Sukta 92

Mantra 1

एता उ त्या उषसः केतुमक्रत पूर्वे अर्धे रजसो भानुमञ्जते । निष्कृण्वाना आयुधानीव धृष्णवः प्रति गावोऽरुषीर्यन्ति मातरः ॥

These Dawn-powers have set their banner of awakening; in the first half of the mid-world they anoint the shining radiance. Bringing it forth like bold warriors taking up their arms, the ruddy Mother-Cows move forward—rays of light pressing towards us with their nurturing force.

Mantra 2

उदपप्तन्नरुणा भानवो वृथा स्वायुजो अरुषीर्गा अयुक्षत । अक्रन्नुषासो वयुनानि पूर्वथा रुशन्तं भानुमरुषीरशिश्रयुः ॥

Upward leap the ruddy splendours, freely; self-yoked, the red rays harness the luminous herds. The Dawns fashion their workings as of old; the ruddy ones press close to the shining radiance and take their station in it.

Mantra 3

अर्चन्ति नारीरपसो न विष्टिभिः समानेन योजनेना परावतः । इषं वहन्तीः सुकृते सुदानवे विश्वेदह यजमानाय सुन्वते ॥

The radiant women chant forth, like active workers with their companies, coming from the far beyond by one common yoking. They bear the impulsion of increase for the well-doer, the good-giver—yes, all this for the sacrificer who presses the delight.

Mantra 4

अधि पेशांसि वपते नृतूरिवापोर्णुते वक्ष उस्रेव बर्जहम् । ज्योतिर्विश्वस्मै भुवनाय कृण्वती गावो न व्रजं व्युषा आवर्तमः ॥

She puts on her forms of beauty like a dancer; she unveils her breast as a bright one reveals her splendour. Making light for all the worlds, Dawn opens out the darkness, as the cows open their stall—releasing the enclosed powers into free movement.

Mantra 5

प्रत्यर्ची रुशदस्या अदर्शि वि तिष्ठते बाधते कृष्णमभ्वम् । स्वरुं न पेशो विदथेष्वञ्जञ्चित्रं दिवो दुहिता भानुमश्रेत् ॥

Her answering flame, shining, is seen; she stands forth and drives away the black vastness. Like a well-fashioned form she anoints her beauty in the gatherings; the Daughter of Heaven has reached to the marvellous radiance.

Mantra 6

अतारिष्म तमसस्पारमस्योषा उच्छन्ती वयुना कृणोति । श्रिये छन्दो न स्मयते विभाती सुप्रतीका सौमनसायाजीगः ॥

We have crossed beyond this darkness; Dawn rising creates the right workings. Shining, she smiles like a rhythm for beauty; fair-faced, she has awakened us into a gladness of the soul.

Mantra 7

भास्वती नेत्री सूनृतानां दिवः स्तवे दुहिता गोतमेभिः । प्रजावतो नृवतो अश्वबुध्यानुषो गोअग्राँ उप मासि वाजान् ॥

Luminous, the leader of true inspirations, the Daughter of Heaven is praised by the Gotamas. O Dawn, draw near with plenitudes—rich in light-cattle first, awakening the horse-force of energy—for those who are full of offspring and heroic power.

Mantra 8

उषस्तमश्यां यशसं सुवीरं दासप्रवर्गं रयिमश्वबुध्यम् । सुदंससा श्रवसा या विभासि वाजप्रसूता सुभगे बृहन्तम् ॥

O Dawn, may I attain that wealth of being—glorious, rich in heroes, breaking the servitudes, and awakening the horse-forces. O well-working, by your fame you shine; you who give birth to plenitudes, O fortunate one, bring the Vast.

Mantra 9

विश्वानि देवी भुवनाभिचक्ष्या प्रतीची चक्षुरुर्विया वि भाति । विश्वं जीवं चरसे बोधयन्ती विश्वस्य वाचमविदन्मनायोः ॥

Seeing all the worlds, the goddess shines back toward us with wide vision. Awakening every living movement to go forth, she finds for the whole the word of the two minds—bringing speech and understanding into harmony.

Mantra 10

पुनःपुनर्जायमाना पुराणी समानं वर्णमभि शुम्भमाना । श्वघ्नीव कृत्नुर्विज आमिनाना मर्तस्य देवी जरयन्त्यायुः ॥

Again and again she is born, the ancient one, adorning herself with the same beauty. Like one who drives away the devourer, she breaks the hostile partitions; the goddess lengthens the mortal’s life—by renewing the light of consciousness.

Mantra 11

व्यूर्ण्वती दिवो अन्ताँ अबोध्यप स्वसारं सनुतर्युयोति । प्रमिनती मनुष्या युगानि योषा जारस्य चक्षसा वि भाति ॥

Unfolding the far ends of heaven, the Awakener has arisen; she drives away her sister (Night) from the path. Breaking up the human ages of inertia, the luminous Woman shines out by the seeing of her lover—by the conscious gaze that calls her forth.

Mantra 12

पशून्न चित्रा सुभगा प्रथाना सिन्धुर्न क्षोद उर्विया व्यश्वैत् । अमिनती दैव्यानि व्रतानि सूर्यस्य चेति रश्मिभिर्दृशाना ॥

Like a herder of the rays, the many-colored, fortunate Dawn widens; like a river in flood she surges through the vast. She does not violate the divine laws; seen in the Sun’s beams, she moves forward in harmony with the Truth.

Mantra 13

उषस्तच्चित्रमा भरास्मभ्यं वाजिनीवति । येन तोकं च तनयं च धामहे ॥

O Dawn, bring to us that radiant boon, O thou of plenitudes of force, by which we may found the child and the offspring—by which we may establish our growths in the true home of being.

Mantra 14

उषो अद्येह गोमत्यश्वावति विभावरि । रेवदस्मे व्युच्छ सूनृतावति ॥

O Dawn, today here arise for us with the light-rich plenty (cows) and the forceful energies (horses), O wide-shining one. Break forth upon us with opulence, O thou who carriest the right and happy utterance (sūnṛtā).

Mantra 15

युक्ष्वा हि वाजिनीवत्यश्वाँ अद्यारुणाँ उषः । अथा नो विश्वा सौभगान्या वह ॥

Yoke today thy ruddy horses, O Dawn of plenitudes of force; then bring to us all felicities—every fortunate power of becoming.

Mantra 16

अश्विना वर्तिरस्मदा गोमद्दस्रा हिरण्यवत् । अर्वाग्रथं समनसा नि यच्छतम् ॥

O Aśvins, turn your course toward us—O wonder-workers—with the light-rich and golden plenitude. Bring your chariot near and set it down here with one accord of mind.

Mantra 17

यावित्था श्लोकमा दिवो ज्योतिर्जनाय चक्रथुः । आ न ऊर्जं वहतमश्विना युवम् ॥

You two who have thus fashioned for mankind the luminous renown, the light from heaven—bring to us also the nourishing force and delight, O Aśvins, you twain.

Mantra 18

एह देवा मयोभुवा दस्रा हिरण्यवर्तनी । उषर्बुधो वहन्तु सोमपीतये ॥

Come here, O gods, you who become bliss; O wonder-workers of golden paths. Let the dawn-awakened powers bring (you) for the drinking of Soma—so that delight may be established in us.