yatpuruṣaṃ vyadadhuḥ katidhā vyakalpayan | mukhaṃ kimasya kau bāhū kā ūrū pādā ucyete ||
“When they divided Purusha, into how many parts did they arrange him? What became of his mouth? What of his arms? What are his thighs and feet called?”
What This Means:
The hymn now asks: how was Purusha divided? What came from his mouth, arms, thighs, and feet? This sets up the explanation of how different aspects of society emerged from different parts of the cosmic person.
Going Deeper:
This is a rhetorical question — the seer asks so he can answer. The division of Purusha into body parts will correspond to cosmic and social functions. Note that this is cosmic symbolism, not a prescription for social hierarchy.
How To Apply This:
Every part of a body has a function, and all are needed. In any group or society, different roles exist — all are expressions of the one whole. Value all functions, including your own.
Key Sanskrit Terms: