vedicrigvedavishnutrivikrama

Vishnu Suktam

विष्णु सूक्तम् in English · English

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

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Om shantih shantih shantih.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

Vishnoh viryani🔊The heroic deeds / mighty powers of Vishnu

pra vocham🔊I shall proclaim / declare

parthivani rajamsi🔊The earthly regions / terrestrial spaces

vimame🔊He measured out (with his strides)

askabhayat🔊He propped up, supported, made firm

uttaram sadhastham🔊The higher abode / the upper world

vichakramanah🔊Striding wide, stepping across

urugayah🔊The widely-praised, far-striding one

ato deva avantu nah🔊May the gods protect us from here

sapta dhamabhih🔊Through the seven realms / abodes (of the earth)

tredha ni dadhe padam🔊He set down his step in three ways (three strides)

trini pada vichakrame🔊He strode across with three steps

gopah adabhyah🔊The unconquerable / inviolable guardian

dharmani dharayan🔊Upholding the cosmic laws / sacred ordinances

Vishnoh karmani pashyata🔊Behold the deeds of Vishnu

Indrasya yujyah sakha🔊The worthy, intimate friend of Indra

tat Vishnoh paramam padam🔊That supreme abode of Vishnu

surayah🔊The wise / enlightened seers

divi iva chakshuh atatam🔊Like an eye spread across the sky

samindhate🔊They kindle / illumine (it within)

Benefits of Chanting विष्णु सूक्तम्

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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 विष्णु सूक्तम्

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

This page shows the complete विष्णु सूक्तम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

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.