pué;sU´m [Purusha Suktam]

Introduction
The word ‘Purusha’ means God Almighty. This Suktam is in praise of the
glory of God. It is chanted in houses, places of worship during rituals and
ceremonies. Reciting this confers blessings on one’s life. This mantra is chanted
by Rishis before performing Yagna so that there are no obstacles or intermissions
during the Yagna
` tCD</ yaerav&[
? Imhe, ga/tu< y/}ay?,
tacchaàÞ yorävå×ëémahe | gäÞtuà yaÞjïäya× |
We pray to the one who grants goodness. The Yagna should be completed
auspiciously
ga/tu< y/}p?tye,
gäÞtuà yaÞjïapa×taye |
We pray to the One, for whom the Yagna is performed
dEivš Sv/iStr?Stu n>,
daivi÷ svaÞstira×stu naù |
Let the angels do good to us
Sv/iStmaRn;
u? _e y>,

svaÞstirmänu×ñebhyaù |

Let goodness prevail among all human beings

^/Xv¡ ij?gatu Ée;j

/ m!,

üÞrdhvaà ji×gätu bheñaÞjam |

Let all the animals be in peace

z< nae? AStu iÖ/pde,

š z< ctu:? pde,

çaà no× astu dviÞpade÷ | çaà catu×ñpade |

. Let the trees, flora and fauna nurture well.

` zaiNt/> zaiNt/> zaiNt?>.

om çäntiÞù çäntiÞù çänti×ù ||

May there be peace to the body, mind and the Soul

s/hö?zIrœ;a/ pué;
? >, s/h/öa/]> s/hö?pat!,

saÞhasra×çérñä puru×ñaù | saÞhaÞsräÞkñaù saÞhasra×pät |

The Omnipresent one has countless heads, eyes, and limbs

s ÉUim<? iv/ñtae? v&T/ va ATy?itóÎza¼/lm!.

sa bhümià× viÞçvato× våÞtvä atya×tiñöhaddaçäìÞgulam ||

He stands in all His majesty pervading the entire Universe and extends by 10
inches.

pué;
? @/vd
e g!< svRm,
!š yуt
/ < y½/ ÉVym!,
š

puru×ña eÞvedagà sarvam÷ | yadbhüÞtaà yaccaÞ bhavyam÷

All that is past, present and future is His manifestation

%/tam&t
? T/ vSyeza?n>, ydÚen
? ait/raehi? t.

uÞtämå×taÞtvasyeçä×naù | yadanne×nätiÞroha×ti ||
He is the Emperor of the immortal state because He is beyond the material world
@/tava?nSy mih/ma,

eÞtävä×nasya mahiÞmä |
The entire Universe is a manifestation of His splendor

Atae/ Jyayag!í
<? / pUé;
? >,

atoÞ jyäyägà×çcaÞ püru×ñaù |

But His glory is more effulgent than all this

padae=
š Sy/ ivña? ÉUt
/ ain?,

pädo÷’syaÞ viçvä× bhüÞtäni× | |

One fourth of His entire being is this manifest Universe.

iÇ/pad?Sya/mt
& <? id/iv.

triÞpäda×syäÞmåtaà× diÞvi ||
Three fourths of His splendor is in the realms of immortality

iÇ/paË/XvR %dET/ pué;

? >,

triÞpädüÞrdhva udaiÞtpuru×ñaù |
Three fourths of the Purusha is beyond comprehension

padae=
š Syeh
/ a==É?va/Tpun>? ,

pädo÷’syeÞhä’’bha×väÞtpuna×ù |
The material world is only a fractional part of His glory
 ttae/ iv:v/' Vœ y?³amt!, sa/zn
/ a/nz
/ n
/ e A/iÉ.

tatoÞ viñvaÞìvya×krämat | säÞçaÞnäÞnaÞçaÞne aÞbhi ||

He then entered deep into the world of the sentient (the life) and the insentient(the
lifeless).

tSmašiÖ/rafœj
? ayt,

tasmä÷dviÞräò×jäyata |
From Him (the Virat Purusha) emerged the Cosmos

iv/rajae/ Aix/ pUé;

? >,

viÞräjoÞ adhiÞ püru×ñaù |

Then came Brahman from the Virat Purusha

s ja/tae ATy?irCyt,

sa jäÞto atya×ricyata |
Having emerged, thus He pervaded the entire Universe.

p/íaуim/mwae? pur/ >.

paÞçcädbhümiÞmatho× puÞraù ||
Then He created this Earth and then created bodies for all beings.

yTpué;
? [
e h/iv;aš, dev
/ a y/}mt?Nvt,

yatpuru×ñeëa haÞviñä÷ | deÞvä yaÞjïamata×nvata |

With the Purusha as the offering, the Devas performed a Yagna
v/sN/ tae A?SyasI/daJym!,
š

vaÞsaÞnto a×syäséÞdäjyam÷ |
Spring season was offered as ghee

¢I/:m #/XmZz/rÏ/iv>.

gréÞñma iÞdhmaççaÞraddhaÞviù ||
Summer season was offered as firewood. Autumn season was offered as the holy
food (naivedyam)

s/ÝaSya?sNpir/xy?>,

saÞptäsyä×sanpariÞdhaya×ù |
The five elements, day and night constituted the seven boundaries for the Yagna
kunda (Sacred fire place)

iÇ> s/Ý s/imx?> k«t

/ a>,

triù saÞpta saÞmidha×ù kåÞtäù |

The five senses of perception, the five senses of action, the five circulatory systems,
the mind, intellect, awareness, ego, Dharma and Adharma became the 21
offerings into the sacred fire

dev
/ a y*/}< t?Nva/na>,

deÞvä yadyaÞjïaà ta×nväÞnäù |

Thus the Devas performed the Yagna
Ab?×N/ pué;
? < p/zm
u .
!

aba×dhnaÞnpuru×ñaà paÞçum |
The Purusha became the Sacrificial animal.

t< y/}< b/riœ/ hi;/ àaE]n!,

? pué;
? < ja/tm?¢t
/ >,

taà yaÞjïaà baÞrh

Þ iñiÞ praukñan× | puru×ñaà jäÞtama×graÞtaù
The Devas sprinkled sacred water on the Purusha who was the Sacrificial animal.
and He is the one who appeared first in the creation.

ten? dev
/ a Ay?jNt, sa/Xya \;!y
? ñ/ ye.

tena× deÞvä aya×janta | säÞdhyä åñ×yaçvaÞ ye ||

Thus the Devas, the Sadhyas (who are residents of Vaikunta) (The holy abode of
Lord Vishnu) and the Rishis performed the Yagna with Him.

tSmaš*}
/ aTs?vR/÷t?>, s<Ét
&? < à&;da/Jym!,

tasmä÷dyaÞjïätsa×rvaÞhuta×ù | sambhå×taà pråñadäÞjyam |

From the Yagna appeared ghee mixed with curds

p/zg
U S! tag!í?³e vay/Vyan!,
? Aa/r{/ yaN¢a/Myaí/ ye.

paÞçügmstägmçca×kre väyaÞvyän× | äÞraÞëyängräÞmyäçcaÞ ye

The birds, domestic as well as the wild animals, were created by Purusha.
tSmaš*}
/ aTs?vR/÷t?>, \c/> sama?in ji}re,

tasmä÷dyaÞjïätsa×rvaÞhuta×ù | åcaÞù sämä×ni jajïire |

From the fire that represents the entire world, the Rig and the Sama Vedas
emerged

DNdag!i< s ji}re/ tSmašt,

!

chandägàsi jajïireÞ tasmä÷t |

From the Yagna emerged the different meters (the seven meters are gayatri,
trishtup, brhatee, pankti, ushnuk, anushtup and jagati.)

yjuS/ tSma?djayt.

yajuÞstasmä×dajäyata ||
From the Yagna emerged the Yajur Veda

tSma/dña? AjayNt,

tasmäÞdaçvä× ajäyanta |

From the Yagna emerged horses….

ye ke caeÉ
? y
/ ad?t>, gavae? h ji}re/ tSmašt,
! tSmaš¾a/ta A?ja/vy?>.

ye ke co×bhaÞyäda×taù | gävo× ha jajïireÞ tasmä÷t | tasmä÷jjäÞtä a×jäÞvaya×ù ||

animals with complete two rows of teeth, cows, goats, and sheep

yTpué;
? </ Vy?dxu>,

yatpuru×ñaàÞ vya×dadhuù |
The Purusha was sacrificed

k/it/xa Vy?kLpyn!,

kaÞtiÞdhä vya×kalpayan |
What did the Devas do with the limbs of the Purusha?

muo</ ikm?Sy/ kaE ba/ø,

mukhaàÞ kima×syaÞ kau bäÞhü |

What did the Purusha’s face and shoulders become?

kavUê
/ pada?vCu yet.
e

kaavüÞrü pädä×vucyete ||
What did His thighs and feet become?

äa/ü[
/ ae=
š Sy/ muom
? asIt!,

bräÞhmaÞëo÷’syaÞ mukha×mäsét |
His face became the Bhramana –The learned.

ba/ø ra?jN/ y?> k«t

/ >,

bäÞhü rä×jaÞnya×ù kåÞtaù |

His shoulders became the Kshatriya – the Warrior

^/é td?Sy/ yÖEZy?>,

üÞru tada×syaÞ yadvaiçya×ù |

His thighs became Vysya – the businessman
p/Ñ(ag!< zUÔ
/ ae A?jayt.

paÞdbhyägà çüÞdro a×jäyata ||

The Purusha’s feet became the Shudra - the worker or the servants

c/NÔma/ mn?sae ja/t>,

caÞndramäÞ mana×so jäÞtaù |

The Purusha’s mind became the moon

c]ae>/ sUyaeR? Ajayt,

cakñooÞù süryo× ajäyata |

His eyes became the Sun

muoa/idNÔ?ía/i¶í?,

mukhäÞdindra×çcäÞgniçca× |
From His face came Indra and Agni

àa/[aÖa/yru j
? ayt.

präÞëädväÞyura×jäyata ||
From His breath came the Lord of Wind

na_ya? AasId/Ntir?]m!,

näbhyä× äsédaÞntari×kñam |
From His naval came the space
zI/:[aeXR yaE> sm?vtRt,

çéÞrñëo dhyauù sama×vartata |

From His head came the heaven

p/Ñ(a< ÉUim/idRz>/ ïaeÇašt,

!

paÞdbhyäà bhümiÞrdiçaùÞ çroträ÷t |

From His feet came the Earth and the ten directions from his ears.

twa? laek
/ ag!< A?kLpyn!.

tathä× loÞkägm a×kalpayan ||

Thus the entire world was created

veda/hmet
/ < pué;
? < m/haNtm!,
š

vedäÞhameÞtaà puru×ñaà maÞhäntam÷ |

I know Him who is glorious and ….

Aa/id/Tyv?[¡/ tm?sS/ tupa/r,

e

äÞdiÞtyava×rëaàÞ tama×saÞstupäÞre |

and who has the luster of the Sun. He is beyond ignorance

svaRi? [ ê/pai[? iv/icTy/ xIr?>, nama?in k«T/ va=iÉ/vd/n!/ ydaSte.

š

sarvä×ëi rüÞpäëi× viÞcityaÞ dhéra×ù | nämä×ni kåÞtvä’bhiÞvadaÞnÞ yadäste÷ ||

He is the valorous one who has taken all forms and names.

xa/ta pur/ Sta/*mud

? aj/har?, z/³> àiv/ÖaNà/idz/ít?ö>,

dhäÞtä puÞrastäÞdyamu×däjaÞhära× | çaÞkraù praviÞdvänpraÞdiçaÞçcata×sraù |

The One whom the Creator(Brahma) saw and revealed to Indra ( the King of

gods) and , whom Indra perceived in all four directions…

tmev
/ < iv/Öan/mt
& ? #/h É/vit, naNy> pNwa/ Ay?nay iv*te.

tameÞvaà viÞdvänaÞmåta× iÞha bhaÞvati | nänyaù panthäÞ aya×näya vidyate ||

Knowing whom I become immortal, I know not of any other way than Him.

y/}n
e ? y/}m?yjNt dev
/ a>,

yaÞjïena× yaÞjïama×yajanta deÞväù |

The devas worshipped the Purusha through this Yagna

tain/ xmaRi? [ àw/ma/Nya?sn!,

täniÞ dharmä×ëi prathaÞmäÞnyä×san |

This became the primary duty

te h/ nak?< mih/man?> scNte, yÇ/ pUveR? sa/Xya> siNt? dev

/ a>.

te haÞ näka×à mahiÞmäna×ù sacante | yatraÞ pürve× säÞdhyäù santi× deÞväù ||

The people who follow this Dharma as mentioned above will attain the abode of
the Sadhyas and the Devas
A/Ñ(> s<Ét
U? > p&iw/VyE rsaš½,,

aÞdbhyaù sambhü×taù påthiÞvyai rasä÷cca ||

From the waters and the Earth the entire world appeared

iv/ñk?m[
R >/ sm?vtRt
/ aix?,

viÞçvaka×rmaëaÞù sama×vartaÞtädhi× |
From the Creator of the Universe, Vishwakarma(Brahma) appeared.

tSy/ Tvòa? iv/dx?Ôp

ƒ/ mei? t |

tasyaÞ tvañöä× viÞdadha×drüÞpame×ti

He after creating Brahma, entered the forms created by Him.

tTpué;
? S/y ivñ/maja?nm
/ ¢e.
š

tatpuru×ñasÞya viçvaÞmäjä×naÞmagre÷ |
The design of the entire creation appeared in the beginning of the creation.

veda/hmet
/ < pué;
? < m/haNtm!,
š

vedäÞhameÞtaà puru×ñaà maÞhäntam÷ |

I know that Supreme Person. ..

Aa/id/Tyv?[¡/ tm?s>/ pr?Stat!,

äÞdiÞtyava×rëaàÞ tama×saÞù para×stät |

who has the brilliance of sun and who is beyond ignorance.
tmev
/ < iv/Öan/mt
& ? #/h É?vit,

tameÞvaà viÞdvänaÞmåta× iÞha bha×vati |

Who knows Him thus conquers death in this world.

naNy> pNwa? iv*/t=

e y?nay.

nänyaù panthä× vidyaÞte’ya×näya ||

I know of no other refuge but Him

à/jap?itírit/ gÉeR? A/Nt>,

praÞjäpa×tiçcaratiÞ garbhe× aÞntaù |

The God is in action in the Universe

A/jay?manae b÷/xa ivja?yte,

aÞjäya×mäno bahuÞdhä vijä×yate |

Though he is unborn, he takes many forms.

tS/y xIra/> pir?janiNt/ yaeinm!,

š

tasÞya dhéräÞù pari×jänantiÞ yonim÷ |

Sages know His true form

mrI?cIna< p/dim?CDiNt vex

/ s?>.

maré×cénäà paÞdami×cchanti veÞdhasa×ù ||

Lord Brahma too desires for the position of Marichi

yae dev
/ _e y/ Aat?pit,

yo deÞvebhyaÞ äta×pati |

I salute the one who is the Lord of the Devas.

yae dev
/ ana<š pur/ aeih?t>,

yo deÞvänäà÷ puÞrohi×taù |

He is the priest for all the Devas.

puvaeR/ yae dev

/ _e yae? ja/t>,

purvoÞ yo deÞvebhyo× jäÞtaù |

He is the One who emerged earlier than the Devas

nmae? é/cay/ äaü?y.

e

namo× ruÞcäyaÞ brähma×ye |

He is the brilliant One.
éc<? äa/ü< j/ny?Nt>,

rucaà× bräÞhmaà jaÞnaya×ntaù |

When this knowledge was given to the Devas

dev
/ a A¢e/ td?äv
u n!,

deÞvä agreÞ tada×bruvan |

they said thus:

ySTvEv
/ < äašü[
/ ae iv/*at!,

yastvaiÞvaà brä÷hmaÞëo viÞdyät |

The one who realizes Him.

tSy? dev
/ a As/n! vze.
š

tasya× deÞvä asaÞn vaçe÷ |

God will be pleased with him.

ÿIí? te l/úmIí/ pTNyaE,

š

hréçca× te laÞkñméçcaÞ patnyau÷|

Hri (Goddess of modesty) and Lakshmi ( Goddess of wealth) are your wives.

A/haer/ a/Çe pa/ñ,

eR

aÞhoÞräÞtre päÞrçve |
Day and night are Your sides ( shoulders)

n]?Çai[ ê/pm!,

nakña×träëi rüÞpam |
The stars are Your form

A/iñnaE/ VyaÄm!,
š

aÞçvinauÞ vyättam÷ |
The Ashwini Devas are Your mouth

#/ò< m?in;a[,

iÞñöaà ma×niñäëa |

Grant us our desires, our joys…

A/mu< m?in;a[,sv¡? min;a[a.

aÞmuà ma×niñäëa | sarvaà× maniñäëä

Grant this and everything.

` tCD</ yaerav&[
? Imhe, ga/tu< y/}ay?,
tacchaàÞ yorävå×ëémahe | gäÞtuà yaÞjïäya× |
We pray to the one who grants goodness. The Yagna should be completed

auspiciously
ga/tu< y/}p?tye,

gäÞtuà yaÞjïapa×taye |

We pray to the One, for whom the Yagna is performed

dEivš Sv/iStr?Stu n>,

daivi÷ svaÞstira×stu naù |

Let the angels do good to us

Sv/iStmaRn;
u? _e y>,

svaÞstirmänu×ñebhyaù |

Let goodness prevail among all human beings

^/Xv¡ ij?gatu Ée;j

/ m!,

üÞrdhvaà ji×gätu bheñaÞjam |

Let all the animals be in peace

z< nae? AStu iÖ/pde,

š z< ctu:? pde,

çaà no× astu dviÞpade÷ | çaà catu×ñpade |

. Let the trees, flora and fauna nurture well.
` zaiNt/> zaiNt/> zaiNt?>.

om çäntiÞù çäntiÞù çänti×ù ||

May there be peace to the body, mind and the Soul