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Medha Suktam Meaning — Line by Line

मेधा सूक्तम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Medha Suktam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Om yaśchandasāmṛṣabho viśvarūpaḥ;
  2. Verse 2. Śarīraṃ me vicarṣaṇam; jihvā me madhumattamā;
  3. Verse 3. Om medhādevī juṣamāṇā na āgādviśvācī bhadrā sumanasyamānā;
  4. Verse 4. Tvayā juṣṭa ṛṣirbhavati devi tvayā brahmā''gataśrīruta tvayā;
  5. Verse 5. Medhāṃ ma indro dadātu medhāṃ devī sarasvatī;
  6. Verse 6. Apsarāsu ca yā medhā gandharveṣu ca yanmanaḥ;
  7. Verse 7. Ā māṃ medhā surabhirviśvarūpā hiraṇyavarṇā jagatī jagamyā;
  8. Verse 8. Mayi medhāṃ mayi prajāṃ mayyagnistejo dadhātu;
  9. Verse 9. Om mahādevyai ca vidmahe brahmapatnī ca dhīmahi;
Verse 1#

Om yaśchandasāmṛṣabho viśvarūpaḥ;

यश्छन्दसामृषभो विश्वरूपः। छन्दोभ्योऽध्यमृतात्सम्बभूव। मेन्द्रो मेधया स्पृणोतु। अमृतस्य देवधारणो भूयासम्॥

Om yaśchandasāmṛṣabho viśvarūpaḥ; chandobhyo'dhyamṛtātsambabhūva; sa mendro medhayā spṛṇotu; amṛtasya devadhāraṇo bhūyāsam.

MeaningOm. He who is the foremost (the bull) among the Vedic metres, of universal form, who arose out of the immortal Omkara — may that Indra strengthen me with intellect; may I become a bearer of the immortal divine knowledge.

Verse 2#

Śarīraṃ me vicarṣaṇam; jihvā me madhumattamā;

शरीरं मे विचर्षणम्। जिह्वा मे मधुमत्तमा। कर्णाभ्यां भूरि विश्रुवम्। ब्रह्मणः कोशोऽसि मेधया पिहितः। श्रुतं मे गोपाय॥ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Śarīraṃ me vicarṣaṇam; jihvā me madhumattamā; karṇābhyāṃ bhūri viśruvam; brahmaṇaḥ kośo'si medhayā pihitaḥ; śrutaṃ me gopāya. Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

MeaningMay my body be vigorous; may my tongue be most sweet; may I hear abundantly with my ears. You are the sheath of Brahman, veiled by intellect — guard for me what I have learned. Om peace, peace, peace.

Verse 3#

Om medhādevī juṣamāṇā na āgādviśvācī bhadrā sumanasyamānā;

मेधादेवी जुषमाणा आगाद्विश्वाची भद्रा सुमनस्यमाना। त्वया जुष्टा नुदमाना दुरुक्तान्बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः॥

Om medhādevī juṣamāṇā na āgādviśvācī bhadrā sumanasyamānā; tvayā juṣṭā nudamānā duruktānbṛhadvadema vidathe suvīrāḥ.

MeaningOm. May the goddess Medha (intellect), well-pleased, all-pervading, auspicious and gracious, come to us. Favoured by you and casting off harsh speech, may we, blessed with worthy offspring, speak loftily in the assembly.

Verse 4#

Tvayā juṣṭa ṛṣirbhavati devi tvayā brahmā''gataśrīruta tvayā;

त्वया जुष्ट ऋषिर्भवति देवि त्वया ब्रह्माऽऽगतश्रीरुत त्वया। त्वया जुष्टश्चित्रं विन्दते वसु सा नो जुषस्व द्रविणो मेधे॥

Tvayā juṣṭa ṛṣirbhavati devi tvayā brahmā''gataśrīruta tvayā; tvayā juṣṭaśchitraṃ vindate vasu sā no juṣasva draviṇo na medhe.

MeaningFavoured by you, O Goddess, a man becomes a seer; by you the knower of Brahman attains glory; by you he finds wondrous wealth. Therefore be gracious to us, O Medha, like a treasure that does not fail.

Verse 5#

Medhāṃ ma indro dadātu medhāṃ devī sarasvatī;

मेधां इन्द्रो ददातु मेधां देवी सरस्वती। मेधां मे अश्विनावुभावाधत्तां पुष्करस्रजा॥

Medhāṃ ma indro dadātu medhāṃ devī sarasvatī; medhāṃ me aśvināvubhāvādhattāṃ puṣkarasrajā.

MeaningMay Indra grant me intellect; may Goddess Saraswati grant me intellect; may both the lotus-garlanded Ashvini Kumaras bestow intellect upon me.

Verse 6#

Apsarāsu ca yā medhā gandharveṣu ca yanmanaḥ;

अप्सरासु या मेधा गन्धर्वेषु यन्मनः। दैवीं मेधा सरस्वती सा मां मेधा सुरभिर्जुषतां स्वाहा॥

Apsarāsu ca yā medhā gandharveṣu ca yanmanaḥ; daivīṃ medhā sarasvatī sā māṃ medhā surabhirjuṣatāṃ svāhā.

MeaningThe intellect that is in the Apsaras, and the mind that is in the Gandharvas, and the divine intellect that is Saraswati — may that fragrant Medha take delight in me. Svaha.

Verse 7#

Ā māṃ medhā surabhirviśvarūpā hiraṇyavarṇā jagatī jagamyā;

मां मेधा सुरभिर्विश्वरूपा हिरण्यवर्णा जगती जगम्या। ऊर्जस्वती पयसा पिन्वमाना सा मां मेधा सुप्रतीका जुषताम्॥

Ā māṃ medhā surabhirviśvarūpā hiraṇyavarṇā jagatī jagamyā; ūrjasvatī payasā pinvamānā sā māṃ medhā supratīkā juṣatām.

MeaningMay Medha, fragrant, of universal form, golden-hued, moving through the worlds, full of vigour and swelling with nourishing waters — may that fair-faced Medha be pleased to dwell in me.

Verse 8#

Mayi medhāṃ mayi prajāṃ mayyagnistejo dadhātu;

मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मय्यग्निस्तेजो दधातु। मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मयीन्द्र इन्द्रियं दधातु। मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मयि सूर्यो भ्राजो दधातु॥

Mayi medhāṃ mayi prajāṃ mayyagnistejo dadhātu; mayi medhāṃ mayi prajāṃ mayīndra indriyaṃ dadhātu; mayi medhāṃ mayi prajāṃ mayi sūryo bhrājo dadhātu.

MeaningIn me may Agni place intellect, progeny and lustre; in me may Indra place intellect, progeny and vital power; in me may Surya place intellect, progeny and radiance.

Verse 9#

Om mahādevyai ca vidmahe brahmapatnī ca dhīmahi;

महादेव्यै विद्महे ब्रह्मपत्नी धीमहि। तन्नो वाणी प्रचोदयात्॥ हंस हंसाय विद्महे परमहंसाय धीमहि। तन्नो हंसः प्रचोदयात्॥ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Om mahādevyai ca vidmahe brahmapatnī ca dhīmahi; tanno vāṇī pracodayāt. Om haṃsa haṃsāya vidmahe paramahaṃsāya dhīmahi; tanno haṃsaḥ pracodayāt. Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

MeaningOm. May we know the Great Goddess, may we meditate upon the Consort of Brahman; may that Goddess of Speech impel us. May we know the Swan (Hamsa), may we meditate upon the Supreme Swan; may that Hamsa impel us. Om peace, peace, peace.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

यश्छन्दसामृषभः
yaśchandasāmṛṣabhaḥ
He who is the bull (foremost, lord) among the Vedic metres (chandas)
विश्वरूपः
viśvarūpaḥ
Of universal form, all-formed
छन्दोभ्योऽध्यमृतात्सम्बभूव
chandobhyo'dhyamṛtāt sambabhūva
Who arose from the immortal Vedas (Omkara, the deathless)
स मा इन्द्रः मेधया स्पृणोतु
sa mā indraḥ medhayā spṛṇotu
May that Indra strengthen / endow me with intellect (medha)
अमृतस्य देवधारणः भूयासम्
amṛtasya devadhāraṇaḥ bhūyāsam
May I become a bearer (retainer) of the immortal divine knowledge
शरीरं मे विचर्षणम्
śarīraṃ me vicarṣaṇam
May my body be active, capable and strong
जिह्वा मे मधुमत्तमा
jihvā me madhumattamā
May my tongue be most sweet (speak the sweetest words)
कर्णाभ्यां भूरि विश्रुवम्
karṇābhyāṃ bhūri viśruvam
May I hear abundantly (much sacred knowledge) with my ears
ब्रह्मणः कोशोऽसि मेधया पिहितः
brahmaṇaḥ kośo'si medhayā pihitaḥ
You (O intellect) are the sheath/treasury of Brahman, covered over by Medha
श्रुतं मे गोपाय
śrutaṃ me gopāya
Protect (preserve) for me what I have heard and learned
मेधादेवी जुषमाणा न आगात्
medhādevī juṣamāṇā na āgāt
May the goddess Medha, well-pleased, come to us
विश्वाची भद्रा सुमनस्यमाना
viśvācī bhadrā sumanasyamānā
All-pervading, auspicious, and graciously well-disposed
त्वया जुष्ट ऋषिर्भवति
tvayā juṣṭa ṛṣirbhavati
Favoured by you (O Medha), one becomes a seer (rishi)
त्वया ब्रह्मा आगतश्रीः
tvayā brahmā āgataśrīḥ
By you the knower of Brahman attains glory (Shri)
मेधां म इन्द्रो ददातु
medhāṃ ma indro dadātu
May Indra grant me intellect (medha)
मेधां देवी सरस्वती
medhāṃ devī sarasvatī
May Goddess Saraswati grant (me) intellect
अश्विनावुभावाधत्तां पुष्करस्रजा
aśvināvubhāvādhattāṃ puṣkarasrajā
May both the Ashvini Kumaras, garlanded with lotuses, bestow (it)
अप्सरासु च या मेधा
apsarāsu ca yā medhā
The intellect/wisdom that is present in the Apsaras (celestial nymphs)
गन्धर्वेषु च यन्मनः
gandharveṣu ca yanmanaḥ
And the mind (mental power) that is in the Gandharvas (celestial musicians)
मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां
mayi medhāṃ mayi prajāṃ
In me intellect, in me progeny (continuity)
अग्निस्तेजो दधातु
agnistejo dadhātu
May Agni place (in me) brilliance and lustre
सूर्यो भ्राजो दधातु
sūryo bhrājo dadhātu
May Surya (the sun) place (in me) radiance
महादेव्यै च विद्महे
mahādevyai ca vidmahe
May we know the Great Goddess (the Medha Gayatri begins)
तन्नो वाणी प्रचोदयात्
tanno vāṇī pracodayāt
May that Vani (Goddess of speech, Saraswati) inspire and impel us

Origin & History

Source: Taittiriya Aranyaka (Krishna Yajurveda), Mahanarayana Upanishad, Prapathaka 10, Anuvakas 41-44

Author: Vedic Rishis (Vedic tradition)

Period: Vedic period (c. 1200-600 BCE)

The Medha Suktam appears in the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajurveda, within the Mahanarayana Upanishad. In the Vedic gurukula tradition, knowledge was preserved through hearing and memory, so intellect (medha) and retentive power were prized above all. This suktam was recited by students and teachers as a prayer that the goddess Medha — identified with Saraswati — would dwell in them, granting sharp intelligence, eloquent speech, and the power to retain the sacred teachings heard from the guru. A shorter related set of Medha mantras also survives as a khila (appendix) hymn to the Rigveda.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Medha Suktam?
It is a Vedic hymn from the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajurveda (Mahanarayana Upanishad) that prays for Medha — sharp intellect, memory and discriminative wisdom. Medha is personified as a goddess identified with Saraswati, and the hymn calls on several deities to bestow intelligence on the seeker.
What does 'Medha' mean?
Medha means intellect, retentive power, mental brilliance and the faculty of grasping and holding knowledge. It is more than ordinary intelligence — it is the keen, discriminating wisdom that lets one understand and remember the deepest truths, which is why it is personified as a goddess.
Who should chant the Medha Suktam and when?
It is especially suited to students, scholars and all seekers of knowledge. It is chanted before study and examinations, at the start of Vedic learning, on Vasant Panchami (Saraswati's day), and in the early morning. Reciting it daily or eleven times is traditional for cultivating a sharp memory.
How is the Medha Suktam related to Saraswati?
Medha, the goddess of intellect invoked in this hymn, is identified with Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, speech and learning. The suktam directly prays 'Medhaṃ Devī Sarasvatī' (may Goddess Saraswati grant intellect) and closes with the Medha-Saraswati Gayatri, making it one of the foremost Vedic prayers to Saraswati.

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