vedicrigvedavishnutrivikrama

Vishnu Suktam

विष्णु सूक्तम्

🕉️ vedic·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 During Vishnu puja, on Ekadashi, Saturdays, or morning meditation·📜 Rigveda, Mandala 1, Sukta 22 (with the Vishnu Gayatri)

Also known as: vishnu sukta · vishnu suktam lyrics · idam vishnur vichakrame · tad vishnoh paramam padam · trivikrama suktam

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Vishnu Suktam is a Vedic hymn (drawn chiefly from Rigveda 1.22) celebrating Vishnu as Trivikrama — the one who, in three vast strides, measured out the earth, the sky and the highest heaven. It glorifies his 'supreme abode' (paramam padam) which the wise seers behold like an eye stretched across the heavens, and closes with the Vishnu Gayatri. It is one of the Pancha Suktams chanted during Vishnu worship and abhishekam.

Origin & Story

Rigveda, Mandala 1, Sukta 22 (with the Vishnu Gayatri) · Rishi Medhatithi Kanva (traditional) · c. 1500-1200 BCE

The verses of the Vishnu Suktam are among the oldest praises of Vishnu in the Vedas, found in the first Mandala of the Rigveda. They depict Vishnu as Urugaya, the far-strider, who with three steps measured the cosmos and set up the world's order — an image that later flowered into the Vamana-Trivikrama avatara. Compiled with the Vishnu Gayatri, the hymn became one of the five Suktams chanted in daily Vaishnava and temple worship to invoke Vishnu's protective, all-pervading presence.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that the line 'Tad Vishnoh paramam padam' — 'that supreme abode of Vishnu which the wise ever behold' — is among the most exalted mantras of the Veda; meditating upon it is said to draw the devotee toward Vaikuntha itself. In great temples this Suktam has been chanted over the deity for centuries, and devotees attribute the unbroken auspiciousness of such shrines to the constant invocation of Vishnu's cosmic strides.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

ॐ विष्णोर्नु कं वीर्याणि प्र वोचं यः पार्थिवानि विममे रजांसि। यो अस्कभायदुत्तरं सधस्थं विचक्रमाणस्त्रेधोरुगायः॥

Om Vishnornu kam viryani pra vocham yah parthivani vimame rajamsi; Yo askabhayaduttaram sadhastham vichakramanastredhorugayah.

Meaning:Om. I shall now proclaim the heroic deeds of Vishnu, who measured out the earthly regions, who propped up the higher world-seat, striding far in three wide steps.

Verse 2

अतो देवा अवन्तु नो यतो विष्णुर्विचक्रमे। पृथिव्याः सप्त धामभिः॥

Ato deva avantu no yato Vishnurvichakrame; Prithivyah sapta dhamabhih.

Meaning:May the gods protect us from that place from which Vishnu strode forth, across the seven realms of the earth.

Verse 3

इदं विष्णुर्विचक्रमे त्रेधा नि दधे पदम्। समूळ्हमस्य पांसुरे॥

Idam Vishnurvichakrame tredha ni dadhe padam; Samulhamasya pamsure.

Meaning:Vishnu strode across this all; in three places he set down his step; all is gathered in the dust of his footfall.

Verse 4

त्रीणि पदा विचक्रमे विष्णुर्गोपा अदाभ्यः। अतो धर्माणि धारयन्॥

Trini pada vichakrame Vishnurgopa adabhyah; Ato dharmani dharayan.

Meaning:With three steps Vishnu strode across — the inviolable guardian — upholding from there the sacred laws.

Verse 5

विष्णोः कर्माणि पश्यत यतो व्रतानि पस्पशे। इन्द्रस्य युज्यः सखा॥

Vishnoh karmani pashyata yato vratani paspashe; Indrasya yujyah sakha.

Meaning:Behold the deeds of Vishnu, through which he beheld the sacred rites — he, the worthy friend of Indra.

Verse 6

तद्विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः। दिवीव चक्षुराततम्॥

Tadvishnoh paramam padam sada pashyanti surayah; Diviva chakshurAtatam.

Meaning:That supreme abode of Vishnu the wise seers ever behold, spread out like an eye across the heavens.

Verse 7

तद्विप्रासो विपन्यवो जागृवांसः समिन्धते। विष्णोर्यत्परमं पदम्॥

Tadvipraso vipanyavo jagrivamsah samindhate; Vishnoryatparamam padam.

Meaning:That supreme abode of Vishnu the wakeful, devout sages, ever vigilant, kindle and illumine within themselves.

Verse 8

ॐ नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि। तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात्॥

Om Narayanaya vidmahe Vasudevaya dhimahi; Tanno Vishnuh prachodayat.

Meaning:Om. May we know Narayana, may we meditate on Vasudeva; may that Vishnu impel us. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Verse 9

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Om shantih shantih shantih.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

विष्णोः वीर्याणि🔊Vishnoh viryaniThe heroic deeds / mighty powers of Vishnu

प्र वोचम्🔊pra vochamI shall proclaim / declare

पार्थिवानि रजांसि🔊parthivani rajamsiThe earthly regions / terrestrial spaces

विममे🔊vimameHe measured out (with his strides)

अस्कभायत्🔊askabhayatHe propped up, supported, made firm

उत्तरं सधस्थं🔊uttaram sadhasthamThe higher abode / the upper world

विचक्रमाणः🔊vichakramanahStriding wide, stepping across

उरुगायः🔊urugayahThe widely-praised, far-striding one

अतो देवा अवन्तु नः🔊ato deva avantu nahMay the gods protect us from here

सप्त धामभिः🔊sapta dhamabhihThrough the seven realms / abodes (of the earth)

त्रेधा नि दधे पदम्🔊tredha ni dadhe padamHe set down his step in three ways (three strides)

त्रीणि पदा विचक्रमे🔊trini pada vichakrameHe strode across with three steps

गोपाः अदाभ्यः🔊gopah adabhyahThe unconquerable / inviolable guardian

धर्माणि धारयन्🔊dharmani dharayanUpholding the cosmic laws / sacred ordinances

विष्णोः कर्माणि पश्यत🔊Vishnoh karmani pashyataBehold the deeds of Vishnu

इन्द्रस्य युज्यः सखा🔊Indrasya yujyah sakhaThe worthy, intimate friend of Indra

तत् विष्णोः परमं पदम्🔊tat Vishnoh paramam padamThat supreme abode of Vishnu

सूरयः🔊surayahThe wise / enlightened seers

दिवि इव चक्षुः आततम्🔊divi iva chakshuh atatamLike an eye spread across the sky

समिन्धते🔊samindhateThey kindle / illumine (it within)

Benefits of Chanting Vishnu Suktam

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Invokes the grace and all-pervading protection of Lord Vishnu (Trivikrama)

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One of the Pancha Suktams chanted during Vishnu abhishekam and temple worship

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Meditation on Vishnu's 'paramam padam' (supreme abode) elevates consciousness

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Brings peace, stability and the upholding of dharma in one's life

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Considered highly auspicious for Ekadashi, Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Vishnu vratas

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Essential daily recitation in the Vaishnava and Smarta traditions

How to Chant Vishnu Suktam

Repetitions9times

Best TimeDuring Vishnu puja, on Ekadashi, Saturdays, or morning meditation

Traditionally chanted while performing abhishekam (ritual bathing) of a Vishnu/Salagrama murti, or as part of daily worship. Sit facing east or north, recite each verse clearly with awareness of Vishnu's three cosmic strides, and conclude with the Vishnu Gayatri and the threefold shanti. It may be chanted once as part of puja or repeated; pacing should be calm and reverent.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a Vedic hymn to Lord Vishnu, drawn mainly from Rigveda Mandala 1, Sukta 22. It praises Vishnu as Trivikrama — the one who covered the three worlds in three strides — and is one of the Pancha Suktams used in Vishnu worship.

The three strides (Trivikrama) symbolize Vishnu pervading the earth, the mid-region and the highest heaven. They later inspired the Vamana avatara story, in which the dwarf incarnation covers all three worlds in three steps.

It refers to Vishnu's 'supreme abode' — the highest spiritual state or realm that enlightened seers perceive 'like an eye spread across the sky'. It signifies the transcendent goal of the spiritual aspirant.

It is ideal during Vishnu abhishekam and puja, on Ekadashi (especially Vaikuntha Ekadashi), Saturdays, and during Vishnu vratas. Many devotees recite it daily as part of the Pancha Suktam.