What is the meaning of Rig Vedic 'Jishnu' in scripture?

Question

In RV.7.35 Rishi Vashist MaitraVaruni describes various gods, things and places which were auspicious. Here in the hymn 5 we find a term jishnu -

sham no rajsaspatirstu jishnu

T.H.Griffith translates this as -

gracious the Lord victorious of the region.

But, I have found this term Jishnu in GujarAti Dictionary as an another name of Lord Indra. Now I want to know - do other other scriptures validate or contradict the meaning found in GujarAti Dictionary?

Answer 1

The Mantra you quoted in the question is from Rig-Veda -Mandala 7 - Sukta 35 - The Rishi of this sukta is Vaisihtha MaitraVaruni . And Devata is Vishwadevas i.e. Various gods. These are Mantras for peace and bliss.

शं नो द्यावापृथिवी पूर्वहूतौ शमन्तरिक्षं दृशये नो अस्तु |
शं न ओषधीर्वनिनो भवन्तु शं नो रजसस्पतिरस्तु जिष्णु: ||Rig-Veda 7.35.5||

Early invoked, may Heaven and Earth be friendly, and Air's mid-region good for us to look on. To us may Herbs and Forest-Trees be gracious, gracious the Lord Victorious of the region.

The meaning of the word "Jishnu" translated by various authors are somewhat same .Jishnu (जिष्णु) = Victorious Lokpal or Lok Pati , Lord Victorious of the region, Victorious lord of the world etc.

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Now lets see what other scriptures like Mahabharata and Puranas are saying about this word.

Starting from Mahabharata , the word Jishnu is used here for Arjuna. i.e. Jishnu is one of the ten names of Arjuna. Here in Virata Parva - Gau haran parva - Chapter 44 -Arjuna himself is telling his name Jishnu to uttara.

अहं दुरापो दुर्धर्षो दमन: पाकशासनि: |
तेन देवमनुष्येषु जिष्णुर्नामास्मी विश्रुत : ||21||

I am known among human beings and celestials by the name of Jishnu, because I am unapproachable and incapable of being kept down, and a tamer of adversaries and son of the slayer of Paka.

Here Arjuna is saying that he is son of Indra , but the name is of Arjuna although mention of Indra.

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In puranas like Garuda Purana - Achar Kanda - Chapter 31 - Description of another form of Vishnu worship , the name Jishnu is used fro Lord Vishnu as one of his name uttered during worship.

जिष्णवे सर्वदेवानां सर्वगाय महात्मने ||
ब्रह्मेन्द्ररूद्रवन्द्याय सर्वेशाय नमोनम: ||27||

salutation unto the great Jishnu the lord of all gods and present everywhere. Salutation again and again unto the lord of all adored of Brahma , Rudra and Indra.

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In Vayu Purana - Chapter -25 - "Description of the obtainment of a boon from Shankara of Vishnu. " - Its said that Lord Vishnu (probably Maha Vishnu) created two of his forms , same as brothers one is Vishnu and another is "Jishnu" to protect Brahma from demons Madhu and Kaitabha.

गते तस्मिन्स्ततोSनन्त उद्गिर्य भ्रातरौ मुखात |
विष्णुं जिष्णुं च प्रोवाच ब्रह्माण भिरक्षताम|
मधुकैटभयोर्ज्ञ्नात्वा तयोरागमनं पुनः ||Vayu Purana 25.37 ||

When Brahma had gone , Lord Vishnu created two brothers - Vishnu and Jishnu out of his mouth and instructed them - Both of you should protect Brahma having known the arrival of Madhu and Kaitabha .

So again we can here see the association of the name Jishnu to Vishnu. And Vishnu created two brothers from his mouth (probably Nara-Narayana) .

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So as you required the Puranas and Mahabharata meaning of word Jishnu is different than the meaning found in GujarAti Dictionary you have seen . Although one of the name of the Indra is jishnu , but the word is also used for Vishnu and Arjuna.

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Here are the various meaning of the word from spokensanskrit .