Sukta 155
Sukta 1.155
Dīrghatamas Aucathya (traditional for RV 1.155)
Triṣṭubh
This hymn praises Viṣṇu as the vast, unconquerable protector who awakens inspired thought and stands firm upon the mountain heights. It celebrates his cosmic “wide strides” that measure and uphold the worlds, linking his grandeur to the order of sacrifice and to victory in contest. The poet frames Viṣṇu as both the cosmic measurer and the ever-youthful power who advances to aid the worshippers.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र वः पान्तमन्धसो धियायते महे शूराय विष्णवे चार्चत । या सानुनि पर्वतानामदाभ्या महस्तस्थतुरर्वतेव साधुना ॥
विष्णु के लिए अपना गाना लाओ। वो बहुत ताकतवाला है, बड़ा वीर है। सोमा पी के वो खुश है, दिमाग खुलता है। वो पहाड़ियों के ऊपर खड़ा है, कोई उसे हरा नहीं सकता। वो बड़ा है, पक्का है, जैसे अच्छा घोड़ा।
Mantra 2
त्वेषमित्था समरणं शिमीवतोरिन्द्राविष्णू सुतपा वामुरुष्यति । या मर्त्याय प्रतिधीयमानमित्कृशानोरस्तुरसनामुरुष्यथः ॥
इंद्र और विष्णु दोनों बहुत ताकतवाला हैं। लड़ाई में वो तेज़ हैं। सोमा पीने वाला उनके लिए सही रास्ता बना देता है। जब किसी इंसान के सामने दुश्मन आता है, आग और खतरे से वो दोनों बचा लेते हैं। रास्ता बड़ा कर देते हैं।
Mantra 3
ता ईं वर्धन्ति मह्यस्य पौंस्यं नि मातरा नयति रेतसे भुजे । दधाति पुत्रोऽवरं परं पितुर्नाम तृतीयमधि रोचने दिवः ॥
ये दोनों उसकी ताकत बढ़ाते हैं। दो माँ बीज के लिए नीचे जाती हैं, खुश होने के लिए। बेटा बाप का नाम नीचे और ऊपर दोनों जगह लगाता है। तीसरा नाम वो आसमान में चमकाता है।
Mantra 4
तत्तदिदस्य पौंस्यं गृणीमसीनस्य त्रातुरवृकस्य मीळ्हुषः । यः पार्थिवानि त्रिभिरिद्विगामभिरुरु क्रमिष्टोरुगायाय जीवसे ॥
हम उसकी ताकत के बारे में गाते हैं। वो रक्षक है, कोई उसे छेड़ा नहीं, वो देता है। उसने तीन कदम में दुनिया नाप ली। बड़े जीवन के लिए, बड़े गाने के लिए।
Mantra 5
द्वे इदस्य क्रमणे स्वर्दृशोऽभिख्याय मर्त्यो भुरण्यति । तृतीयमस्य नकिरा दधर्षति वयश्चन पतयन्तः पतत्रिणः ॥
विष्णु के दो कदम इंसान देख सकता है। वो आसमान की तरफ देखता है जैसे कोई रोशनी दिख रही हो। लेकिन तीसरा कदम कोई नहीं पहुँच सकता। न ही वो पंछी जो हवा में उड़ते हैं, वो भी वहाँ नहीं जा सकते।
Mantra 6
चतुर्भिः साकं नवतिं च नामभिश्चक्रं न वृत्तं व्यतीँरवीविपत् । बृहच्छरीरो विमिमान ऋक्वभिर्युवाकुमारः प्रत्येत्याहवम् ॥
विष्णु के चार और नब्बे नाम हैं। वो एक चक्र चलाते हैं जैसे कोई पहिया घूमता है। वो बहुत बड़े शरीर वाले हैं। वो रिशियों के गानों से नापते हैं। वो हमेशा जवान रहते हैं, कभी बच्चे नहीं बनते। युद्ध के लिए आगे बढ़ते हैं।
Inside Sukta 155
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A call to bring forward praise for Viṣṇu—the heroic power ‘drunk with clarified delight’ who awakens thought and stands firm upon the mountain summits.
- Development
Viṣṇu is unfolded as protector and benefactor, whose vastness is not merely physical but cosmic—his presence establishes secure spaces and supports life and worship.
- Climax
The proclamation of his signature act: with three strides he measures the earthly worlds, revealing the principle of ‘wideness’ (uru) as divine order and life-support.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes by portraying Viṣṇu as ever-young and vast-bodied, setting the cosmic wheel in motion and advancing to the battle—assuring the worshipper of dynamic protection and victorious order.
The deity: Viṣṇu
- In the VedaHe is invoked as mighty, “vast in being,” and intimately connected with the sacrifice’s expansive order.
- Cosmic functionMeasurer and stabilizer of cosmic regions through the ‘three strides’; upholder of ṛta (cosmic order) and giver of secure space for life, worship, and victory.
- Inner significanceThe awakening and expansion of consciousness—taking ‘wide strides’ beyond limitation—so the mind finds firm footing, clarity, and protective order amid conflict and change.
The seer
- Dīrghatamas AucathyaAucathya (descendant of Ucathya; often associated with the Aṅgirasa-Bṛhaspatya seer milieu in later tradition) · A profound, riddle-speaking seer famed for symbolic and cosmological hymns, especially the enigmatic teachings on unity behind many forms (notably RV 1.164).
Famous verses
प्र वः पान्तमन्धसो धियायते महे शूराय विष्णवे चार्चत । या सानुनि पर्वतानामदाभ्या महस्तस्थतुरर्वतेव साधुना ॥tribhir id vigāmabhir uru kramiṣṭa
bṛhaccharīro yuvākumāraḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Urukrama (wide-striding)
- World-measurer (three strides)
- Protector and benefactor
- Unconquerable, steadfast on the heights
- Vast-bodied, all-pervading presence
- Ever-youthful power advancing to aid in struggle
Also by this seer
- RV 1.140–1.164 (traditional attributions include several hymns in this range, with RV 1.164 most celebrated)
- Riddle-style cosmological verses and imagery later echoed in Brāhmaṇa and Upaniṣadic interpretation
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire and seat the reciter; establish śānti and intention for protection and expansion of well-being.
- Offer preliminary oblations (ghee) and, where applicable, Soma-related libations while beginning praise of Viṣṇu’s greatness.
- Recite the hymn in Triṣṭubh cadence with emphasis on ‘uru/urukrama’ motifs, aligning the rite with cosmic measure and order.
- Conclude with a closing oblation and a brief prayer for steadfastness, victory, and spacious life (uru jīvanam).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Soma (where Soma-rite is performed)
- Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (context-dependent)
- Water libations (ācamana/pariṣecana in later practice)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Viṣṇu’s vast power—especially his famous ‘three strides’ by which he measures and secures the worlds—while asking for protection, stability, and a spacious life.
The mountain-summit imagery presents Viṣṇu as firm, unconquerable, and elevated above obstacles—symbolizing a stable cosmic support that the worshipper can rely on.
It is a Vedic way of saying Viṣṇu establishes the great spaces of existence—measuring out the world-regions so life, order, and the sacrifice can unfold securely.
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