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प्रणवः · Om / Pranavaशान्तिः · Shanti

Yaschandasam Rishabho

ॐ यश्छन्द॑सामृष॒भो वि॒श्वरू॑पः

Dedicated to Om · 1 verse · Sanatana Shastras

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About this stotra

This verse from the Taittiriya Upanishad and also the opening invocation in the Medha Suktam, is a comprehensive prayer for gaining and retaining sacred knowledge. Its essence is an invocation to the supreme principle of knowledge, seeking its grace not just for intellectual understanding, but for a complete transformation of the seeker into a worthy vessel of wisdom.
The opening lines "yascandasam rishabho vishwaroopah, chandobhyo'dhyamritat sambhabhoova" address that supreme one (rishabho) who is universal in form (vishwaroopah), who emerges from the immortal essence through the Vedic hymns (candasam). The prayer then invokes Lord Indra, representing the principle of supreme intelligence, to bless the seeker with medha (penetrating intellect) - that special faculty of understanding that can grasp subtle truths.
The prayer then methodically addresses each aspect of our being that needs to be refined for receiving knowledge. It begins with a profound aspiration - "amritasya devadhārano bhooyāsam" - may I become a worthy vessel to hold this immortal knowledge. Then it addresses the physical - asking for a body capable of the rigours of study and practice (vicarśanam). The specific instruments of learning follow: the tongue should be capable of sweet and clear expression (madhumattamā), teaching others what has been learned; the ears should be efficient instruments for receiving knowledge (bhoori viśruvam).
The line "brahma̍ṇaḥ ko̱śo̍'si me̱dhayā pi̍hitaḥ" literally means "You are the treasure chest of Brahman (sacred knowledge), filled with intelligence/wisdom." It acknowledges that the seeker's intellect is a sacred vessel for divine knowledge and hence the prayer that divine intelligence should permeate and protect our understanding, ensuring that knowledge is properly assimilated.
The mantra concludes with a profound request - "śrutam me gopāya" (may what I have learned be protected), acknowledging that receiving knowledge is not enough - it must be preserved and integrated into one's being.
The threefold peace invocation that follows seeks harmony at all levels - internal, external, and divine - creating the perfect conditions for knowledge to flourish and bear fruit.

Yaschandasam Rishabho lyrics and meaning

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Verse 1

Yaschandasam Rishabho – Verse 1

ॐ यश्छन्द॑सामृष॒भो वि॒श्वरू॑पः
छन्दो॒भ्योऽध्य॒मृता᳚त्सम्ब॒भूव॑
स मेन्द्रो॑ मे॒धया᳚ स्पृणोतु
अ॒मृत॑स्य देव॒ धार॑णो भूयासम्
शरी॑रं मे॒ विच॑र्षणम्
जिह्॒वा मे॒ मधु॑मत्तमा
कर्णा᳚भ्यां॒ भूरि॒विश्रु॑वम्
ब्रह्म॑णः को॒शो॑ऽसि मे॒धया पि॑हितः
श्रु॒तं मे॑ गोपाय
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

oṃ yaśchanda̍sāmṛṣa̱bho vi̱śvarū̍paḥ
chando̱bhyo'dhya̱mṛtā̎tsamba̱bhūva̍
sa mendro̍ me̱dhayā̎ spṛṇotu
a̱mṛta̍sya deva̱ dhāra̍ṇo bhūyāsam
śarī̍raṃ me̱ vica̍rṣaṇam
jiẖvā me̱ madhu̍mattamā
karṇā̎bhyā̱ṃ bhūri̱viśru̍vam
brahma̍ṇaḥ ko̱śo̍​'si me̱dhayā pi̍hitaḥ
śru̱taṃ me̍ gopāya
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

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)
The sacred syllable representing the ultimate reality and universal consciousness
यः (yaḥ)
Who
चन्दसाम् (candasām)
of the Vedas
ऋषभः (ṛṣabhaḥ)
the essence or chief
विश्वरूपः (viśvarūpaḥ)
Universal form
छन्दोभ्यः (chandobhyaḥ)
From the Vedas
अमृतात् (amṛtāt)
from immortality
सम्भभूव (sambhabhūva)
emerged
सः (saḥ)
That (Supreme)
मे (me)
to me
इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
the Lord
मेधया (medhayā)
with wisdom
स्पृणोतु (spṛṇotu)
may he bless
अमृतस्य (amṛtasya)
Of immortality
देव (deva)
O divine
धारणः (dhāraṇaḥ)
bearer
भूयासम् (bhūyāsam)
may I become
शरी॑रं (śarī̍raṃ)
Body
मे (me)
my
विचर्षणम् (vicarṣaṇam)
vigorous, strong
जिह्वा (jihvā)
Tongue
मे (me)
my
मधुमत्तमा (madhumattamā)
most sweet or pleasant
कर्णाभ्यां (karṇābhyāṃ)
Ears
भूः (bhūḥ)
the source
विस्रुवम् (visruvam)
receptive to abundant knowledge
ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ)
Of Brahman
कोशः (kośaḥ)
treasury
असि (asi)
you are
मेधया (medhayā)
With intellect
अपिहितः (apihitaḥ)
covered or endowed
श्रुतं (śrutaṃ)
Knowledge
मे (me)
my
गोपाय (gopāya)
may it be safeguarded
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः (oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ)
Oṃ peace, peace, peace (at all levels)