As per Shatapatha brahmana, Vishnu strode the existence with three strides and granted the gods the prevading power over the universe.
- यज्ञो वै विष्णुः स देवेभ्य इमां विक्रान्तिं विक्रमे यैषामियं विक्रान्तिः ।
- Viṣṇu, forsooth, is the sacrifice; by his strides he obtained for the gods that all-pervading power (vikrānti) which now belongs to them; by his first step he gained this same Earth, by the second the region of air, and by the last Heaven.”
- Shatapatha brahmana 1.9.3.9–10
By the three strides of Vishnu, Prajapati created the universe.
- विष्णुक्रमैर्वै प्रजापतिरिमं लोकमसृजत ।
- विष्णुक्रमैर्वै प्रजापतिरन्तरिक्षमसृजत ।
- विष्णुक्रमैर्वै प्रजापतिर्दिवमसृजत ।
- विष्णुक्रमैर्वै प्रजापतिर्दिशोऽसृजत ।
- Indeed, Prajāpati created this world by means of Viṣṇu's strides. By means of Viṣṇu's strides Prajāpati created the atmosphere. By means of Viṣṇu's strides Prajāpati created Heaven. By means of Viṣṇu's strides Prajāpati created the directions."
- Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 6.7.4.7
The three strides of Vishnu encompass all of existence.
Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 2.4.3.4 Ṛgveda 1.154.2
- अधिक्षियन्ति भुवनानि विश्वा ॥
- Under his three strides, all the worlds dwell