Suktam · Purusha/Narayana

Purusha Suktam पुरुषसूक्तम्

Rigveda 10.90 Sanskrit 16 verses 7 min

Purusha Suktam lyrics in Sanskrit & English, with meaning

  1. Rik 1#

    सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्।
    स भूमिं विश्वतो वृत्वात्यतिष्ठद्दशाङ्गुलम्।।

    Sahasra-śīrṣā Puruṣaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ sahasra-pāt.
    Sa bhūmiṁ viśvato vṛtvāty-atiṣṭhad-daśāṅgulam.

    विराट पुरुष के हजारों सिर, हजारों आँखें और हजारों पैर हैं। उन्होंने पृथ्वी को चारों ओर से घेर रखा है और वे उससे भी दस अंगुल आगे स्थित हैं।

    The Cosmic Purusha has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet. He encompassed the earth on all sides and stood ten fingers beyond.

  2. Rik 2#

    पुरुष एवेदं सर्वं यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम्।
    उतामृतत्वस्येशानो यदन्नेनातिरोहति।।

    Puruṣa evedaṁ sarvaṁ yad-bhūtaṁ yach-cha bhavyam.
    Utāmṛtatva-syeśāno yad-annenātirohati.

    जो कुछ हो चुका है और जो आगे होगा, वह सब यह पुरुष ही है। वे अमरता के स्वामी हैं और अन्न से बढ़ने वाले इस जगत से परे हैं।

    The Purusha alone is all this — whatever has been and whatever is to be. He is the Lord of immortality and transcends what grows by food.

  3. Rik 3#

    एतावानस्य महिमातो ज्यायाँश्च पूरुषः।
    पादोऽस्य विश्वा भूतानि त्रिपादस्यामृतं दिवि।।

    Etāvān-asya mahimāto jyāyāṁś-cha Pūruṣaḥ.
    Pādo'sya viśvā bhūtāni tri-pād-asyāmṛtaṁ divi.

    यह सब उनकी महिमा है, पर पुरुष इससे भी कहीं बड़े हैं। सारे प्राणी उनका एक चौथाई भाग हैं और उनके तीन भाग स्वर्ग में अमर रूप में स्थित हैं।

    Such is His greatness — and even greater than this is the Purusha. One quarter of Him is all beings; three-quarters is the immortal in heaven.

  4. Rik 4#

    त्रिपादूर्ध्व उदैत्पुरुषः पादोऽस्येहाभवत्पुनः।
    ततो विष्वङ्व्यक्रामत्साशनानशने अभि।।

    Tri-pād-ūrdhva udait-Puruṣaḥ pādo'syehābhavat-punaḥ.
    Tato viṣvaṅ-vyakrāmat-sāśanānaśane abhi.

    पुरुष अपने तीन भागों के साथ ऊपर उठ गए और उनका एक भाग यहीं रहा। उसी से वे खाने वाले और न खाने वाले, यानी चेतन और जड़, सब में चारों ओर फैल गए।

    With three-quarters above, the Purusha rose aloft; one quarter remained here. From that He spread out in all directions over the eating and the non-eating.

  5. Rik 5#

    तस्माद्विराळजायत विराजो अधि पूरुषः।
    स जातो अत्यरिच्यत पश्चाद्भूमिमथो पुरः।।

    Tasmād-virāḻ-ajāyata virājo adhi Pūruṣaḥ.
    Sa jāto atyarichyata paśchād-bhūmim-atho puraḥ.

    उनसे विराट उत्पन्न हुआ और विराट से पुरुष प्रकट हुए। प्रकट होकर वे पृथ्वी के आगे और पीछे, सब ओर फैल गए।

    From Him was born Viraj; from Viraj was the Purusha born. Being born, He extended beyond the earth, both behind and in front.

  6. Rik 6#

    यत्पुरुषेण हविषा देवा यज्ञमतन्वत।
    वसन्तो अस्यासीदाज्यं ग्रीष्म इध्मः शरद्धविः।।

    Yat-Puruṣeṇa haviṣā devā yajñam-atanvata.
    Vasanto asyāsīd-ājyaṁ grīṣma idhmaḥ śarad-dhaviḥ.

    जब देवताओं ने पुरुष को आहुति बनाकर यज्ञ किया, तब वसंत ऋतु उसका घी बनी, ग्रीष्म ऋतु ईंधन बनी और शरद ऋतु हवि बनी।

    When the gods performed a sacrifice with Purusha as the oblation — Spring was its ghee, Summer its fuel, Autumn its offering.

  7. Rik 7#

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

    Taṁ yajñaṁ barhiṣi praukṣan Puruṣaṁ jātam-agrataḥ.
    Tena devā ayajanta sādhyā ṛṣayaś-cha ye.

    सबसे पहले प्रकट हुए उस पुरुष को यज्ञ मानकर उन्होंने पवित्र कुशा पर अभिषेक किया। उन्हीं से देवताओं, साध्यों और ऋषियों ने यज्ञ किया।

    They sprinkled upon the sacred grass that Purusha, born in the beginning, as the sacrifice. With Him the gods performed the yajna, as did the Sadhyas and the sages.

  8. Rik 8#

    तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुतः सम्भृतं पृषदाज्यम्।
    पशून्ताँश्चक्रे वायव्यानारण्यान् ग्राम्याश्च ये।।

    Tasmād-yajñāt-sarva-hutaḥ sambhṛtaṁ pṛṣad-ājyam.
    Paśūntāṁś-chakre vāyavyān-āraṇyān grāmyāś-cha ye.

    उस सर्वहुत यज्ञ से दही मिला घी एकत्र हुआ। उससे आकाश में उड़ने वाले, वन में रहने वाले और गाँव में रहने वाले पशु बनाए गए।

    From that all-complete sacrifice, the sprinkled butter was collected. He created the aerial beasts and those of the forest and village.

  9. Rik 9#

    तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुत ऋचः सामानि जज्ञिरे।
    छन्दांसि जज्ञिरे तस्माद्यजुस्तस्मादजायत।।

    Tasmād-yajñāt-sarva-huta ṛchaḥ sāmāni jajñire.
    Chhandāṁsi jajñire tasmād-yajus-tasmād-ajāyata.

    उस सर्वहुत यज्ञ से ऋग्वेद की ऋचाएँ और सामवेद के गान उत्पन्न हुए। उसी से छंद उत्पन्न हुए और उसी से यजुर्वेद प्रकट हुआ।

    From that all-complete sacrifice, the Rig and Sama verses were born. The meters were born from it; from it the Yajur was born.

  10. Rik 10#

    तस्मादश्वा अजायन्त ये के चोभयादतः।
    गावो ह जज्ञिरे तस्मात्तस्माज्जाता अजावयः।।

    Tasmād-aśvā ajāyanta ye ke chobhayādataḥ.
    Gāvo ha jajñire tasmāt-tasmāj-jātā ajāvayaḥ.

    उसी से घोड़े उत्पन्न हुए और वे सब प्राणी भी जिनके दोनों ओर दाँत होते हैं। उसी से गायें उत्पन्न हुईं और उसी से बकरियाँ और भेड़ें भी पैदा हुईं।

    From it horses were born, and all creatures with two rows of teeth. Cows were born from it, and from it were born goats and sheep.

  11. Rik 11#

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

    Yat-Puruṣaṁ vyadadhuḥ katidhā vyakalpayan.
    Mukhaṁ kim-asya kau bāhū kā ūrū pādā uchyete.

    जब देवताओं ने पुरुष का विभाजन किया, तो उन्हें कितने भागों में बाँटा। उनका मुख क्या था, भुजाएँ क्या थीं, और जंघाएँ और पैर किसे कहा गया।

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

  12. Rik 12#

    ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः।
    ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत।।

    Brāhmaṇo'sya mukham-āsīd-bāhū rājanyaḥ kṛtaḥ.
    Ūrū tad-asya yad-vaiśyaḥ padbhyāṁ Śūdro ajāyata.

    ब्राह्मण उनका मुख बने, क्षत्रिय उनकी भुजाएँ बनाए गए। उनकी जंघाएँ वैश्य बनीं और उनके पैरों से शूद्र उत्पन्न हुए।

    The Brahmana was His mouth; His arms were made the Rajanya (Kshatriya); His thighs became the Vaishya; from His feet the Shudra was born.

  13. Rik 13#

    चन्द्रमा मनसो जातश्चक्षोः सूर्यो अजायत।
    मुखादिन्द्रश्चाग्निश्च प्राणाद्वायुरजायत।।

    Chandramā manaso jātaś-chakṣoḥ Sūryo ajāyata.
    Mukhād-Indraś-chāgniś-cha prāṇād-Vāyur-ajāyata.

    उनके मन से चंद्रमा उत्पन्न हुआ और आँखों से सूर्य। उनके मुख से इंद्र और अग्नि उत्पन्न हुए और प्राणों से वायु का जन्म हुआ।

    The Moon was born from His mind; the Sun was born from His eye. From His mouth were born Indra and Agni; from His breath, Vayu was born.

  14. Rik 14#

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

    Nābhyā āsīd-antarikṣaṁ śīrṣṇo dyauḥ samavartata.
    Padbhyāṁ bhūmir-diśaḥ śrotrāt-tathā lokāṁ akalpayan.

    उनकी नाभि से अंतरिक्ष बना, सिर से स्वर्ग प्रकट हुआ। पैरों से पृथ्वी और कानों से दिशाएँ बनीं, इस प्रकार सारे लोकों की रचना हुई।

    From His navel came the mid-air; from His head, heaven came into being; from His feet, the earth; from His ear, the directions — thus they fashioned the worlds.

  15. Rik 15#

    सप्तास्यासन्परिधयस्त्रिः सप्त समिधः कृताः।
    देवा यद्यज्ञं तन्वाना अबध्नन्पुरुषं पशुम्।।

    Saptāsyāsan-paridhayas-triḥ sapta samidhaḥ kṛtāḥ.
    Devā yad-yajñaṁ tanvānā abadhnan-Puruṣaṁ paśum.

    इस यज्ञ की सात परिधियाँ थीं और इक्कीस समिधाएँ बनाई गईं। यह तब हुआ जब देवताओं ने यज्ञ करते हुए पुरुष को यज्ञ के पशु के रूप में बाँधा।

    Seven were its enclosures; thrice seven were the sacrificial fuel-sticks. When the gods, performing the sacrifice, bound the Purusha as the sacrificial victim.

  16. Rik 16#

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

    Yajñena yajñam-ayajanta devās-tāni dharmāṇi prathamāny-āsan.
    Te ha nākaṁ mahimānaḥ sachanta yatra pūrve Sādhyāḥ santi devāḥ.

    देवताओं ने यज्ञ के द्वारा यज्ञ रूपी पुरुष की ही आराधना की, और यही सबसे पहले धर्म बने। वे महान देवता उस स्वर्ग को प्राप्त हुए, जहाँ प्राचीन साध्य देवता निवास करते हैं।

    With sacrifice the gods sacrificed to the Sacrifice — these were the first dharmas. These great ones reached the heaven, where the ancient Sadhyas, the gods, dwell.

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What Purusha Suktam means

The Purusha Suktam (Rigveda 10.90) describes the cosmic Person, Purusha, with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet, who pervades the universe and extends beyond it. From a great cosmic sacrifice of the Purusha come the seasons, the Vedas, the animals, the sun, the moon and the worlds — a vision of all creation as one sacred whole.

Its verse on the four varnas arising from the Purusha has been much discussed: traditional readers take it as describing the unity of society's functions in one body; critics see in it an early justification of caste.

How to chant Purusha Suktam

  • WhenVishnu and Narayana worship, abhishek, homa, Satyanarayan puja, sanskaras
  • TimeAbout 6 minutes
  • Often withNarayan Suktam, Vishnu Sahasranama
  1. Learn the svara. As a Vedic hymn it is chanted with accents; learn from a teacher or recording if you can.
  2. Recite with an offering. In the sixteen-step puja (shodashopachara), one verse is often recited with each offering.
  3. Close with shanti. End with "Om shantih shantih shantih".

In temples it accompanies the abhishek of Vishnu.

Where Purusha Suktam comes from

The Purusha Suktam is hymn 90 of the tenth mandala of the Rigveda, one of the later hymns of the collection; versions also appear in the Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. It is among the most recited Vedic hymns.

About Purusha Suktam

Rigvedic hymn describing the cosmic Purusha from whom all creation arises. It comes from the Rigveda 10.90, Vedic. The text is in Sanskrit.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote Purusha Suktam?

Purusha Suktam comes from the Rigveda 10.90 (Vedic).

Where can I read Purusha Suktam lyrics in English?

This page has the full Purusha Suktam in Sanskrit (Devanagari) with the English transliteration under every verse, and the meaning of each verse in Hindi and English. Use the Chant and Meaning buttons above the verses to show only what you need.

पुरुषसूक्तम् का अर्थ क्या है?

इस पेज पर पुरुषसूक्तम् के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।

How many verses are there in Purusha Suktam?

Purusha Suktam has 16 verses as given on this page.

In which language is Purusha Suktam?

Purusha Suktam is in Sanskrit. This page gives the original text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and meaning in Hindi and English.

How long does it take to recite Purusha Suktam?

A full recitation takes about 7 min.

To whom is Purusha Suktam dedicated?

Purusha Suktam is dedicated to Purusha/Narayana. Rigvedic hymn describing the cosmic Purusha from whom all creation arises.

Where is the Purusha Suktam found?

Rigveda 10.90, with versions in the Shukla Yajurveda (Vajasaneyi Samhita 31) and Atharvaveda.

Why is it used in worship?

It praises the Supreme as the cosmic Person in whom all creation is one; in puja, its sixteen verses match the sixteen offerings.

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