Rig Veda Sukta 75
Mandala 7Sukta 758 Mantras

Sukta 75

Sukta 7.75

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Devata

Uṣas (Dawn)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (likely; confirm by metrical count in critical edition)

In this Dawn-hymn, Vasiṣṭha praises Uṣas as heaven-born and ṛta-guided, whose appearing unveils greatness, sets the world’s paths in motion, and drives away hostile darkness. The poet celebrates her as Sūrya’s radiant bride and a bestower of wealth and vitality, then turns to a closing prayer for cattle, horses, heroic sons, and unbroken well-being for the sacrificer and the ritual seat.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.75

Mantras

Mantra 1

व्युषा आवो दिविजा ऋतेनाविष्कृण्वाना महिमानमागात् । अप द्रुहस्तम आवरजुष्टमङ्गिरस्तमा पथ्या अजीगः ॥

Dawn has shone forth—heaven-born—by the Truth (ṛta), making manifest her greatness. She has driven away the deceiver’s darkness, the unwelcomed covering; most Angiras-like, she has stirred the paths into motion.

Mantra 2

महे नो अद्य सुविताय बोध्युषो महे सौभगाय प्र यन्धि । चित्रं रयिं यशसं धेह्यस्मे देवि मर्तेषु मानुषि श्रवस्युम् ॥

Awaken for us today toward the good going (right progress), O Dawn; lead us forward toward a great felicity. Set in us a luminous wealth, fame-bearing—O Goddess—among mortals, in the human field, making us seekers of the higher hearing (inspired renown).

Mantra 3

एते त्ये भानवो दर्शतायाश्चित्रा उषसो अमृतास आगुः । जनयन्तो दैव्यानि व्रतान्यापृणन्तो अन्तरिक्षा व्यस्थुः ॥

These radiant beams of the fair-seeing Dawn, bright and deathless, have come. Bringing to birth the divine laws of working, filling the mid-world, they have taken their stations wide apart.

Mantra 4

एषा स्या युजाना पराकात्पञ्च क्षितीः परि सद्यो जिगाति । अभिपश्यन्ती वयुना जनानां दिवो दुहिता भुवनस्य पत्नी ॥

She, yoking herself from afar, swiftly encompasses the five habitations. Seeing into the workings of the peoples, the Daughter of Heaven moves—Lady of the world, spouse of becoming.

Mantra 5

वाजिनीवती सूर्यस्य योषा चित्रामघा राय ईशे वसूनाम् । ऋषिष्टुता जरयन्ती मघोन्युषा उच्छति वह्निभिर्गृणाना ॥

Force-possessing, the young bride of the Sun, rich in varied gifts, she rules the plenitudes. Praised by seers, renewing the age, the bountiful Dawn rises—sung by the flame-tongued energies of aspiration.

Mantra 6

प्रति द्युतानामरुषासो अश्वाश्चित्रा अदृश्रन्नुषसं वहन्तः । याति शुभ्रा विश्वपिशा रथेन दधाति रत्नं विधते जनाय ॥

Against the shining of the heights the ruddy, bright horses have appeared, bearing the Dawn. She comes, radiant, on her all-adorned chariot; she sets the treasure in the one who offers—into the human being who is ready to serve the Truth.

Mantra 7

सत्या सत्येभिर्महती महद्भिर्देवी देवेभिर्यजता यजत्रैः । रुजद्दृळ्हानि दददुस्रियाणां प्रति गाव उषसं वावशन्त ॥

True with the true, great with the great, the Goddess is worship-worthy with the worship-worthy gods. Breaking the firm-held bonds, giving out the luminous herds of rays, the cows of light low in response toward the Dawn.

Mantra 8

नू नो गोमद्वीरवद्धेहि रत्नमुषो अश्वावत्पुरुभोजो अस्मे । मा नो बर्हिः पुरुषता निदे कर्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Now set in us the treasure rich in rays and heroic powers, O Dawn—rich in steeds, wide in enjoyment for us. Let not our offering-seat be for blame by any; do you guard us always with your harmonies of well-being.

Inside Sukta 75

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Uṣas breaks forth by ṛta, manifesting her greatness and beginning the day’s order.

  2. Development

    She is lauded as the remover of unwelcome darkness and as the energizing force that sets the world’s movements and human “paths” into motion; her relationship to Sūrya and her bounty are emphasized.

  3. Climax

    Dawn appears as the seers’ praised renewer—rich in gifts and power—whose rising is accompanied by the hymnic ‘flames’ of aspiration and the promise of plenitude.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes with a direct petition for tangible and heroic prosperity and for protection of the ritual seat and community through enduring svasti.

The deity: Uṣas

  • In the VedaUṣas is portrayed as divijā (heaven-born), radiant and truthful, unveiling forms and ordering the day by ṛta; she awakens beings, reveals the paths, and dispels the covering darkness and deception.
  • Cosmic functionShe inaugurates the daily cycle—bringing light, awakening activity, opening the roads, and preparing the world for Sūrya’s course and for sacrifice.
  • Inner significanceDawn signifies the arising of clarity in consciousness: the removal of inner tamas, the stirring of aspiration (vahni), and the renewal of life-force and right direction.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Vasiṣṭhas) · One of the foremost Rigvedic seers, celebrated as a brahmarṣi associated with the royal house of the Bharatas and renowned for hymns that articulate ṛta, kingship, and priestly power.

Famous verses

ṛtenāviṣkṛṇvānā
Verse 7.75.1Sets the theological frame: Uṣas is heaven-born, manifests by ṛta, dispels deceitful darkness, and ‘stirs the paths’—a compact statement of her cosmic and practical functions.Read verse 7.75.1 →
sūryasya yoṣā
Verse 7.75.5Highlights Uṣas as Sūrya’s youthful bride, ruler of riches, praised by seers and renewing the age—linking dawn’s beauty with prosperity and renewal.Read verse 7.75.5 →
gomad vīravad
Verse 7.75.8Concluding prayer that crystallizes the hymn’s purpose in ritual life: request for gomad, aśvāvat, vīravat treasure and for unbroken well-being and protection of the barhis from reproach.Read verse 7.75.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Heaven-born (divijā)
  • Aligned with ṛta (cosmic truth/order)
  • Dispeller of darkness and deceit
  • Awakener and path-opener
  • Bestower of wealth, strength, and prosperity
  • Associated with Sūrya as his youthful bride

Also by this seer

  • Major authorship of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (many hymns attributed to the Vasiṣṭhas)
  • Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa–Mitra, and the Ādityas in RV 7
  • Foundational figure in later Vedic and Itihāsa-Purāṇa tradition as a paradigmatic purohita and sage

The rite, step by step

  • Rising before sunrise; mental purification and orientation to the east
  • Kindling/maintaining the sacred fire (where applicable) and preparing the ritual seat (barhis)
  • Recitation/chanting of the Uṣas verses as light appears, contemplating ṛta and the removal of tamas
  • Invocation for the opening of “paths” (right courses of action, safe travel, successful undertakings)
  • Concluding prayer for gomad/aśvāvat/vīravat wealth and for ongoing svasti (well-being)

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni (when performed with fire)
  • Simple oblations appropriate to morning worship (e.g., ghee, milk) according to śrauta/gṛhya setting
  • Verbal offering (stuti): praise as the principal oblation to Uṣas

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Uṣas (Dawn) as the truthful light that appears by ṛta, removes darkness, awakens life and activity, and brings prosperity and protection to the worshipper.

Because Dawn’s regular return is a visible sign of cosmic order: her light reveals things as they are, restores right orientation, and drives away the confusion symbolized by darkness.

The poet asks for a treasure rich in cattle, horses, and heroic offspring, and prays that the ritual seat (barhis) remain free from blame while Uṣas grants constant svasti (well-being).

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