विश्वे देवासो अस्रिध एहिमायासो अद्रुहः ।
मेधं जुषन्त वह्नयः ॥ ९ ॥

Vishve devaso asridhah ehimayasah adruhah |
Medham jushanta vahnayah || 9 ||

Meaning

विश्वे देवासः (Vishve Devasah) – All the divine qualities. Here, the word Devas does not merely refer to celestial deities. It represents the noble virtues that can flourish within every human being, such as compassion, righteousness, wisdom, selflessness, unity, responsibility, and the desire to work for the welfare of others. These divine qualities elevate human life and guide it toward spiritual and moral excellence.

अस्रिधः (Asridhah) – The imperishable, those who do not exploit, or those who never diminish. Divine qualities neither corrupt nor destroy a person inwardly or outwardly. They never encourage the exploitation of others for personal gain, but instead inspire one to seek the welfare of all. The mantra conveys a profound truth of life: genuine divine virtues never advance one person’s progress by causing suffering to another.

एहिमायासः (Ehimayasah) – Those endowed with active wisdom. Here, the word Maya signifies higher intelligence, insight, or enlightened understanding. These divine qualities are not confined to thought alone but are expressed through righteous action. They promote the well-being of the body, mind, and intellect, and work for the benefit of the individual, society, the nation, and the entire world. The mantra teaches that true wisdom is knowledge that is actively applied for the welfare of all.

अद्रुहः (Adruhah) – Those who are free from hostility or those who harbor no ill will. One of the foremost characteristics of divine qualities is the complete absence of hatred, revenge, or harmful intentions toward anyone. The divine mind constantly wishes for the well-being of all and acts with kindness, goodwill, and universal compassion.

मेधम् (Medham) – Unity, harmonious understanding, or higher intelligence. Medha signifies noble wisdom, unity of purpose, and the ability to work together in harmony. This expression reflects the Vedic ideal of “Sangachchhadhvam”—”Move together in unity.” It teaches that true wisdom is expressed through cooperation, mutual understanding, and collective progress.

जुषन्त (Jushanta) – They delight in, they gladly accept, or they cherish. Divine qualities rejoice in harmony and willingly embrace unity. They inspire cooperation, mutual support, and the spirit of working together. The mantra teaches that genuine strength is found in unity and harmonious relationships.

वह्नयः (Vahnayah) – Those who carry, those who bear responsibilities, or those who faithfully perform their duties. Here, the word symbolizes those who gladly accept their responsibilities, fulfil their obligations without hesitation, and strive to accomplish their work successfully. The mantra teaches that living with a strong sense of responsibility and faithfully performing one’s duties are distinguishing marks of a truly divine life.

Explanation

This Vedic mantra presents a profound spiritual teaching on the highest ideals of human conduct, wisdom, and the nature of divine virtues. The expression Vishve Devasah (“All the Divine Powers”) does not refer merely to external deities, but to the noble qualities that manifest within every human being. Compassion, wisdom, righteousness, selflessness, a sense of responsibility, unity, and the desire to work for the welfare of others are the divine virtues spoken of in this mantra. When a person purifies the heart and lives a Sattvic way of life, these noble qualities naturally begin to flourish.

The word Asridhah reveals the imperishable nature of divine qualities. These virtues never corrupt or destroy a person, nor do they encourage exploitation or the desire to advance oneself by causing suffering to others. Instead, they cultivate a noble attitude that seeks the well-being of everyone. The mantra emphasizes a profound truth: true greatness is achieved not by bringing others down, but by uplifting all.

The expression Ehimayasah refers to active and practical wisdom. It is not merely intellectual knowledge or philosophical thinking, but wisdom that is expressed through righteous action. Such wisdom promotes the well-being of the body, mind, and intellect, while contributing to the welfare of the individual, society, the nation, and the world. The mantra teaches that genuine wisdom is a dynamic force that works for the good of all.

The word Adruhah highlights the quality of being free from hostility. Divine virtues harbor no hatred, resentment, or desire for revenge. Instead, they are always guided by goodwill and the sincere wish that all beings should live in peace and happiness. A truly spiritual mind is established in compassion and constantly seeks the welfare of everyone.

The word Medham signifies unity, harmony, and higher intelligence. It recalls the Vedic ideal expressed in the teaching “Sangachchhadhvam”—”Move together in unity.” Divine qualities do not function in isolation; they work together in harmony, creating cooperation, mutual understanding, and collective progress.

The word Jushanta means “to gladly accept” or “to delight in.” Divine qualities naturally rejoice in harmony and willingly embrace cooperation. They encourage people to work together, support one another, and live in mutual understanding. The mantra reminds us that true strength is found in unity.

The word Vahnayah symbolizes those who willingly carry responsibilities and faithfully perform their duties. Divine qualities joyfully accept responsibility and remain steadfast in fulfilling their obligations without hesitation. The mantra teaches that a strong sense of duty and responsibility is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a truly spiritual life.

The overall message of this mantra is that divine qualities are imperishable. They function with active wisdom, remain free from hostility, cherish unity, and willingly accept responsibility for the welfare of the world.

Thus, this mantra is far more than a simple Vedic prayer. It serves as a profound spiritual guide, inspiring every individual to live a selfless, disciplined, active, harmonious, and responsible life, while cultivating the divine virtues that lead to personal excellence and universal well-being.

Conclusion

This Vedic mantra clearly reveals the highest goal of human life. It teaches that the divine qualities which arise within a person are not merely noble thoughts but living virtues expressed through compassion, righteousness, wisdom, selflessness, a sense of responsibility, and unity. These divine qualities are imperishable. They never exploit others for personal gain but instead grow by promoting the welfare and well-being of all.

The mantra further emphasizes that true wisdom must be active and practical. Knowledge should not exist merely for personal benefit but should be applied for the welfare of the individual, society, and the entire world. Likewise, a truly divine mind remains free from hostility and is always guided by compassion, sincerely wishing for the happiness and well-being of all.

The mantra also teaches that unity and harmony form the very foundation of divine living, and that genuine strength is found in cooperation and mutual understanding. Furthermore, the willingness to joyfully accept and faithfully fulfil one’s responsibilities is presented as one of the distinguishing marks of divine character.

Thus, this mantra serves as a profound spiritual guide that frees human beings from selfishness and inspires them to live a life founded upon righteousness, purposeful action, unity, compassion, and a strong sense of responsibility. By cultivating these divine virtues, one progresses toward a noble life of spiritual excellence and universal well-being.