The Purusha Suktam in praise of Narayana or Lord Vishnu is one of the Pancha Sooktams of the Vedic tradition. It is a hymn from the 10th part (mandala) of the Rigveda, dedicated to Purusha, the “cosmic man”. The hymn is found in all the four Vedas.
One version of the suktam has 16 verses, 15 in the anustubh meter, and the final one in the tristubh meter. In addition, another version of the hymn consists of 24 verses with the first 18 mantras designated as the Purva-narayana and the later portion called as the Uttara-narayana probably in honor of Rishi Narayana.
Some experts state that some verses of this hymn are later interpolations to the Rigveda.
This Sanskrit hymn gives a description of the spiritual unity of the entire universe. It presents the nature of the cosmic being or Purusha as both immanent in the manifested world and yet transcendent to it.
From this cosmic being, the sukta holds the original creative will (identified with Hiranyagarbha, Viswakarma or Prajapati) proceeds which cause the projection of the universe in time and space.
This powerful hymn, in the 7th verse, hints at the organic connectedness of the different classes of society.
Purusha Suktam lyrics and translation in English:
Stotram 1 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Sahasra-Shiirssaa Purussah Sahasra-Akssah Sahasra-Paat
Sa Bhuumim Vishvato Vrtva-Atya[i]-Tisstthad-Dasha-Angulam
Translation in English:
The Purusha has Thousand Heads, Thousand Eyes and Thousand Feet (Thousand means innumerable which points to the omnipresence of the Universal Being),
He surrounds the World from all sides (i.e. He pervades each part of the Creation), and extends beyond in the Ten Directions (represented by 10 Fingers).
Stotram 2 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Purussa Evedam Sarvam Yad-Bhuutam Yacca Bhavyam
Uta-Amrtatvasye[a-I]shaano Yad-Annena-Ati-Rohati
Translation in English:
The Purusha is indeed All this in essence; That which existed in the Past, and that which will exist in the Future,
Everything is woven by the Immortal essence of the Great Lord; by becoming Food of which one transcends the gross world (and becomes Immortal).
Stotram 3 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Etaavaanasya Mahima-Ato Jyaayaash-Ca Puurussah
Paado-Asya Vishvaa Bhuutaani Tri-Paad-Asya-Amrtam Divi
Translation in English:
The Purusha is Greater than all the Greatness,
His One Foot has become all these Worlds, and His Three Feet rests in the Immortal World of the Transcendence.
Stotram 4 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Tri-Paad-Uurdhva Udait-Puurussah Paado-Asye[a-I]ha-Abhavat-Punah
Tato Vissvang Vya[i-A]kraamat-Saashana-Anashane Abhi
Translation in English:
The Three Feet of the Purusha is raised high Above, and His One Foot becomes the Creation again and again.
There, in the Creation, He pervades all the Living and the Non-Living beings.
Stotram 5 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Tasmaad-Viraadda-Jaayata Viraajo Adhi Puurussah
Sa Jaato Atya[i-A]ricyata Pashcaad-Bhuumim-Atho Purah
Translation in English:
From Him was born the Virat; from the presence of the Shining Purusha;
He created the Earth, by manifesting Her from His own being as substratum.
Stotram 6 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Yat-Purussenna Havissaa Devaa Yajnyam-Atanvata
Vasanto Asya-Asiida-Ajyam Griissma Idhmah Sharad-[d]Havih
Translation in English:
With the Purusha as the Fire, the Deva continued the Yagya,
Spring was the clarified Butter, Summer was the Fuel, and Autumn was the Havis.
Stotram 7 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Tam Yajnyam Barhissi Pra-Ukssan-Purussam Jaatam-Agratah
Tena Devaa Ayajanta Saadhyaa Rssayash-Ca Ye
Translation in English:
The First Divine Men were created as the Holy Water sprinkled with the Kusa Grass in that Yagya.
The First Divine Men were the Sadhya Devas and the Rishis, Who were created by Him, the Deva, Who performed the Yagya.
Stotram 8 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Tasmaad-Yajnyaat-Sarvahutah Sambhrtam Prssadaajyam
Pashuun-Taashcakre Vaayavyaan-Aarannyaan Graamyaash-Ca Ye
Translation in English:
From the Complete Offering of His Yagya was obtained Ghee mixed with coagulated Milk,
which are Animals, both of Air and of Forests and Villages.
Stotram 9 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Tasmaad-Yajnyaat-Sarvahuta Rcah Saamaani Jajnyire
Chandaamsi Jajnyire Tasmaad-Yajus-Tasmaad-Ajaayata
Translation in English:
From the Complete Offering of His Yagya was born the Rig Veda and Sama Veda,
The Chandas were born from Him, and the Yajur Veda was born from Him.
Stotram 10 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Tasmaad-Ashvaa Ajaayanta Ye Ke Co[a-U]bhayaadatah
Gaavoh Ha Jajnyire Tasmaat Tasmaaj-Jaataa Ajaa-Vayah
Translation in English:
From Him was born the Horses and all those animals who has teeth in both jaws,
From Him was born the Cows, and from Him was born all types of Goats.
Stotram 11 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Yat-Purussam Vya[i-A]dadhuh Katidhaa Vya[i-A]kalpayan
Mukham Kimasya Kau Baahuu Kaa Uuruu Paadaa Ucyete
Translation in English:
What did the Purusha hold within Him? How many parts were assigned in His Huge Form?
What was His Mouth? What was His Arms? What was His Thighs? And what was His Feet?
Stotram 12 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Braahmanno-Asya Mukham-Aasiid Baahuu Raajanyah Krtah
Uuruu Tad-Asya Yad-Vaishyah Padbhyaam Shuudro Ajaayata
Translation in English:
The Brahmanas were His Mouth, the Kshatriyas became His Arms,
The Vaishyas were His Thighs, and from His pair of Feet were born the Shudras.
Stotram 13 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Candramaa Manaso Jaatash-Cakssoh Suuryo Ajaayata
Mukhaad-Indrash-Ca-Agnish-Ca Praannaad-Vaayur-Ajaayata
Translation in English:
The Moon was born from His Mind and the Sun was born from His Eyes,
Indra and Agni were born from His Mouth, and Vayu was born from His Breath.
Stotram 14 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Naabhyaa Aasiid-Antarikssam Shiirssnno Dyauh Samavartata
Padbhyaam Bhuumir-Dishah Shrotraat-Tathaa Lokaa Akalpayan
Translation in English:
His Navel became the Antariksha (the intermediate Space between Earth and Heaven), His Head sustained the Heaven,
From His Feet the Earth, and from His Ears the Directions; in this manner, all the Worlds were regulated by Him.
Stotram 15 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Saptaasya[i-A]asan Paridhayas-Trih Sapta Samidhah Krtaah
Devaa Yadyajnyam Tanvaanaa Abadhnan-Purussam Pashum
Translation in English:
By making Seven Enclosures with Three times Seven sacrificial Firewood,
the Deva in that Yagya, bound the infinite expanse of the Purusha as finite living beings.
Stotram 16 lyrics in Sanskrit:
Yajnyena Yajnyam-Ayajanta Devaas-Taani Dharmaanni Prathamaanya[i-A]asan
Te Ha Naakam Mahimaanah Sa-Canta Yatra Puurve Saadhyaah Santi Devaah
Translation in English:
The Devas performed the external Yagya by meditating on the real Yagya; And thus they first obtained the Dharma,
By Meditating on the Greatness of the Chidakasha, during those earlier times, the Spiritual Aspirants became the Shining One themselves.
Listen to more sacred hymns on insightstate, like: Durga Chalisa.
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