William J. Jackson

 Elsewhere in the Rig Veda it is said that "Beyond this world there is a transcendent." (X.31.8) And "What will one do with the hymn of the Veda," Rishi Dirghatamas inquires, "who does not know its theme— the Eternal in the supreme region, in which the devas dwell. But those who have come to know that are eternal." (RV I.104.39) Significantly the Rig Veda presents a constantly shifting fluidity of names of the divine, reminding us that the ultimate is one but is seen with dynamic variability. Also in The Rig Veda it is said that two of Vishnu's three steps are visible to men; the third step is beyond the flight of birds and transcends the mortal realm. Vishnu's highest step is like "an eye fixed in heaven" shining down brightly, a realm which men long to reach. As we saw, “Tad Vishnuh paramam padam” refers to the transcendent place of Vishnu.15 Vishnu preserves the universe, bestows bounty, yet also stands for the sacred transcendent. One more symbol of transcendence is the Vedic imagery of two birds in one tree, one bird is enmeshed in time and matter, becomes involved in worldly experience; the other one looks on, a witness, aware but detached, an eternal spirit.