जहि

Sanskrit

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *ǰʰadʰí, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰn̥dʰí (2nd person singular imperative of *gʷʰen- (to strike, smite, slay)). Cognate with Avestan 𐬘𐬀𐬌𐬜𐬌 (jaiδi, 2nd person singular imperative of 𐬘𐬀𐬥- (jan-)), Old Persian 𐎩𐎮𐎹 (j-di-y /⁠jadiy⁠/, smite!, 2nd person singular imperative).

Pronunciation

Verb

जहि • (jahí)

  1. second-person singular imperative of हन् (han, to strike, smite, slay)
    • c. 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE, Ṛgveda 6.17.3:
      ए॒वा पा॑हि प्र॒त्नथा॒ मन्द॑तु त्वा श्रु॒धि ब्रह्म॑ वावृ॒धस्वो॒त गी॒र्भिः ।
      आ॒विः सूर्यं॑ कृणु॒हि पी॑पि॒हीषो॑ ज॒हि शत्रूँ॑र् अ॒भि गा इ॑न्द्र तृन्धि ॥
      evā́ pāhi pratnáthā mándatu tvā śrudhí bráhma vāvṛdhásvotá gīrbhíḥ.
      āvíḥ sū́ryaṃ kṛṇuhí pīpihī́ṣo jahí śátrūm̐r abhí gā́ indra tṛndhi.
      O Indra, drink, as [you did] formerly, and let the draught delight you. Hear our prayer and let our songs exalt you. Make the Sun visible, make food abundant, smite the foes, pierce through and free the cattle.