The Dhaarmik Traditions - Indic Studies Foundation

āhmano.asya mukhamāsīd bāhū rājanyaha kartaha |
ūrūtadasya yad vaiśyaha padbhyāha śūdro ajāyata ||
This verse is usually translated into English as follows
The Brahmana was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made.
His thighs became the Vaisya; from his feet the Sudra was produced.
The verse also occurs in the Yajurveda, 31.11
But, what is this meant to convey. It is actually an answer to the previous verse
which asks the following question
यत पुरुषं वयदधुः कितधा वयकल्पयन |
मुखं िकमःय कौ बाह का ऊरू पादा उच्येते
ू
|| X,90-10
When they divided Purusa how many portions did they make
What do they call his mouth, his arms What do they call his thighs and feet
These verses are from the famous Purusa Suktam , the hymn in praise of the
cosmic Purusa or the cosmic self (Viraat Purusa) and it is an analogy between the
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