma as applicable) with the concluding verses, asking Viṣṇu to allot the yajamāna to the share of Ṛta.
  • Conclude with śānti/auspicious closing and a reaffirmation of right order and good understanding (sumati).

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (clarified butter)
  • Soma (where Soma-rite is performed)
  • Havis (general oblation: grains/cakes as per rite)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Viṣṇu as a vast, ancient power who supports Ṛta (cosmic order) and makes the hymn and sacrifice succeed when offered correctly.

Mitra represents friendliness, harmony, and right dealing. The hymn asks Viṣṇu to be similarly gracious—so the worshipper’s path and ritual remain aligned with Ṛta.

It means Viṣṇu helps the yajamāna participate in the rightful order of things—receiving an auspicious portion through truthful intention, proper offering, and noble conduct.

Ask anything about Sukta 156 of the Rig Veda

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