Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

The Golden Herald of Awakening: Hymn to Uṣas

Act 1

The Supreme Light and the Twin Sisters of Time

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

इ॒दं श्रेष्ठं॒ ज्योति॑षां॒ ज्योति॒रागा॑च्चि॒त्रः प्र॑के॒तो अ॑जनिष्ट॒ विभ्वा॑ । यथा॒ प्रसू॑ता सवि॒तुः स॒वायँ॑ ए॒वा रात्र्यु॒षसे॒ योनि॑मारैक् ॥

idám śréṣṭham jyótiṣām jyótirā́gāccitráḥ praketó ajaniṣṭa víbhvā ǀ yáthā prásūtā savitúḥ savā́yam̐ evā́ rā́tryuṣáse yónimāraik ǁ

Verse 2

रुश॑द्वत्सा॒ रुश॑ती श्वे॒त्यागा॒दारै॑गु कृ॒ष्णा सद॑नान्यस्याः । स॒मा॒नबं॑धू अ॒मृते॑ अनू॒ची द्यावा॒ वर्णं॑ चरत आमिना॒ने ॥

rúśadvatsā rúśatī śvetyā́gādā́raigu kṛṣṇā́ sádanānyasyāḥ ǀ samānábandhū amṛ́te anūcī́ dyā́vā várṇam carata āmināné ǁ

Verse 3

स॒मा॒नो अध्वा॒ स्वस्रो॑रनं॒तस्तम॒न्यान्या॑ चरतो दे॒वशि॑ष्टे । न मे॑थेते॒ न त॑स्थतुः सु॒मेके॒ नक्तो॒षासा॒ सम॑नसा॒ विरू॑पे ॥

samānó ádhvā svásroranantástámanyā́nyā carato deváśiṣṭe ǀ ná methete ná tasthatuḥ suméke náktoṣā́sā sámanasā vírūpe ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Welcome to the unfolding of the cosmic dawn. In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi introduces Uṣas not merely as a physical sunrise, but as the supreme light of lights, the harbinger of divine consciousness. Out of the dark womb of Night, the radiant Dawn is born as the brilliant daughter of heaven. Notice the profound cosmic choreography: Night and Dawn are sisters, moving along the same eternal, unbroken path guided by the divine laws. They do not fight; they do not stumble. They share a single, infinite track, alternating gracefully to renew the life of the world. In the spiritual landscape of the Ṛgveda, this duality is deeply symbolic. Night represents the unmanifest, the restful state of potential, while Dawn represents manifestation, awakening, and the active pursuit of truth. They are 'amṛte'—immortals—weaving the tapestry of time without ever damaging one another's garment of light and dark. The Ṛṣi invites us to see our own daily cycles of inner darkness and illumination as part of this grand, harmonious cosmic rhythm.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: The supreme light among all lights has arrived, a brilliant and expansive banner of awakening; just as Night yields her place to Dawn according to the impulsion of Savitṛ.

Verse 2: The radiant, white-robed Dawn has arrived, and Black Night has yielded her dwelling places; of one mind and sharing the same lineage, the two immortals move on, adorning each other's forms.

Verse 3: The path of the two sisters is one and endless; guided by the gods, they alternate in their journey. Night and Ktoṣas (Dawn) never clash, never pause, possessing a single mind though wearing different forms.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets these verses through the lens of daily meteorological and astronomical cycles (Night and Dawn). Sri Aurobindo and modern esoteric commentators view them as psychological symbols of the alternating states of human consciousness—the rest of the subconscious (Night) and the awakening of illumination (Dawn).

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
श्रेष्ठम्śreṣṭhammost excellent, supreme
ज्योतिषाम्jyotiṣāmof lights
विभ्वाvibhvāall-pervading, expansive
सवितुःsavituḥof Savitṛ, the divine stimulator

Verse 2

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
रुशतीruśatībright, shining
कृष्णाkṛṣṇāthe dark one (Night)
समानबन्धूsamānabandhūhaving the same kin or bond
अमृतेamṛtethe two immortals

Verse 3

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
अध्वाadhvāpath, way
स्वस्रोःsvasroḥof the two sisters
देवशिष्टेdevaśiṣṭeinstructed or commanded by the gods
विरूपेvirūpediffering in form
🧠

Memory Hook

Picture two graceful dancers holding opposite ends of a single silken ribbon—one side dark velvet, the other woven gold—spinning in eternal harmony without ever tangling.

Act 2

The Great Awakening and the Diverse Pursuits of Life

Verses 4, 5, 6

Verse 4

भास्व॑ती ने॒त्री सू॒नृता॑ना॒मचे॑ति चि॒त्रा वि दुरो॑ न आवः । प्रार्प्या॒ जग॒द्व्यु॑ नो रा॒यो अ॑ख्यदु॒षा अ॑जीग॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

bhā́svatī netrī́ sūnṛ́tānāmáceti citrā́ ví dúro na āvaḥ ǀ prā́rpyā jágadvyú no rāyó akhyaduṣā́ ajīgarbhúvanāni víśvā ǁ

Verse 5

जि॒ह्म॒श्ये॒३॒॑ चरि॑तवे म॒घोन्या॑भो॒गय॑ इ॒ष्टये॑ रा॒य उ॑ त्वं । द॒भ्रं पश्य॑द्भ्य उर्वि॒या वि॒चक्ष॑ उ॒षा अ॑जीग॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

jihmaśyé cáritave maghónyābhogáya iṣṭáye rāyá u tvam ǀ dabhrám páśyadbhya urviyā́ vicákṣa uṣā́ ajīgarbhúvanāni víśvā ǁ

Verse 6

क्ष॒त्राय॑ त्वं॒ श्रव॑से त्वं मही॒या इ॒ष्टये॑ त्व॒मर्थ॑मिव त्वमि॒त्यै । विस॑दृशा जीवि॒ताभि॑प्र॒चक्ष॑ उ॒षा अ॑जीग॒र्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

kṣatrā́ya tvam śrávase tvam mahīyā́ iṣṭáye tvamárthamiva tvamityái ǀ vísadṛśā jīvitā́bhipracákṣa uṣā́ ajīgarbhúvanāni víśvā ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Dawn does not merely brighten the sky; she awakens the entire universe. In these verses, Uṣas is depicted as the leader of sweet truths (sūnṛtānām), flinging open the doors of heaven and rousing every breathing creature from sleep. She sets the world into motion, urging human beings toward their respective destinies. Notice the psychological realism of verse 5 and 6. Dawn accommodates all human endeavors: some lie low in weariness, others seek wealth, some yearn for power (kṣatra), some for glory (śravas), and others for spiritual sacrifice (iṣṭi). Uṣas illuminates all these diverse paths equitably. She is the great equalizer and enabler, providing the vital breath and light needed for every walk of life to fulfill its unique purpose.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: Radiant, leading the truthful utterances, she has shone forth; she has flung open the doors of the spaces. Rousing the moving world, Dawn has revealed our wealth and awakened all living beings.

Verse 5: One seeks enjoyment, another ritual worship, another wealth; you awaken all, from those who lie sluggishly to those who look far and wide across the earth.

Verse 6: One for dominion, one for fame, one for exaltation, one for sacrifice, one for their specific purpose—Dawn awakens all living creatures to look upon diverse lives.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Yāska focuses on the distribution of labor and human desires prompted by the light of day. Śrī Aurobindo emphasizes how Uṣas awakens the inner faculties—mental, vital, and spiritual—preparing the human vessel for higher divine realisations.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
भास्वतीbhāsvatīradiant, shining
नेत्रीnetrīleader, guide
सूनृतानाम्sūnṛtānāmof truthful or joyful words/bounty
दुरःduraḥdoors, gates

Verse 5

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
मघोनीmaghonībountiful, generous lady
आभोगयेābhogayefor enjoyment or possession
इष्टयेiṣṭayefor sacrifice or desire
उर्वियाurviyāwidely, extensively

Verse 6

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
क्षत्रायkṣatrāyafor rule/power
श्रवसेśravasefor fame/glory
महीयैmahīyaifor greatness
जीविताjīvitālives, modes of living
🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a bustling ancient village at sunrise: the priest lights the fire, the king plans his governance, the farmer sharpens his plough, and the merchant counts his wares—all awakened by a single golden ray.

Act 3

The Daughter of Heaven and the Continuum of Generations

Verses 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Verse 7

ए॒षा दि॒वो दु॑हि॒ता प्रत्य॑दर्शि व्यु॒च्छंती॑ युव॒तिः शु॒क्रवा॑साः । विश्व॒स्येशा॑ना॒ पार्थि॑वस्य॒ वस्व॒ उषो॑ अ॒द्येह सु॑भगे॒ व्यु॑च्छ ॥

eṣā́ divó duhitā́ prátyadarśi vyucchántī yuvatíḥ śukrávāsāḥ ǀ víśvasyéśānā pā́rthivasya vásva úṣo adyéhá subhage vyúccha ǁ

Verse 8

प॒रा॒य॒ती॒नामन्वे॑ति॒ पाथ॑ आयती॒नां प्र॑थ॒मा शश्व॑तीनां । व्यु॒च्छंती॑ जी॒वमु॑दी॒रयं॑त्यु॒षा मृ॒तं कं च॒न बो॒धयं॑ती ॥

parāyatīnā́mánveti pā́tha āyatīnā́m prathamā́ śáśvatīnām ǀ vyucchántī jīvámudīráyantyuṣā́ mṛtám kám caná bodháyantī ǁ

Verse 9

उषो॒ यद॒ग्निं स॒मिधे॑ च॒कर्थ॒ वि यदाव॒श्चक्ष॑सा॒ सूर्य॑स्य । यन्मानु॑षान्य॒क्ष्यमा॑णाँ॒ अजी॑ग॒स्तद्दे॒वेषु॑ चकृषे भ॒द्रमप्नः॑ ॥

úṣo yádagním samídhe cakártha ví yádā́vaścákṣasā sū́ryasya ǀ yánmā́nuṣānyakṣyámāṇām̐ ájīgastáddevéṣu cakṛṣe bhadrámapnaḥ ǁ

Verse 10

किया॒त्या यत्स॒मया॒ भवा॑ति॒ या व्यू॒षुर्याश्च॑ नू॒नं व्यु॒च्छान् । अनु॒ पूर्वाः॑ कृपते वावशा॒ना प्र॒दीध्या॑ना॒ जोष॑म॒न्याभि॑रेति ॥

kíyātyā́ yátsamáyā bhávāti yā́ vyūṣúryā́śca nūnám vyucchā́n ǀ ánu pū́rvāḥ kṛpate vāvaśānā́ pradī́dhyānā jóṣamanyā́bhireti ǁ

Verse 11

ई॒युष्टे ये पूर्व॑तरा॒मप॑श्यन्व्यु॒च्छंती॑मु॒षसं॒ मर्त्या॑सः । अ॒स्माभि॑रू॒ नु प्र॑ति॒चक्ष्या॑भू॒दो ते यं॑ति॒ ये अ॑प॒रीषु॒ पश्या॑न् ॥

īyúṣṭé yé pū́rvatarāmápaśyanvyucchántīmuṣásam mártyāsaḥ ǀ asmā́bhirū nú praticákṣyābhūdó té yanti yé aparī́ṣu páśyān ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Here Uṣas is addressed intimately as 'Divaḥ duhitā'—the daughter of Dyaus (Heaven). Clothed in brilliant white raiment, she is the sovereign mistress of all earthly and heavenly wealth. Verse 8 presents a deeply poetic realization of time: Dawn is simultaneously the last of the innumerable dawns that have passed and the first of those yet to come. She comes rousingly, urging the living to life and startling even death or sleep into wakefulness. In verses 9 through 11, the Ṛṣi connects Uṣas directly to the sacrificial fire (Agni) and the rising sun. She is the one who kindles Agni and reveals the eye of Sūryā. Generations of mortals have watched her rise in the past; generations of mortals watch her now; and generations yet unborn will gaze upon her in the future. This creates a poignant bridge across mortality, uniting all seekers in the shared wonder of the morning light.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: This daughter of heaven has appeared, shining forth, a youthful maiden dressed in bright attire; sovereign over all earthly wealth, O auspicious Dawn, shine forth here today.

Verse 8: Following the path of those that have passed away, she is the first of those endless dawns that are coming. Shining forth, Dawn rouses the living, awakening even that which seemed dead.

Verse 9: O Uṣas, when you made Agni ready to be kindled, when you revealed yourself through the eye of the sun, and when you roused the worshipping mortals, you performed a most auspicious work among the gods.

Verse 10: How close is the time between those dawns that have shone forth and those that will shine now? Longing for the ancient ones, she moves in harmony with the others, deep in thought.

Verse 11: Those mortals have passed away who saw the early Dawn shining of old; now she is visible to us, and those come who will behold her in future days.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa focuses on the historical continuity of sacrificial rituals performed across generations at dawn. The philosophical interpretation highlights the eternal nature of truth against the transience of human generations.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
दुहिताduhitādaughter
युवतिःyuvatiḥmaiden, young woman
शुक्रवासाःśukravāsāḥclothed in white/bright garments
ईशानाīśānāruling, sovereign

Verse 8

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
परायतीनाम्parāyatīnāmof those departing/past
प्रथमाprathamāfirst
शश्वतीनाम्śaśvatīnāmof continuous/perpetual ones
बोधयन्तीbodhayantīawakening

Verse 9

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
समिधेsamidhefor kindling
चक्षसाcakṣasāby the sight/eye
अजीगरःajīgaraḥyou awakened
अप्नःapnaḥwork, deed

Verse 10

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
समयाsamayānear, close by
वावशानाvāvaśānāyearning, longing
प्रदीध्यानाpradīdhyānāshining forth, reflecting

Verse 11

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
पूर्वतराम्pūrvatarāmthe earlier one
मर्त्यासःmartyāsaḥmortals, men
प्रतिकक्ष्याpraticakṣyāto be beheld
अपरीषुaparīṣuin future times
🧠

Memory Hook

Picture an unbroken chain of human hands stretching across the horizon from antiquity into the far future, each person passing the torch of awareness as the golden dawn breaks overhead.

Act 4

The Eternal, Ageless Mistress of the Sacred Rite

Verses 12, 13, 14, 15

Verse 12

या॒व॒यद्द्वे॑षा ऋत॒पा ऋ॑ते॒जाः सु॑म्ना॒वरी॑ सू॒नृता॑ ई॒रयं॑ती । सु॒मं॒ग॒लीर्बिभ्र॑ती दे॒ववी॑तिमि॒हाद्योषः॒ श्रेष्ठ॑तमा॒ व्यु॑च्छ ॥

yāvayáddveṣā ṛtapā́ ṛtejā́ḥ sumnāvárī sūnṛ́tā īráyantī ǀ sumaṅgalī́rbíbhratī devávītimihā́dyóṣaḥ śréṣṭhatamā vyúccha ǁ

Verse 13

शश्व॑त्पु॒रोषा व्यु॑वास दे॒व्यथो॑ अ॒द्येदं व्या॑वो म॒घोनी॑ । अथो॒ व्यु॑च्छा॒दुत्त॑राँ॒ अनु॒ द्यून॒जरा॒मृता॑ चरति स्व॒धाभिः॑ ॥

śáśvatpuróṣā́ vyúvāsa devyátho adyédám vyā́vo maghónī ǀ átho vyúcchādúttarām̐ ánu dyū́najárāmṛ́tā carati svadhā́bhiḥ ǁ

Verse 14

व्यं१॒॑जिभि॑र्दि॒व आता॑स्वद्यौ॒दप॑ कृ॒ष्णां नि॒र्णिजं॑ दे॒व्या॑वः । प्र॒बो॒धयं॑त्यरु॒णेभि॒रश्वै॒रोषा या॑ति सु॒युजा॒ रथे॑न ॥

vyáñjíbhirdivá ā́tāsvadyaudápa kṛṣṇā́m nirṇíjam devyā́vaḥ ǀ prabodháyantyaruṇébhiráśvairóṣā́ yāti suyújā ráthena ǁ

Verse 15

आ॒वहं॑ती॒ पोष्या॒ वार्या॑णि चि॒त्रं के॒तुं कृ॑णुते॒ चेकि॑ताना । ई॒युषी॑णामुप॒मा शश्व॑तीनां विभाती॒नां प्र॑थ॒मोषा व्य॑श्वैत् ॥

āváhantī póṣyā vā́ryāṇi citrám ketúm kṛṇute cékitānā ǀ īyúṣīṇāmupamā́ śáśvatīnām vibhātīnā́m prathamóṣā́ vyáśvait ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In this movement, Uṣas is praised as the protector of Ṛta (cosmic order) and the embodiment of divine grace. She dispels all malice and hatred (yāvayaddveṣāḥ), bringing auspiciousness and nourishing human hearts with joyful inspirations (sūnṛtā). She bears the feast of the gods (devavīti) to the earthly altar. Verses 13 and 14 capture her eternal youth. Though she has shone countless times in the past and shines today, she remains ageless and immortal (ajarā amṛtā), moving by her own innate power (svadhā). With ornaments of light upon the edges of heaven, she strips away the dark garment of night and drives forward with her brilliantly yoked red horses.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 12: Repelling hatred, guardian of Ṛta, born of Ṛta, rich in grace, uttering sweet inspirations, bearing auspicious blessings and the feast of the gods—may you shine forth most excellently today, O Dawn.

Verse 13: Ever in the past has the divine Dawn shone, and today she displays this wealth; so too will she shine forth through future days, ageless and immortal, moving by her own inherent laws.

Verse 14: With adornments she has gleamed upon the borders of heaven; she has stripped away the dark cloak of night. Awakening us with her ruddy steeds, the divine Dawn comes with her well-yoked chariot.

Verse 15: Bringing forth nourishing treasures, fully aware, she fashions her brilliant banner. Foremost among all dawns that have gone before and all that shine forth, Uṣas has broken into light.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Traditional commentators explain the 'ornaments' and 'ruddy steeds' as poetic descriptions of the red morning glow and stars. Spiritual commentators see them as symbols of divine faculties and energies that dress the soul in purity.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 12

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
यवयद्वेषाःyavayatdveṣāḥdriving away hatred/foes
ऋतपाःṛtapāḥprotector of Ṛta
सुम्नवरीsumnavarīpossessing or bestowing grace/joy
सुमङ्गलीःsumaṅgalīḥbringing auspiciousness

Verse 13

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
शश्वत्śaśvatever, constantly
मघोनीmaghonībountiful
अजराajarāageless, unaging
अमृताamṛtāimmortal

Verse 14

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
अञ्जिभिःañjibhiḥwith ornaments/decorations
निर्णिजम्nirnijamgarment, robe
अरुणेभिःaruṇebhiḥwith reddish/ruddy horses
सुयुजाsuyujāwell-yoked

Verse 15

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
आवहन्तीāvahantībringing hither
वार्याणिvāryāṇidesirable things, boons
चेकितानाcekitānāperceiving, fully conscious
अश्वैत्aśvaithas shone forth
🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize an eternal queen stepping out onto a celestial balcony clad in shimmering jewels and golden robes, her chariot driven by swift red horses, effortlessly sweeping away the velvet curtains of night.

Act 5

The Call to Life, Prayer, and Universal Blessing

Verses 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Verse 16

उदी॑र्ध्वं जी॒वो असु॑र्न॒ आगा॒दप॒ प्रागा॒त्तम॒ आ ज्योति॑रेति । आरै॒क्पंथां॒ यात॑वे॒ सूर्या॒याग॑न्म॒ यत्र॑ प्रति॒रंत॒ आयुः॑ ॥

údīrdhvam jīvó ásurna ā́gādápa prā́gāttáma ā́ jyótireti ǀ ā́raikpánthām yā́tave sū́ryāyā́ganma yátra pratiránta ā́yuḥ ǁ

Verse 17

स्यूम॑ना वा॒च उदि॑यर्ति॒ वह्निः॒ स्तवा॑नो रे॒भ उ॒षसो॑ विभा॒तीः । अ॒द्या तदु॑च्छ गृण॒ते म॑घोन्य॒स्मे आयु॒र्नि दि॑दीहि प्र॒जाव॑त् ॥

syū́manā vācá údiyarti váhniḥ stávāno rebhá uṣáso vibhātī́ḥ ǀ adyā́ táduccha gṛṇaté maghonyasmé ā́yurní didīhi prajā́vat ǁ

Verse 18

या गोम॑तीरु॒षसः॒ सर्व॑वीरा व्यु॒च्छंति॑ दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य । वा॒योरि॑व सू॒नृता॑नामुद॒र्के ता अ॑श्व॒दा अ॑श्नवत्सोम॒सुत्वा॑ ॥

yā́ gómatīruṣásaḥ sárvavīrā vyucchánti dāśúṣe mártyāya ǀ vāyóriva sūnṛ́tānāmudarké tā́ aśvadā́ aśnavatsomasútvā ǁ

Verse 19

मा॒ता दे॒वाना॒मदि॑ते॒रनी॑कं य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुर्बृ॑ह॒ती वि भा॑हि । प्र॒श॒स्ति॒कृद्ब्रह्म॑णे नो॒ व्यु१॒॑च्छा नो॒ जने॑ जनय विश्ववारे ॥

mātā́ devā́nāmáditeránīkam yajñásya ketúrbṛhatī́ ví bhāhi ǀ praśastikṛ́dbráhmaṇe no vyúcchā́ no jáne janaya viśvavāre ǁ

Verse 20

यच्चि॒त्रमप्न॑ उ॒षसो॒ वहं॑तीजा॒नाय॑ शशमा॒नाय॑ भ॒द्रं । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहंता॒मदि॑तिः॒ सिंधुः॑ पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥

yáccitrámápna uṣáso váhantījānā́ya śaśamānā́ya bhadrám ǀ tánno mitró váruṇo māmahantāmáditiḥ síndhuḥ pṛthivī́ utá dyáuḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In this concluding movement, the Sūkta swells into a magnificent call to human awakening and prayer. 'Rise up!' cries the Ṛṣi (Udīrdhvam). The breath of life has returned, darkness has fled, and light has arrived, clearing the path for the sun and extending our span of life. The poet, acting as the inspired singer (vahni), lifts his voice in woven prayer (syūmanā vācaḥ), begging the bountiful Dawn to shine upon the chanter and bestow long, progeny-rich life. Finally, the Sūkta expands into a cosmic benediction. Uṣas is invoked as the mother of the gods, the face of Aditi, and the banner of sacrifice. The Ṛṣi calls upon the great pantheon—Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, and Heaven—to ratify the blessing. May every sincere seeker and sacrificer receive the wondrous, auspicious boons that Dawn carries in her arms.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 16: Rise up! The spirit of life has come to us; darkness has fled away, and light approaches. She has cleared the path for Sūryā to travel, and we have reached where life is prolonged.

Verse 17: Weaving his words together, the singer lifts his voice, praising the shining dawns. O bountiful Dawn, shine forth today for the reciter; bestow upon us life blessed with progeny.

Verse 18: Those dawns that shine forth rich in cows and heroes for the mortal who offers gifts—like Vāyu at the outpouring of sweet Soma—may the Soma-presser attain those dawns that grant horses.

Verse 19: Mother of the gods, face of Aditi, banner of the sacrifice, vast and radiant, shine forth! Create praise for the sacred word within us, and engender glory in our people, O all-desirable Dawn.

Verse 20: Whatever wondrous wealth the dawns bear to the zealous sacrificer devoted to the gods—may Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, and Heaven confirm that blessed bounty for us.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa analyzes the specific ritual gifts (cows, horses, progeny) requested by the sacrificer. Sri Aurobindo interprets the closing verses as a synthesis of spiritual integral awakening where human aspiration meets universal divine support from all cosmic forces (Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi).

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 16

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
उदीर्ध्वम्udīrdhvamrise up, bestir yourselves
असुःasuḥbreath, life-spirit
पन्थाम्panthāmpath, way
प्रतिरन्तेpratirantethey prolong, extend

Verse 17

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
स्यूमनाsyūmanāwell-woven, connected
वह्निःvahniḥpriest, carrier of praise
गृणतेgṛṇatefor the singer/praise-giver
प्रजावत्prajāvatrich in offspring/descendants

Verse 18

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
गोमतीःgōmatīḥrich in cows/light rays
सर्ववीराःsarvavīrāḥrich in heroes/strong men
दाशुषेdāśuṣefor the worshipper/donor
अश्वदाःaśvadāḥgranting horses

Verse 19

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
माता देवानाम्mātā devānāmmother of the shining ones
अनीकम्anīkamface, front, appearance
बृहतीbṛhatīvast, great
विश्ववारेviśvavāredesired by all, all-choice

Verse 20

DevanāgarīIASTTranslation
चित्रम्citramwondrous, bright
अप्नःapnaḥwork, treasure, gain
ईजानायījānāyafor the one who has sacrificed
ममहन्ताम्mamahantāmmay they magnify/bless
🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a community standing in a circle under the morning sky, holding hands as elders, priests, and children lift their faces to the sun, while cosmic deities nod in agreement from the heavens.