Mantra 5
Sukta 26
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
त्रीणि पदा वि चक्रमे विष्णुर्गोपा अदाभ्यः । इतो धर्माणि धारयन्
IAST Transliteration
trī́ṇi padā́ ví cakrame víṣṇur gopā́ adā́bhyaḥ | itó dhármāṇi dhāráyan
English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)
Three steps did Viṣṇu stride forth, the Guardian, unbeguiled; from hence he holdeth up the ordinances.
Word by Word
त्रीणिthree
त्रीणि:
कर्म (पदानि इति विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective (numeral)
Rootत्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) → त्रि/त्रय
पदानिsteps/footprints
पदानि:
कर्म
TypeNoun
Rootपद (प्रातिपदिक)
विapart, widely (intensifier)
वि:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
चक्रमेstrode/stepped
चक्रमे:
— (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootक्रम् (धातु) + वि
विष्णुःViṣṇu
विष्णुः:
कर्तृ
TypeNoun
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
गोपाःprotector/guardian
गोपाः:
कर्तृ (विष्णोः विशेषणम्)
TypeNoun
Rootगोपा (प्रातिपदिक; गो + पा ‘रक्षक’)
अदाभ्यःinvincible, not to be deceived/overpowered
अदाभ्यः:
कर्तृ (विष्णोः विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootअदाभ्य (प्रातिपदिक; a- + दाभ्य ‘to be harmed/overreached’)
इतःfrom here; thereupon
इतः:
अपादान (धारणक्रियायाः प्रारम्भ-बिन्दु/उत्पत्तिसूचक) अथवा क्रियाविशेषणम्
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइतः (अव्यय; इदम्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
धर्माणिlaws/ordinances; supports
धर्माणि:
कर्म
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
धारयन्bearing, upholding
धारयन्:
कर्तृ (विष्णोः सह समानाधिकरणम्)
TypeVerbal participle
Rootधृ (धातु) → धारयत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
Attribution
Rishi: RV-parallel tradition (Viṣṇu hymn complex); Atharvanic compiler preserves for domestic protection.
Devata: Viṣṇu (as Gopā, protector)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like (RV 1.154 resonance)
Mantra Rasa
{"primary_rasa":"vira","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Protective stride → serene upholding of order.","listener_experience":"Safety with moral clarity; sense of being guarded without aggression.","intensity":5}