Appendix

 

Sri Aurobindo's translation of the Hymn to

Vishnu — Rig Veda, I. 154

 

1. Of Vishnu now I declare the mighty works, who has measured out the earthly worlds and that higher seat of our self-accomplishing he supports, he the wide-moving, in the threefold steps of his universal movement.

 

2. That Vishnu affirms on high by his mightiness and he is like a terrible lion that ranges in the difficult places, yea, his lair is on the mountain tops, he in whose three wide movements all the worlds find their dwelling-place.

 

3. Let our strength and our thought go forward to Vishnu the all-pervading, the wide-moving Bull whose dwelling-place is on the mountain, he who being One has measured all this long and far-extending seat of our self-accomplishing by only three of his strides.

 

4. He whose three steps are full of the honey-wine and they perish not but have ecstasy by the self-harmony of their nature; yea, he being One holds the triple principle and earth and heaven also, even all the worlds.

 

5. May I attain to and enjoy that goal of his movement, the Delight, where souls that seek the godhead have the rapture; for there in that highest step of the wide-moving Vishnu is that Friend of men who is the fount of the sweetness.

 

6. Those are the dwelling-places of ye twain which we desire as the goal of our journey, where the many-horned herds of Light go travelling; the highest step of wide-moving Vishnu shines down on us here in its manifold vastness.

 

 

Notes and References

 

1. Mandukya Upanishad: I. 2 (11).

2. Ibid., III. 2 (10).

3. Rig Veda: VII. 52 (I).

4. Ibid., VIII. 5 (1-3).

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5. Katha Upanishad: II. I (7,8).

6. Rig Veda: I. 13 (4).

7. Ibid., III. 2 (7).

8. Ibid., I. 2 (4,5); I. 67 (3).

9. Ibid., V. 13 (6); V. 3 (1).

10. Taittirya Upanishad: I. 4.

11. Rig Veda: IX. 43 (4); IX. 75 (4).

12. Ibid., IX. 83 (1-2).

13. Ibid.

14. Ibid., I. 46 (6,7,10); III. 89 (5).

15. Ibid., V (1).

16. Ibid.

17. Ibid., I. 68 (1).

18. Ibid., IV. 1 (7).

19. Isha Upanishad: 9-14.

20. Rig Veda: I. 170 (I).

21. Ibid., III. I (2-14, especially 9).

22. Ibid., V. 28 (especially 3).

23. See appendix for Sri Aurobindo's translation.

24. Rig Veda: V. 3 (3).

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