Chapter 3 - Brahmastotra-samgraha: Purusha-sukta

brahmastotrasamgrahah (Brahmastotra-samgraha) rgvedatah (From Rgveda) purusasuktam (r. 10 /90 ) Purusasuktam (Rgveda 10/90) sahasrasirsa purusah sahasraksah sahasrapat | sa bhumim visvato vrtva'tyatisthaddasangulam || 1 || Sahasrasirsa purusah sahasraksah sahasrapat. Sa bhumim visvato vrtva tyatisthaddasangulam.(1) Narayana Rsi describes the abstract form of God in the present sukta as under:One who has thousands of heads, thousands of eyes and who has thousands of feet, such a 'Purusa' is (perfect being) God. Having pervaded the whole earth, he remains ten fingers in surplus (i.e. He is endless). purusa evedam sarvam yad bhutam yacca bhavyam | utamrtatvasyesano yadannenatirohati || 2|| Purusa evedam sarvam yad bhutam yacc'a bhavyam. Utamrtatvasyesano yadannenatirohati (2). Whatever substances there had been in the past and whatever is being seen in the present, and whatever will be there in future, this all is only 'Purusa'. This 'Purusa' is the Lord of immortality (liberation from birth & death). He is also the Lord of those who grow and develop with grains.(2)

(61) . etavanasya mahima'to jyayamsca purusah | pado'sya visva bhutani tripadasyamrtam divi ||3|| Etavanasya mahimato jyayansca purusah. Padosya visva bhutani tripadasyamrtam divi. (3) Such is his greatness and the Purusa is greater than this. Whatever is seen born in the world is equal to one fourth (1/4) of this Purusa. The remaining three-fourth (3/4) exists in heaven (the divyaloka) in an eternal and infinite form. (3) tripadurdhva udait purusah pado'syehabhavat punah | tato visvam vyakramat sasananasane abhi ||4|| Tripadurdhva udait purusah padosyehabhavat punah. Tato visvam vyakramat sasananasane abhi. (4) With three-fourth the Purusa rose upwards but one fourth of the purusa remained here. Hence, he spread on all sides over what eats and what eats not. (4) tasmad viralajayata virajo adhipurusah | sa jato atyaricyata pascad bhumimatho purah ||5|| Tasmad viradajayata virajo adhipurusah. Sa jato atyaricyata pascad bhumimatho purah. (5) Virat was born from him and from Virat the Purusa (in the form of jivatma). After His existence He began to separate himself into various forms of gods, human beings, animals and birds etc. then first of all, he created earth and then the body. (5) yat vasanto purusena havisa deva asyasidajyam grisma idhmah yajnamatanvata | saraddhavih ||6|| yajnamatanvata. Yat purusena havisa deva Vasanto asyasidajyam grisma idhmah saraddhavih. (6)

(62) When gods began to perform a sacrifice (yajna) with the 'Havi' the form of that purusa the spring was ghee, summer its fuel and the autumn its oblation. ( 6 ) tam yajnam barhisi prauksan purusam jatamagratah | tena deva ayajanta sadhya rsayasca ye ||7|| Tam yajnamm barhisi prouksan purusam jatamagratah. Tena deva ayajanta sadhya rsayasca ye. (7) They sprinkled the first born Purusa, as to be sacrificed, on the sacred grass. Therewith the gods, the sadhyas and the seers that are, all sacrificed. (7) tasmad yajnat sarvahutah sambhrtam prsadajyam | pasun tamscakre vayavyanaranyan gramyasca ye || 8 || Tasmad yajnat sarvahutah sambhrtamm prsadajyam. Pasun tanscakre vayavyanaranyan gramyasca ye. (8) From that sarvahut (sacrificed) yajna-ghee mixed with the curd was gathered up. It created the creatures of the air, of the forests and those living in the villages. (8) tasmad yajnat sarvahuta rcah samani jajnire | chandamsi jajnire tasmad yajustasmadajayata || 9 || Tasmad yajnat sarvahuta rcah samani jajnire. Chandanmsi jajnire tasmad yajustasmadajayata. (9) The Rks and Samans emerged from that sarvahut yajn a. Chandas or metres also emerged from the same and Yajus (ritualistic formula) also came into being from the same yajn a. (9) tasmadasva ajayanta ye ke cobhayadatah | gavo ha jajnire tasmat tasmajjata ajavayah || 10 ||

(63) Tasmadasva ajayanta ye ke cobhayadatah. Gavo ha jajnire tasmat tasmajjata ajavayah. (10) From that very yajna horses were born and all those that have two rows of teeth. From it the cows, sheeps and goats came into existence. (10) yat purusam vyadadhuh anferat vyakalpayan | mukham kimasya kau bahu kau uru pada ucyete ||11|| Yat purusam vyadadhuh katidha vyakalpayan. Mukham kimasya kau bahu kau uru pada ucyete. (11) When they divided the Purusa, into how many parts did they make? What was his mouth, what the both arms? What the both thighs and what were said to be his two feet? (11) brahmano'sya mukhamasid bahu rajanyah uru tadasya yadvaisyah padbhyam sudro Brahmano'sya krtah| ajayata || 12 || mukhamasid bahu rajanyah krtah. Uru tadasya yadvaisyah padbhyam sudro ajayata. (12) (In response to these questions it is said) The mouth of that 'Purusa' was Brahmana (the learned one). The two arms (bahu) have become ksatriyas, vaisyas were treated to be his thighs and sudras emerged from his feet. (12) candrama manaso jatascaksoh suryo ajayata | mukhadindrascagnisca pranad vayurajayata || 13|| Candrama manaso jatascaksoh suryo ajayata. Mukhadindrascagnisca pranad vayurajayata. (13) Candrama (The moon) has emerged from his mind, Sun has emerged from his eyes. Indra, Agni emerged from his mouth and Vayu (wind) from the prana (breath). (13)

(64) nabhya asidantariksam asidantariksam sisnom dyauh samavartata | paddhayam bhumirdisah srotrat tatha lokam akalpayan ||14|| Nabhya asidantariksam sirsno dyauh samavartata, Padbhyami bhumirdisah srotrat tatha lokan akalpayan. (14) The Space has emerged from his nabhi (navel). From his head was evolved the sky. The emergence of the earth from his feet and directions from his ears. Thus they made the worlds. (14) saptasyasan paridhayastrih sapta samidhah krtah | deva yadyajnam tanvana abadhnan purusam pasum ||15|| Saptasyasan paridhayastrih sapta samidhah krtah. Deva yadyajnam tanvana abadhnan purusam pasum. ( 15 ) There were seven circumferences of that yajna (sacrifice). twenty one were samidhas (fuel sticks), when the gods performing the sacrifice, bound the purusa as a victim. (15) yajnena yajnamayajanta devastani dharmani prathamanyasan | te ha nakam mahimanah sacanta yatra purve sadhyah santi devah || 16|| Yajnena yajnamayajanta devastani dharmani prathamanyasan, Te ha nakar mahimanah sacanta yatra purve sadhyah santi devah. (16) The gods performed yajna (sacrifice) by sacrifice (of) the victim. These were the first dharmas (rules or ordinances). Those mighty ones attained the heaven where the ancient sadhyas and gods are dwelling. || purusasuktam samaptam || The end of Purusa Sukta.