HV - Visnu - Rigveda

Visnu (वसु , हरी)

In a verse that seems to suggest the benevolence of Visnu who is called Vasu here, Vaisvamitra says:

तमित्सखित्व ईमहे तं राये तं सुवीर्ये | स शक्र उत नः शकदिन्द्रो वसु दयमानः || (1.010.6)

You may be seeking just friendship (with gods) (तमित्सखित्व);, to rejoice in conception (ईमहे), may desire to be king (तं राये), desire to be heroic (तं सुवीर्ये) if you find appeals to Shakti (शक्र) and Ganesh (नः) Siva and Indra useless (शकदिन्द्रो), Vasu (Visnu) is compassionate (वसु दयमानः). Vasu is also a title of Indra. However, the previous terms already refer to appeals to other gods (स शक्र उत नः) including Siva along with Indra to be useless शकदिन्द्रो. So the Vasu being referred to, after this has to be Visnu.

Visnu is referred to as Hari, in the context of a boon to Indra, to be abiding.

यस्य संस्थे न वृण्वते हरी समत्सु शत्रवः | तस्मा इन्द्राय गायत || (1.005.4) [1]

To abide unchanging (as Indra) gratifyingly pronounced by Visnu यस्य (संस्थे न वृण्वते हरी), the Supreme, Excellent, Destroyer, Protector, Auspicious (समत्सु शत्रवः); Therefore, Indra’s good fortune, celebrate in a song तस्मा इन्द्राय गायत).

In this context his many attributes are listed as: the Supreme, Excellent, Destroyer, Protector, Auspicious  (हरी समत्सु शत्रवः) (1.005.4, op cit. Indra’s Good fortune). In the next verse, he is referred to as वीतयः (1.005.5, op cit.), one who became free from Union.

Vishnu is referred to as Hari in one verse already discussed (op. cit. Methods of Meditation). The meditator should strive after Hari (Visnu). Vaishvamitra describes Hari as driving chariot ambidexterously (हरी विपक्षसा रथे)[2], sharpening knowledge (शोणा),[3] is powerful (धृष्णु = धृष्णू), conveys men (नृवाहस् = नृवाहसा) across death (1.006.2).

There is an interesting  verse which could refer to Visnu rather than Indra:

देवयन्तो यथा मतिमच्छा विदद्वसुं गिरः | महामनूषत श्रुतम् || (1.006.6)[4]

The ruler of devas is suitably addressed by pure devotion (देवयन्तो यथा मतिमच्छा), this is the voice of the wise Vasu (विदद्वसुं गिरः). Mighty, not human, that which was heard by revelation.

The ruler of gods is Indra, but later it is said that Visnu occupies the highest position. Both Indra and Visnu are vasus.[5] The next line offers a clue. The second line in the verse explains the kind of voice of wise Vasu. It was mighty (मह) not human (अमनूषत), that which was heard by revelation (श्रुतम्).

The first point to be noted here is that the voice conveyed ‘श्रुतम्’: that which was heard by revelation. Later literature refers to Vedas as ‘श्रुति’. The second point of interest is that the voice is characterised as ‘अमननूषत’ or not human in Rigveda. In later literature, the Vedas are called, अपौरुषेय — not of the authorship of man or not human, and are ascribed to Visnu. These coincidences suggest that the wise Vasu — विदद्वसुं, could possibly be Visnu, and not Indra.

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[1] यस्य संस्थे न वृण् - वते - ते हरी स – मत् - सु श – त्र - वः | तस्मा इन्द्र - अय गायत ||

To be (यस्य) abiding (संस्थ = संस्थे) same (न) to give pleasure spoken (वृण्-वत = वृणवते) Hari (हरि = हरी) together with (स) possess supremacy (मत्) excellent (सु) (स-मत्-सु = समत्सु) destroyer (शः) protecting (त्र) auspiciousness (वः) | therefore (तस्मा) Indra good fortune (इन्द्र-अय = इन्द्राय) celebrate in a song (गै = गायत)

[2] Hari (हरि = हरी) driving on two sides (विपक्षस् = विपक्षसा) chariot (रथः = रथे)

[3] sharpens (शो) knowledge (णः=णा) (शो-णः = शोणा)

[4] देव - यन्तो यथा मतिम् - अच्छा विदत् - वसुं गिरः | मह - अमनूषत श्रुतम् ||

Deva (देव) Ruler (यन्तृ = यन्तो) properly (यथा) devotion (मतिम्) pure (अच्छा) Wise (विदत्) Vasu (वसुं) voice (गिरः) | Mighty  (मह) not human (अमनुष्य = अमननूषत) That which was heard by revelation (श्रुतम्)

[5] Vasus are a class of gods (their number being usually eight; Indra, Agni and Vishnu are included)