Medha Suktam Study Notes
Medha Suktam Study Notes
Medha Suktam Study Notes
Medh Sktam
Medh - Intellection: understanding, retaining and assimilating what is heard/read.
Sktam - A vedic hymn (lit: well said) that invokes either a devat or Bhagavn
We start with a mantra from the Taittiriya Upaniad (I.iv.1) which is a prayer for one who wants
intelligence. The second verse of the mantra goes on to ask for wealth, but as this is sounded with the
Medh sktam, which is concerned with wisdom, we do not include the second verse.
- yZNds|mwo ivp:
Om yachandasm abho vivarupah
Om (pratka) sound symbol that stands for the Lord (i.e. a (pratka symbol, one that has no
human features like the Siva lingam, unlike Ganesha who has a hands and legs, called a pratma symbol)
ya that which (i.e. that Om)
Ndoyoymt|sMbUv
chandobhyodhyamtth-sambabhva
chandobhya from the Vedas
adhi essence (lit. pertaining to, here to be read with sambabva to carry sense of essence)
amtt from the timeless
sam-babhva emerged from (with adhi adhi sam-babhva means emerged as the essence)
(That Om) which has emerged from the Vedas as their essence
zrIr, me ivcwR~m\
aram me vicaraam
aram body
me my
vicaraam fit, healthy, strong
(bhyt) may become (understood, implied)
May my body become strong, healthy and fit
ij|me mum.m|
jivh me madhumattam
jivh tongue
me my
madhu-mat-tam that which is sweetest (madhu = sweet + mat = that which is sweet + tama =
that which is sweetest)
k~|Ry|, Uirivuvm\
karbhym bhriviruvam
karbhym with my ears
bhri abundantly, much
viruvam may I hear
May I listen to the stras as often as possible with my ears.
ut, me gop|y
rutam me gopya
rutam what has been heard (i.e. stra)
me for me
gopya for protection (i.e. 4th case)
(bhyt) may become (understood, implied)
May the stra that has been heard by me be for my protection.
May Medh Dev, 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.)
(**m|n| mn. creates present participles eg. tmanepada verbs, jushate - blesses, jushamn - is blessing;
bhshate - he speaks, bhshamn - he is speaking; ucchate - is spoken, ucchamn - is being spoken)
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 Medh Dev, blessed by whom one attains all varieties of
wealth, bless us with prosperity (both material and subtle, up to moksha).
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May Indra (akti of the physical body) grant me good stamina and health (for
unhindered functioning of the intellect) and may Goddess Sarasvat 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 Sarasvat, 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.)
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adjectives describing
Medha Devi (praise)
knowledge)
adjectives describing
Medha Devi (prayer)
- coming mm - (to) me
medh - intellection
surabhir - lit. wish-fulfilling cow (i.e. Surabhir Medh = that Medh Devi by which one gets self
vivarp - lit. one who is in the form of the universe (i.e. vivarp Medh = that Medh Devi
in the form of all disciplines of knowledge that are known to the mind)
hirayavar lit. one of golden complexion (i.e. hirayavar Medh = that Medh Devi in
the form of brilliance of intellect which flashes as presence of mind.)
jagat - lit. the universe (i.e. jagat Medh = that Medh Devi in the form of the intelligence backing
the order behind the functions in all life forms)
jagamy - lit. accessible (i.e. jagamy Medh = that Medh 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,
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 Srya, deity of seeing, who inspires our thoughts, infuse me with brilliance and
intelligence and bless me with good progeny.