Rig Veda Sukta 79
Mandala 5Sukta 7910 Mantras

Sukta 79

Sukta 5.79

Rishi

Syāvāśva Ātreya (traditionally for RV 5.79, Uṣas-hymns of Book 5)

Devata

Uṣas (Dawn)

Chandas

Jagatī (refrain-like address; hymn commonly classified in jagatī/tṛṣṭubh domain—verify per pada count in critical edition)

This hymn is a direct, intimate invocation to Uṣas (Dawn) to awaken the sacrificers and lead them into abundance (rāyī), strength, and right activity. Dawn is praised as ever-renewing, unfailing in her shining, and as a giver of heroic fame, swift energies, and inspired speech to the singers and patrons.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.79

Mantras

Mantra 1

महे नो अद्य बोधयोषो राये दिवित्मती । यथा चिन्नो अबोधयः सत्यश्रवसि वाय्ये सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

O Dawn, vast and heaven-luminous, awaken us today toward the great plenitude (rayi). As once before you awakened us, so awaken us again—O she of true hearing and true fame, moving in the life-breath, well-born, bringing the strong energies of the steed and the glad word.

Mantra 2

या सुनीथे शौचद्रथे व्यौच्छो दुहितर्दिवः । सा व्युच्छ सहीयसि सत्यश्रवसि वाय्ये सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

You who have shone forth on the good path, on the bright car, O Daughter of Heaven—shine out now; grow ever more puissant, O true-hearing one, moving in the life-breath, well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 3

सा नो अद्याभरद्वसुर्व्युच्छा दुहितर्दिवः । यो व्यौच्छः सहीयसि सत्यश्रवसि वाय्ये सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

May she bring to us today the wealth of being; shine out, O Daughter of Heaven—you who have shone forth and grow in power: O true-hearing one, moving in the life-breath, well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 4

अभि ये त्वा विभावरि स्तोमैर्गृणन्ति वह्नयः । मघैर्मघोनि सुश्रियो दामन्वन्तः सुरातयः सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

Those who hymn you with chants, O Radiant One—ardent bearers of the flame—become fair in their growth; through gifts they widen, O bounteous Dawn, possessing the right bonds, rich in true giving—O well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 5

यच्चिद्धि ते गणा इमे छदयन्ति मघत्तये । परि चिद्वष्टयो दधुर्ददतो राधो अह्रयं सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

Even when these companies of forces seem to veil you for the sake of bounty, still the desiring ones place all around the unwearied gift of your plenitude—O well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 6

ऐषु धा वीरवद्यश उषो मघोनि सूरिषु । ये नो राधांस्यह्रया मघवानो अरासत सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

Set here, among these illumined leaders, a hero-bearing glory, O bounteous Dawn—those who have granted us unwearied plenitudes—O well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 7

तेभ्यो द्युम्नं बृहद्यश उषो मघोन्या वह । ये नो राधांस्यश्व्या गव्या भजन्त सूरयः सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

To them bear a luminous might and a vast glory, O bounteous Dawn—to those illumined ones who share with us the plenitudes of swift energies and of the rays (cows of light)—O well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 8

उत नो गोमतीरिष आ वहा दुहितर्दिवः । साकं सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिः शुक्रैः शोचद्भिरर्चिभिः सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

And bring to us the impulsions rich with rays, O Daughter of Heaven, together with the Sun’s beams—bright, burning with their flames—O well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 9

व्युच्छा दुहितर्दिवो मा चिरं तनुथा अपः । नेत्त्वा स्तेनं यथा रिपुं तपाति सूरो अर्चिषा सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

Shine forth, O Daughter of Heaven; do not long extend the waters of delay. Let not the Sun scorch you with his flame as he burns a thief, an enemy—O well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Mantra 10

एतावद्वेदुषस्त्वं भूयो वा दातुमर्हसि । या स्तोतृभ्यो विभावर्युच्छन्ती न प्रमीयसे सुजाते अश्वसूनृते ॥

So much you know, O Dawn; yet you can give still more—since, shining forth for the singers, O Radiant One, you do not fail or diminish: O well-born, bringing swift force and the glad word.

Inside Sukta 79

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct plea: “Awaken us today, O Dawn,” framing awakening as the gateway to great wealth and well-being.

  2. Development

    Dawn is celebrated as generous to patrons and singers, placing “hero-bearing glory” among the illumined leaders and granting unwearied gifts; the hymn repeatedly ties light to vigor, fame, and inspired speech.

  3. Climax

    The recognition of Dawn’s inexhaustibility: she shines forth for the singers and does not fail or diminish, therefore she can always give “still more.”

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends with confident petition—because Dawn is ever-renewing, the worshippers can rely on her continued gifts of light, strength, and prosperity.

The deity: Uṣas

  • In the VedaUṣas is the radiant, well-born illuminator who arrives daily, awakens beings, reveals the paths, and is praised for generosity toward singers and patrons; she is often addressed as youthful, shining, and richly adorned in light.
  • Cosmic functionShe opens the day by bringing light after darkness, setting the rhythms of time and activity, and making the world visible and fit for sacrifice, travel, and work.
  • Inner significanceThe awakening of consciousness: the rising of clarity, inspiration, and moral alertness that dispels inner darkness and calls the mind toward right effort and abundance.

The seer

  • Syāvāśva ĀtreyaĀtreya (descendant of Atri) · A prominent seer of Maṇḍala 5 especially known for refined Uṣas-hymns that blend cosmic imagery (light’s arrival) with practical boons (wealth, fame, vigor) and an inward call to awakeness.

Famous verses

mahe no adya bodhaya uṣaḥ
Verse 5.79.1Sets the hymn’s keynote: Dawn as the awakener who turns the community toward rāyī (plenitude) and renews past grace in the present.Read verse 5.79.1 →
vīravad yaśa uṣo
Verse 5.79.6Highlights the social-ritual dimension: Dawn is asked to establish ‘hero-bearing glory’ among leaders/patrons who sustain the rite through generous gifts.Read verse 5.79.6 →
ucchantī na pramīyase
Verse 5.79.10Provides the theological summit: Dawn’s shining is unfailing (na pramīyase), grounding the request that she can always bestow more on the singers.Read verse 5.79.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Radiant and heaven-luminous (divitmatī)
  • Awakener (bodhayitrī)
  • Bounteous/generous (maghonī)
  • Unfailing, not diminishing in shining (na pramīyase)
  • Bestower of wealth, fame, and heroic vigor
  • Giver of swift energies and inspired speech (aśvasūnṛtā imagery)

Also by this seer

  • Traditionally credited with multiple hymns in Rig Veda Maṇḍala 5 addressed chiefly to Uṣas (Dawn) and allied deities
  • Part of the wider Ātreya hymn-cycle in Book 5, contributing to the Dawn-poetry that shapes later Vedic and post-Vedic symbolism of illumination and renewal

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual space before sunrise; kindle/brighten the fire and sit facing east.
  • Recite/invoke Uṣas with praise, asking for awakening toward rāyī (plenitude) and right activity.
  • Link the arrival of light with requests for protection, good fame, and heroic strength for the household/patrons.
  • Offer oblations while concluding with affirmations of Dawn’s unfailing return and continued generosity to singers.
  • Close with a final request for “more” (bhūyaḥ) and an auspicious beginning to the day’s works and rites.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Milk/curds as morning offering (where applicable)
  • Soma-contextual offering if within a soma rite (by ritual setting)
  • Praise (stuti) itself as the primary ‘offering’ of speech

Frequently Asked Questions

Uṣas is Dawn, praised as a radiant goddess who awakens people, reveals the world with light, and grants prosperity, fame, and strength to the worshippers.

It asks Dawn to awaken the community and to bestow plenitude (wealth and well-being), heroic vigor, good reputation, and inspired speech for the singers and patrons.

Because Dawn returns every day with fresh light; the verse uses this daily renewal to express that her gifts and support for the singers are inexhaustible.

Ask anything about Sukta 79 of the Rig Veda

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