मनन Manana · ReflectStep 10 of /18
Puruṣa Sūkta · Ṛgveda 10.90.9
Verse 9The Vedas are born
तस्माद्यज्ञात्सर्वहुत ऋचः सामानि जज्ञिरे ।
छन्दांसि जज्ञिरे तस्माद्यजुस्तस्मादजायत ॥
tasmād yajñāt sarvahuta ṛcaḥ sāmāni jajñire |
chandāṃsi jajñire tasmād yajus tasmād ajāyata ||
Meaning
From that sacrifice, where everything was given, the sacred verses and the songs were born. The sacred meters were born from it. And the words of the ritual were born from it too.
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
Here is a surprise. Alongside the animals, something else is born from Puruṣa: words. Sacred verses. Songs. The sacred meters. The words spoken at the fire. These are what make up the Vedas, India's oldest holy books. In other words, the hymn you are listening to right now is describing its own birth! For the rishis, sacred words were not something people made up. They were part of the world from the very beginning, as real as the sun or the cattle. Rhythm and meaning were built into the universe itself.
Your reflection
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The audio plays the chant, the meaning, then the reflection. Tap a word for its meaning. Space plays and pauses.