About this stotra
The Medha Suktam is a Vedic hymn dedicated to Medha Devi, the goddess of intelligence, wisdom, and mental brilliance. Found in the Mahanarayana Upanishad (part of the Krishna Yajurveda), this suktam is a prayer for the attainment and enhancement of intellectual capacity, memory, and discriminative wisdom.
Medha (मेधा) means intelligence, wisdom, mental power, retention, and discriminative faculty. It encompasses intellectual brilliance, memory, the power of comprehension, and the ability to retain and apply knowledge.
Suktam (सूक्तम्) means "well-said" or "hymn." It refers to a Vedic hymn or collection of verses addressed to a particular deity or principle, composed in a specific meter and used for prayer, worship, or invocation.
The suktam is chanted by students, scholars, and spiritual seekers to invoke divine blessings for:
Sharp intellect and mental clarity (medha)Strong memory and retentionWisdom and right understandingSuccess in learning and knowledge acquisition
The hymn personifies wisdom as Medha Devi, inviting her presence with reverence. It describes her as benevolent, auspicious, and all-pervading. The verses express a deep yearning for mental illumination and the ability to grasp and retain knowledge effectively. The suktam emphasizes that true intelligence is not merely intellectual capacity but includes moral discernment, spiritual insight, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.
This suktam is commonly recited during:
The beginning of studies or academic pursuitsSaraswati Puja and other educational ceremoniesDaily prayers by those seeking knowledgeBefore examinations or important intellectual endeavors
Medha Suktam lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
ॐ-यँश्छन्द॑सामृष॒भो वि॒श्वरू॑पः ।
छन्दो॒भ्यो-ऽध्य॒मृता᳚थ्सम्ब॒भूव॑ ।
स मेन्द्रो॑ मे॒धया᳚ स्पृणोतु ।
अ॒मृत॑स्य देव॒धार॑णो भूयासम् ।
शरी॑र-म्मे॒ विच॑र्षणम् ।
जि॒ह्वा मे॒ मधु॑मत्तमा ।
कर्णा᳚भ्यां॒ भूरि॒विश्रु॑वम् ।
ब्रह्म॑णः को॒शो॑-ऽसि मे॒धया पि॑हितः ।
श्रु॒त-म्मे॑ गोपाय ॥
ॐ शान्ति॒-श्शान्ति॒-श्शान्तिः॑ ॥
ōṃ yaśChanda̍sāmṛṣa̠bhō vi̠śvarū̍paḥ ।
Chandō̠bhyō-'dhya̠mṛtā̎thsamba̠bhūva̍ ।
sa mēndrō̍ mē̠dhayā̎ spṛṇōtu ।
a̠mṛta̍sya dēva̠dhāra̍ṇō bhūyāsam ।
śarī̍ra-mmē̠ vicha̍rṣaṇam ।
ji̠hvā mē̠ madhu̍mattamā ।
karṇā̎bhyāṃ̠ bhūri̠viśru̍vam ।
brahma̍ṇaḥ kō̠śō̍-'si mē̠dhayā pi̍hitaḥ ।
śru̠ta-mmē̍ gōpāya ॥
Om, may that Supreme Lord, who is the essence of the Vedas and who manifests in universal form, who has emerged from the nectar of immortality, bestow upon me wisdom and intellect. May I become a bearer of divine knowledge and immortality. May my body be vigorous, my speech sweet, and my ears receptive to abundant wisdom. You, O Lord, are the treasure of Brahman and the protector of wisdom. Preserve my knowledge and what I have heard. Om, may there be peace.
Word by word
- ॐ (oṃ)
- Om
- यः (yaḥ)
- who
- छन्दसाम् (chandasām)
- of the Vedas
- ऋषभः (ṛṣabhaḥ)
- essence
- विश्व (viśva)
- universal
- रूपः (rūpaḥ)
- form
- छन्दोभ्यः (chandobhyaḥ)
- from the Vedas
- अधि (adhi)
- from
- अमृतात् (amṛtāt)
- nectar of immortality
- सम्भवूव (sambabhūva)
- emerged
- सः (saḥ)
- he
- मे (me)
- my
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Indra
- मेधया (medhayā)
- with wisdom
- स्पृणोतु (spṛṇotu)
- bestow
- अमृतस्य (amṛtasya)
- of immortality
- देव (deva)
- O Lord
- धारणः (dhāraṇaḥ)
- bearer
- भूयासम् (bhūyāsam)
- may I become
- शरीरम् (śarīram)
- body
- मे (me)
- my
- विचर्षणम् (vicarṣaṇam)
- vigorous
- जिह्वा (jihvā)
- tongue
- मे (me)
- my
- मधुमत्तमा (madhumattamā)
- sweetest
- कर्णाभ्याम् (karṇābhyām)
- with ears
- भूरि (bhūri)
- abundant
- विश्रुवम् (viśruvam)
- wisdom
- ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ)
- of Brahman
- कोशः (kośaḥ)
- treasure
- असि (asi)
- are
- मेधया (medhayā)
- with wisdom
- पिहितः (pihitaḥ)
- protected
- श्रुतम् (śrutam)
- knowledge
- मे (me)
- my
- गोपाय (gopāya)
- preserve
- ॐ (oṃ)
- Om
- शान्तिः (śāntiḥ)
- peace
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
ॐ मे॒धादे॒वी जु॒षमा॑णा न॒ आगा᳚द्वि॒श्वाची॑ भ॒द्रा सु॑मन॒स्यमा॑ना ।
त्वया॒ जुष्टा॑ नु॒दमा॑ना दु॒रुक्ता᳚न् बृ॒हद्व॑देम वि॒दथे॑ सु॒वीराः᳚ ।
त्वया॒ जुष्ट॑ ऋ॒षिर्भ॑वति देवि॒ त्वया॒ ब्रह्मा॑ऽऽग॒तश्री॑रु॒त त्वया᳚ ।
त्वया॒ जुष्ट॑श्चि॒त्रं वि॑न्दते वसु॒ सानो॑ जुषस्व॒ द्रवि॑णो न मेधे ॥
oṃ me̱dhāde̱vī ju̱ṣamā̍ṇā na̱ āgā̎dvi̱śvācī̍ bha̱drā su̍mana̱syamā̍nā .
tvayā̱ juṣṭā̍ nu̱damā̍nā du̱ruktā̎n bṛ̱hadva̍dema vi̱dathe̍ su̱vīrā̎ḥ .
tvayā̱ juṣṭa̍ ṛ̱ṣirbha̍vati devi̱ tvayā̱ brahmā̍''ga̱taśrī̍ru̱ta tvayā̎ .
tvayā̱ juṣṭa̍ści̱traṃ vi̍ndate vasu̱ sāno̍ juṣasva̱ dravi̍ṇo na medhe ..
O Medhā Devī, the goddess of wisdom, may you come to us, pleased by our invocation. You are all-pervading, auspicious, and cause good thoughts to arise.
Blessed by you, we dispel harsh speech and speak with noble words in great assemblies, empowered and valorous.
By your favor, one becomes a seer, O goddess; by your grace, the wise become eloquent and radiant.
Favored by you, one attains wondrous wealth—O Medhā, dwell in us and bless us with prosperity and knowledge.
Word by word
- ॐ (oṃ)
- sacred syllable
- मेधादेवी (medhādevī)
- goddess of wisdom (medhā:wisdom | devī:goddess)
- जुषमाणा (juṣamāṇā)
- pleased
- न (na)
- not
- आगात् (āgāt)
- came
- विश्वाची (viśvācī)
- all-pervading
- भद्रा (bhadrā)
- auspicious
- सुमनस्यमाना (sumanasyamānā)
- causing good thoughts
- त्वया (tvayā)
- by you
- जुष्टा (juṣṭā)
- favored
- नुदमाना (nudamānā)
- dispelling
- दुरुक्तान् (duruktān)
- harsh speech
- बृहत् (bṛhat)
- great
- वदेम (vadema)
- we speak
- विदथे (vidathe)
- in assembly
- सुवीराः (suvīrāḥ)
- empowered
- ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ)
- seer
- भवति (bhavati)
- becomes
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- ब्रह्मा (brahmā)
- wise
- आगतश्रीः (āgataśrīḥ)
- eloquent and radiant (āgata:arrived | śrīḥ:radiance)
- उत (uta)
- and
- चि॒त्रं (citraṃ)
- wondrous
- विन्दते (vindate)
- attains
- वसु (vasu)
- wealth
- सानः (sānaḥ)
- O Medhā
- जुषस्व (juṣasva)
- dwell
- द्रविणः (draviṇaḥ)
- prosperity
- न (na)
- not
- मेधे (medhe)
- in us
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
मे॒धां म॒ इन्द्रो॑ ददातु मे॒धां दे॒वी सर॑स्वती ।
मे॒धां मे॑ अ॒श्विना॑वु॒भावाध॑त्तां॒ पुष्क॑रस्रजा ।
अ॒प्स॒रासु॑ च॒ या मे॒धा ग॑न्ध॒र्वेषु॑ च॒ यन्मनः॑ ।
दैवीं᳚ मे॒धा सर॑स्वती॒ सा मां᳚ मे॒धा सु॒रभि॑र्जुषता॒ꣳ॒ स्वाहा᳚ ॥
me̱dhāṃ ma̱ indro̍ dadātu me̱dhāṃ de̱vī sara̍svatī .
me̱dhāṃ me̍ a̱śvinā̍vu̱bhāvādha̍ttā̱ṃ puṣka̍rasrajā .
a̱psa̱rāsu̍ ca̱ yā me̱dhā ga̍ndha̱rveṣu̍ ca̱ yanmana̍ḥ .
daivī̎ṃ me̱dhā sara̍svatī̱ sā mā̎ṃ me̱dhā su̱rabhi̍rjuṣatā̱g̱ͫ svāhā̎ ..
May Indra bestow upon me medhā (intelligence). May the goddess Sarasvatī grant me wisdom.
May the twin Ashvins, adorned with garlands of blue lotuses, bless me with intelligence.
May that intelligence (medhā) which exists among the Apsarās and the Gandharvas, and that divine medhā which is Sarasvatī herself—may that fragrant (pleasing, auspicious) medhā graciously accept me. Svāhā. (I offer)
Word by word
- मेधाम् (medhām)
- intelligence
- म (ma)
- me
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Indra
- ददातु (dadātu)
- may give
- मेधाम् (medhām)
- intelligence
- देवी (devī)
- goddess
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Sarasvatī
- मेधाम् (medhām)
- intelligence
- मे (me)
- me
- अश्विनौ (aśvinau)
- Ashvins
- उभौ (ubhau)
- both
- आधत्ताम् (ādhattām)
- may grant
- पुष्करस्रजा (puṣkarasrajā)
- with lotus garlands (puṣkara:lotus | srajā:with garlands)
- अप्सरासु (apsarāsu)
- among Apsarās
- च (ca)
- and
- या (yā)
- which
- मेधा (medhā)
- intelligence
- गन्धर्वेषु (gandharveṣu)
- among Gandharvas
- च (ca)
- and
- यत् (yat)
- that
- मनः (manaḥ)
- mind
- दैवीम् (daivīm)
- divine
- मेधा (medhā)
- intelligence
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Sarasvatī
- सा (sā)
- that
- माम् (mām)
- me
- मेधा (medhā)
- intelligence
- सुरभिः (surabhiḥ)
- fragrant
- जुषता (juṣatām)
- may accept
- स्वाहा (svāhā)
- offering
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
आमां᳚ मे॒धा सु॒रभि॑र्वि॒श्वरू॑पा॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्णा॒ जग॑ती जग॒म्या ।
ऊर्ज॑स्वती॒ पय॑सा॒ पिन्व॑माना॒ सा मां᳚ मे॒धा सु॒प्रती॑का जुषन्ताम् ।
āmā̎ṃ me̱dhā su̱rabhi̍rvi̱śvarū̍pā̱ hira̍ṇyavarṇā̱ jaga̍tī jaga̱myā .
ūrja̍svatī̱ paya̍sā̱ pinva̍mānā̱ sā mā̎ṃ me̱dhā su̱pratī̍kā juṣantām .
May that Medha (divine wisdom) which is fragrant, of universal form, golden-colored, pervading the world and moving through it, full of vigor and nourished by sustenance, favor me with good understanding.
Word by word
- आमां (āmām)
- may that
- मेधा (medhā)
- wisdom
- सुरभिः (surabhiḥ)
- fragrant
- विश्व-रूपा (viśva-rūpā)
- of universal form (viśva:universal | rūpā:form)
- हिरण्यवर्णा (hiraṇyavarṇā)
- golden-colored (hiraṇya:golden | varṇā:colored)
- जगती (jagatī)
- pervading the world
- जगम्या (jagamyā)
- moving through it
- ऊर्जस्वती (ūrjasvatī)
- full of vigor
- पयसा (payasā)
- by sustenance
- पिन्वमाना (pinvamānā)
- nourished
- सा (sā)
- that
- मां (mām)
- me
- मेधा (medhā)
- wisdom
- सुप्रतीका (supratīkā)
- with good understanding (su:good | pratīkā:understanding)
- जुषन्ताम् (juṣantām)
- favor
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
मयि॑ मे॒धां मयि॑ प्र॒जां मय्य॒ग्निस्तेजो॑ दधातु॒
मयि॑ मे॒धां मयि॑ प्र॒जां मयीन्द्र॑ इन्द्रि॒यं द॑धातु॒
मयि॑ मे॒धां मयि॑ प्र॒जां मयि॒ सूर्यो॒ भ्राजो॑ दधातु ।
mayi̍ me̱dhāṃ mayi̍ pra̱jāṃ mayya̱gnistejo̍ dadhātu̱
mayi̍ me̱dhāṃ mayi̍ pra̱jāṃ mayīndra̍ indri̱yaṃ da̍dhātu̱
mayi̍ me̱dhāṃ mayi̍ pra̱jāṃ mayi̱ sūryo̱ bhrājo̍ dadhātu .
May wisdom (medhā), progeny (prajā), and the radiance of Agni (the fire god) be established in me.
May wisdom, progeny, and strength (indriya) be granted to me by Indra.
May wisdom, progeny, and brilliance (bhrājā) be bestowed upon me by the Sun.
Word by word
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- मेधां (medhām)
- wisdom
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- प्रजां (prajām)
- progeny
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- अग्निः (agniḥ)
- Agni
- तेजः (tejaḥ)
- radiance
- दधातु (dadhātu)
- may establish
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- मेधां (medhām)
- wisdom
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- प्रजां (prajām)
- progeny
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Indra
- इन्द्रियम् (indriyam)
- strength
- दधातु (dadhātu)
- may grant
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- मेधां (medhām)
- wisdom
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- प्रजां (prajām)
- progeny
- मयि (mayi)
- in me
- सूर्यः (sūryaḥ)
- Sun
- भ्राजः (bhrājaḥ)
- brilliance
- दधातु (dadhātu)
- may bestow
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
ॐ हं॒स॒ हं॒साय॑ वि॒द्महे॑ परमहं॒साय॑ धीमहि ।
तन्नो॑ हंसः प्रचो॒दया᳚त् ।
oṃ ha̱ṃsa̱ ha̱ṃsāya̍ vi̱dmahe̍ paramaha̱ṃsāya̍ dhīmahi .
tanno̍ haṃsaḥ praco̱dayā̎t .
Om. Let us contemplate on Haṃsa (the Atman or Soul), the cosmic swan.
We meditate upon the Paramahaṃsa (the Supreme Being), the supreme swan.
May that Haṃsa inspire and illumine our minds.
Word by word
- ॐ (oṃ)
- Om
- हं॒स॒ (haṃsa)
- swan
- हं॒साय॑ (haṃsāya)
- to the swan
- वि॒द्महे॑ (vidmahe)
- we contemplate
- परमहं॒साय॑ (paramahaṃsāya)
- to the supreme swan (parama:supreme | haṃsāya:to the swan)
- धीमहि (dhīmahi)
- we meditate
- तन्नो॑ (tanno)
- may that
- हंसः (haṃsaḥ)
- swan
- प्रचो॒दया᳚त् (pracodayāt)
- inspire
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
oṃ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ..
May peace be, peace be, peace be
Word by word
- ॐ (oṃ)
- sacred sound
- शान्तिः (śāntiḥ)
- peace
- शान्तिः (śāntiḥ)
- peace
- शान्तिः (śāntiḥ)
- peace
ॐ
