पुरुष सुक्तम् - सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्

Purusha Suktam - Sahasra-Shirsaa Purusah Sahasra-Aksah Sahasra-Paat

सहस्रशीर्षापुरुषःसहस्राक्षःसहस्रपात् ।
सभूमिंविश्वतोवृत्वात्यतिष्ठद्दशाङुलम् ॥१॥
Sahasra-Shiirssaa Purussah Sahasra-Akssah Sahasra-Paat
Sa Bhuumim Vishvato Vrtva-Atya[i]-Tisstthad-Dasha-Angulam 1
Meaning:
1.1: The Purusha (Universal Being) has Thousand Heads, Thousand Eyes and Thousand Feet (Thousand signifies innumerable which points to the omnipresence of the Universal Being),
1.2:He envelops the World from all sides (i.e. He pervades each part of the Creation), and extends beyond in the Ten Directions ( represented by Ten Fingers ),
पुरुषएवेदंसर्वंयद्भूतंयच्चभव्यम् ।
उतामृतत्वस्येशानोयदन्नेनातिरोहति ॥२॥
Purussa Evedam Sarvam Yad-Bhuutam Yacca Bhavyam
Uta-Amrtatvasye[a-I]shaano Yad-Annena-Ati-Rohati 2
Meaning:
2.1: The Purusha is indeed All this (Creation) in essence; That which existed in the Past, and that which will exist in the Future,
2.2: Everything (i.e the whole Creation) is woven by the Immortal essence of the Great Lord (Purusha); by becoming Food of which (i.e. by getting consumed in Whose Immortal essence through surrender) one transcends the gross world (and becomes Immortal).
एतावानस्यमहिमातोज्यायाँश्चपूरुषः ।
पादोऽस्यविश्वाभूतानित्रिपादस्यामृतंदिवि ॥३॥
Etaavaanasya Mahima-Ato Jyaayaash-Ca Puurussah
Paado-Asya Vishvaa Bhuutaani Tri-Paad-Asya-Amrtam Divi 3
Meaning:
3.1: The Purusha is Greater than all the Greatness (which can be expressed by words),
3.2: His One Part has become all these (visible) Worlds, and His Three Parts rest in the Immortal World of the Transcendence.
त्रिपादूर्ध्वउदैत्पूरुषःपादोऽस्येहाभवत्पुनः ।
ततोविष्वङ्व्यक्रामत्साशनानशनेअभि ॥४॥
Tri-Paad-Uurdhva Udait-Puurussah Paado-Asye[a-I]ha-Abhavat-Punah
Tato Vissvang Vya[i-A]kraamat-Saashana-Anashane Abhi 4
Meaning:
4.1: The Three Parts of the Purusha is High Above (in Transcendental Realm), and His One Part becomes the Creation again and again.
4.2:There, in the Creation, He pervades all the Living ( who eats ) and the Non-Living ( who does not eat ) beings.
तस्माद्विराळजायतविराजोअधिपूरुषः ।
सजातोअत्यरिच्यतपश्चाद्भूमिमथोपुरः ॥५॥
Tasmaad-Viraadda-Jaayata Viraajo Adhi Puurussah
Sa Jaato Atya[i-A]ricyata Pashcaad-Bhuumim-Atho Purah 5
Meaning:
5.1:From Him (i.e. the Purusha) was born the Virat; (the Virat came into being) from the presence of the Shining Purusha (Who remained as the background or substratum of Virat);
5.2:He (i.e. the Virat) created the Earth, by manifesting Her from His own being as substratum.
यत्पुरुषेणहविषादेवायज्ञमतन्वत ।
वसन्तोअस्यासीदाज्यंग्रीष्मइध्मःशरद्धविः ॥६॥
Yat-Purussenna Havissaa Devaa Yajnyam-Atanvata
Vasanto Asya-Asiida-Ajyam Griissma Idhmah Sharad-[d]Havih 6
Meaning:
6.1: With the Purusha as the (Sacrificial) Fire, the Deva (the Shining One, referring to Virat) continued the Yagna (Sacrifice of creation),
6.2:Spring was (created as) the clarified Butter (of that Yagna), Summer was (created as) the Fuel (of that Yagna), and Autumn was (created as) the Havis (Sacrificial offering of that Yagna).
तंयज्ञंबर्हिषिप्रौक्षन्पुरुषंजातमग्रतः ।
तेनदेवाअयजन्तसाध्याऋषयश्चये ॥७॥
Tam Yajnyam Barhissi Pra-Ukssan-Purussam Jaatam-Agratah
Tena Devaa Ayajanta Saadhyaa Rssayash-Ca Ye 7
Meaning:
7.1: The First Divine Men were created as the Holy Water sprinkled with the Kusa Grass in that Yagna (Sacrifice of Creation).
7.2: The First Divine Men were the Sadhya Devas and the Rishis, Who were created by Him, the Deva (the Shining One, referring to Virat), Who performed the Yagna. (These Rishis were not human but divine Rishis like Saptarshis created directly by Virat).
तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुतःसम्भृतंपृषदाज्यम् ।
पशून्ताँश्चक्रेवायव्यानारण्यान्ग्राम्याश्चये ॥८॥
Tasmaad-Yajnyaat-Sarvahutah Sambhrtam Prssadaajyam
Pashuun-Taashcakre Vaayavyaan-Aarannyaan Graamyaash-Ca Ye 8
Meaning:
8.1: From the Complete Offering of His (i.e. Virat's) Yagna (Sacrifice of Creation) was obtained Ghee mixed with coagulated Milk, ...
8.2: ... which (i.e. the Ghee and Milk) are (the created) Animals, both of Air (Birds) and of Forests (Wild Animals) and Villages (Domestic Animals).
तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुतऋचःसामानिजज्ञिरे ।
छन्दांसिजज्ञिरेतस्माद्यजुस्तस्मादजायत ॥९॥
Tasmaad-Yajnyaat-Sarvahuta Rcah Saamaani Jajnyire
Chandaamsi Jajnyire Tasmaad-Yajus-Tasmaad-Ajaayata 9
Meaning:
9.1: From the Complete Offering of His (i.e. Virat's) Yagna (Sacrifice of Creation) was born the Rig Veda and Sama Veda,
9.2: The Chandas (Vedic Meters) were born from Him, and the Yajur Veda was born from Him.
तस्मादश्वाअजायन्तयेकेचोभयादतः ।
गावोःहजज्ञिरेतस्मात्तस्माज्जाताअजावयः ॥१०॥
Tasmaad-Ashvaa Ajaayanta Ye Ke Co[a-U]bhayaadatah
Gaavoh Ha Jajnyire Tasmaat Tasmaaj-Jaataa Ajaa-Vayah 10
Meaning:
10.1: From Him (i.e. Virat) was born the Horses, and all those animals who has teeth in both jaws,
10.2: From Him (i.e. Virat) was born the Cows, and from Him was born all types of Goats.
यत्पुरुषंव्यदधुःकतिधाव्यकल्पयन् ।
मुखंकिमस्यकौबाहूकाऊरूपादाउच्येते ॥११॥
Yat-Purussam Vya[i-A]dadhuh Katidhaa Vya[i-A]kalpayan
Mukham Kimasya Kau Baahuu Kaa Uuruu Paadaa Ucyete 11
Meaning:
11.1:What did the Purusha (i.e. Virat) hold within Him? How many parts were assigned in His Huge Form?
11.2:What was His Mouth? What was His Arms? What was His Thighs? And what was His Feet?
ब्राह्मणोऽस्यमुखमासीद्बाहूराजन्यःकृतः ।
ऊरूतदस्ययद्वैश्यःपद्भ्यांशूद्रोअजायत ॥१२॥
Braahmanno-Asya Mukham-Aasiid Baahuu Raajanyah Krtah
Uuruu Tad-Asya Yad-Vaishyah Padbhyaam Shuudro Ajaayata 12
Meaning:
12.1: The Brahmanas were His Mouth, the Kshatriyas became His Arms,
12.2: The Vaishyas were His Thighs, and the Shudras were assigned to His Feet.
चन्द्रमामनसोजातश्चक्षोःसूर्योअजायत ।
मुखादिन्द्रश्चाग्निश्चप्राणाद्वायुरजायत ॥१३॥
Candramaa Manaso Jaatash-Cakssoh Suuryo Ajaayata
Mukhaad-Indrash-Ca-Agnish-Ca Praannaad-Vaayur-Ajaayata 13
Meaning:
13.1: The Moon was born from His Mind and the Sun was born from His Eyes,
13.2:Indra and Agni (Fire) were born from His Mouth, and Vayu (Wind) was born from His Breath.
नाभ्याआसीदन्तरिक्षंशीर्ष्णोद्यौःसमवर्तत ।
पद्भ्यांभूमिर्दिशःश्रोत्रात्तथालोकाँअकल्पयन् ॥१४॥
Naabhyaa Aasiid-Antarikssam Shiirssnno Dyauh Samavartata
Padbhyaam Bhuumir-Dishah Shrotraat-Tathaa Lokaa Akalpayan 14
Meaning:
14.1: His Navel became the Antariksha (the intermediate Space between Heaven and Earth), His Head sustained the Heaven,
14.2: From His Feet the Earth (was sustained), and from His Ears the Directions (were sustained); in this manner all the Worlds were regulated by Him.
सप्तास्यासन्परिधयस्त्रिःसप्तसमिधःकृताः ।
देवायद्यज्ञंतन्वानाअबध्नन्पुरुषंपशुम् ॥१५॥
Saptaasya[i-A]asan Paridhayas-Trih Sapta Samidhah Krtaah
Devaa Yadyajnyam Tanvaanaa Abadhnan-Purussam Pashum 15
Meaning:
15.1: By making Seven Enclosures with Three times Seven sacrificial Firewood, ...
15.2: ... the Deva (the Shining One referring to Virat) in that Yagna (Sacrifice of Creation), bound the infinite expanse of the Purusha as (apparently) finite living beings (Pashu).
यज्ञेनयज्ञमयजन्तदेवास्तानिधर्माणिप्रथमान्यासन् ।
तेहनाकंमहिमानःसचन्तयत्रपूर्वेसाध्याःसन्तिदेवाः ॥१६॥
Yajnyena Yajnyam-Ayajanta Devaas-Taani Dharmaanni Prathamaanya[i-A]asan
Te Ha Naakam Mahimaanah Sa-Canta Yatra Puurve Saadhyaah Santi Devaah 16
Meaning:
16.1: The Devas performed the external Yagna by meditating on the real Yagna (i.e. contemplating on the Purusha Who is Shining behind everything); And thus they first obtained the Dharma (based on the Oneness of the Purusha),
16.2: By Meditating on the Greatness of the Chidakasha (Blissful Spiritual Sky behind everyone, which is the essence of the Purusha), during those earlier times, the Spiritual Aspirants became the Shining One themselves.
Note: Place the mouse over each Sanskrit word to get the meaning.
Click here to open the mouseover meanings in a new window.
Translated by greenmesg