
Hymns to Usha from The Rig-Veda - Book I

HYMN XLVIII. Dawn.
1 DAWN on us with prosperity, O Usas, Daughter of the Sky,
Dawn with great glory, Goddess, Lady of the Light, dawn thou
with riches, Bounteous One.
2 They, bringing steeds and kine,
boon-givers of all wealth, have oft sped forth to lighten us.
O Usas, waken up for me the sounds of joy: send us the riches
of the great.
3 Usas hath dawned, and now shall dawn, the
Goddess, driver forth of cars
Which, as she cometh nigh,
have fixed their thought on her, like glory-seekers on the flood.
4 Here Kanva, chief of Kanva's race, sings forth aloud the glories
of the heroes' names,-
The. princes who, O Usas, as thou
comest near, direct their thoughts to liberal gifts.
5 Like a good matron Usas comes carefully tending everything:
Rousing all life she stirs all creatures that have feet, and
makes the birds of air fly up.
6 She sends the busy forth,
each man to his pursuit: delay she knows not as she springs.
O rich in opulence, after thy dawning birds that have flown
forth no longer rest.
7 This Dawn hath yoked her steeds afar,
beyond the rising of the Sun:
Borne on a hundred chariots
she, auspicious Dawn, advances on her way to Men.
8 To meet
her glance all living creatures bend them down: Excellent One,
she makes the light.
Usas, the Daughter of the Sky, the opulent,
shines foes and enmities away.
9 Shine on us with thy radiant
light, O Usas, Daughter of the Sky,
Bringing to us great
store of high felicity, and bearning on our solemn rites.
10 For in thee is each living creature's breath and life, when,
Excellent! thou dawnest forth.
Borne on thy lofty car, O
Lady of the Light, hear, thou of wondrous wealth, our call.
11 O Usas, win thyself the strength which among men is wonderful.
Bring thou thereby the pious unto holy rites, those who as priests
sing praise to thee.
12 Bring from the firmament, O Usas,
all the Gods, that they may drink our Soma juice,
And, being
what thou art, vouchsafe us kine and steeds, strength meet for
praist and hero might.
13 May Usas whose auspicious rays
are seen resplendent round about,
Grant us great riches,
fair in form, of all good things, wealth which light labour
may attain.
14 Mighty One, whom the Rsis of old time invoked
for their protection and their help,
O Usas, graciously answer
our songs of praise with bounty and with brilliant
light.
15 Usas, as thou with light to day hast opened the twin doors
of heaven,
So grant thou us a dwelling wide and free from
foes. O Goddess, give us food with kine.
16 Bring us to wealth
abundant, sent in every shape, to plentiful refreshing food,
To all-subduing splendour, Usas, Mighty One, to strength, thou
rich in spoil and wealth.
HYMN XLIX. Dawn.
1 E'EN from above the sky's bright realm come, Usas, by auspicious
ways:
Let red steeds bear thee to the house of him who pours
the Soma, juice.
2 The chariot which thou mountest, fair
of shape, O Usas light to move,-
Therewith, O Daughter of
the Sky, aid men of noble fame today.
3 Bright Usas, when
thy times return, all quadrupeds and bipeds stir,
And round
about flock winged birds from all theboundaries of heaven.
4 Thou dawning with thy beams of light illumest all the radiant
realm.
Thee, as thou art, the Kanvas, fain for wealth, have
called with sacred songs.
HYMN XCII. Dawn.
1. THESE Dawns have raised their banner; in the eastern half
of the mid-air they spread abroad their shinine light.
Like
heroes who prepare their weapons for the war, onward they come
bright red in hue, the Mother Cows.
2 Readily have the purple
beams of light shot up; the Red Cows have they harnessed, easy
to be yoked.
The Dawns have brought distinct perception as
before: red-hued, they have attained their fulgent brilliancy.
3 They sing their song like women active in their tasks, along
their common path hither from far away,
Bringing refreshment
to the liberal devotee, yea, all things to the worshipper who
pours the juice.
4 She, like a dancer, puts her broidered
garments on: as a cow yields her udder so she bares her breast.
Creating light for all the world of life, the Dawn hath laid
the darkness open as the cows their stall.
5 We have beheld
the brightness of her shining; it spreads and drives away the
darkiorne monster.
Like tints that deck the Post at sacrifices,
Heaven's Daughter hath attained her wondrous splendour.
6
We have o'erpast the limit of this darkness; Dawn breaking forth
again brings clear perception.
She like a flatterer smiles
in light for glory, and fair of face hath wakened to rejoice us.
7 The Gotamas have praised Heaven's radiant Daughter,
the leader of the charm of pleasant voices.
Dawn, thou conferrest
on us strength with offspring and men, conspicuous with kine
and horses.
8 O thou who shinest forth in wondrous glory,
urged onward by thy strength, auspicious Lady,
Dawn, may
I gain that wealth, renowned and ample, in brave sons, troops
of slaves, far-famed for horses.
9 Bending her looks on all
the world, the Goddess shines, widely spreading with her bright
eye westward.
Waking to motion every living creature, she
understands the voice of each adorer.
10 Ancient of days,
again again born newly, decking her beauty with the self-same
raiment.
The Goddess wastes away the life of mortals, like
a skilled hunter cutting birds in pieces.
11 She hath appeared
discovering heaven's borders: to the far distance she drives
off her Sister.
Diminishing the days of human creatures,
the Lady shines with all her lover's splendour.
12 The bright,
the blessed One shines forth extending her rays like kine, as
a flood rolls his waters.
Never transgressing the divine
commandments, she is beheld visible with the sunbeams.
13
O Dawn enriched with ample wealth, bestow on us the wondrous
gift
Wherewith we may support children and children's sons.
14 Thou radiant mover of sweet sounds, with wealth of horses
and of kine
Shine thou on us this day, O Dawn auspiciously.
15 O Dawn enriched with holy rites, yoke to thy car thy purple
steeds,
And then bring thou unto us all felicities.
16
O Asvins wonderful in act, do ye unanimous direct
Your chariot
to our home wealthy in kine and gold.
17 Ye who brought down
the hymn from heaven, a light that giveth light to man,
Do
ye, O Asvius, bring strength bither unto us.
18 Hither may
they who wake at dawn bring, to drink Soma both the Gods
Health-givers Wonder-Workers, borne on paths of gold.
HYMN CXIII. Dawn.
1. This light is come, amid all lights the fairest; born
is the brilliant, far-extending brightness.
Night, sent away
for Savitar's uprising, hath yielded up a birth-place for the
Morning.
2 The Fair, the Bright is come with her white offspring;
to her the Dark One hath resigned her dwelling.
Akin, immortal,
following each other, changing their colours both the heavens
move onward.
3 Common, unending is the Sisters' pathway;
taught by the Gods, alternately they travel.
Fair-formed,
of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash not,
neither do they travel.
4 Bright leader of glad sounds, our
eyes behold her; splendid in hue she hath unclosed the portals.
She, stirring up the world, hath shown us riches: Dawn hath
awakened every living creature.
5 Rich Dawn, she sets afoot
the coiled-up sleeper, one for enjoyment, one for wealth or
worship,
Those who saw little for extended vision. All living
creatures hath the Dawn awakened.
6 One to high sway, one
to exalted glory, one to pursue his gain, and one his labour:
All to regard their different vocations, all moving creatures
hath the Dawn awakened.
7 We see her there, the Child of
Heaven apparent, the young Maid, flushing in her shining raiment.
Thou soyran Lady of all earthly treasure, flush on us here,
auspicious Dawn, this morning.
8 She first of endless morns
to come hereafter, follows the path of morns that have departed.
Dawn, at her rising, urges forth the living him who is dead
she wakes not from his slumber.
9 As thou, Dawn, hast caused
Agni to be kindled, and with the Sun's eye hast revealed creation.
And hast awakened men to offer worship, thou hast performed,
for Gods, a noble service.
10 How long a time, and they shall
be together,-Dawns that have shone and Dawns to shine hereafter?
She yearns for former Dawns with eager longing, and goes forth
gladly shining with the others.
11 Gone are the men who in
the days before us looked on the rising of the earlier Morning.
We, we the living, now behold her brightness and they come nigh
who shall hereafter see her.
12 Foe-chaser, born of Law,
the Law's protectress, joy-giver waker of all pleasant voices,
Auspicious, bringing food for Gods' enjoyment, shine on us here,
most bright, O Dawn, this morning.
13 From days eternal hath
Dawn shone, the Goddess, and shows this light to-day, endowed
with riches.
So will she shine on days to come immortal she
moves on in her own strength, undecaying.
14 In the sky's
borders hath she shone in splendour: the Goddess hath thrown
off the veil of darkness.
Awakening the world with purple
horses, on her well-harnessed chariot Dawn approaches.
15
Bringing all life-sustaining blessings with her, showing herself
she sends forth brilliant lustre.
Last of the countless mornings
that have vanished, first of bright morns to come hath Dawn
arisen.
16 Arise! the breath, the life, again hath reached
us: darkness hath passed away and light approacheth.
She
for the Sun hath left a path to travel we have arrived where
men prolong existence.
17 Singing the praises of refulgent
Mornings with his hymn's web the priest, the poet rises.
Shine then to-day, rich Maid, on him who lauds thee, shine down
on us the gift of life and offipring.
18 Dawns giving sons
all heroes, kine and horses, shining upon the man who brings
oblations,-
These let the Soma-presser gain when ending his
glad songs louder than the voice of Vayu.
19 Mother of Gods,
Aditi's forui of glory, ensign of sacrifice, shine forth exalted.
Rise up, bestowing praise on our devotion all-bounteous, niake
us chief among the people.
20 Whatever splendid wealth the
Dawns bring with them to bless the man who offers praise and
worship,
Even that may Mitra, Varuna vouchsafe us, and Aditi
and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CXXIII. Dawn.
1. THE Daksina's broad chariot hath been harnessed: this
car the Gods Immortal have ascended.
Fain to bring light
to homes of men the noble and active Goddess hath emerged from
darkness.
2 She before all the living world hath wakened,
the Lofty One who wins and gathers treasure.
Revived and
ever young on high she glances. Dawn hath come first unto our
morning worship.
3 If, Dawn, thou Goddess nobly born, thou
dealest fortune this day to all the race of mortals,
May
Savitar the God, Friend of the homestead, declare before the
Sun that we are sinless.
4 Showing her wonted form each day
that passeth, spreading the light she visiteth each dwelling.
Eager for conquest, with bright sheen she cometh. Her portion
is the best of goodly treasures.
5 Sister of Varuna, sister
of Bhaga, first among all sing forth, O joyous Morning.
Weak
be the strength of him who worketh evil - may we subdue him
with our car the guerdon.
6 Let our glad hymns and holy thoughts
rise upward, for the flames brightly burning have ascended.
The far-refulgent Mornings make apparent the lovely treasures
which the darkness covered.
7 The one departeth and the other
cometh: unlike in hue day's, halves march on successive.
One hides the gloom of the surrounding Parents. Dawn on her
shining chariot is resplendent.
8 The same in form to-day,
the same tomorrow, they still keep Varuna's eternal statute.
Blameless, in turn they traverse thirty regions, and dart across
the spirit in a moment.
9 She who hath knowledge Of the first
day's nature is born refulgent white from out the darkness.
The Maiden breaketh not the law of Order, day by day coming
to the place appointed.
10 In pride of beauty like a maid
thou goest, O Goddess, to the God who longs to win thee,
And smiling youthful, as thou shinest brightly, before him thou
discoverest thy bosom.
11 Fair as a bride embellished by
her mother thou showest forth thy form that all may see it.
Blessed art thou O Dawn. Shine yet more widely. No other Dawns
have reached what thou attainest.
12 Rich in kine, horses,
and all goodly treasures, in constant operation with the sunbeams,
The Dawns depart and come again again assuming their wonted
forms that promise happy fortune.
13 Obedient to the rein
of Law Eternal give us each thought that more and more shall
bless us.
Shine thou on us to-day, Dawn, swift to listen.
With us be riches and with chiefs who worship.
HYMN CXXIV. Dawn.
1. THE Dawn refulgent when the fire is kindled, and the Sun
rising, far diffuse their brightness.
Savitar, God, hath
sentus forth to labour, each quadruped, each biped, to be active.
2 Not interrupting heavenly ordinances, although she minisheth
human generations.
The last of endless morns that have departed,
the first of those that come, Dawn brightly shineth.
3 There
in the eastern region she, Heaven's Daughter, arrayed in garments
all of light, appeareth.
Truly she fo1loweth the path of
Order, nor faileth, knowing well, the heavenly quarters.
4 Near is she seen, as 'twere the Bright One's bosom: she showeth
sweet things like a new song-singer.
She cometh like a fly
awaking sleepers, of all. returning dames most true and constant.
5 There in the east half of the watery region the Mother of
the Cows hath shown her ensign.
Wider and wider still she
spreadeth onward, and filleth full the laps of both heir Parents.
6 She, verily, exceeding vast to look on debarreth from her
light nor kin nor stranger.
Proud of her spotless form she,
brightly shiming, turneth not from the high nor froom the humble.
7 She seeketh men, as she who hath no brother, mounting her
car, as 'twere to gather riches.
Dawn, like a loving matron
for her husband, smiling and well attired, unmasks her beauty.
8 The Sister quitteth, for the elder Sister, her place, and
having looked on her departeth.
She decks her beauty, shining
forth with sunbeams, like women trooping to the festal meeting.
9 To all these Sisters who ere now have vanished a later one
each day in course succeedeth.
So, like the past, with days
of happy fortune, may the new Dawns shine forth on us with riches.
10 Rouse up, O Wealthy One, the liberal givers; let niggard
traffickers sleep on unwakened:
Shine richly, Wealthy One,
on those who worship, richly, glad.
Dawn while wasting, on
the singer.
11 This young Maid from the east hath shone upon
us; she harnesseth her team of bright red oxen.
She will
beam forth, the light will hasten hither, and Agni will be present
in each dwelling.
12 As the birds fly forth from their resting
places, so men with store of food rise at thy dawning.
Yea,
to the liberal mortal who remaineth at home, O Goddess Dawn,
much good thou bringest.
13 Praised through my prayer be
ye who should be lauded. Ye have increased our wealth, ye Dawns
who love us.
Goddesses, may we win by your good favour wealth
to be told by hundreds and by thousands.
Suggestions for Further Reading
- The Rig Veda translation by Griffith, Introduction
- Hymns of the Sama veda translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
- Yajur Veda: The Veda Of The Black Yajus School
- Hymns Of The Atharva-Veda
- Anugita English Translation
- THE Sanatsugâtîya, A Spiritual Dialogue
- Dharmashastras, the Sacred Law Books of Hindus
- The Hindu Dharmashastras, Subject Index
- The Grihya Sutras, The Vedic Domestic Ritual Texts
- The Sankhya Sutras of Kapila, Index page
- Translation of Upanishads by Swami Paramananda, Index
- A History Of Indian Philosophy - Chapter Index
- The Upanishads translated by Max Muller
- Vedic Reader for Students
- The Bhagavad-gita in a nutshell
- Essays On Dharma
- Esoteric Mystic Hinduism
- Introduction to Hinduism
- Hindu Way of Life
- Essays On Karma
- Hindu Rites and Rituals
- The Origin of The Sanskrit Language
- Symbolism in Hinduism
- Essays on The Upanishads
- Concepts of Hinduism
- Essays on Atman
- Hindu Festivals
- Spiritual Practice
- Right Living
- Yoga of Sorrow
- Happiness
- Mental Health
- Concepts of Buddhism
- General Essays
Source: An English translation of the Vedas by Ralph T.H. Griffith, 1896.