Rig Veda 7.99.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 99, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.99
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Viṣṇu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
परो मात्रया तन्वा वृधान न ते महित्वमन्वश्नुवन्ति । उभे ते विद्म रजसी पृथिव्या विष्णो देव त्वं परमस्य वित्से ॥
paró mā́trayā tanvā́ vṛdhāna ná te mahitvám ánv aśnuvanti | ubhé te vidmá rajasī pṛthivyā́ víṣṇo deva tváṃ paramásya vitse ||
സ്വന്തം തനുവാൽ അളവിന് അതീതമായി വളരുന്ന നിന്റെ മഹിമയെ ആരും എത്തിപ്പിടിക്കുകയില്ല. നിന്റെ രണ്ടു തേജോമയ റജസ്സുകളെയും പൃഥ്വിയെയും ഞങ്ങൾ അറിയുന്നു. ഹേ വിഷ്ണോ ദേവ, നീ പരമത്തിന്റെ ജ്ഞാനിയും അധിപതിയും ആകുന്നു.
Word by Word
- प॒रः
- higher, beyondAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्तृ-पदस्य)Root पर (प्रातिपदिक) / परस्
- मात्रया
- by (his) measureNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) < √मा (माने/मितौ)
- तन्वा
- with (his) body/selfNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot तनू (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृधानः
- growing, waxingParticiple (verbal adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शानच् (आत्मनेपदीय-भावः)Role कर्तृ (विष्णोः)Root √वृध् (वर्धने) → वृधान (शानच्-कृदन्त)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- ते
- of you/yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- महित्वम्
- greatness, majestyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot महित्व (प्रातिपदिक) < महत्
- अनु
- after, along, in accordanceIndeclinable (preverb) / adverbउपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषणRoot अनु
- अश्नुवन्ति
- they reach, attainVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √अश् (अश्नुते/व्याप्तौ/प्रापणे)
- उभे
- bothAdjective (numeral-like)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole कर्म (विद्मः इत्यस्य)Root उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you/yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विद्म
- we knowVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √विद् (ज्ञाने)
- रजसी
- the two realms/spaces (heaven and earth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole कर्म (विद्मः इत्यस्य)Root रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिव्याः
- of the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- विष्णो
- O ViṣṇuNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
- देव
- O godNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- परमस्य
- of the highest, of the supremeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root परम (प्रातिपदिक) < पर
- वित्से
- you know / you find (for yourself)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √विद् (ज्ञाने) → वित्से (आत्मनेपद)
Sandhi Notes
- परो मात्रया = परः + मात्रया (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते)
- तन्वा वृधानः (सन्धिः न विशेषः)
- न ते = न + ते
- महित्वमन्वश्नुवन्ति = महित्वम् + अनु + अश्नुवन्ति (म् + अ → म; अनु- उपसर्गः क्रियायाम्)
- उभे ते = उभे + ते
- विद्म रजसी = विद्म + रजसी (पदसन्धिः न विशेषः)
- पृथिव्या = पृथिव्याः (पदपाठे षष्ठी-एकवचन)
- विष्णो देव = विष्णो + देव (सम्बोधन-द्वयम्)
- परमस्य वित्से = परमस्य + वित्से (सन्धिः न विशेषः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Vishnu grows beyond measure by his own being; The seer says they know his two luminous regions and the earth; Vishnu is the knower/master of the Supreme.
Inner meaning
Vishnu is the all-pervading Consciousness that expands the embodied being (tanū) beyond finite measure (mātrā). No mental-vital ego can “reach” (aśnuvanti) that vastness. The ‘two rajasī’ are the higher and lower luminous planes of consciousness (mind and supermind/ideal light, or heaven and mid-region) held together with the physical base (pṛthivī). In yoga, Vishnu is the power that knows the ‘parama’—the transcendent status—and can establish the seeker in it.
Universal truth
The Infinite cannot be measured by finite instruments; true mastery comes from alignment with the all-pervading consciousness that unites higher and lower worlds and reveals the Supreme.
Themes
Vishnu vastness, cosmic order, ascent to the supreme, knowledge of the highest
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇi)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.97 (Soma praise with inner uplift), RV 7.98 (Vishnu/Indra-Vishnu context nearby), RV 7.100 (Indra-Vishnu, widening of the worlds)
Family tradition
Saptarṣi lineage; Mandala 7 hymns emphasize inner order (ṛta), divine kingship, and the ascent from human limitation to vastness.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision often presents the divine as the establisher of harmony between worlds; here Vishnu is the principle of all-pervading expansion that makes the Supreme knowable in experience.
The deity
- Devata
- Viṣṇu
- Epithets
- Deva, Urugāya (wide-going, implied by theme), Paramasya vit (knower of the Supreme)
- Related deities
- Indra (often paired with Vishnu for illumination and victory), Sūrya (illumination), Uṣas (dawn-illumination), Agni (will in the sacrifice)
Cosmic role
The all-pervader who measures/establishes the worlds and connects earth with the luminous regions.
Inner power
Vastening consciousness that exceeds mental measure and opens the supramental/transcendent domain.
In ritual
Where it is used
Vishnu/Indra-Vishnu praises in Soma-related recitations; also used as stotra-like praise in śrauta settings
प॒रो मात्र॑या त॒न्वा॑ वृधान॒ न ते॑ महि॒त्वमन्व॑श्नुवन्ति । उ॒भे ते॑ विद्म॒ रज॑सी पृथि॒व्या विष्णो॑ देव॒ त्वं प॑र॒मस्य॑ वित्से ॥
प॒रः । मात्र॑या । त॒न्वा॑ । वृ॒धा॒न॒ । न । ते॒ । म॒हि॒ऽत्वम् । अनु॑ । अ॒श्नु॒व॒न्ति॒ । उ॒भे इति॑ । ते॒ । वि॒द्म॒ । रज॑सी॒ इति॑ । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । विष्णो॒ इति॑ । दे॒व॒ । त्वम् । प॒र॒मस्य॑ । वि॒त्से॒ ॥
paraḥ | mātrayā | tanvā | vṛdhāna | na | te | mahi-tvam | anu | aśnuvanti | ubhe iti | te | vidma | rajasī iti | pṛthivyāḥ | viṣṇo iti | deva | tvam | paramasya | vitse
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (Triṣṭubh norm; exact count may vary by resolution/sandhi)
Strong, ascending cadence suited to proclamations of vastness and sovereignty.
Builds a sense of expansion and upward reach; supports contemplative awe and inner widening.
- परो (paro)
- Literal: beyond, farther. Symbolic: transcendence beyond mental measure
- मात्रया (mātrayā)
- Literal: by measure, by limit. Symbolic: finite mind’s metrics; egoic limitation
- तन्वा (tanvā)
- Literal: by the body, by one’s own substance. Symbolic: the embodied being as a vessel of consciousness-expansion
- महित्वम् (mahitvam)
- Literal: greatness. Symbolic: vast divine status; immeasurable consciousness
- रजसी (rajasī)
- Literal: the two regions/expanses. Symbolic: two luminous planes (higher/lower); heaven and mid-world in the inner cosmos
- पृथिव्या (pṛthivyā)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: physical foundation; stability for realization
- परमस्य (paramasya)
- Literal: of the supreme. Symbolic: the transcendent Reality (parama padam)
Viṣṇu praise in Soma and general rites, supporting the establishment of the ‘parama padam’ (supreme step) as a goal of ascent.
During Soma pressing sequences or hymnic praise sections invoking cosmic support and widening of the path
Recitation/chant as invocation of world-order and divine pervasion
Use as a meditation mantra for ‘inner vastness’—before study, contemplation, or when feeling confined by circumstances.
vṛdhāna: √vṛdh ‘increase’ (PIE *werdʰ-). mātrā: from √mā ‘measure’—Vishnu exceeds limiting measure, consistent with ‘wide-striding’. rajasī: dual of rajas ‘luminous space’; not ‘dust’ here but ‘shining expanse’. vitse: from √vid ‘know’ (PIE *weid-), Vishnu as knower of the ‘parama’—supreme station.
transcendence beyond measure (mātrā), supreme station (parama), all-pervasion and vastness (Viṣṇu’s mahitva)
Vishnu’s pervasion harmonizes the levels of the cosmos; knowing the ‘two rajasī’ is knowing the ordered gradations of ṛta.
The Supreme (parama) is the truth-status beyond measure; Vishnu is ‘vit’—the conscious knower of that status.
Integration of higher luminous realms with the earth as a single ordered field of manifestation.
Proto-Vedāntic and Aurobindonian reading: ascent from mind’s measure to supramental vastness (bṛhat) and the transcendent (parama).
‘Heaven/mid-region/earth’ correspond to higher mind/illumined mind (or supermind)/physical consciousness unified by the all-pervading Spirit.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Viṣṇu’s immeasurable vastness and his relation to the ‘supreme’. Though the three strides are not explicit here, the logic is the same: he exceeds measure and comprehends the cosmic realms. Psychologically, the power of pervasion widens the being beyond limiting measure and opens knowledge of the supreme consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √weid ‘to know’ (vidma, vitse) is a central PIE root; the verse’s epistemic emphasis (‘we know… thou knowest the supreme’) is built on inherited verbal morphology. The notion of ‘measure’ (√mā) as limit is also Indo-European and supports the semantic opposition measure vs. vast.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi asserts a shared knowledge (‘we know thy realms’) while acknowledging Vishnu’s superior knowing (‘thou knowest the supreme’). It is a ladder of cognition: human recognition of cosmic order leading to surrender before the deity who holds the highest secret.
Rest in the sense of the all-pervading Presence; contemplate the ‘two luminous realms and earth’ as levels in your own consciousness.
Sahasrara (parama) with grounding in Muladhara (pṛthivī)
Slow equal breathing (sama-vṛtti) while expanding awareness beyond bodily boundary
Vast, quiet, witnessing awareness opening upward
Begin grounded; feel the body as a stable base. Then expand attention above the head into a wide luminous field; affirm: ‘The Supreme is knowable.’ Return with steadiness into embodied action.
Rigvedic accenting with udatta/anudatta/svarita; follow śākala śākhā recitation for this sūkta.
Keep the udatta syllables clearly raised; svarita as a controlled fall; avoid flattening compounds like ‘’ and ‘’.
ṣṇ: keep retroflex ṣ (viṣ-), long o in vocative, : long ā; ‘tr’ cluster clean, : soft ‘j’, long ī at end, : pronounce ‘ts’ distinctly (vit-se)
Steady, expansive, resonant (chest-to-head resonance)
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