Sukta 40
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (late AV strata)
Devata: Bṛhaspati (primary), with Sarasvatī and Viśve Devāḥ as supporting agencies
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (late AV style; exact metrical scansion may vary)
Mantras
Mantra 1
मेधा। यन्मे॑ छि॒द्रं मन॑सो॒ यच्च॑ वा॒चः सर॑स्वती मन्यु॒मन्तं॑ ज॒गाम॑ । विश्वै॒स्तद् दे॒वैः स॒ह सं॑विदा॒नः सं द॑धातु॒ बृह॒स्पतिः॑
Intelligence—what breach of mine, of mind, and what of speech, Sarasvatī hath carried off, borne away in passionate tumult: that, in accord with all the Gods together, let Bṛhaspati set back, and set in order.
Mantra 2
मा न॒ आपो॑ मे॒धां मा ब्रह्म॒ प्र म॑थिष्टन । सु॒ष्य॒दा यू॒यं स्य॑न्दध्व॒मुप॑हूतो॒ऽहं सु॒मेधा॑ वर्च॒स्वी
O Waters, do ye not from us churn out intelligence; do ye not harry forth our holy prayer. Ye well-yielding, flow on in kindly streams: invoked am I—of goodly wit, of shining lustre.
Mantra 3
मा नो॑ मे॒धां मा नो॑ दी॒क्षां मा नो॑ हिंसिष्टं॒ यत् तपः॑ । शि॒वा नः॒ शं स॒न्त्वायु॑षे शि॒वा भ॑वन्तु मा॒तरः॑
Harm not our intelligence, harm not our consecration; injure us not in that which is our holy heat. Auspicious to us be peace for life; auspicious be the Mothers unto us.
Mantra 4
या नः॒ पीप॑रद॒श्विना॒ ज्योति॑ष्मती॒ तम॑स्ति॒रः । ताम॒स्मे रा॑सता॒मिष॑म्
That nourishment which the Aśvins have made to thrive for us—luminous, crossing over darkness—let them bestow that refreshment here on us.
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to a felt gap or leak in mental steadiness and verbal capacity—forgetfulness, scattered attention, or speech faltering—often linked to agitation or emotional turbulence.
Sarasvatī represents the flow of inspired speech and intelligence, while the Viśve Devāḥ represent collective divine assent; together they support Bṛhaspati’s act of re-ordering and reintegration.
No. The hymn works primarily through recitation and intention; at most, one may optionally take water or a small nourishing food as a symbolic ‘iṣ’ after the concluding verse.
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