Rig Veda 7.100.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 100, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.100
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Vishnu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
त्रिर्देवः पृथिवीमेष एतां वि चक्रमे शतर्चसं महित्वा । प्र विष्णुरस्तु तवसस्तवीयान्त्वेषं ह्यस्य स्थविरस्य नाम ॥
trír deváḥ pṛthivī́m eṣá etā́ṃ ví cakrame śatár̥casaṃ mahitvā́ | prá víṣṇur astu távasas távīyān tveṣáṃ hí asya sthávirasya nā́ma ||
ఈ దేవుడు (విష్ణు) ఈ భూమిని మూడుసార్లు అడుగులేసి విస్తరించాడు; తన మహిత్వంతో దీనిని శతర్చస్—వంద స్తోత్రాలతో నిండిన—క్షేత్రంగా చేశాడు. విష్ణు ప్రకాశించుగాక—తవస్ కంటే కూడా తవీయాన్ (అధిక శక్తిమంతుడు); ఎందుకంటే ఈ స్థవిర (సనాతన) బలవంతుని నామం ‘త్వేష’ (ఉద్వేగ/వేగవంతుడు) అని.
Word by Word
- त्रिः
- thriceIndeclinableअव्यय (संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल/आवृत्ति-निर्देश) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) / त्रिस्
- देवः
- the god (Vişṇu)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिवीम्
- the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (देवः का विशेषण/अन्वय) / संबन्ध-निर्देशकRoot एष (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एताम्
- this (f.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (पृथिवीम् का विशेषण)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, widely, in different directionsIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषक/उपसर्ग)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- चक्रमे
- strode/stepped (measured out)Verbलिट् (परस्मैपद-रूप नहीं; आत्मनेपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root क्रम् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
- शतर्चसम्
- having a hundred verses (hymned with a hundred ṛcs)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (देवम्/विष्णुम् का विशेषण; पद्य में रूप: शतर्चसं)Role Karma (अन्तर्निहित—‘विष्णुम्’/‘देवम्’ को उद्दिश्य) / विशेषणRoot शत + ऋचस् (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष समास)
- महित्वा
- by (his) greatness, through majestyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (करण/हेतु-भाव)Role Karaṇa (by/through greatness) / हेतुRoot महित्व (प्रातिपदिक; ‘महि’ से भाव)
- प्र
- forth; indeed (introducing wish)IndeclinableनिपातRole (आशीर्वाद/प्रवृत्ति-निर्देशक)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- विष्णुः
- VişṇuNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्तु
- let (him) beVerbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root अस् (धातु)
- तवसः
- of might, of strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive: of might)Root तवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- तवीयान्
- stronger, mightierAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विष्णुः का विशेषण)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root तवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक)
- त्वेषम्
- fiery, impetuous, brilliantAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (नाम/तेजस्-भाव; ‘नाम’ के साथ अन्वय)Role Karma (नामम् का विशेषण/विधेय)Root त्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- for, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (कारण/निश्चय)Root हि (निपात)
- अस्य
- of himPronounपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (of him/this one)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्थविरस्य
- of the steadfast/firm (ancient) oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (अस्य का विशेषण)Role Sambandha (genitive qualifier)Root स्थविर (प्रातिपदिक)
- नाम
- nameNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (यहाँ विधेय/उद्देश्य: ‘नाम (अस्ति)’)Role Kartā/Predicate-nominative (अस्ति/अस्तु के साथ)Root नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (संधि-निरसन): त्रिः | देवः | पृथिवीम् | एषः | एताम् | वि | चक्रमे | शतर्चसम् | महित्वा | प्र | विष्णुः | अस्तु | तवसः | तवीयान् | त्वेषम् | हि | अस्य | स्थविरस्य | नाम । प्रमुख संधि: (1) त्रिर्देवः = त्रिः + देवः (विसर्ग-रेफ: ः + द → र्)
- (2) पृथिवीमे॒ष = पृथिवीम् + एषः (म् + ए → मे; एषः का ‘ः’ पदान्ते लुप्त/प्रगृह्य-प्रभाव)
- (3) एष एताम् = एषः + एताम् (ः + ए → ए; विसर्ग-लोप)
- (4) तवीयान्त्वेषं = तवीयान् + त्वेषम् (न् + त् → न्त्)
- (5) त्वे॒षं ह्य॑स्य = त्वेषम् + हि + अस्य (म् + हि → ं हि (अनुस्वार); हि + अस्य → ह्यस्य (इ/अ संधि: इ + अ → य)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Three times the god strode across this earth and by greatness made it a field of a hundred hymns. Let Vishnu be manifest as mightier than might; ‘the Impetuous’ is the name of this enduring strong one.
Inner meaning
Vishnu’s three strides are the progressive expansions of consciousness that measure and establish the worlds of experience: from the physical foundation (pṛthivī) through the mid-region of life-force to the luminous heaven of mind/spirit (traditional threefold). By this mahitvā (greatness), the earth-nature becomes śatarcasam—capable of countless articulations of truth: the being becomes a ‘field of hymns,’ i.e., many formulations of realized knowledge. The prayer ‘pra viṣṇur astu’ asks for a decisive manifestation: let the widening power become overt and operative. Vishnu is tavasas tavīyān—stronger than strength—because the expansive divine impetus (tveṣa) is the very name/essence of the Eternal Strong (sthavira): an enduring force that cannot be exhausted by resistance.
Universal truth
Evolution proceeds by successive widenings of consciousness. When the Vast becomes active, the very ground of life is transformed into a manifold expression of truth, and a greater-than-all strength carries the being beyond limitation.
Themes
three strides of Vishnu, cosmic establishment, vastness and might, mantric articulation
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 1.154 (Vishnu’s strides; related theme though different rishi), RV 7.99–7.100 (Vasiṣṭha’s Vishnu cycle)
Family tradition
Vision of the Vast as a dynamic power founding worlds; mantra as a means to make the divine stride operative in embodied life.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha here turns the myth of Trivikrama into a psychology of ascent: the divine stride measures and transforms the earth-nature into a manifold hymn-field.
The deity
- Devata
- Vishnu (Trivikrama)
- Epithets
- Trivikrama (implied), tavasas tavīyān, tveṣa, sthavira
- Related deities
- Indra (breaker of coverer), Agni (leader of inner sacrifice), Bṛhaspati (lord of the word that becomes ‘śatarcas’)
Cosmic role
Measures and establishes the three worlds; makes space for the gods/light; sustains cosmic expansion.
Inner power
The irresistible expansive force that breaks limitation and stabilizes a higher foundation in the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Vishnu Trivikrama praise in Soma contexts; also used as celebratory proclamation of divine greatness.
त्रिर्दे॒वः पृ॑थि॒वीमे॒ष ए॒तां वि च॑क्रमे श॒तर्च॑सं महि॒त्वा । प्र विष्णु॑रस्तु त॒वस॒स्तवी॑यान्त्वे॒षं ह्य॑स्य॒ स्थवि॑रस्य॒ नाम॑ ॥
त्रिः । दे॒वः । पृ॒थि॒वीम् । ए॒षः । ए॒ताम् । वि । च॒क्र॒मे॒ । श॒तऽअ॑र्चसम् । म॒हि॒ऽत्वा । प्र । विष्णुः॑ । अ॒स्तु॒ । त॒वसः॑ । तवी॑यान् । त्वे॒षम् । हि । अ॒स्य॒ । स्थवि॑रस्य । नाम॑ ॥
triḥ | devaḥ | pṛthivīm | eṣaḥ | etām | vi | cakrame | śata-arcasam | mahi-tvā | pra | viṣṇuḥ | astu | tavasaḥ | tavīyān | tveṣam | hi | asya | sthavirasya | nāma
44
4 × ~11
Majestic and forceful; suited to mythic proclamation and inner breakthrough.
Elicits awe and strength; stimulates the sense of upward leap and vastening.
- त्रिः (triḥ)
- Literal: thrice. Symbolic: threefold expansion; progressive widening across planes
- वि चक्रमे (vi cakrame)
- Literal: strode forth, stepped out. Symbolic: active measurement and establishment of inner worlds
- पृथिवी (pṛthivī)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: the physical basis / embodied nature to be transformed
- शतर्चसम् (śatarcasam)
- Literal: having a hundred verses/hymns. Symbolic: abundant articulations of realized truth; a consciousness rich in mantric expression
- महित्वा (mahitvā)
- Literal: by greatness. Symbolic: the vastness-power that enlarges and founds worlds
- तवसस् तवीयान् (tavasas tavīyān)
- Literal: mightier than might. Symbolic: supreme spiritual force beyond mental/vital strength
- त्वेष (tveṣa)
- Literal: impetuous, vehement, blazing. Symbolic: divine impetus—swift power of expansion and breakthrough
- स्थविर (sthavira)
- Literal: firm, strong, enduring; elder. Symbolic: the eternal stable foundation of the expanding power
Recitation praising Vishnu’s three strides; supports cosmic establishment theme in Soma worship and meditative ascent
When affirming Vishnu’s cosmic strides and securing wide space for the rite’s success.
Recitation as stotra-like praise; supports the ‘making space’ for the gods in the sacrifice.
Use when feeling constrained: chant to invoke a ‘stride’ beyond limitation—psychological expansion and decisive breakthrough.
: perfect of √kram ‘stride’ with vi- ‘out, apart’ → ‘measured out’. : śata ‘hundred’ + ṛc ‘hymn’ → ‘having a hundred hymns’ (abundant articulation). : from mah- ‘great’ (√mah ‘to be great’). : ‘might’ (from √tu/√tav ‘be strong’), távīyān comparative ‘stronger’. : from √tviṣ ‘to be excited, blaze’ → ‘impetuous, fiery’. : ‘firm, enduring’ (related to √sthā ‘stand’ + comparative/derivational morphology).
tripartite world-order, Bṛhat through Vishnu’s strides, name as power (nāma) in mantra ontology
The stride ‘measures’—establishes the right order of worlds within and without.
Śatarcasam suggests truth’s multiplicity of expression once the ground is widened.
Cosmic creation as expansion and measurement of space; inner creation as establishing higher planes in consciousness.
Vedic cosmopsychology leading toward Vedāntic ‘brahman as bṛhat’ and yogic ascent through planes.
Embodied nature widened into higher planes; a blazing push that carries consciousness beyond its habitual boundary.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Vishnu’s three strides (Trivikrama): the divine measuring-out of the worlds. Psychologically, it is the progressive expansion of consciousness across three planes—foundation (earth/embodiment), mid-region (life-force), and luminous height—until the field becomes ‘hundred-hymned’, i.e., fully articulate to the truth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √kram ‘stride’ is Indo-Iranian shared (cf. Avestan cognate movement verbs in cosmic-measure contexts). √tviṣ ‘blaze’ reflects an archaic poetic lexicon of brilliance/impetus comparable to IE ‘shine/burn’ roots used for divine epithets. The comparative távīyān shows inherited comparative morphology used for divine superlatives.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi names and invokes the essential energy of Vishnu (tveṣa nāma), seeking manifestation (pra…astu) of a might beyond ordinary might. The hymn is an act of alignment with that expanding power, so the strides become the seeker’s own widening.
Contemplate the three strides as three expansions: body-awareness → life-force mastery → luminous mind/peace; invoke the ‘mightier than might’ to exceed a current limitation.
Mūlādhāra (earth foundation) → Maṇipūra (force/stride) → Sahasrāra (vast heaven).
Three-phase breathing: inhale (widen), hold gently (establish), exhale (advance/stride); repeat for 9 cycles.
Expansive, uplifted, empowered; breakthrough readiness.
Identify one constriction (fear, habit, doubt). On each ‘stride’ feel space replace it; end by resting in sthavira—stable vastness.
Triṣṭubh with strong lifts on ‘trir devaḥ’ and ‘pra viṣṇur’; let ‘tavasas tavīyān’ carry a weighty emphasis.
Mark the caesura after ‘vi cakrame’; keep ‘śatarcasam’ as one unit; end with firmness on ‘nāma’.
trir: roll/lightly tap r; keep short i, pṛthivīm: vocalic ṛ; long īm, śatarcasam: śa-ta-rca-sam, keep rca conjunct clear, tavīyān: long ī, nasalized ān, tveṣaṃ: retroflex ṣ; final ṃ audible
Majestic, ringing, upward-driving; broaden on the word ‘viṣṇuḥ’.
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