Purusha Suktam is the praise of God as well as a story of "Creation of This Universe" as narrated in our ancient Vedas.
It narrates to us in detail how the Supreme Being created this wonderful universe along with all the living and non-living entities of it. Understanding the meaning of this great scripture (while reciting it) fills us with awe at the marvels of it all.
This Purusha Suktam is recited by rishis and priests during the performance of any type of sacred ritual. The chanting of these verses protects us from any hindrances or obstacles of life and bestows the blessings of the Almighty upon all of us.
There are two parts to it. The first part contains 18 verses which describe the creation process. The second part has 6 verses. The first six of them tell us about his greatness and qualities whereas the 6th one seeks blessings also from him.
purusha E vEdam sarvam yat bhootam yachha bhavyam |
It narrates to us in detail how the Supreme Being created this wonderful universe along with all the living and non-living entities of it. Understanding the meaning of this great scripture (while reciting it) fills us with awe at the marvels of it all.
This Purusha Suktam is recited by rishis and priests during the performance of any type of sacred ritual. The chanting of these verses protects us from any hindrances or obstacles of life and bestows the blessings of the Almighty upon all of us.There are two parts to it. The first part contains 18 verses which describe the creation process. The second part has 6 verses. The first six of them tell us about his greatness and qualities whereas the 6th one seeks blessings also from him.
Purusha Suktam
Part-1
sahasra shirSaa purushah; sahasrAksha sahasra paat |
sa bhoomim viswatO vrutvA atyatiSta dashAnguLam || (1)
Meaning: Purusha or the Supreme Being possesses one thousand heads, eyes, and feet. That implies that his form is inconceivable with our eyes. He occupies the space throughout the earth and the whole universe and even more space than that. (Even though dashAnguLam means ten inches more space it is to be understood as some incalculable space.)
purusha E vEdam sarvam yat bhootam yachha bhavyam |
utAmrutatva syEshAnah yadannE nAtirOhati || (2)
Meaning: Purusha Himself is knowledge. He is the past, present, and future. He is the Lord for our Mortality and Existence as well as the Lord for Food.
EtaavA nasya mahimA aatO jyAyAgamsha poorushah |
pAdOsya vishwA bhootAni tripAdasyAmrutam divihi || (3)
Meaning: His magic is like that. It is far from our conception or imagination. This visible world is only a foot of his. The other invisible worlds that form three feet or three-thirds-of-whole are free from mortality. It constitutes the Heaven.
tripAdoordhva udait purushah pAdOsyEhaa bhavAtpunaha |
tatO vishvajyvyakrAmat saashanAnasanE abhi || (4)
Meaning: Whereas three parts of Him ascended towards upward, one part descended to the downward. That part encompassed all the living and non-living entities thereupon.
tasmAdvirAdajAyata virAjo adhipoorushaha |
sajAtO tyarichyata paschAbhoomi madhO puraha || (5)
Meaning: From that Supreme Being, VirAtpurusha came. He took the form of Purusha and from him separated all the angels, humans and living and non-living entities. Earth and the Underworld formed afterward
yatpuruSEna haviSaa dEvA yajna matanvata |
vasantO asyAsii dAjyam griiSma idhmah sharadhhavihi || (6)
Meaning: In that PuruSa's presence, treating Him as the accomplisher, the angels or devas, while performing the yajna, offered Spring as ghee, Summer as fuel, and Sharat season as the naivedyam or food.
saptAsyAsan paridhayah trisapta-ssamidhah kritAh |
dEvA yadyajnam tanvAnAh abhadhnan puruSam pasum || (7)
Meaning: Encircling the boundaries with the seven elements of earth, water, fire, air, ether (or sky), self, and knowledge; the devas performed the yajna with 21 samidhas or fuels and bound the Purusha (the first-born being) for offering in the yajna.
tam yajnam barhiSi proukSan puruSam jAta magratah |
tEna dEvA ayajanta sAdhyA riSayasshayE || (8)
Meaning: Thus, the firstborn Purusha- who is the best suitable person for that sacrifice- is secreted with holy waters by the Devas, spiritual gurus, and the sages performing that yajna.
tasmAdyajnAt sarvahutah sambhrutam vriSadAjyam |
pasoomnAn schakrE vAyavyAn aaraNyAn grAmAschayE || (9)
Meaning: From that perfect yajna of creation, took birth Curd and Ghee; thereafter the auspicious sacrificial cattle, the birds, and the animals of the forests and villages.
tasmAdyajnAt sarvahutah richaya sAmAni jajNirE |
chhandAgansi jajNirE tasmAt tasmA jNAtA ajAvayaha || (10)
Meaning: From that perfect yajna, came forth the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, and all mantras. All the charming slokas and hymns and the Yajurveda mantras.
tasmAdashvA ajAyanta yEkEchObhayA dataha |
gAvOha jajnirE tasmAt tasmA jjAtA ajAvayaha || (11)
Meaning: From that same yajna emerged the horses, animals of single-lined and double-lined teeth took birth, and the cows, goats, sheep.
yatpuruSam vyadadhuh katidhA vyakalpayan |
mukham kimasya kau bAhoo kAvooroo pAdA vuchyEtE || (12)
Meaning: When that PuruSa was created what formed His shape? What were his face, his shoulders, thighs, and feet?
brAhmaNOsya mukhamAsiit bAhoo rAjanya kritah |
ooroo tadasya yadvaisyah padbhvAgam shudrO ajAyata || (13)
Meaning: The brahmins came from His head, kshatriyas from shoulders, vaishya from thighs, and sudra from His feet.
chandramA manasO jAtaha chakshO suryO ajAyata |
mukhA dindra schAgnischa prANA dvAyu rajAyata || (14)
Meaning: The Moon got created from His mind; Surya or the Sun from his eyes, Indra and Agni emerged from his Face and the Air from his respiration or breath.
nAbhyA Asii dantariksham shiirSaNO dyouh samavartata |
padbhyAm bhoomir dishah shrOtAt tathA lOkAn akalpayan || (15)
Meaning: From the navel emerged the antariksha or the sky; Swarga or the heaven from his head; from the feet emerged Earth and the 4 or 8 directions from his ears. In this way, the universe took place through his volition.
vEdAhamEtam puruSam mahAntam AdityavarNam tamasastu pArE |
sarvANi roopANi vichitya dhiiraha nAmAnikritvAbhivadan yAdAstE || (16)
Meaning: Now, I get to know of Purusha who is boundless and shining with the glow of the sun. He is very different from all this nature and the one who creates all these beings, naming and activating them by entering into them.
dhAtA purstAdya mudAjahAra shakra pravidvAn pradisha schatasraha |
tamEvam vidvA namruta iha bhavati nAnya panthA ayanAya vidyatE || (17)
Meaning: Brahma learned that Purusha to be his creator. Even the thousand-eyed Indra came to know of his greatness and spread about His superior qualities all the directions. Whoever knew His powers, learned that they can attain moksha in this life itself. There is no other path than this.
yajnEna yajna mayajanta dEvA tAni dharmANi prathamA nyAsan |
tEha nAkam mahimAna ssachantE yatra poorvE sAdhyA ssanti dEvA || (18)
Meaning: In this manner, the Devas gained knowledge about the greatness of Yajna. Further, they realized that the rituals of yajna are of most importance. Just as the great sages reach directly to Vishnu Loka, whoever performs these auspicious yajna rituals can also reach and live in there.
pAdOsya vishwA bhootAni tripAdasyAmrutam divihi || (3)
Meaning: His magic is like that. It is far from our conception or imagination. This visible world is only a foot of his. The other invisible worlds that form three feet or three-thirds-of-whole are free from mortality. It constitutes the Heaven.
tripAdoordhva udait purushah pAdOsyEhaa bhavAtpunaha |
tatO vishvajyvyakrAmat saashanAnasanE abhi || (4)
Meaning: Whereas three parts of Him ascended towards upward, one part descended to the downward. That part encompassed all the living and non-living entities thereupon.
tasmAdvirAdajAyata virAjo adhipoorushaha |
sajAtO tyarichyata paschAbhoomi madhO puraha || (5)
Meaning: From that Supreme Being, VirAtpurusha came. He took the form of Purusha and from him separated all the angels, humans and living and non-living entities. Earth and the Underworld formed afterward
yatpuruSEna haviSaa dEvA yajna matanvata |
vasantO asyAsii dAjyam griiSma idhmah sharadhhavihi || (6)
Meaning: In that PuruSa's presence, treating Him as the accomplisher, the angels or devas, while performing the yajna, offered Spring as ghee, Summer as fuel, and Sharat season as the naivedyam or food.
saptAsyAsan paridhayah trisapta-ssamidhah kritAh |
dEvA yadyajnam tanvAnAh abhadhnan puruSam pasum || (7)
Meaning: Encircling the boundaries with the seven elements of earth, water, fire, air, ether (or sky), self, and knowledge; the devas performed the yajna with 21 samidhas or fuels and bound the Purusha (the first-born being) for offering in the yajna.
tam yajnam barhiSi proukSan puruSam jAta magratah |
tEna dEvA ayajanta sAdhyA riSayasshayE || (8)
Meaning: Thus, the firstborn Purusha- who is the best suitable person for that sacrifice- is secreted with holy waters by the Devas, spiritual gurus, and the sages performing that yajna.
tasmAdyajnAt sarvahutah sambhrutam vriSadAjyam |
pasoomnAn schakrE vAyavyAn aaraNyAn grAmAschayE || (9)
Meaning: From that perfect yajna of creation, took birth Curd and Ghee; thereafter the auspicious sacrificial cattle, the birds, and the animals of the forests and villages.
tasmAdyajnAt sarvahutah richaya sAmAni jajNirE |
chhandAgansi jajNirE tasmAt tasmA jNAtA ajAvayaha || (10)
Meaning: From that perfect yajna, came forth the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, and all mantras. All the charming slokas and hymns and the Yajurveda mantras.
tasmAdashvA ajAyanta yEkEchObhayA dataha |
gAvOha jajnirE tasmAt tasmA jjAtA ajAvayaha || (11)
Meaning: From that same yajna emerged the horses, animals of single-lined and double-lined teeth took birth, and the cows, goats, sheep.
yatpuruSam vyadadhuh katidhA vyakalpayan |
mukham kimasya kau bAhoo kAvooroo pAdA vuchyEtE || (12)
Meaning: When that PuruSa was created what formed His shape? What were his face, his shoulders, thighs, and feet?
brAhmaNOsya mukhamAsiit bAhoo rAjanya kritah |
ooroo tadasya yadvaisyah padbhvAgam shudrO ajAyata || (13)
Meaning: The brahmins came from His head, kshatriyas from shoulders, vaishya from thighs, and sudra from His feet.
chandramA manasO jAtaha chakshO suryO ajAyata |
mukhA dindra schAgnischa prANA dvAyu rajAyata || (14)
Meaning: The Moon got created from His mind; Surya or the Sun from his eyes, Indra and Agni emerged from his Face and the Air from his respiration or breath.
nAbhyA Asii dantariksham shiirSaNO dyouh samavartata |
padbhyAm bhoomir dishah shrOtAt tathA lOkAn akalpayan || (15)
Meaning: From the navel emerged the antariksha or the sky; Swarga or the heaven from his head; from the feet emerged Earth and the 4 or 8 directions from his ears. In this way, the universe took place through his volition.
vEdAhamEtam puruSam mahAntam AdityavarNam tamasastu pArE |
sarvANi roopANi vichitya dhiiraha nAmAnikritvAbhivadan yAdAstE || (16)
Meaning: Now, I get to know of Purusha who is boundless and shining with the glow of the sun. He is very different from all this nature and the one who creates all these beings, naming and activating them by entering into them.
dhAtA purstAdya mudAjahAra shakra pravidvAn pradisha schatasraha |
tamEvam vidvA namruta iha bhavati nAnya panthA ayanAya vidyatE || (17)
Meaning: Brahma learned that Purusha to be his creator. Even the thousand-eyed Indra came to know of his greatness and spread about His superior qualities all the directions. Whoever knew His powers, learned that they can attain moksha in this life itself. There is no other path than this.
yajnEna yajna mayajanta dEvA tAni dharmANi prathamA nyAsan |
tEha nAkam mahimAna ssachantE yatra poorvE sAdhyA ssanti dEvA || (18)
Meaning: In this manner, the Devas gained knowledge about the greatness of Yajna. Further, they realized that the rituals of yajna are of most importance. Just as the great sages reach directly to Vishnu Loka, whoever performs these auspicious yajna rituals can also reach and live in there.
Purusha Suktam (Part-2)
adbhyah sambhootaha prithvai rasAchha | vishwakarmaNah samavartatAdhi |
tasya tvaSTA vidadhadroopamEti | tatpuruSasya vishvamA jAnamagrE || (1)
Meaning: From the Water and the essence of Earth, was born the universe or Brahmanda. Visvakarma, who is more than that, appears and as the divine smith, he embodies all. Thus, His Visvaroopa formed.
vEdAhamEtam puruSam mahAntam | aaditya varNam tamasah parastAt |
tamEvam vidvAnamruta iha bhavati | nAnyapanthA vidyatEyanAya || (2)
Meaning: I know Him as Purusha, the great and brilliant One that transcends all darkness. Whoever knows Him as that will become immortal in this life itself. No other path is known for Moksha or liberation.
prajApatischarati garbhE antaha | ajAyamAnO bahudhA vijAyatE |
tasya dhiirA parijAnanti yOnim | mariichiinAm pada mischhanti vEdhasaha || (3)
Meaning: Prajapati (the Lord of his subjects) lives in the womb and unborn, He appears in many forms. The unwavering wise beings know well of His true form. Even the possessors of sublime powers desire to be the great sage Marichi, who worships that Prajapati.
yO dEvEbhya aatapati | yO dEvAnAm purOhitaha |
poorvO yO dEvEbhyO jAtaha | namO ruchAya brAhmayE || (4)
Meaning: He who is glowing as the divine power inside the Devas (angels & Gods), who is the priest of all Gods, and born before the birth of all Gods; I salute to Him the Supreme Being (Parabrahma) who is brilliant in himself.
rucham brAhmam janayantaha | dEvA agrE tadabruvan |
yastvaivam brAhmaNO vidyAt | tasya dEvA asanvashE || (5)
Meaning: When spreading the essence of the knowledge about the Supreme Being (Parabrahman), the Devas, first of all, told thus: whoever knows Brahman as thus, in his control will be all the Devas (Gods and Angels).
hriischatE lakshmiischa patnyau | ahOrAtrE pArshvE |
nakshatrANi roopam | ashvinou vyAttam |
iShtam maniiShANa |
amum maniiShANa |
sarvam maniiShANa | (6)
Meaning: Goddess of Modesty (Hree) and Goddess of Wealth (Lakshmi) are His consorts. Day and Night are his shoulders. Stars make His Form. And, the Voice is of the healing powers of the Ashvini Devata.
Grant us our desires. (chit)
Grant us our joys. (Ananda)
Grants us all yours. (Sat)
In this sloka, what we ask for is His True Form that is the Satchidananda roopam.
Meaning: Prajapati (the Lord of his subjects) lives in the womb and unborn, He appears in many forms. The unwavering wise beings know well of His true form. Even the possessors of sublime powers desire to be the great sage Marichi, who worships that Prajapati.
yO dEvEbhya aatapati | yO dEvAnAm purOhitaha |
poorvO yO dEvEbhyO jAtaha | namO ruchAya brAhmayE || (4)
Meaning: He who is glowing as the divine power inside the Devas (angels & Gods), who is the priest of all Gods, and born before the birth of all Gods; I salute to Him the Supreme Being (Parabrahma) who is brilliant in himself.
rucham brAhmam janayantaha | dEvA agrE tadabruvan |
yastvaivam brAhmaNO vidyAt | tasya dEvA asanvashE || (5)
Meaning: When spreading the essence of the knowledge about the Supreme Being (Parabrahman), the Devas, first of all, told thus: whoever knows Brahman as thus, in his control will be all the Devas (Gods and Angels).
hriischatE lakshmiischa patnyau | ahOrAtrE pArshvE |
nakshatrANi roopam | ashvinou vyAttam |
iShtam maniiShANa |
amum maniiShANa |
sarvam maniiShANa | (6)
Meaning: Goddess of Modesty (Hree) and Goddess of Wealth (Lakshmi) are His consorts. Day and Night are his shoulders. Stars make His Form. And, the Voice is of the healing powers of the Ashvini Devata.
Grant us our desires. (chit)
Grant us our joys. (Ananda)
Grants us all yours. (Sat)
In this sloka, what we ask for is His True Form that is the Satchidananda roopam.
The Concluding Peace Prayer
Often, this concluding part is also recited in the rituals for the peace of Humanity and the Universe.
tachhamyOrAvriNiimahE | gAtum yajnyAya |
gAtum yajnapatayE | daivii svastirastu nah |
svastirmAnuShEbhyaha | oordhvam jigAtu bhEShajam |
sham nO astu dvipadE | sham chatuShpadE |
Om shAntih shAntih shAntihi ||
Meaning: We seek that which gives us peace from sorrows. May the rites and rituals grow. May there be the growth of wellness for the master of the Rites. The grace of Gods may be there. May wellbeing be there for mankind. Let medicinal herbs and plants grow upwards. May goodness come from two-feet creatures. From four-feet ones.
Let there be peace, peace, and peace forever.
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