Praise of Vishnu

Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at sacred-texts.com

HYMN XXVI

Praise of Vishnu

1I will declare the mighty deeds of Vishnu, of him who measured
   out the earthly regions, p. a281
  Who propped the highest place of congregation, thrice setting
   down his footstep, widely striding.
2Loud boast doth Vishnu make of this achievement, like some
   wild beast, dread, prowling, mountain-roaming.
  May he approach us from the farthest distance.
3Thou within whose three wide-extended paces all worlds and
   creatures have their habitation,
  Drink oil, thou homed in oil! promote the sacrificer more and
   more.
4Through all this world strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he planted,
   and the whole
  Was gathered in his footstep's dust.
5Vishnu the guardian, he whom none deceiveth, made three steps,
   thenceforth.
  Establishing these high decrees.
6Look ye on Vishnu's works, whereby the friend of Indra, close-
   allied,
  Hath let his holy ways be seen.
7The princes evermore behold that loftiest place where Vishnu is,
  Like an extended eye in heaven,
8From heaven, O Vishnu, or from earth, O Vishnu, or from the
   great far-spreading air's mid-region,
  Fill both thy hands full of abundant treasures, and from the
   right and left bestow them freely.