Rig Veda Sukta 124
Mandala 1Sukta 12413 Mantras

Sukta 124

Sukta 1.124

Rishi

Kutsa Āṅgirasa (traditional attribution for RV 1.124, subject to śākhā recensional listings)

Devata

Uṣas (primary); with functional presence of Agni, Sūrya, Savitṛ as allied powers in the dawn-process

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (11-syllable lines; standard for many Uṣas hymns)

Este himno a Uṣas celebra a la Aurora como el poder que enciende a Agni, extiende la amplia luz del Sol y pone a todos los seres —bípedos y cuadrúpedos— en el movimiento y el propósito correctos. Con una vívida imaginería femenina, el poeta alaba a Uṣas como una benéfica despertadora que aclara las aguas de la vida, trae riqueza y buen augurio, y renueva cada día el orden del mundo. El himno concluye con una petición formal de su ayuda protectora y de vigor y prosperidad abundantes.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.124

Mantras

Mantra 1

उषा उच्छन्ती समिधाने अग्ना उद्यन्त्सूर्य उर्विया ज्योतिरश्रेत् । देवो नो अत्र सविता न्वर्थं प्रासावीद्द्विपत्प्र चतुष्पदित्यै ॥

Uṣas se alza, encendiendo a Agni en lo encendido; y el Sol, al ascender, ha derramado una luz vasta. Aquí Savitṛ, el dios, ha impulsado ahora para nosotros la meta verdadera, para que lo de dos pies y lo de cuatro pies en nuestro ser avance hacia el cumplimiento recto.

Mantra 2

अमिनती दैव्यानि व्रतानि प्रमिनती मनुष्या युगानि । ईयुषीणामुपमा शश्वतीनामायतीनां प्रथमोषा व्यद्यौत् ॥

Sin quebrantar los votos divinos, ella rompe las edades humanas de inercia. Medida y modelo de los que fueron antes y de los que vuelven de nuevo, Uṣas, la primera, ha brillado, renovando el movimiento del alma.

Mantra 3

एषा दिवो दुहिता प्रत्यदर्शि ज्योतिर्वसाना समना पुरस्तात् । ऋतस्य पन्थामन्वेति साधु प्रजानतीव न दिशो मिनाति ॥

Esta Hija del Cielo se ha mostrado ante nosotros, vestida de Luz, la misma en su ley desde el comienzo. Ella sigue rectamente el sendero del Ṛta; como quien sabe, no quebranta las direcciones del Ser.

Mantra 4

उपो अदर्शि शुन्ध्युवो न वक्षो नोधा इवाविरकृत प्रियाणि । अद्मसन्न ससतो बोधयन्ती शश्वत्तमागात्पुनरेयुषीणाम् ॥

Ha entrado en la vista — pura como un pecho resplandeciente— y, como Nodhās, ha hecho manifiestas las cosas queridas. Despertando a los durmientes como desde el hogar, la Aurora, la más perenne, llega de nuevo entre los que retornan.

Mantra 5

पूर्वे अर्धे रजसो अप्त्यस्य गवां जनित्र्यकृत प्र केतुम् । व्यु प्रथते वितरं वरीय ओभा पृणन्ती पित्रोरुपस्था ॥

En la primera mitad del espacio intermedio, ella, engendradora de los Rayos, ha sacado a la luz el signo del conocimiento. Se despliega hacia una extensión más lejana y más vasta, colmando a ambos, reposando en el ancho regazo de los dos Padres.

Mantra 6

एवेदेषा पुरुतमा दृशे कं नाजामिं न परि वृणक्ति जामिम् । अरेपसा तन्वा शाशदाना नार्भादीषते न महो विभाती ॥

Así es ella, la más abundante para nuestra mirada; no elige a un pariente y rechaza a otro. Con un cuerpo sin mancha resplandece una y otra vez; no se retrae ante lo pequeño ni se empequeñece ante lo grande: en todas partes es luminosa.

Mantra 7

अभ्रातेव पुंस एति प्रतीची गर्तारुगिव सनये धनानाम् । जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासा उषा हस्रेव नि रिणीते अप्सः ॥

Como quien no tiene hermano, ella viene al encuentro del hombre; como el que trepa desde el foso, trae la conquista de las riquezas. Como esposa que anhela a su señor, bellamente vestida, Uṣas sonríe al aclarar las aguas: soltando las corrientes de vida para el camino.

Mantra 8

स्वसा स्वस्रे ज्यायस्यै योनिमारैगपैत्यस्याः प्रतिचक्ष्येव । व्युच्छन्ती रश्मिभिः सूर्यस्याञ्ज्यङ्क्ते समनगा इव व्राः ॥

La hermana ha dejado el seno para la hermana mayor, deslizándose como si fuese vista cara a cara. Al amanecer ampliamente, con los rayos de Sūrya se unge a sí misma: como una danzarina bien adornada, asume sus formas de luz.

Mantra 9

आसां पूर्वासामहसु स्वसॄणामपरा पूर्वामभ्येति पश्चात् । ताः प्रत्नवन्नव्यसीर्नूनमस्मे रेवदुच्छन्तु सुदिना उषासः ॥

De estas auroras hermanas, en el curso de los días, la posterior sigue a la anterior. Que esas Auroras—antiguas y, sin embargo, siempre nuevas—se alcen ahora para nosotros con riqueza, trayendo el buen día y la porción de bien.

Mantra 10

प्र बोधयोषः पृणतो मघोन्यबुध्यमानाः पणयः ससन्तु । रेवदुच्छ मघवद्भ्यो मघोनि रेवत्स्तोत्रे सूनृते जारयन्ती ॥

Despierta, oh Uṣas, a los generosos que colman con abundancia; que los avaros Paṇis, que no quieren despertar, se aparten. Álzate con riqueza para los dadores, oh rica Uṣas; rica para el himno, oh de bella palabra, calentando y dando vida a nuestro decir.

Mantra 11

अवेयमश्वैद्युवतिः पुरस्ताद्युङ्क्ते गवामरुणानामनीकम् । वि नूनमुच्छादसति प्र केतुर्गृहंगृहमुप तिष्ठाते अग्निः ॥

He aquí que esta joven Aurora, desde el frente, unce el rebaño luminoso, las hileras rojizas de la luz. Ahora se ha alzado ampliamente; el signo del despertar avanza: Agni, el fuego interior, se yergue junto a cada casa.

Mantra 12

उत्ते वयश्चिद्वसतेरपप्तन्नरश्च ये पितुभाजो व्युष्टौ । अमा सते वहसि भूरि वाममुषो देवि दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥

Con tu alzarse, aun las aves vuelan desde sus posaderos, y los hombres que comparten la porción del padre despiertan en el clarear. Con ellos, aquí y ahora, traes abundante deleite y amplitud, oh diosa Uṣas, para el mortal que ofrece.

Mantra 13

अस्तोढ्वं स्तोम्या ब्रह्मणा मेऽवीवृधध्वमुशतीरुषासः । युष्माकं देवीरवसा सनेम सहस्रिणं च शतिनं च वाजम् ॥

Sois alabadas con mi himno digno de alabanza, con la palabra mantrica; creced por ella, oh Uṣas deseadas, que amáis la ofrenda. Por vuestra ayuda, oh diosas, podamos conquistar la plenitud de la fuerza: rica en miles y en cientos, el vāja.

Inside Sukta 124

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Dawn’s arising is immediately linked with the ignition of Agni and the Sun’s outpouring of vast light, while Savitṛ impels beings toward their true purpose.

  2. Development

    Uṣas is elaborated through dynamic images: she awakens, adorns, advances, and bestows—clearing the life-waters and enabling gain, movement, and auspicious activity in the world.

  3. Climax

    The hymn’s vision peaks in the sense of universal propulsion: the dawn-process aligns inner fire, solar revelation, and Savitṛ’s impulsion so that all life moves forward into right fulfillment.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet seals the praise with a direct request for the Dawns’ gracious help and for abundant, many-counted strength and prosperity.

The deity: Uṣas

  • In the VedaUṣas is praised as the radiant Dawn—beautifully adorned, smiling, and ever-renewing—who reveals forms, stirs beings to activity, and opens the paths for sacrifice and life. She is portrayed with intimate, human metaphors (wife, maiden, benefactress) while remaining a cosmic power who dispels darkness and sets the world in motion.
  • Cosmic functionShe marks the daily renewal of ṛta (cosmic order) by bringing light, awakening Agni’s flame, and preparing the ascent of Sūrya and the impulsion of Savitṛ for all creatures.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, Uṣas signifies the arising of clarity and aspiration: the first light of discernment that awakens the inner fire (will/attention) and releases the ‘waters’ of life-energy, enabling right aim and forward progress in thought and action.

The seer

  • Kutsa ĀṅgirasaĀṅgirasa (Angiras lineage; sometimes connected in tradition with the Kutsa family of seers) · A prominent early Rigvedic seer associated with hymns of illumination and victory motifs, and remembered in later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition for links with Indra and the overcoming of obstructive powers.

Famous verses

urviyā jyotir aśret
Verse 1.124.1Sets the hymn’s program: Uṣas awakens, Agni is kindled, Sūrya spreads wide light, and Savitṛ impels right aim for all beings—linking cosmic dawn with ethical-ritual direction.Read verse 1.124.1 →
uṣā hasreva
Verse 1.124.7A signature Uṣas verse rich in metaphor: Dawn approaches like a beloved, brings gain like one who climbs out of a pit, and ‘smiles’ as she clears the waters—capturing her beneficence and life-releasing power.Read verse 1.124.7 →
sahasriṇaṃ ca śatinaṃ ca vājam
Verse 1.124.13Concluding invocation and boon-request: praise as mantric nourishment for the Dawns and a clear petition for their protective help and abundant vāja (force/wealth).Read verse 1.124.13 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Bringer of light and awakening
  • Renewer of order (ṛta) each day
  • Kindler of Agni and opener of the sacrificial path
  • Auspicious, beneficent, wealth-bestowing
  • Clearer of the waters/streams of life
  • Feminine beauty, grace, and joyful radiance

Also by this seer

  • Hymns attributed to Kutsa in Mandala 1 (including several Uṣas and allied-deity hymns in traditional listings)
  • Associated in Anukramaṇī tradition with multiple sūktas where dawn/light imagery and forward movement (pravṛtti) are central themes

The rite, step by step

  • Purificatory preparation at daybreak (silence, cleansing, orientation to the eastern light)
  • Kindling/attention to Agni (lamp or sacred fire) as Dawn is invoked
  • Recitation of the sūkta in Triṣṭubh cadence, with mental offering of praise (stoma/brahman)
  • Contemplation of ‘wide light’ and right aim (artha) for the day’s works—humans and cattle alike
  • Concluding petition for avas (help/protection) and for vāja (strength, plenty)

Offerings

  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni (where a fire rite is performed)
  • Milk or soma-substitutes in domestic observance (as customary to one’s śrauta/smārta setting)
  • Mental offering of praise (stoma), intention, and gratitude

Frequently Asked Questions

Uṣas is Dawn, praised as a divine power who brings light, awakens beings to action, and renews the world’s order each morning.

They function as allied powers in the dawn-process: Dawn awakens the inner and outer fire (Agni), the Sun (Sūrya) rises with wide light, and Savitṛ ‘impels’ beings toward right activity and purpose.

The hymn asks for Uṣas’ protective help (avas) and for abundant vāja—strength, vitality, and prosperity—often expressed as wealth “in thousands and in hundreds.”

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