Puruṣa Sūkta — Opening Verses (Rigveda 10.90)
Sahasra-sheersha Purushah sahasraakshas sahasra-paat
Sa bhoomim vishvato vritvaaty-atishthaad dasha-angulam
Purusha evedam sarvam yad bhootam yach cha bhavyam
Utaamritatvasye shaano yad annenaa-tirohati
Etaavaan asya mahimaato jyaayaamsh cha Purushah
Paado asya vishvaa bhootaani tri-paadasyaamritam divi
सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्।
स भूमिं विश्वतो वृत्वात्यतिष्ठद्दशाङ्गुलम्॥
पुरुष एवेदं सर्वं यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम्।
उतामृतत्वस्येशानो यदन्नेनातिरोहति॥
एतावानस्य महिमातो ज्यायाँश्च पूरुषः।
पादोऽस्य विश्वा भूतानि त्रिपादस्यामृतं दिवि॥
The Purusha (cosmic being) has a thousand heads, thousand eyes, and thousand feet. He pervades the entire earth and extends ten fingers beyond it. This Purusha is indeed all this — what was and what will be. He is the lord of immortality, who grows through food (creation). Such is the measure of his greatness; and yet the Purusha is greater than this. One fourth of him is all beings; three fourths of him is immortality in heaven.
sahasra = thousand; śīrṣā = heads; akṣa = eyes; pāt = feet; bhūmiṃ = earth; viśvataḥ = in all directions; vṛtvā = covering; daśāṅgulam = ten finger-breadths (transcending); amṛtatvam = immortality; pāda = one fourth; tri-pāda = three fourths.
During Vishnu puja, major yajnas, Satyanarayan puja, temple festivals.
Best Time: Morning; during Vishnu puja or major yajnas
Rigveda 10.90; also appears in Atharva Veda, Yajurveda, Sama Veda
Pronunciation aid only — not a certified Vedic recitation.