मनन Manana · ReflectStep 8 of /18
Puruṣa Sūkta · Ṛgveda 10.90.7
Verse 7Puruṣa on the sacred grass
तं यज्ञं बर्हिषि प्रौक्षन्पुरुषं जातमग्रतः ।
तेन देवा अयजन्त साध्या ऋषयश्च ये ॥
taṃ yajñam barhiṣi praukṣan puruṣaṃ jātam agrataḥ |
tena devā ayajanta sādhyā ṛṣayaś ca ye ||
Meaning
They laid him on the sacred grass and sprinkled him with water, this Puruṣa, born before everything else. With him as the offering, the gods performed the sacrifice, and so did the ancient spirits and the sages.
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Reflection
The gods prepare Puruṣa the way any offering is prepared: laid on a bed of sacred grass, sprinkled with water. Gods, ancient spirits and wise sages all gather around. But here is the twist that makes this hymn so special. Who is being offered? Puruṣa. And what is the world made of? Puruṣa. So the one being given away, and the world that comes out of it, are the same. The universe isn't built from some outside material. It is a gift. Puruṣa gives himself, completely, so that everything else can exist. And as we are about to see, it is a very generous gift.
Your reflection
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