Sukta 51

Mantra 1

इदमु त्यत्पुरुतमं पुरस्ताज्ज्योतिस्तमसो वयुनावदस्थात् । नूनं दिवो दुहितरो विभातीर्गातुं कृणवन्नुषसो जनाय ॥

This now—most abundant—is the Light that has arisen in front, full of discerning order out of the darkness. Now the Dawns, daughters of Heaven, shine forth making a path for the human being.

Mantra 2

अस्थुरु चित्रा उषसः पुरस्तान्मिता इव स्वरवोऽध्वरेषु । व्यू व्रजस्य तमसो द्वारोच्छन्तीरव्रञ्छुचयः पावकाः ॥

The brilliant Dawns have stood in front, like measured tones in the rites. Rising, they have opened wide the doors of the dark enclosure; shining and purifying, they have made the way clear.

Mantra 3

उच्छन्तीरद्य चितयन्त भोजान्राधोदेयायोषसो मघोनीः । अचित्रे अन्तः पणयः ससन्त्वबुध्यमानास्तमसो विमध्ये ॥

Rising today, the generous Dawns make the enjoyers aware, for the giving of the delight. Let the Panis remain within the colourless obscurity, unawakened in the midst of darkness.

Mantra 4

कुवित्स देवीः सनयो नवो वा यामो बभूयादुषसो वो अद्य । येना नवग्वे अङ्गिरे दशग्वे सप्तास्ये रेवती रेवदूष ॥

Will there be, O goddesses, a new winning or a new course for you today, O Dawns—by which, for the Navagvas, the Angirasas, the Dashagvas, the Seven-mouthed, you shone richly and made the riches manifest?

Mantra 5

यूयं हि देवीॠतयुग्भिरश्वैः परिप्रयाथ भुवनानि सद्यः । प्रबोधयन्तीरुषसः ससन्तं द्विपाच्चतुष्पाच्चरथाय जीवम् ॥

For you, O goddesses, travel around the worlds at once with horses yoked to the Right. Awakening the sleeper, O Dawns, you set in motion all life—two-footed and four-footed—for its journey.

Mantra 6

क्व स्विदासां कतमा पुराणी यया विधाना विदधुॠभूणाम् । शुभं यच्छुभ्रा उषसश्चरन्ति न वि ज्ञायन्ते सदृशीरजुर्याः ॥

Where indeed is that ancient secret among them, by which the R̥bhus, arranging the powers, shaped their work? For the bright Dawns move forward in a beauty that is good; yet these unaging ones, though alike in form, are not distinctly known—each day’s coming is a fresh revelation of the same Truth-Light.

Mantra 7

ता घा ता भद्रा उषसः पुरासुरभिष्टिद्युम्ना ऋतजातसत्याः । यास्वीजानः शशमान उक्थैः स्तुवञ्छंसन्द्रविणं सद्य आप ॥

Those indeed—those were the gracious Dawns of old, rich in victorious splendour, born of the Right and true in their being. In them the sacrificer, worshipping and labouring with the word of affirmation, praising and proclaiming, at once attained the inner wealth.

Mantra 8

ता आ चरन्ति समना पुरस्तात्समानतः समना पप्रथानाः । ऋतस्य देवीः सदसो बुधाना गवां न सर्गा उषसो जरन्ते ॥

They come moving in harmony from the front of things; in one same fashion, spreading themselves in one same law. Goddesses of the Right, awakened to the seat of consciousness, the Dawns stream forth like the releasing of the rays (cows) and so they wear down the night’s hold.

Mantra 9

ता इन्न्वेव समना समानीरमीतवर्णा उषसश्चरन्ति । गूहन्तीरभ्वमसितं रुशद्भिः शुक्रास्तनूभिः शुचयो रुचानाः ॥

Even so, they move—one in their harmony, one in their sameness—Dawns of unmeasured colour and power. Hiding the vast blackness with their flashing radiances, pure and shining in their bright bodies, they make the consciousness luminous.

Mantra 10

रयिं दिवो दुहितरो विभातीः प्रजावन्तं यच्छतास्मासु देवीः । स्योनादा वः प्रतिबुध्यमानाः सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥

O shining daughters of Heaven, grant to us the plenitude of being—wealth that is fruitful with the soul’s offspring. Awakening in response to you from a happy resting-place, may we become masters of the true heroic force.

Mantra 11

तद्वो दिवो दुहितरो विभातीरुप ब्रुव उषसो यज्ञकेतुः । वयं स्याम यशसो जनेषु तद्द्यौश्च धत्तां पृथिवी च देवी ॥

This to you, O shining daughters of Heaven, I speak—O Dawns, sign of the sacrifice: may we be bearers of glory among the peoples. Let Heaven and the divine Earth establish that for us.