Rig Veda Sukta 155
Mandala 1Sukta 1556 Mantras

Sukta 155

Sukta 1.155

Rishi

Dīrghatamas Aucathya (traditional for RV 1.155)

Devata

Viṣṇu

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne ini memuji Viṣṇu sebagai pelindung yang luas dan tidak dapat ditaklukkan, yang membangkitkan ilham pemikiran dan berdiri teguh di puncak-puncak gunung. Ia merayakan “langkah-langkah luas” kosmiknya yang mengukur dan menegakkan dunia-dunia, mengaitkan keagungannya dengan tertib korban suci serta kemenangan dalam pertarungan. Penyair menggambarkan Viṣṇu sebagai pengukur semesta dan kuasa yang sentiasa muda, yang maju untuk menolong para pemuja.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.155

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र वः पान्तमन्धसो धियायते महे शूराय विष्णवे चार्चत । या सानुनि पर्वतानामदाभ्या महस्तस्थतुरर्वतेव साधुना ॥

Majukanlah nyanyian pujianmu bagi Viṣṇu, Sang Perkasa Agung, yang mabuk oleh kenikmatan jernih (andhas) dan yang membangunkan daya fikir. Dialah yang berdiri di puncak-puncak gunung, tidak terkalahkan, luas pada wujud, teguh dan lurus seperti kuda yang baik.

Mantra 2

त्वेषमित्था समरणं शिमीवतोरिन्द्राविष्णू सुतपा वामुरुष्यति । या मर्त्याय प्रतिधीयमानमित्कृशानोरस्तुरसनामुरुष्यथः ॥

Sungguh dahsyat pertempuran kamu berdua, dua Kuasa yang meluru, wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu; peminum Soma melapangkan bagi kamu jalan yang selamat. Dan apabila bagi insan fana daya yang memusuhi ditegakkan menentangnya, bahkan daripada nyala api dan daripada serbuan, kamu berdua melindungi serta meluaskan laluan.

Mantra 3

ता ईं वर्धन्ति मह्यस्य पौंस्यं नि मातरा नयति रेतसे भुजे । दधाति पुत्रोऽवरं परं पितुर्नाम तृतीयमधि रोचने दिवः ॥

Kedua-duanya menambah keperkasaan besar miliknya; kedua Ibu dibawa turun bagi benih dan bagi kenikmatan. Sang Putera menegakkan nama Bapa yang bawah dan yang atas; dan yang ketiga ia tempatkan di alam bercahaya di langit.

Mantra 4

तत्तदिदस्य पौंस्यं गृणीमसीनस्य त्रातुरवृकस्य मीळ्हुषः । यः पार्थिवानि त्रिभिरिद्विगामभिरुरु क्रमिष्टोरुगायाय जीवसे ॥

Itulah—ya, itulah—daya kepahlawanan miliknya yang kami dendangkan: pelindung yang kuat, yang tidak diserang serigala, yang pemurah. Dialah yang dengan tiga langkah telah mengukur luas dunia-dunia bumi, demi hidup yang melangkah luas, demi nyanyian yang maha-luas.

Mantra 5

द्वे इदस्य क्रमणे स्वर्दृशोऽभिख्याय मर्त्यो भुरण्यति । तृतीयमस्य नकिरा दधर्षति वयश्चन पतयन्तः पतत्रिणः ॥

Dua langkah-Nya dapat dilihat oleh insan fana, sambil memandang kepada penglihatan langit yang bercahaya; tetapi langkah-Nya yang ketiga tiada siapa dapat mencapainya—bahkan burung-burung bersayap pun tidak, ketika terbang melayang.

Mantra 6

चतुर्भिः साकं नवतिं च नामभिश्चक्रं न वृत्तं व्यतीँरवीविपत् । बृहच्छरीरो विमिमान ऋक्वभिर्युवाकुमारः प्रत्येत्याहवम् ॥

Dengan empat dan dengan sembilan puluh nama bersama, ia menggerakkan roda yang banyak jejari, laksana lingkaran yang berputar, mengutusnya menempuh lintasan-lintasannya. Bertubuh amat luas, mengukur dengan nyanyian para ṛṣi, yang sentiasa muda, bukan-kanak-kanak, mara menyongsong pertempuran.

Inside Sukta 155

How it unfolds

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 VedaIn the Ṛgveda, Viṣṇu is the wide-striding, luminous power who establishes the spaces of the worlds, moves with sovereign ease, and is praised as a steadfast protector and benefactor. He 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 ॥
Verse 1.155.1Sets the hymn’s tone: Viṣṇu as heroic, Soma-delighted, thought-awakening, and immovably vast on the mountain heights—an image of stable transcendence.Read verse 1.155.1 →
tribhir id vigāmabhir uru kramiṣṭa
Verse 1.155.4States the central Viṣṇu doctrine in the Ṛgveda: the ‘three strides’ that widely measure the worlds, tying divine action to spacious life and the hymn’s own vast praise.Read verse 1.155.4 →
bṛhaccharīro yuvākumāraḥ
Verse 1.155.6A striking cosmic image: the many-named, ever-youthful Viṣṇu sets the wheel in motion and advances to contest—linking cosmic order, mantra-measure, and victory.Read verse 1.155.6 →

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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