Purusha Suktam — Complete Lyrics
पुरुष सूक्तम्
Sanskrit text with English transliteration and translation
Verse 1
सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्।
स भूमिं विश्वतो वृत्वा अत्यतिष्ठद्दशाङ्गुलम्॥
Sahasra Shirsha Purushah Sahasraksah Sahasrapat
Sa Bhumim Vishvato Vritva Atyatishtad Dashangulam
The Cosmic Being (Purusha) has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet. He pervades the earth on all sides and extends ten fingers beyond it.
Verse 2
पुरुष एवेदं सर्वं यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम्।
उतामृतत्वस्येशानो यदन्नेनातिरोहति॥
Purusha Evedam Sarvam Yadbhutam Yachcha Bhavyam
Utamritatvasyeshano Yadannenatirohati
This Purusha is all that has been and all that will be. He is the lord of immortality, which he outgrows through food (creation).
Verse 3
एतावानस्य महिमा अतो ज्यायांश्च पूरुषः।
पादोऽस्य विश्वा भूतानि त्रिपादस्यामृतं दिवि॥
Etavanasya Mahima Ato Jyayamshcha Purushah
Pado'sya Vishva Bhutani Tripadasya Amritam Divi
Such is his greatness, and the Purusha is even greater than this. All beings are one-fourth of him; three-fourths of him is the immortal heaven.
Verse 4
त्रिपादूर्ध्व उदैत्पुरुषः पादोऽस्येहाभवत्पुनः।
ततो विष्वङ्व्यक्रामत्साशनानशने अभि॥
Tripadurdhva Udaitpurushah Pado'syeha Bhavatpunah
Tato Vishvanvyakramat Sashananashane Abhi
Three-fourths of the Purusha ascended above. One-fourth of him manifests here again and again. From there he spread out in all directions, into that which eats and that which does not eat.
Verse 5
तस्माद्विराळजायत विराजो अधि पूरुषः।
स जातो अत्यरिच्यत पश्चाद्भूमिमथो पुरः॥
Tasmad Virad Ajayata Virajo Adhi Purushah
Sa Jato Atyarichyata Pashchad Bhumim Atho Purah
From him was born Virat (the cosmic form), and from Virat came the Purusha. Being born, he extended beyond the earth — behind and in front.
Verse 6
यत्पुरुषेण हविषा देवा यज्ञमतन्वत।
वसन्तो अस्यासीदाज्यं ग्रीष्म इध्मः शरद्धविः॥
Yat Purushena Havisha Deva Yajnam Atanvata
Vasanto Asyasidajyam Grishma Idhmah Sharaddhaviah
When the gods performed the sacrifice using the Purusha as the offering, spring was the ghee, summer was the fuel, and autumn was the oblation.
Verse 7
तं यज्ञं बर्हिषि प्रौक्षन्पुरुषं जातमग्रतः।
तेन देवा अयजन्त साध्या ऋषयश्च ये॥
Tam Yajnam Barhishi Praukshan Purusham Jatamagratah
Tena Deva Ayajanta Sadhya Rishayashcha Ye
They sprinkled the sacrifice on the sacred grass — the Purusha, born in the beginning. With him the gods sacrificed, and so did the Sadhyas and the Rishis.
Verse 8
तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुतः सम्भृतं पृषदाज्यम्।
पशून्ताँश्चक्रे वायव्यानारण्यान्ग्राम्याश्च ये॥
Tasmad Yajnat Sarvahutah Sambhritam Prishad Ajyam
Pashunstamshchakre Vayavyan Aranyaan Gramyashcha Ye
From that sacrifice in which everything was offered, the butter mixed with curds was produced. He made the beasts of the air, the forest and the village.
Want to understand every word?
Read Word-by-Word Meaning →