मनन Manana · ReflectStep 13 of /18
Puruṣa Sūkta · Ṛgveda 10.90.12
Verse 12Mouth, arms, thighs and feet
ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः ।
ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥
brāhmaṇo 'sya mukham āsīd bāhū rājanyaḥ kṛtaḥ |
ūrū tad asya yad vaiśyaḥ padbhyāṃ śūdro ajāyata ||
Meaning
His mouth became the brāhmaṇa, the priest. His arms were made into the rājanya, the warrior. His thighs became the vaiśya, the farmer and trader. And from his feet the śūdra, the worker, was born.
Word by word
Words joined in recitation are shown split. Where sounds change at the joins, the dictionary form is given under the word.
Reflection
This verse names four groups of people. Priests and teachers, from the mouth, because they speak the sacred words. Rulers and warriors, from the arms, because they protect. Farmers and traders, from the thighs, which hold the body up. Workers, from the feet, which carry it. Later, these four became known as the varṇas, the classes of Indian society. Over the centuries this verse was used to claim that people are born higher or lower, and that caused deep suffering. Many, from the Buddha to Dr. Ambedkar, fought against that idea. But listen again to what the verse actually pictures: one body. A body needs its feet as much as its mouth. And every part is the same Puruṣa.
Your reflection
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