Shloka 25
Puruṣa-sūkta Logic of the Virāṭ: Cosmic Anatomy, Sacrifice, and the Lord’s Transcendence
वस्तून्योषधय: स्नेहा रसलोहमृदो जलम् । ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि चातुर्होत्रं च सत्तम ॥ २५ ॥
vastūny oṣadhayaḥ snehā rasa-loha-mṛdo jalam ṛco yajūṁṣi sāmāni cātur-hotraṁ ca sattama
สิ่งจำเป็นอื่น ๆ คือภาชนะ ธัญพืชและสมุนไพร เนยใสและของมันอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ น้ำผึ้งและรสอันหวาน ทองและโลหะ ดิน น้ำ ตลอดจนฤคเวท ยชุรเวท สามเวท และพราหมณ์ผู้ประกอบพิธีสี่ท่านเพื่อทำยัญญะ โอผู้ประเสริฐ
To perform a sacrifice successfully, at least four expert priests are needed: one who can offer ( hotā ), one who can chant ( udgātā ), one who can kindle the sacrificial fire without the aid of separate fire ( adhvaryu ), and one who can supervise ( brahmā ). Such sacrifices were conducted from the birth of Brahmā, the first living creature, and were carried on till the reign of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. But such expert brāhmaṇa priests are very rare in this age of corruption and quarrel, and therefore in the present age only the yajña of chanting the holy name of the Lord is recommended. The scriptures enjoin:
FAQs
This verse states that the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedic hymns arise from the Supreme source (the Lord), indicating the Vedas are divine in origin, not merely human compositions.
He is explaining to King Parīkṣit that both material ingredients (elements and resources) and sacred knowledge/practices (Vedas and yajña functions) emanate from the same Supreme reality, integrating cosmology with dharma.
See nature and sacred wisdom as connected gifts from the Divine—use resources responsibly and approach spiritual study and worship with gratitude, humility, and a sense of sacred purpose.