Rigveda 1.156

1.156.1

भवा॑ मि॒त्रो न शेव्यो॑ घृ॒तासु॑ति॒र्विभू॑तद्युम्न एव॒या उ॑ स॒प्रथा॑: | अधा॑ ते विष्णो वि॒दुषा॑ चि॒दर्ध्य॒: स्तोमो॑ य॒ज्ञश्च॒ राध्यो॑ ह॒विष्म॑ता ||

FAR-SHINING, widely famed, going thy wonted way, fed with the oil, be helpful. Mitra-like, to us. So, Viṣṇu, e’en the wise must swell thy song of praise, and he who hath oblations pay thee solemn rites.

Far-shining, widely famed, going your wonted way, fed with ghṛta, be helpful Mitra-like to us. So, Viṣṇu, even the wise must swell your praise-song, and he who has oblations must pay you solemn rites.

Śevyaḥ mitro na, ghṛtāsuti, vibhūtadyumna—Viṣṇu in approachable friend-mode. Even the viduṣa must offer stoma and yajña—Hindu hierarchy of knowing-plus-offering: wisdom without gift is incomplete devotion.

Expertise alone isn’t enough—pair insight with tangible contribution. Be a helpful, consistent presence others can trust like a true friend.

1.156.2

यः पू॒र्व्याय॑ वे॒धसे॒ नवी॑यसे सु॒मज्जा॑नये॒ विष्ण॑वे॒ ददा॑शति | यो जा॒तम॑स्य मह॒तो महि॒ ब्रव॒त् सेदु॒ श्रवो॑भि॒र्युज्यं॑ चिद॒भ्य॑सत् ||

He who brings gifts to him the Ancient and the Last, to Viṣṇu who ordains, together with his Spouse, Who tells the lofty birth of him the Lofty One, shall verily surpass in glory e’en his peer.

He who brings gifts to him the Ancient and the Last, to Viṣṇu who ordains, together with his Spouse—who tells the lofty birth of the Lofty One—shall surely surpass in glory even his peer.

Pūrvya and navīyas—Viṣṇu as forever ancient-yet-new with Spouse (sumajjāni). Declaring mahato mahi birth wins śravas—Hindu kīrtana of divine janma as a path of glory that outshines mere rivalry.

Honor both roots and renewal. Those who fund and narrate generative origins often rise in lasting reputation beyond peer competition.

1.156.3

तमु॑ स्तोतारः पू॒र्व्यं यथा॑ वि॒द ऋ॒तस्य॒ गर्भं॑ ज॒नुषा॑ पिपर्तन | आस्य॑ जा॒नन्तो॒ नाम॑ चिद् विवक्तन म॒हस्ते॑ विष्णो सुम॒तिं भ॑जामहे ||

Him have ye satisfied, singers, as well as ye know, primeval germ of Order even from his birth. Ye, knowing e’en his name, have told it forth: may we, Viṣṇu, enjoy the grace of thee the Mighty One.

Him have you satisfied, singers, as well as you know—primeval germ of Order even from his birth. Knowing even his name, tell it forth; may we, Viṣṇu, enjoy the grace of you the Mighty.

Ṛtasya garbhaṃ januṣā—Viṣṇu as embryo of Rita from birth. Nāma vivaktana and sumati—Hindu nāma-japa and grace. Stotāraḥ nourish the Deva by accurate knowing; naming Order correctly is itself a yajña.

Name what holds order together. Accurate language about foundational goods invites their grace into practice and policy.

1.156.4

तम॑स्य॒ राजा॒ वरु॑ण॒स्तम॒श्विना॒ क्रतुं॑ सचन्त॒ मारु॑तस्य वे॒धस॑: | दा॒धार॒ दक्ष॑मुत्त॒मम॑ह॒र्विदं॑ व्र॒जं च॒ विष्णु॒: सखि॑वाँ अपोर्णु॒ते ||

The Sovran Varuṇa and both the Aśvins wait on this the will of him who guides the Marut host. Viṣṇu hath power supreme and might that finds the day, and with his Friend unbars the stable of the kine.

Sovereign Varuṇa and both Aśvins wait on this will of him who guides the Marut host. Viṣṇu has supreme power and day-finding might, and with his Friend unbars the stable of the kine.

Varuṇa and Aśvinau attend Viṣṇu’s kratu; dakṣam uttamam aharvidam; sakhivān opens vraja—Hindu Viṣṇu–Indra friendship releasing cows (rays/wealth). Liberation of nourishment through allied will is classic Sanātana symbolism of grace as unlocked abundance.

Allied leadership unlocks stuck resources. Pair expansive vision with a trusted collaborator to free what nourishes many.

1.156.5

आ यो वि॒वाय॑ स॒चथा॑य॒ दैव्य॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ विष्णु॑: सु॒कृते॑ सु॒कृत्त॑रः | वे॒धा अ॑जिन्वत् त्रिषध॒स्थ आर्य॑मृ॒तस्य॑ भा॒गे यज॑मान॒माभ॑जत् ||

Even he the Heavenly One who came for fellowship, Viṣṇu to Indra, godly to the godlier, Who Maker, throned in three worlds, helps the Āryan man, and gives the worshipper his share of Holy Law.

Even he the Heavenly One who came for fellowship—Viṣṇu to Indra, godly to the more godly—who as Maker throned in three worlds helps the Āryan seeker and gives the worshipper his share of Holy Law.

Sacathāya daivya Indrāya Viṣṇuḥ; trisadhastha Vedhas; ṛtasya bhāge yajamānam ābhajat—Hindu Viṣṇu as Indra’s ally distributing ṛta-share. Ārya here names the noble aspirant of yajña-culture, not ethnic exclusion; fellowship of Devas models human alliance.

Sacred partnership shares credit and ethical portion. Build alliances that allocate shares of law—fair access to meaning and goods—across three domains of life.