PURUSH SUKTAM : The True Description of Whole Universe

Narad Replying to Yudhisthira

The chief element, which is said to be the Great Almighty Purush, is always projecting itself as whole universe.

No Vedic worship or Yajna can be performed without recitation of Purush Sukta. It may require greater understanding the science of cosmos to arrive at the true significance. Here one must remember that the words used in Vedic stanzas are very technical like specific coded words denoting very specific meaning, related to either special branch of science or philosophy or any other particular subject
PURUSH SUKTAM "This Purush is incredibly great. The entire Universe is adjusted in only one quarter of his being and the remaining three quarters are occupied by space."

Harihom sahastraSheershaa purushah Sahstra Aakashah sahastra paat,

Sa bhoomi savatspritvaa tyatishthath dash aangalam.

"The Primordial Purush (Man) has innumerable heads, eyes and feet. He has enveloped the earth from all sides and even after that he has size to spare."

Purush eyved sarvavam yadbhootam yacch bhaavyam,

Utaamrit tvasye shaano yadanney naati rohati.

"Whatever has occurred in the past and whatever will happen in the future is Purush only. He is the master of immortality and prosperity."

Etaa vaansya mahimaato jyaayaan shach purushah,

Paado asya vishwaa bhootaani tripaadasya amritam divi.

"This Purush is incredibly great. The entire Universe is adjusted in only one quarter of his being and the remaining three quarters are occupied by space."

Tripaad udddhrav udayat purushah Paado syeha bhavat punah,

Tato vishwan vyak kraamatsa ashnaa nashney abhi.

"Purush left three fourth of his being for space and with the remaining one fourth of his being he fashioned living and non living things and spread them all around."

Tato virad jaayat viraajo adhi purushah,
Sajaato atyarichyat pashchaad bhoomi matho purah.

"Thereafter, a Universal Being known as Virad which contained innumerable things sprung out of the Primordial Purush. Virad thereafter produced another Purush which also had life. As soon as it came into existence this Purush fashioned himself into Gods, men etc. He then produced the earth and thereafter constructed a body."

Sahstra aakashah sahastra paat,
Sa bhoomi savatspritvaa tyatishthath dash aangalam.

The Primordial Purush (Man) has innumerable heads, eyes and feet. He has enveloped the earth from all sides and even after that he has size to spare.

Purush eyved sarvavam yadbhootam yacch bhaavyam,

Utaamrit tvasye shaano yadanney naati rohati.

"Whatever has occurred in the past and whatever will happen in the future is Purush only. He is the master of immortality and prosperity."

Etaa vaansya mahimaato jyaayaan shach purushah,
Paado asya vishwaa bhootaani tripaadasya amritam divi.

"This Purush is incredibly great. The entire Universe is adjusted in only one quarter of his being and the remaining three quarters are occupied by space."

Tripaad udddhrav udayat purushah Paado syeha bhavat punah,

Tato vishwan vyak kraamatsa ashnaa nashney abhi.

"Purush left three fourth of his being for space and with the remaining one fourth of his being he fashioned living and non living things and spread them all around."

Tato virad jaayat viraajo adhi purushah,
Sajaato atyarichyat pashchaad bhoomi matho purah.

"Thereafter, a Universal Being known as Virad which contained innumerable things sprung out of the Primordial Purush. Virad thereafter produced another Purush which also had life. As soon as it came into existence this Purush fashioned himself into Gods, men etc. He then produced the earth and thereafter constructed a body."

The Primordial Purush (Man) has innumerable heads, eyes and feet.

He has enveloped the earth from all sides and even after that he has size to spare.

Purush eyved sarvavam yadbhootam yacch bhaavyam,

Utaamrit tvasye shaano yadanney naati rohati.

"Whatever has occurred in the past and whatever will happen in the future is Purush only.

He is the master of immortality and prosperity."

Etaa vaansya mahimaato jyaayaan shach purushah,
Paado asya vishwaa bhootaani tripaadasya amritam divi.


Tripaad udddhrav udayat purushah Paado syeha bhavat punah,

Tato vishwan vyak kraamatsa ashnaa nashney abhi.

"Purush left three fourth of his being for space and with the remaining one fourth of his being he fashioned living and non living things and spread them all around."

Tato virad jaayat viraajo adhi purushah,
Sajaato atyarichyat pashchaad bhoomi matho purah.

Thereafter, a Universal Being known as Virad which contained innumerable things sprung out of the Primordial Purush. Virad thereafter produced another Purush which also had life. As soon as it came into existence this Purush fashioned himself into Gods, men etc. He then produced the earth and thereafter constructed a body.

Tasnnaadya gyaat sarva hutah sambhritam prishdaa jyam,
Pashkunstaansh chakkrey vaayvyaa naaranya gramyashcchaye.

This Purush then collected ghee mixed with curds (clarified butter mixed with yogurt) and created the creatures which lived in the forests and in the sky.

Tasmaad yagyaat sarva hutrichah saamaani jagyirey,
Chhandaa asi jagyireyt a smaadya just smaad jaayat.

"Rig and Sama Veda were produced by this Purush.  It was also he who created the Atharva Ved and Yajur Ved."

Tasmaadshva ajaayant yey key chobhyadatah,
Gaavo ha jagyirey tasmaattsmaaja jaataa ajaavyah.

"This Purush created horses, assess, creatures with teeth on the upper and lower jaws, cows and goats and sheep."

Tam yagyam baharishi praukshann purusham jaatam gratah.
Teyn devaa ajaayant saadhya rishyash cha yey.

The Devas then worshipped this Purush who was created before creation of the Universe.  Thereafter the Devas, the Prajapatis and the sages completed the Yagya.

Yatpurusham vyad dhuh kati dhaa vyakalpayan,
Mukham kimsyaseetkim baahu kimru paadaa uchyetey.

When the Virad Purush was motivated to appear in person by the prayers of the Devas, into how many parts was he divided ; What were his face, arms, legs and feet called;

Brahmano asya kukham aaseed baahu raajanyah kritah,
Uru tadasya yadad vaishyah padbhyam shudro ajaayat.

The Brahmans were born out of the face of this Purush, the kshatriyas were born out of his arm,s from the thighs and legs were born the Vaishyas and the Shudras sprung from his feet.

Chhandramaa manso jaatash chakshoh suryo ajaayat,
Shrotrad vayushcha praanash cha mukhaad agnir jaayat.

The moon was born out of his mind, the sun was born out of his ears and fire was born out of his mouth.

Nabyaa aaseedantariksha shirshno dyoh samvartat,
Padbhyaam bhumirddishah shrotraa tatha lokan ankalpayan.

From his navel was created space, from his head was created heaven , from his feet was created the earth and from his ears the four directions and the various worlds.

Yatpurusheyn havisha deva yagyam tanvat,
Vasanto asyasi daajyam greeshma idhmah sharad dhvih.

After the Devas were blessed with divine bodies they performed a Yagya with the materials that were fashioned out of the being of Purush .  At that time spring season acted as the ghee for the yagya, summer season acted as the fuel for the yagya and winter  season acted as the mixture that is put as “Homa” in the Yagya.

Saptaasyaasan paridhyistrah sapt smidhah kritaah,
Devaa yadya gyantanavaanaa abaghnan purusham pashum.

When the Devas were performing this yagya with their minds in which they had transformed Purush into animal form, the yagya had seven “Paridhis” and twenty one “Samidhas”.  The seven Paridhis included Mantras like the Gayatri and the twenty one Samidhas included the twelve months, five seasons, three worlds and the sun.

Yagyeyn yagyam yajant devaastaani dharmaani prathmaa nyaasan,
The naakam mahimaanah sachant yatra poorvey saad dhyaaah santi devaah.

"The Devas worshippedthe Purush with the Yagya.  It was this Purush who was the first Dharma.  The worshippers (Devas), therefore, attained “Swarg” or heaven.  It is in this heaven that Brahma who is an expert in fashioning the Universe lives along with the other Devtas."