Purusha Suktam

पुरुष सूक्त

Suktam Vedic Rishis

वैदिक ऋषि

Universal

सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्। स भूमिं विश्वतो वृत्वाऽत्यतिष्ठद्दशाङ्गुलम्॥

Sahasra Shirsha Purushah Sahasrakshah Sahasrapat Sa Bhumim Vishvato Vritva Atyatishthad Dashangulam

The Cosmic Being has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet. He pervades the entire earth on all sides; and yet He extends infinitely beyond all of creation, transcending it utterly.

पुरुष एवेदं सर्वं यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम्। उतामृतत्वस्येशानो यदन्नेनातिरोहति॥

Purusha Evedam Sarvam Yadbhutam Yachcha Bhavyam Utamritatvasyeshano Yadannena Atirohati

The Purusha is all this: whatever has been and whatever shall be. He is also the lord of immortality, and whatever grows by nourishment.

एतावानस्य महिमाऽतो ज्यायांश्च पूरुषः। पादोऽस्य विश्वा भूतानि त्रिपादस्यामृतं दिवि॥

Etavan Asya Mahima Ato Jyayan Cha Poorushah Pado Asya Vishva Bhutani Tripadasyamritam Divi

Such is His greatness, yet the Purusha is greater still. The entire manifest universe, with all its beings, is but one quarter of the divine reality; the remaining three quarters is the unmanifest, immortal, transcendent realm beyond all creation.

त्रिपादूर्ध्व उदैत्पुरुषः पादोऽस्येहाभवत्पुनः। ततो विष्वङ्व्यक्रामत्साशनानशने अभि॥

Tripada Urdhva Udait Purushah Pado Asyeha Abhavat Punah Tato Vishvang Vyakramat Sashanana Sane Abhi

Three-quarters of the Purusha rose upward; one quarter remained here below. From here He spread in all directions among those who eat and those who do not eat.

तस्माद्विराडजायत विराजो अधि पूरुषः। स जातो अत्यरिच्यत पश्चाद्भूमिमथो पुरः॥

Tasmad Virat Ajayata Virajo Adhi Poorushah Sa Jato Atyarichyata Pashchat Bhumim Atho Purah

From Him was born Virat (the cosmic body), and from Virat was born the Purusha. Being born, He became greater than the earth, both behind and before.

यत्पुरुषेण हविषा देवा यज्ञमतन्वत। वसन्तो अस्यासीदाज्यं ग्रीष्म इध्मः शरद्धविः॥

Yat Purushena Havisha Deva Yajnamatanvata Vasanto Asyasidajyam Grishma Idhmah Sharaddhavih

When the gods performed the cosmic sacrifice using the Purusha as the offering, Spring was the clarified butter, summer was the fuel, and autumn was the oblation.

तं यज्ञं बर्हिषि प्रौक्षन् पुरुषं जातमग्रतः। तेन देवा अयजन्त साध्या ऋषयश्च ये॥

Tam Yajnam Barhishi Praukshan Purusham Jatam Agratah Tena Deva Ayajanta Sadhya Rishayashcha Ye

They anointed as sacrifice on the sacred grass the Purusha who was born at the beginning. With Him, the gods sacrificed, as did the Sadhyas and the ancient sages.

तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुतः सम्भृतं पृषदाज्यम्। पशूंस्ताँश्चक्रे वायव्यानारण्यान्ग्राम्याश्च ये॥

Tasmad Yajnat Sarvahutah Sambhritam Prishadajyam Pashunstanshchakre Vayavyan Aranyangram Yashcha Ye

From that all-encompassing sacrifice came curd mixed with butter. He made the animals of the air, those of the forest, and those of the village.

तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुतः ऋचः सामानि जज्ञिरे। छन्दांसि जज्ञिरे तस्माद् यजुस्तस्मादजायत॥

Tasmad Yajnat Sarvahutah Richah Samani Jajnire Chandam Si Jajnire Tasmad Yajus Tasma Dajayata

From that all-encompassing sacrifice were born the Rig verses and the Sama chants. From it were born the meters of verse; the Yajur formulas were born from it.

तस्मादश्वा अजायन्त ये के चोभयादतः। गावो ह जज्ञिरे तस्मात् तस्माज्जाता अजावयः॥

Tasmad Ashva Ajayanta Ye Ke Chobhayadatah Gavo Ha Jajnire Tasmad Tasmaj Jata Aja Vayah

From that were born horses, and animals with two rows of teeth. Cows were born from that, and from that were born goats and sheep.

यत्पुरुषं व्यदधुः कतिधा व्यकल्पयन्। मुखं किमस्य कौ बाहू का ऊरू पादा उच्येते॥

Yat Purusham Vyadadhuh Katidha Vyakalpayan Mukham Kimasya Kau Bahu Ka Uru Pada Uchyete

When they divided the Purusha, into how many parts did they arrange him? What was His mouth? What were His arms? What were His thighs and feet called?

ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद् बाहू राजन्यः कृतः। ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत॥

Brahmano Asya Mukham Asid Bahu Rajanyah Kritah Uru Tadasya Yadvaishyah Padbhyam Shudro Ajayata

The Brahmin was His mouth, the Kshatriya was made from His arms. His thighs became the Vaishya; from His feet the Shudra was born.

चन्द्रमा मनसो जातश्चक्षोः सूर्यो अजायत। मुखादिन्द्रश्चाग्निश्च प्राणाद्वायुरजायत॥

Chandrama Manaso Jatash Chakshoh Suryo Ajayata Mukhad Indras Cha Agnis Cha Pranad Vayur Ajayata

The moon was born from His mind, and the sun was born from His eye. From His mouth came Indra and Agni; from His vital breath was born Vayu the wind-god.

नाभ्या आसीदन्तरिक्षं शीर्ष्णो द्यौः समवर्तत। पद्भ्यां भूमिर्दिशः श्रोत्रात्तथा लोकाँ अकल्पयन्॥

Nabhya Asid Antariksham Shirshno Dyauh Samavartata Padbhyam Bhumir Dishah Shrotrat Tatha Lokan Akalpayan

From His navel came the atmosphere; from His head the sky evolved. From His feet the earth, from His ears the directions; thus the worlds were fashioned.

सप्तास्यासन् परिधयस्त्रिः सप्त समिधः कृताः। देवा यद्यज्ञं तन्वाना अबध्नन् पुरुषं पशुम्॥

Sapta Asyasan Paridhayah Trih Sapta Samidhah Kritah Deva Yad Yajnam Tanvana Abadhnan Purusham Pashum

Seven were the enclosing sticks and thrice-seven were the fuel sticks prepared. When the gods, stretching the sacrifice, bound the Purusha as the sacred animal.

यज्ञेन यज्ञमयजन्त देवास्तानि धर्माणि प्रथमान्यासन्। ते ह नाकं महिमानः सचन्त यत्र पूर्वे साध्याः सन्ति देवाः॥

Yajnena Yajnam Ayajanta Devas Tani Dharmani Prathamany Asan Te Ha Nakam Mahimanah Sachanta Yatra Purve Sadhyah Santi Devah

The gods worshipped the sacrifice with the sacrifice; these became the first laws. Those great ones attained to heaven where the ancient Sadhyas and gods abide.