Medha Suktham - Meaning

Medha Suktham

తైత్తిరీయారణ్యకమ్ – 4, ప్రపాఠకః – 10, అనువాకః – 41-44

ఓం యశ్ఛంద’సామృషభో విశ్వరూ’పః | ఛందోభ్యో‌உధ్యమృతా”థ్సంబభూవ’ | స మేంద్రో’ మేధయా” స్పృణోతు |అమృత’స్య దేవధార’ణో భూయాసమ్ | శరీ’రం మే విచ’ర్షణమ్ | జిహ్వా మే మధు’మత్తమా | కర్ణా”భ్యాంభూరివిశ్రు’వమ్ | బ్రహ్మ’ణః కోశో’‌உసి మేధయా పి’హితః | శ్రుతం మే’ గోపాయ ||

ఓం శాంతిః శాంతిః శాంతిః’ ||

ఓం మేధాదేవీ జుషమా’ణా న ఆగా”ద్విశ్వాచీ’ భద్రా సు’మనస్య మా’నా | త్వయా జుష్టా’ నుదమా’నా దురుక్తా”న్బృహద్వ’దేమ విదథే’ సువీరా”ః | త్వయా జుష్ట’ ఋషిర్భ’వతి దేవి త్వయా బ్రహ్మా’‌உ‌உగతశ్రీ’రుత త్వయా” | త్వయా జుష్ట’శ్చిత్రం వి’ందతే వసు సా నో’ జుషస్వ ద్రవి’ణో న మేధే ||

మేధాం మ ఇంద్రో’ దదాతు మేధాం దేవీ సర’స్వతీ | మేధాం మే’ అశ్వినా’వుభా-వాధ’త్తాం పుష్క’రస్రజా |అప్సరాసు’ చ యా మేధా గం’ధర్వేషు’ చ యన్మనః’ | దైవీం” మేధా సర’స్వతీ సా మాం” మేధా సురభి’ర్జుషతాగ్స్వాహా” ||

ఆమాం” మేధా సురభి’ర్విశ్వరూ’పా హిర’ణ్యవర్ణా జగ’తీ జగమ్యా | ఊర్జ’స్వతీ పయ’సా పిన్వ’మానా సా మాం”మేధా సుప్రతీ’కా జుషంతామ్ ||

మయి’ మేధాం మయి’ ప్రజాం మయ్యగ్నిస్తేజో’ దధాతు మయి’ మేధాం మయి’ ప్రజాం మయీంద్ర’ ఇంద్రియం ద’ధాతు మయి’ మేధాం మయి’ ప్రజాం మయి సూర్యో భ్రాజో’ దధాతు ||

ఓం హంస హంసాయ’ విద్మహే’ పరమహంసాయ’ ధీమహి | తన్నో’ హంసః ప్రచోదయా”త్ ||

ఓం శాంతిః శాంతిః శాంతిః’ ||

Medhá – Intellection: understanding, retaining and assimilating what is heard/read.

Súktam – A vedic hymn (lit: “well said”) that invokes either a devatá or Bhagaván

We start with a mantra from the Taittiriya Upaniêad (I.iv.1) which is a prayer for one who wants intelligence.

oṃ yaśchanda’sāmṛṣabho viśvarū’paḥ |

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)

yaä – that which (i.e. that Om)

chandasám – of the Vedic mantras

Vrishabho – is exalted (lit. like a bull, i.e. “that which is the bull among Vedic mantras”)

vishva-rupah – 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…

chandobhyo‌உdhyamṛtā”thsambabhūva’ |

chandobhyaä – from the Vedas

adhi – essence (lit. ‘pertaining to’, here to be read with sambabúva to carry sense of ‘essence’)

amṛtāth– from the timeless

sam-babhúva – emerged from (with adhi – adhi sam-babhúva – means “emerged as the essence”)

(That Om) which has emerged from the Vedas as their essence…

 sa mendro’ medhayā” spṛṇotu |

saä – that

me – me

indraä – Indra, Lord, Om

medhayá – with intelligence/wisdom

spànotu – may (he) bless

May that Om, the Lord Indra, bless me with intelligence.

My 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.

amṛta’sya devadhāra’ṇo bhūyāsam |

amàtasya – of immortality (here to be read in the context of aprayer for wisdom, so means nectar of

knowledge that frees me from mortality)

deva – O effulgent Lord (i.e. Om)

dháranaä – possessor, holder

bhúyásam – may I become

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

śarī’raṃ me vica’rṣaṇam |

śarī’raṃ – body

me – my

vica’rṣaṇam – fit, healthy, strong

(bhúyát) – may become (understood, implied)

May my body become strong, healthy and fit

jivhá me madhumattamá

jivhá – tongue

me – my

madhu-mat-tamá – that which is sweetest (madhu = sweet + mat = that which is sweet + tama =

that which is sweetest)

(bhúyát) – may become (understood, implied)

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

karṇā”bhyāṃ bhūriviśru’vam |

karnÃábhyám – with my ears

bhúri – abundantly, much

vishruvam – may I hear

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

brahma’ṇaḥ kośo’‌உsi medhayā pi’hitaḥ |

brahmanÃa – of Brahman

koshaä – the sheath

asi – you are

medhayá – worldly intelligence (i.e. limited)

pihitaä – covered

O Omkára, 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.)

śrutaṃ me’ gopāya ||

shrutam – what has been heard (i.e. shástra)

me – for me

gopáya – for protection (i.e. 4th case)

(bhúyát) – may become (understood, implied)

May the shástra that has been heard by me be for my protection.

oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śānti’ḥ ||

oṃ medhādevī juṣamā’ṇā na āgā”dviśvācī’ bhadrā su’manasya mā’nā |

Om Medhá Devî - O goddess (devî) of intellection (Medhá)

jushamáÃá** - blessing

na - us (naä)

ágád - let her come

vishvácî - all-knowing (i.e. by which alone one becomes all-knowing)

bhadrá – auspicious (i.e. through clarity of thinking, perception, purpose)

sumanasyamáná - pleased-minded* (i.e. our actions, being dharmic, do not disturb the order)

May Medhá Devî, 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| máná. creates present participles eg. átmanepada verbs, jushate – blesses, jushamáná – is blessing;

bháshate – he speaks, bháshamáná – he is speaking; ucchate – is spoken, ucchamáná – is being spoken)

tvayā juṣṭā’nudamā’nā duruktā”n bṛhadva’dema vidathe’ suvīrā”ḥ |

tvayá - by you

 juṣṭā - (we who are) blessed

nudamáná - giving up (pushing aside)

duruktán - unwanted, vile speech (that distracts from living dharma)

bràhad - of Brahman

vadema - may we speak

vidathe - having understood*

suvîráä - 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.

tvayā juṣṭa’ ṛṣirbha’vati devi tvayābrahmā’‌உ‌உgataśrī’ruta tvayā” |

tvayá - by you

juṣṭa - (one who is) blessed

Rishir - a rishi (a seer of reality, a knower of Brahman) (àêiä)

bhavati - becomes

devî – O goddess

tvayá - by you

brahmá – Brahman (the word “bhavati”- becomes, is understood)

ágatashrîr – wealthy (lit. one to whom wealth has come) (ágatashrîä) (“bhavati” is understood)

uta - and

tvayá - by you (rhythmic filler)

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

 tvayā juṣṭa’ścitraṃ vi’ndate vasu sā no’ juṣasva dravi’ṇo na medhe ||

tvayá - by you

juṣṭa - (one who is) blessed

citram - different forms of

vindate - attains

vasu - wealth

sá - such a one (Medhá Devî)

no - us (naä)

jushasva - may you bless

dravinona - with wealth (= draviÃena)

Medhe - O power of intellection (voc. of Medhá)

May such a One as you, O Medhá Devî, blessed by whom one attains all varieties of

wealth, bless us with prosperity (both material and subtle, up to moksha).

medhāṃ ma indro’ dadātu medhāṃ devī sara’svatī | 

medhám - intellection

ma - me

indro - by Indra

dadátu - may he give (bless)

medhám - intellection

devî - goddess

sarasvatî - Sarasvatî (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 Sarasvatî grant me the power

of intellection.

medhāṃ me’ aśvinā’vubhā-vādha’ttāṃ puṣka’rasrajā |

medhám - intellection

me - to me

Ashvináv (=Aévinau) – the twin Ashvins, deities of the nostrils, the divine physicians

ubhav (=ubhau) – both

ádhattám - infuse/place

pushkarasrajá - lotus (puêkara) garlanded (srajá)

May the twin Ashvins, garlanded with lotuses, bless me with the power of intellection

(by giving me good health, on which it depends).

 apsarāsu’ ca yā medhā ga’ndharveṣu’ ca yanmana’ḥ | 

apsarásu - heavenly damsels

ca - and

yá - that which (yad f.) (co-relative of sá in following statement)

medhá - intellection

gandharveshu - celestial musicians

ca - and

yan - that which (yad n.) (co-relative of sá in the following statement)

manaä - 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…

daivī”ṃ medhā sara’svatī sā mā”ṃ medhā surabhi’rjuṣatāg svāhā” ||

daivîm - divine

medhá - intellection

Sarasvatî - Sarasvatî (goddess/power of knowledge, intellect, music and wisdom)

sá - that (co-relative of yá in previous statement)

mám - me

Medhá - power of intellection

Surabhir - celestial wish-fulfilling cow (symbolizing wisdom and self-knowledge)

jushatám - may bless

… may Sarasvatî, manifest as Surabhi, bless me with the intellection which is that Divine intelligence…

May Sarasvatî, 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.)

āmā”ṃ medhā surabhi’rviśvarū’pā hira’ṇyavarṇā jaga’tī jagamyā |

á - coming

mám – (to) me

medhá - intellection

surabhir - lit. wish-fulfilling cow (i.e. Surabhir Medhá = that Medhá Devi by which one gets self knowledge)

vishvarúpá - lit. one who is in the form of the universe (i.e. vishvarúpá Medhá = that Medhá Devi in the form of all disciplines of knowledge that are known to the mind)

hiraÃyavarNá – lit. one of golden complexion (i.e. hiraÃyavarná Medhá = that Medhá Devi in the form of brilliance of intellect which flashes as ‘presence of mind’.)

jagatî - lit. the universe (i.e. jagatî Medhá = that Medhá Devi in the form of the intelligence backing the order behind the functions in all life forms)

jagamyá - lit. accessible (i.e. jagamyá Medhá = that Medhá 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, …

 ūrja’svatī paya’sāpinva’mānā sā mā”ṃ medhā supratī’kā juṣantām ||

úrjasvatî – lit. powerful (i.e. gain strength in me)

payasá – lit. with milk of boons (i.e. with knowledge)

pinvamáná - showering

sá - she

mám - me

Medhá - intellection

supratîká - auspicious beginning (to study of scripture)

jushantám - may (he/she/it) bless

… gain strength in me, shower me with knowledge, may that Medhá Devî bless me with an auspicious

beginning to the study of scriptures.

May that Medhá Devî,

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.

mayi’ medhāṃ mayi’ prajāṃ mayyagnistejo’ dadhātu mayi’ medhāṃ mayi’ prajāṃ mayīndra’ indriyaṃ da’dhātu mayi’ medhāṃ mayi’ prajāṃ mayi sūryo bhrājo’ dadhātu ||

mayi - in me

medhám - intellection

mayi - in me

prajám - progeny

mayi - in me

agnistejo - the Lord in the form of fire (agni devatá) and strength (tejas)

dadhátu - place, infuse

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

mayi - in me

medhám - intellection

mayi - in me

prajám - progeny

mayi - in me

indra - Indra

indriyam - virility

dadhátu - place, infuse

May Indra, deity of the power of action, infuse me with virility and intelligence and

bless me with good progeny.

mayi - in me

medhám - intellection

mayi - in me

prajám - progeny

mayi - in me

súryo - the sun

bhrájo - brilliance

dadhátu - place, infuse

May Súrya, deity of seeing, who inspires our thoughts, infuse me with brilliance and

intelligence and bless me with good progeny.

oṃ haṃsa haṃsāya’ vidmahe’ paramahaṃsāya’ dhīmahi | tanno’ haṃsaḥ pracodayā”t ||

oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śānti’ḥ ||