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Medha Suktam - Mēdhā Sūktam

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I am giving herebelow the meaning of Mēdhā Sūktam in FULL (verse-by-verse and also word by word). Let all, including children, hear this divine song whenever they can. Sairam...

Note
I did this spiritual exercise, which includes even word-by-word meaning of Mēdhā Sūktam, in 2010 and not today (16-April-2020). It has so happened (as destined by the Lord Almighty) that I am hosting it in azhagi.com today. I did this work by extensively researching many pages in the net in 2010. I do not know Sanskrit by myself. So, any mistakes in my work, kindly please bear with the same and let me know the same by email. Actually, as far as I can remember, this is the only Sanskrit divine song, in my whole life time, for which I was divinely destined to make so much effort to gather meanings to such minutest level. It took around 10 days, I think.

You may hear the divine song first - Quite energising


The 5 koshas (sheaths)
Mighty thanks to: http://explorevedanta.com/wp-content/uploads/5-sheaths.jpg for the illusration below.



Mēdhā Sūktam
It is a Vedic Hymn to Medha Devi (Saraswati), the Goddess of Intellect, from the Mahanaryanopanishad (part of Taittiriya Upanishad, which is a part of Yajur Veda). A highly powerful hymn that is known to bestow the devotee who recites it with Medha Sakthi. It is a prayer for one who wants intelligence (ultimately, to attain the supreme wisdom, to realise the SELF).

Mēdhā – Intellection: understanding, retaining and assimilating what is heard/read.
Sūktam – A vedic hymn (lit: “well said”) that invokes either a devataa or Bhagavaan

Note: There seems to be Mēdhā Sūktam in Rig Veda and Atharva Veda also

Full Meaning

1)
May that Om, sound symbol for the Lord Indra in the form of the universe, most exalted of Veda mantras, which has emerged from the Vedas as their essence, bless me with the power of intelligence.

O Lord, may I become endowed with the nectar of wisdom that frees me from mortality.

May my body become strong, healthy and fit.

May my tongue become the sweetest, i.e. always speak what is sweet, not-hurtful, true.

May I listen to the shaastras as often as possible with my ears.

O Omkaara, you cover Brahman like a sheath*; and you are covered by worldly intelligence
(* sheath: i.e. By dwelling on you we can arrive at the nature of Reality, which cannot be accessed directly)

May the shaastra that has been heard by me BE for my protection.

Om Peace Peace Peace

2)
May Medhaa Devi, the power of intellection, who bestows all-knowingness, who brings auspiciousness through clarity, whose mind is pleased — undisturbed by our actions which are righteous — come, blessing us. (Implied Prayer: Please bless me with the knowledge and strength to live a life of dharma)

Being blessed by you, may we, having understood* and having given up all harsh words, speak about Brahman and have children that appreciate the value of a life of dharma.
(* understood = having purushartha nishchaya, knowing the value of knowledge [i.e. connected with moksha], knowing the importance of pramaana, knowing the shastra as pramaana, learning with a right teacher, having shraddha, thereby understanding what Brahman is and remaining in contemplation)

O Goddess, blessed by you one becomes a knower of Brahman, one becomes Brahman, one becomes wealthy.

May such a One as you, O Medhaa Devi, blessed by whom one attains all varieties of wealth, bless us with prosperity (both material and subtle, up to moksha).

May Indra (shakti of the physical body) grant me good stamina and health (for unhindered functioning of the intellect) and may Goddess Sarasvati grant me the power of intellection.

May the twin Ashvins, garlanded with lotuses, bless me with the power of intellection (by giving me good health, on which it depends).

May Sarasvati, fulfiller of all wishes*, bless me with the power of intellection which is that subtle Divine intelligence enjoyed by heavenly damsels and celestial musicians.
(* When, through the power of intellection, all is known, no more desires remain to be attained, i.e. all wishes are fulfilled as it were)
(Svaha is the wife of fire God. We give offerings to her and she gives it to fire, who gives it to devas)

May that Medhaa Devi,
by whom one gains self-knowledge,
who is the intelligence behind all disciplines known to the mind,
who flashes as presence of mind in any situation,
who manifests as the intelligent order behind the functions in all life forms,
who is worth possessing…
come to me,
grow in me,
shower me with knowledge,
bless me with an auspicious beginning to my study of scripture.

3)
May Agni, deity of speech, infuse me with strength and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

May Indra, deity of the power of action, infuse me with virility and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

May Suurya, deity of seeing, who inspires our thoughts, infuse me with brilliance and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

4) Hamsa Gayatri Mantra
May we realise Hamsa that is our own Self. Let us meditate on that ParamaHamsa, the Supreme Self. May Hamsa illumine us.

Om Peace Peace Peace

Verse-by-Verse Meaning

1)
Om yashChandasaamRishabho vishvaruupaHa
That Om, the symbol for the Lord in the form of the universe, which is the most exalted of the Veda mantras.
Chandobhyo’dhyamRitaath-sambabhuuva
(That Om) which has emerged from the Vedas as their essence…
sa mendro medhayaa spRiNotu
May that Om, the Lord Indra, bless me with intelligence.

May that Om, sound symbol for the Lord Indra in the form of the universe, most exalted of Veda mantras, which has emerged from the Vedas as their essence, bless me with the power of intelligence.

amRitasya devadhaaraNo bhuuyaasam
O Lord, may I become endowed with the nectar of wisdom that frees me from mortality.

shariram me vicharShaNam
May my body become strong, healthy and fit.

jihvaa me madhumattamaa
May my tongue become the sweetest, i.e. always speak what is sweet, not-hurtful, true.

karNaabhyaaM bhuurivishruvam
May I listen to the shaastras as often as possible with my ears.

brahmaNaH(:) kosho’asi medhayaa pihitaHa
O Omkaara, you cover Brahman like a sheath*; and you are covered by worldly intelligence
(* sheath: i.e. By dwelling on you we can arrive at the nature of Reality, which cannot be accessed directly.)

shrutaM me gopaaya
May the shaastra that has been heard by me BE for my protection.

Om shaantiH shaantiH shaantiHi
Om Peace Peace Peace


2)
Om medhaa devii
juShamaaNaa na aagaa-dvishvaachii
bhadraa sumanasyamaanaa
May Medhaa Devi, the power of intellection, who bestows all-knowingness, who brings auspiciousness through clarity, whose mind is pleased — undisturbed by our actions which are righteous — come, blessing us. (Implied Prayer: Please bless me with the knowledge and strength to live a life of dharma.)

tvayaa juShTaa nudamaanaa duruktaan
bRihad vadema vidathe suviraaHa
Being blessed by you, may we, having understood* and having given up all harsh words, speak about Brahman and have children that appreciate the value of a life of dharma.
(* understood = having purushartha nishchaya, knowing the value of knowledge [i.e. connected with moksha], knowing the importance of pramaana, knowing the shastra as pramaana, learning with a right teacher, having shraddha, thereby understanding what Brahman is and remaining in contemplation.)

tvayaa juShTa RiShirbhavati devi
tvayaa brahmaa aagatashrii-ruta tvayaa
O Goddess, blessed by you one becomes a knower of Brahman, one becomes Brahman, one becomes wealthy.

tvayaa jushTash chitraM vindate
vasu saa no jushasva draviNona medhe
May such a One as you, O Medhaa Devi, blessed by whom one attains all varieties of wealth, bless us with prosperity (both material and subtle, up to moksha).

medhaaM ma indro dadaatu
medhaam devii sarasvatii
May Indra (shakti of the physical body) grant me good stamina and health (for unhindered functioning of the intellect) and may Goddess Sarasvati grant me the power of intellection.

medhaam me AshvinaavubhaavaadhattaaM pushkarasrajaa
May the twin Ashvins, garlanded with lotuses, bless me with the power of intellection (by giving me good health, on which it depends).

apsaraasu cha yaa
medhaa gandharveShu
cha yan manaHa
That which is enjoyed as the subtle intelligence of heavenly damsels and the intelligence of celestial musicians…
daiviiM medhaa sarasvati
saa maam medhaa surabhi-rjuShataagm
swaaHaaaa
… may Sarasvati, manifest as Surabhi, bless me with the intellection which is that Divine intelligence…

May Sarasvati, fulfiller of all wishes*, bless me with the power of intellection which is that subtle Divine intelligence enjoyed by heavenly damsels and celestial musicians.
(* When, through the power of intellection, all is known, no more desires remain to be attained, i.e. all wishes are fulfilled as it were)
(Svaha is the wife of fire God. We give offerings to her and she gives it to fire, who gives it to devas)

aa maaM medhaa surabhir
vishvaruupaa hiraNyavarNaa
jagatii jagamyaa
Coming to me, (may She) by whom one gains self-knowledge, who manifests as all forms of knowledge, who flashes as presence of mind, who manifests as the intelligence behind the order involved in the functions in all life forms, who is worth possessing, …
uurjasvatii payasaa pinvamaanaa
saa maaM medhaa supratiikaa juShantaam
… gain strength in me, shower me with knowledge, may that Medhaa Devi bless me with an auspicious beginning to the study of scriptures.

May that Medhaa Devi,
by whom one gains self-knowledge,
who is the intelligence behind all disciplines known to the mind,
who flashes as presence of mind in any situation,
who manifests as the intelligent order behind the functions in all life forms,
who is worth possessing…
come to me,
grow in me,
shower me with knowledge,
bless me with an auspicious beginning to my study of scripture.


3) mayi medhaaM mayi prajaaM
mayyagnistejo dadhaatu
May Agni, deity of speech, infuse me with strength and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

mayi medhaaM mayi prajaaM
mayiindra indriyaM dadhaatu
May Indra, deity of the power of action, infuse me with virility and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

mayi medhaaM mayi prajaaM
mayi suuryo bhraajo dadhaatu
May Suurya, deity of seeing, who inspires our thoughts, infuse me with brilliance and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.


4) Hamsa Gayatri Mantra
Om haMsa haMsaaya vidmahe
paramahaMsaaya dhiimahi
tanno haMsaH(:) prachodayaat
May we realise Hamsa that is our own Self. Let us meditate on that ParamaHamsa, the Supreme Self. May Hamsa illumine us.

Om shaantiH shaantiH shaantiHi
Om Peace Peace Peace

Word-by-Word Meaning

1)
Om yashChandasaamRishabho vishvaruupaHa
Om – (pratîka) sound symbol that stands for the Lord (i.e. a (pratîka symbol, one that has no human features like the Siva lingam, unlike Ganesha who has a hands and legs, called a pratîma symbol)
yash – that which (i.e. that Om)
Chandasaam – of the Vedic mantras
Rishabha – is exalted (lit. like a bull, i.e. “that which is the bull among Vedic mantras”)
vishvaruupaHa – in the form of the universe
That Om, the symbol for the Lord in the form of the universe, which is the most exalted of the Veda mantras…

Chandobhyo’dhyamRitaath-sambabhuuva
chandobhya – from the Vedas
adhi – essence (lit. ‘pertaining to’, here to be read with sambabhuuva to carry sense of ‘essence’)
amRitaath – from the timeless
sam-babhuuva – emerged from (with adhi – adhi sam-babhuuva – means “emerged as the essence”)
(That Om) which has emerged from the Vedas as their essence…

sa mendro medhayaa spRiNotu
sa – that
me – me
indra – Indra, Lord, Om
medhayaa – with intelligence/wisdom
spRiNotu – may (he) bless
May that Om, the Lord Indra, bless me with intelligence.

May that Om, sound symbol for the Lord Indra in the form of the universe, most exalted of Veda mantras, which has emerged from the Vedas as their essence, bless me with the power of intelligence.

amRitasya devadhaaraNo bhuuyaasam
amRitasya – of immortality (here to be read in the context of a prayer for wisdom, so means nectar of knowledge that frees me from mortality)
deva – O effulgent Lord (i.e. Om)
dhaaranaa – possessor, holder
bhuuyaasam – may I become
O Lord, may I become endowed with the nectar of wisdom that frees me from mortality.

shariram me vicharShaNam
shariram – body
me – my
vicharShaNam – fit, healthy, strong
(bhuuyaat) – may become (understood, implied)
May my body become strong, healthy and fit

jihvaa me madhumattamaa
jivhaa – tongue
me – my
madhu-mat-tamaa – that which is sweetest (madhu = sweet + mat = that which is sweet + tama = that which is sweetest)
(bhuuyaat) – may become (understood, implied)
May my tongue become the sweetest, i.e. always speak what is sweet, not-hurtful, true.

karNaabhyaaM bhuurivishruvam
karNaabhyaam – with my ears
bhuuri – abundantly, much
vishruvam – may I hear
May I listen to the shaastras as often as possible with my ears.

brahmaNaH(:) kosho’asi medhayaa pihitaHa
brahmaNaH(:) – of Brahman
koshaa – the sheath
asi – you are
medhayaa – worldly intelligence (i.e. limited)
pihitaHa – covered
O Omkaara, you cover Brahman like a sheath*; and you are covered by worldly intelligence
(* sheath: i.e. By dwelling on you we can arrive at the nature of Reality, which cannot be accessed directly.)

shrutaM me gopaaya
shrutaM – what has been heard (i.e. shástra)
me – for me
gopaaya – for protection (i.e. 4th case)
(bhuuyaat) – may become (understood, implied)
May the shaastra that has been heard by me BE for my protection.

Om shaantiH shaantiH shaantiHi
Om Peace Peace Peace


2)
Om medhaa devii
juShamaaNaa na aagaa-dvishvaachii
bhadraa sumanasyamaanaa
Om Medhaa Devii - O goddess (devi) of intellection (Medhaa)
juShamaaNaa** - blessing
na - us (naä)
aagaad - let her come
vishvaachii - all-knowing (i.e. by which alone one becomes all-knowing)
bhadraa – auspicious (i.e. through clarity of thinking, perception, purpose)
sumanasyamaanaa - pleased-minded (i.e. our actions, being dharmic, do not disturb the order)
May Medhaa Devi, the power of intellection, who bestows all-knowingness, who brings auspiciousness through clarity, whose mind is pleased — undisturbed by our actions which are righteous — come, blessing us. (Implied Prayer: Please bless me with the knowledge and strength to live a life of dharma.)
(**maaNaa. creates present participles e.g. aatmanepada verbs, jushate – blesses, jushamaaNaa – is blessing; bhaashate – he speaks, bhaashamaaNaa – he is speaking; ucchate – is spoken, ucchamaaNaa – is being spoken)

tvayaa juShTaa nudamaanaa duruktaan
bRihad vadema vidathe suviraaHa
tvayaa - by you
juShTaa - (we who are) blessed
nudamaanaa - giving up (pushing aside)
duruktaan - unwanted, vile speech (that distracts from living dharma)
bRihad - of Brahman
vadema - may we speak
vidathe - having understood*
suviraaHa - good children (i.e. who understand the value of dharma and are committed to a life of dharma)
Being blessed by you, may we, having understood* and having given up all harsh words, speak about Brahman and have children that appreciate the value of a life of dharma.
(* understood = having purushartha nishchaya, knowing the value of knowledge [i.e. connected with moksha], knowing the importance of pramaana, knowing the shastra as pramaana, learning with a right teacher, having shraddha, thereby understanding what Brahman is and remaining in contemplation.)

tvayaa juShTa RiShirbhavati devi
tvayaa brahmaa aagatashrii-ruta tvayaa
tvayaa - by you
juShTa - (one who is) blessed
RiShir - a rishi (a seer of reality, a knower of Brahman) (rishiä)
bhavati - becomes
devi – O goddess
tvayaa - by you
brahmaa – Brahman (the word “bhavati”- becomes, is understood)
aagatashriir – wealthy (lit. one to whom wealth has come) (aagatashriir) (“bhavati” is understood)
uta - and
tvayaa - by you (rhythmic filler)
O Goddess, blessed by you one becomes a knower of Brahman, one becomes Brahman, one becomes wealthy.

tvayaa jushTash chitraM vindate
vasu saa no jushasva draviNona medhe
tvayaa - by you
jushTash - (one who is) blessed
chitraM - different forms of
vindate - attains
vasu - wealth
saa - such a one (Medhaa Devi)
no - us (naä)
jushasva - may you bless
draviNona - with wealth (= draviNena)
medhe - O power of intellection (voc. of Medhaa)
May such a One as you, O Medhaa Devi, blessed by whom one attains all varieties of wealth, bless us with prosperity (both material and subtle, up to moksha).

medhaaM ma indro dadaatu
medhaam devii sarasvatii
medhaam - intellection
ma - me
indro - by Indra
dadaatu - may he give (bless)
medhaam - intellection
devii - goddess
sarasvatii - Sarasvati (goddess/power of knowledge, intellect, music and wisdom)
May Indra (shakti of the physical body) grant me good stamina and health (for unhindered functioning of the intellect) and may Goddess Sarasvati grant me the power of intellection.

medhaam me AshvinaavubhaavaadhattaaM pushkarasrajaa
medhaam - intellection
me - to me
Ashvinaav (=Ashvinau) – the twin Ashvins, deities of the nostrils, the divine physicians
ubhav (=ubhau) – both
aadhattaaM - infuse/place
pushkarasrajaa - lotus (pushkara) garlanded (srajaa)
May the twin Ashvins, garlanded with lotuses, bless me with the power of intellection (by giving me good health, on which it depends).

apsaraasu cha yaa
medhaa gandharveShu
cha yan manaHa
apsaraasu - heavenly damsels
cha - and
yaa - that which (yad f.) (co-relative of saa in following statement)
medhaa - intellection
gandharveShu - celestial musicians
cha - and
yan - that which (yad n.) (co-relative of saa in the following statement)
manaHa - intellect (the mind – manas – regarded here, generically, as the intellect)
That which is enjoyed as the subtle intelligence of heavenly damsels and the intelligence of celestial musicians…

daiviiM medhaa sarasvati
saa maam medhaa surabhi-rjuShataagm
swaaHaaaa
daiviiM - divine
medhaa - intellection
Sarasvati - Sarasvati (goddess/power of knowledge, intellect, music and wisdom)
saa - that (co-relative of yaa in previous statement)
maam - me
medhaa - power of intellection
Surabhir - celestial wish-fulfilling cow (symbolizing wisdom and self-knowledge)
juShataagm - may bless
… may Sarasvati, manifest as Surabhi, bless me with the intellection which is that Divine intelligence…

May Sarasvati, fulfiller of all wishes*, bless me with the power of intellection which is that subtle Divine intelligence enjoyed by heavenly damsels and celestial musicians.
(* When, through the power of intellection, all is known, no more desires remain to be attained, i.e. all wishes are fulfilled as it were.) (Svaha is the wife of fire God. We give offerings to her and she gives it to fire, who gives it to devas)

aa maaM medhaa surabhir
vishvaruupaa hiraNyavarNaa
jagatii jagamyaa
aa - coming maaM – (to) me
medhaa - intellection
surabhir - lit. wish-fulfilling cow (i.e. Surabhir Medhaa = that Medhaa Devi by which one gets self knowledge)
vishvaruupaa - lit. one who is in the form of the universe (i.e. vishvaruupaa Medhaa = that Medhaa Devi in the form of all disciplines of knowledge that are known to the mind)
hiraNyavarNaa – lit. one of golden complexion (i.e. hiraNyavarNaa Medhaa = that Medhaa Devi in the form of brilliance of intellect which flashes as ‘presence of mind’.)
jagatii - lit. the universe (i.e. jagatii Medhaa = that Medhaa Devi in the form of the intelligence backing the order behind the functions in all life forms)
jagamyaa - lit. accessible (i.e. jagamyaa Medhaa = that Medhaa Devi in the form of the intelligence which is worth gaining)
Coming to me, (may She) by whom one gains self-knowledge, who manifests as all forms of knowledge, who flashes as presence of mind, who manifests as the intelligence behind the order involved in the functions in all life forms, who is worth possessing, …

uurjasvatii payasaa pinvamaanaa
saa maaM medhaa supratiikaa juShantaam
uurjasvatii – lit. powerful (i.e. gain strength in me)
payasaa – lit. with milk of boons (i.e. with knowledge)
pinvamaanaa - showering
saa - she
maam - me
medhaa - intellection
supratiikaa - auspicious beginning (to study of scripture)
juShantaam - may (he/she/it) bless
… gain strength in me, shower me with knowledge, may that Medhaa Devi bless me with an auspicious beginning to the study of scriptures.

May that Medhaa Devi,
by whom one gains self-knowledge,
who is the intelligence behind all disciplines known to the mind,
who flashes as presence of mind in any situation,
who manifests as the intelligent order behind the functions in all life forms,
who is worth possessing…
come to me,
grow in me,
shower me with knowledge,
bless me with an auspicious beginning to my study of scripture.


3)
mayi medhaaM mayi prajaaM
mayyagnistejo dadhaatu
mayi - in me
medhaaM - intellection
mayi - in me
prajaaM - progeny
mayi - in me
agnistejo - the Lord in the form of fire (agni devataa) and strength (tejas)
dadhaatu - place, infuse
May Agni, deity of speech, infuse me with strength and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

mayi medhaaM mayi prajaaM
mayiindra indriyaM dadhaatu
mayi - in me
medhaaM - intellection
mayi - in me
prajaaM - progeny
mayi - in me
indra - Indra
indriyaM - virility
dadhaatu - place, infuse
May Indra, deity of the power of action, infuse me with virility and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

mayi medhaaM mayi prajaaM
mayi suuryo bhraajo dadhaatu
mayi - in me
medhaaM - intellection
mayi - in me
prajaaM - progeny
mayi - in me
suuryo - the sun
bhraajo - brilliance
dadhaatu - place, infuse
May Suurya, deity of seeing, who inspires our thoughts, infuse me with brilliance and intelligence and bless me with good progeny.


4) Hamsa Gayatri Mantra
Om haMsa haMsaaya vidmahe
paramahaMsaaya dhiimahi
tanno haMsaH(:) prachodayaat
hamsa - swan (symbol for SELF)
vidmahe - know (realise)
paramahaMsaa - supreme self
dhiimahi - meditate
tanno - may
prachodayaat - pray to inspire and illumine
May we realise Hamsa that is our own Self. Let us meditate on that ParamaHamsa, the Supreme Self. May Hamsa illumine us.

Om shaantiH shaantiH shaantiHi
Om Peace Peace Peace


Sources used in creating the above translations
Few of the sources I used in 2010 are not available as of today. So, what I have provided hereunder are those which are still existing as of today (16-April-2020)
. Subtitles in the video of https://youtu.be/2zfDU90ZFJ8 (it was a different url in 2010 though)
. http://kirstanucisveranda.blogspot.com/2010/03/medha-suktam.html
. http://www.celextel.org/vedic-hymns/medha-suktam.html
. Hamsa Gayatri - I translated myself by seeing the meanings of individual words and the meaning of the full verse in a few webpages.