chandas Prose, the title
ब्रह्मणस्पति Brahmanaspati — Lord of brahman, the power in the sacred word: the Vedic god of prayer, also called Brihaspati. Ganapati's worshippers take him as Ganapati, because the first verse calls him lord of the ganas.
note This collection gathers the Rig Veda's hymns to Brahmanaspati, 1.18, 1.40 and 2.23 to 2.26, with single verses from other hymns.
कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् ।
ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत
आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
गणपति lord of the ganas — The verse calls Brahmanaspati the lord of the ganas, the companies of singers. Ganapati's worshippers hear his own name in it, and it opens Ganesha worship everywhere.
note Rig Veda 2.23.1. The collection sets it at the head as an invocation, and again where its hymn begins.
कक्षीवन्तं य औशिजः ॥ १
chandas Gāyatrī, 3 pādas of 8 syllables
कक्षीवत् Kakshivan — Kakshivan, son of Ushij, a famous poet-seer of the Rig Veda.
note Rig Veda 1.18, verses 1 to 5.
स नः सिषक्तु यस्तुरः ॥ २
chandas Gāyatrī, 3 pādas of 8 syllables
रक्षा णो ब्रह्मणस्पते ॥ ३
chandas Gāyatrī, 3 pādas of 8 syllables
सोमो हिनोति मर्त्यम् ॥ ४
chandas Gāyatrī, 3 pādas of 8 syllables
दक्षिणा पात्वंहसः ॥ ५
chandas Gāyatrī, 3 pādas of 8 syllables
दक्षिणा Dakshina — The gift given to the priests at a sacrifice, spoken of here as a goddess.
उप प्र यन्तु मरुतः सुदानव इन्द्र प्राशूर्भवा सचा ॥ ६
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
note Rig Veda 1.40, verses 1 to 8. The Maruts are the storm gods, Indra's companions.
सुवीर्यं मरुत आ स्वश्व्यं दधीत यो व आचके ॥ ७
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
अच्छा वीरं नर्यं पङ्क्तिराधसं देवा यज्ञं नयन्तु नः ॥ ८
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
सूनृता gracious speech — Sunrita, speech that is kind, true and generous, spoken of as a goddess.
तस्मा इळां सुवीरामा यजामहे सुप्रतूर्तिमनेहसम् ॥ ९
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
इळा Ila — Refreshment and plenty, above all the milk and butter of the offering, spoken of as a goddess.
यस्मिन्निन्द्रो वरुणो मित्रो अर्यमा देवा ओकांसि चक्रिरे ॥ १०
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
इमां च वाचं प्रतिहर्यथा नरो विश्वेद्वामा वो अश्नवत् ॥ ११
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
प्रप्र दाश्वान्पस्त्याभिरस्थितान्तर्वावत् क्षयं दधे ॥ १२
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
बर्हिस् the sacred grass — Grass spread on the ground at a sacrifice for the gods to sit on.
नास्य वर्ता न तरुता महाधने नार्भे अस्ति वज्रिणः ॥ १३
chandas Irregular; the Vedic Bṛhatī and Satobṛhatī
note The thunderbolt-bearer is Indra.
ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥ १४
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
गणपति lord of the ganas — The verse calls Brahmanaspati the lord of the ganas, the companies of singers. Ganapati's worshippers hear his own name in it, and it opens Ganesha worship everywhere.
note Rig Veda 2.23.1. The collection sets it at the head as an invocation, and again where its hymn begins.
उस्रा इव सूर्यो ज्योतिषा महो विश्वेषामिज्जनिता ब्रह्मणामसि ॥ १५
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 2.23, the main hymn to Brahmanaspati, from its second verse on.
बृहस्पते भीमममित्रदम्भनं रक्षोहणं गोत्रभिदं स्वर्विदम् ॥ १६
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
गोत्रभिद् who breaks open the cow-pen — The Vedic story of Vala: the cows of light were shut in a rock, and Brihaspati broke it open with his chant.
ब्रह्मद्विषस्तपनो मन्युमीरसि बृहस्पते महि तत् ते महित्वनम् ॥ १७
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
विश्वा इदस्माद्ध्वरसो वि बाधसे यं सुगोपा रक्षसि ब्रह्मणस्पते ॥ १८
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
बृहस्पते यो नो अभि ह्वरो दधे स्वा तं मर्मर्तु दुच्छुना हरस्वती ॥ १९
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
बृहस्पते अप तं वर्तया पथः सुगं नो अस्यै देववीतये कृधि ॥ २०
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
बृहस्पते देवनिदो नि बर्हय मा दुरेवा उत्तरं सुम्नमुन्नशन् ॥ २१
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
या नो दूरे तळितो या अरातयोऽभि सन्ति जंभया ता अनप्नसः ॥ २२
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
मा नो दुःशंसो अभिदिप्सुरीशत प्र सुशंसा मतिभिस्तारिषीमहि ॥ २३
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
असि सत्य ऋणया ब्रह्मणस्पत उग्रस्य चिद्दमिता वीळुहर्षिणः ॥ २४
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ऋणया who exacts what is owed — One who collects debts: Brahmanaspati sees that every wrong is paid for.
बृहस्पते मा प्रणक् तस्य नो वधो नि कर्म मन्युं दुरेवस्य शर्धतः ॥ २५
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
विश्वा इदर्यो अभिदिप्स्वो ३ मृधो बृहस्पतिर्वि ववर्हा रथाँ इव ॥ २६
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
आविस्तत् कृष्व यदसत् त उक्थ्यं १ बृहस्पते वि परिरापो अर्दय ॥ २७
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
यद्दीदयच्छवस ऋतप्रजात तदस्मासु द्रविणं धेहि चित्रम् ॥ २८
chandas Triṣṭubh, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 2.23.15, often recited on its own in worship of Brihaspati.
आ देवानामोहते वि व्रयो हृदि बृहस्पते न परः साम्नो विदुः ॥ २९
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
स ऋणचिदृणया ब्रह्मणस्पतिर्द्रुहो हन्ता मह ऋतस्य धर्तरि ॥ ३०
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
त्वष्टृ Tvashtar — The divine craftsman of the Veda, who shapes all forms.
इन्द्रेण युजा तमसा परीवृतं बृहस्पते निरपामौब्जो अर्णवम् ॥ ३१
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
अङ्गिरस् Angiras — The Angirases are the ancient singer-priests. Brihaspati is counted as one of them, and with them he won back the hidden cows.
विश्वं तद्भद्रं यदवन्ति देवा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥ ३२
chandas Triṣṭubh, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः may we speak great words at the gathering — The closing line of many hymns by the Gritsamada family of poets: may we speak out grandly at the assembly, with good sons around us.
note Rig Veda 2.23.19. The same verse also closes 2.24, so it comes twice in this collection.
यथा नो मीढ्वान्त्स्तवते सखा तव बृहस्पते सीषधः सोत नो मतिम् ॥ ३३
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 2.24.
प्राच्यावयदच्युता ब्रह्मणस्पतिरा चाविशद्वसुमन्तं वि पर्वतम् ॥ ३४
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
उद्गा आजदभिनद्ब्रह्मणा वलमगूहत्तमो व्यचक्षयत् स्वः ॥ ३५
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
वल Vala — The rock or demon that shut in the cows of light. Brihaspati opened it not with a weapon but with the sacred word.
तमेव विश्वे पपिरे स्वर्दृशो बहु साकं सिसिचुरुत्समुद्रिणम् ॥ ३६
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
अयतन्ता चरतो अन्यदन्यदिद्या चकार वयुना ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ३७
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note The two that move one after the other are most likely day and night.
ते विद्वांसः प्रतिचक्ष्यानृता पुनर्यत उ आयन्तदुदीयुराविशम् ॥ ३८
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
पणि the Panis — Misers who hid the cows in a cave, from which Brihaspati and the Angirases won them back.
ते बाहुभ्यां धमितमग्निमश्मनि नकिः षो अस्त्यरणो जहुर्हि तम् ॥ ३९
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note One of the darkest verses of the hymn; the meaning keeps close to the words.
तस्य साध्वीरिषवो याभिरस्यति नृचक्षसो दृशये कर्णयोनयः ॥ ४०
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
चाक्ष्मो यद्वाजं भरते मती धनाऽऽदित्सूर्यस्तपति तप्यतुर्वृथा ॥ ४१
विभु प्रभु प्रथमं मेहनावतो बृहस्पतेः सुविदत्राणि राध्या ।
इमा सातानि वेन्यस्य वाजिनो येन जना उभये भुञ्जते विशः ॥ ४२
chandas Jagatī, two verses of 4 pādas each
note Verses 9 and 10 of Rig Veda 2.24, printed together as one block.
स देवो देवान्प्रति पप्रथे पृथु विश्वेदु ता परिभूर्ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ४३
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
अच्छेन्द्राब्रह्मणस्पती हविर्नोऽन्नं युजेव वाजिना जिगातम् ॥ ४४
chandas Triṣṭubh, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
वीळुद्वेषा अनु वश ऋणमाददिः स ह वाजी समिथे ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ४५
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
यो गा उदाजत्स दिवे वि चाभजन् महीव रीतिः शवसासरत्पृथक् ॥ ४६
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
वीरेषु वीराँ उप पृङ्धि नस्त्वं यदीशानो ब्रह्मणा वेषि मे हवम् ॥ ४७
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
विश्वं तद्भद्रं यदवन्ति देवा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥ ४८
chandas Triṣṭubh, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः may we speak great words at the gathering — The closing line of many hymns by the Gritsamada family of poets: may we speak out grandly at the assembly, with good sons around us.
note Rig Veda 2.23.19. The same verse also closes 2.24, so it comes twice in this collection.
जातेन जातमति स प्र सर्सृते यंयं युजं कृणुते ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ४९
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 2.25, where every verse ends on the same words: the man Brahmanaspati makes his friend.
तोकं च तस्य तनयं च वर्धते यंयं युजं कृणुते ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ५०
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
अग्नेरिव प्रसितिर्नाह वर्तवे यंयं युजं कृणुते ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ५१
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
अनिभृष्टतविषिर्हन्त्योजसा यंयं युजं कृणुते ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ५२
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
देवानां सुम्ने सुभगः स एधते यंयं युजं कृणुते ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥ ५३
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
सुप्रावीरिद्वनवत्पृत्सु दुष्टरं यज्वेदयज्योर्वि भजाति भोजनम् ॥ ५४
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 2.26.
हविष्कृणुष्व सुभगो यथाससि ब्रह्मणस्पतेरव आ वृणीमहे ॥ ५५
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
वृत्रतूर्य the fight against the one who blocks — Vritra, the demon Indra killed, means the blocker, the one who held back the waters. The Vedic battle against him is a battle against obstruction.
देवानां यः पितरमाविवासति श्रद्धामना हविषा ब्रह्मणस्पतिम् ॥ ५६
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
उरुष्यतीमंहसो रक्षती रिषों३ऽहोश्चिदस्मा उरुचक्रिरद्भुतः ॥ ५७
chandas Jagatī, 12 syllables in each of 4 pādas
इन्द्रं श्लोको महि दैव्यः सिषक्तु यो ब्रह्मणो देवकृतस्य राजा ॥ ५८
chandas Triṣṭubh, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 7.97.3.
अविष्टं धियो जिगृतं पुरंधीर्जजस्तमर्यो वनुषामरातीः ॥ ५९
chandas Triṣṭubh, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 7.97.9.
अराय्यं ब्रह्मणस्पते तीक्ष्णशृङ्गोदृषन्निहि ॥ ६०
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
अरायी the witch of misfortune — Arayi, the spirit of want and ill luck, whom this Rig Veda hymn drives away.
note Rig Veda 10.155.2, from a charm against ill luck.
तदा रभस्व दुर्हणो तेन गच्छ परस्तरम् ॥ ६१
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 10.155.3, still spoken to the same witch of ill luck: take that driftwood and float away.
विराज्येन विराजति तेनास्मान् ब्रह्मणस्पते विराज समिधं कुरु ॥ ६२
chandas Irregular; a longer Anuṣṭubh
note This verse is not in the Rig Veda; it comes from later ritual use.
तत्रा नो ब्रह्मणस्पतिरदितिः शर्म यच्छतु विश्वाहा शर्म यच्छतु ॥ ६३
chandas Irregular; five pādas of 8 syllables
note Rig Veda 6.75.17, from the hymn to the weapons of war.
प्रचेता न आङ्गिरसो द्विषतां पात्वंहसः ॥ ६४
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 10.164.4, from a hymn against bad dreams. The wise son of Angiras is Brihaspati.
न ऋते त्वत्क्रियते किं चनारे महामर्कं मघवञ्चित्रमर्च ॥ ६५
chandas Triṣṭubh, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 10.112.9. Its words, nothing is done without you, fit the custom of calling on Ganapati before any work begins.
अयं मे विश्वभेषजोऽयं शिवाभिमर्शनः ॥ ६६
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
note Rig Veda 10.60.12, said while touching with the hand to bless and heal.
chandas Prose, the closing
