Sukta 48

Mantra 1

सह वामेन न उषो व्युच्छा दुहितर्दिवः । सह द्युम्नेन बृहता विभावरि राया देवि दास्वती ॥

With your beloved sweetness shine forth for us, O Uṣas, daughter of Heaven; with your vast luminous power, O wide-shining goddess, come with the richness that gives itself—so our being may open into the day.

Mantra 2

अश्वावतीर्गोमतीर्विश्वसुविदो भूरि च्यवन्त वस्तवे । उदीरय प्रति मा सूनृता उषश्चोद राधो मघोनाम् ॥

Making manifest abundant gifts for our dwelling—rich in horses, rich in cows, finding all good things—O Uṣas, raise up toward me the words of happy truth; urge on the plenitude of the bounteous powers within us.

Mantra 3

उवासोषा उच्छाच्च नु देवी जीरा रथानाम् । ये अस्या आचरणेषु दध्रिरे समुद्रे न श्रवस्यवः ॥

Uṣas has dwelt among us and now the goddess has dawned forth, swift in her chariots. Those who have held fast to her goings—like seekers at the sea—become lovers of the radiant fame of the soul.

Mantra 4

उषो ये ते प्र यामेषु युञ्जते मनो दानाय सूरयः । अत्राह तत्कण्व एषां कण्वतमो नाम गृणाति नृणाम् ॥

O Dawn, those seers who in your forward courses yoke their mind toward giving—here indeed Kaṇva, the most Kaṇva among them, chants the name of these men: for the soul grows by offering in the light.

Mantra 5

आ घा योषेव सूनर्युषा याति प्रभुञ्जती । जरयन्ती वृजनं पद्वदीयत उत्पातयति पक्षिणः ॥

Now the Dawn, rich in luminous skill, comes forward like a young bride who freely enjoys her own wideness of being; she wears away the cramped and crooked path, she moves as if winged, and she rouses the birds of the soul to flight.

Mantra 6

वि या सृजति समनं व्यर्थिनः पदं न वेत्योदती । वयो नकिष्टे पप्तिवांस आसते व्युष्टौ वाजिनीवति ॥

She who spreads out the common field and separates the seekers, shining forth, makes the path discernible; and as birds, none remain unmoved—those that were poised for flight take their seats and stir at the full break of dawn, O bearer of plenitude.

Mantra 7

एषायुक्त परावतः सूर्यस्योदयनादधि । शतं रथेभिः सुभगोषा इयं वि यात्यभि मानुषान् ॥

She has yoked her movements from the far beyond, from the Sun’s rising-place; this auspicious Dawn comes forth with a hundred chariots of light and advances toward human beings, to awaken the mortal into the solar truth.

Mantra 8

विश्वमस्या नानाम चक्षसे जगज्ज्योतिष्कृणोति सूनरी । अप द्वेषो मघोनी दुहिता दिव उषा उच्छदप स्रिधः ॥

All the world bends itself to her seeing; the skilful Dawn makes the moving creation a work of light. The bountiful Daughter of Heaven rises, and she drives away hatred and the crooked hostile forces from our way.

Mantra 9

उष आ भाहि भानुना चन्द्रेण दुहितर्दिवः । आवहन्ती भूर्यस्मभ्यं सौभगं व्युच्छन्ती दिविष्टिषु ॥

O Dawn, shine upon us with your radiant beam and your clear brightness, O Daughter of Heaven; bringing for us abundant felicity, rise wide into manifestation in the divine strivings.

Mantra 10

विश्वस्य हि प्राणनं जीवनं त्वे वि यदुच्छसि सूनरि । सा नो रथेन बृहता विभावरि श्रुधि चित्रामघे हवम् ॥

For in you is the breathing and the living of all when you rise forth, O skilful Dawn. Therefore, O wide-shining one with your vast chariot, hear our call, O she of luminous riches.

Mantra 11

उषो वाजं हि वंस्व यश्चित्रो मानुषे जने । तेना वह सुकृतो अध्वराँ उप ये त्वा गृणन्ति वह्नयः ॥

O Dawn, win for us that plenitude of force which is bright among human beings; with it bring near the well-done offerings and the right-works of sacrifice—those who sing you are the bearers of the flame.

Mantra 12

विश्वान्देवाँ आ वह सोमपीतयेऽन्तरिक्षादुषस्त्वम् । सास्मासु धा गोमदश्वावदुक्थ्यमुषो वाजं सुवीर्यम् ॥

Bring all the gods for the drinking of Soma from the mid-world, O Dawn; and place in us a wealth that is full of rays and powers—rich in the light-cows and the force-horses—O Dawn, a vāja that is hymnable, a victorious hero-strength.

Mantra 13

यस्या रुशन्तो अर्चयः प्रति भद्रा अदृक्षत । सा नो रयिं विश्ववारं सुपेशसमुषा ददातु सुग्म्यम् ॥

She toward whom the shining flames have looked out in response, benign and auspicious—may that Dawn give us a rayi, desirable in all ways, beautifully formed, and fit for a straight and victorious going.

Mantra 14

ये चिद्धि त्वामृषयः पूर्व ऊतये जुहूरेऽवसे महि । सा नः स्तोमाँ अभि गृणीहि राधसोषः शुक्रेण शोचिषा ॥

Even the seers of old invoked you for help and for your mighty protection; therefore accept and affirm our hymns with your giving power, O Dawn, with your pure and flaming radiance.

Mantra 15

उषो यदद्य भानुना वि द्वारावृणवो दिवः । प्र नो यच्छतादवृकं पृथु च्छर्दिः प्र देवि गोमतीरिषः ॥

O Dawn, when today with your radiance you open wide the doors of heaven, then grant to us a vast and harmless shelter; and, O Goddess, send forth the impulses that are rich in the rays of Light (cows of illumination).

Mantra 16

सं नो राया बृहता विश्वपेशसा मिमिक्ष्वा समिळाभिरा । सं द्युम्नेन विश्वतुरोषो महि सं वाजैर्वाजिनीवति ॥

Unite us with a vast plenitude of being, rich in all forms; blend it into us with the powers of Ila. O mighty Dawn who overcomes from every side, unite us with luminous splendour and with the plenitudes of force, O holder of the swift energies.