Medha Suktam of Atharva Veda for Knowledge

Lyrics:

ये त्रिषप्ताः परियन्ति विश्वा रूपाणि बिभ्रतः ।
वाचस्पतिर्बला तेषां तन्वो अद्य दधातु मे ॥१॥
पुनरेहि वचस्पते देवेन मनसा सह ।
वसोष्पते नि रमय मय्येवास्तु मयि श्रुतम् ॥२॥
इहैवाभि वि तनूभे आर्त्नी इव ज्यया ।
वाचस्पतिर्नि यच्छतु मय्येवास्तु मयि श्रुतम् ॥३॥
उपहूतो वाचस्पतिरुपास्मान् वाचस्पतिर्ह्वयताम् ।
सं श्रुतेन गमेमहि मा श्रुतेन वि राधिषि ॥४॥

ye trishaptaah' pariyanti vishvaa roopaani bibhratah' .
vaachaspatirbalaa teshaam tanvo adya dadhaatu me ..1..
punarehi vachaspate devena manasaa saha .
vasoshpate ni ramaya mayyevaastu mayi shrutam ..2..
ihaivaabhi vi tanoobhe aartnee iva jyayaa .
vaachaspatirni yachchhatu mayyevaastu mayi shrutam ..3..
upahooto vaachaspatirupaasmaan vaachaspatirhvayataam .
sam shrutena gamemahi maa shrutena vi raadhishi ..4..

Meaning:

ये त्रिषप्ताः परियन्ति विश्वा रूपाणि बिभ्रतः । वाचस्पतिर्बला तेषां तन्वो अद्य दधातु मे ॥१॥
'Those thrice-seven (21) entities who move about, bearing all forms of the universe,
May Vachaspati (Lord of Speech) grant me today the strength of their bodies.'
This verse invokes the 21 divine entities that embody all forms of existence. It is a prayer to Vachaspati to bestow upon oneself the combined strength and essence of these entities.

पुनरेहि वचस्पते देवेन मनसा सह । वसोष्पते नि रमय मय्येवास्तु मयि श्रुतम् ॥२॥
'Return again, O Vachaspati, along with the divine mind.
O Lord of Wealth, please settle within me; may learning reside in me.'
An appeal is made to Vachaspati to return with divine intellect. By addressing him as the 'Lord of Wealth,' there is a plea for the wealth of knowledge to firmly establish itself within oneself.

इहैवाभि वि तनूभे आर्त्नी इव ज्यया । वाचस्पतिर्नि यच्छतु मय्येवास्तु मयि श्रुतम् ॥३॥
'Here and now, expand yourself like a bowstring with the bow.
May Vachaspati grant me this; may learning dwell within me.'
Using the metaphor of a bow and bowstring expanding, there is an urge for an immediate and full reception of knowledge. A request is made for Vachaspati to bestow this expansive wisdom so that it may inhabit one completely.

उपहूतो वाचस्पतिरुपास्मान् वाचस्पतिर्ह्वयताम् । सं श्रुतेन गमेमहि मा श्रुतेन वि राधिषि ॥४॥
'Being invoked, may Vachaspati approach us; may Vachaspati invite us.
May we advance together through learning; do not, through learning, deprive us.'
An invitation is extended to Vachaspati to come closer and to call us nearer. There is a desire to progress collectively in wisdom, coupled with a plea not to be deprived of knowledge in any way.
These verses are invocations to Vachaspati, the Lord of Speech and Knowledge. They seek the strength, wisdom, and essence of divine entities, asking for knowledge to deeply root itself within oneself. Through vivid metaphors and earnest appeals, they emphasize the importance of learning and the divine assistance required to attain it.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi