Rig Veda Sukta 51
Mandala 4Sukta 5111 Mantras

Sukta 51

Sukta 4.51

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for RV 4.51)

Devata

Uṣas (Dawn)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Yeh mantra Ushas yaani savere ki roshni ke liye hai jo andhere se nikal kar aati hai. Woh roshni humare liye sahi rasta banati hai aur humare kaam aasan kar deti hai. Har din naya savera aata hai, purana nahi lagta, fir bhi ek jaisa hi rehta hai. Yeh baat bahut ajab hai ki roshni to ek hai, par har din naya experience milta hai. Ant mein yeh prarthna hai ki aasman aur dharti humein naam aur sthirda dein. Yeh sab havi ke zariye milta hai jo hum bhagwan ko chadhate hain.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.51

Mantras

Mantra 1

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

Dekho, sabse badi roshni aage aa gayi hai. Andhere se nikal ke saaf dikh rahi hai. Aasman ki betiyan, subah ki roshni, chamak rahi hain. Insaan ke liye rasta bana rahi hain.

Mantra 2

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

Chamakdar subah ki roshni aage khadi hai. Jaise koi gaana mein sur hote hain, waise hi yeh sahi jagah par hai. Andhere ke darwaze khol diye hain. Rasta saaf kar diya hai, ab jaaneka time hai.

Mantra 3

उच्छन्तीरद्य चितयन्त भोजान्राधोदेयायोषसो मघोनीः । अचित्रे अन्तः पणयः ससन्त्वबुध्यमानास्तमसो विमध्ये ॥

Aaj subah hone wali ushaayen logon ko jaaga rahi hain. Woh logon ko khush karne wali cheezein dene ka soch rahi hain. Magar jo log bade kanjoos hain, woh andhere mein hi rehte hain. Woh jaagte nahi, bas andhere mein padhe hain.

Mantra 4

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

Deviyon, aaj tumhare liye koi nayi jeet hogi? Koi naya raasta milega? Rishiyon ke purane group the - Navagva, Angira, Dashagva. Unke liye tumne apni chamak dikhayi thi. Tumne unhe dhan diya tha, woh bhi saaf-saaf dikh gaya tha.

Mantra 5

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

Deviyon, tum ghodon ki gaadi mein poori duniya ghoorti ho. Sahi raaste par chal kar tum jaldi-jaldi sab jagah jaati ho. Tum sone wale logon ko jaagati ho. Do paon wale aur chaar paon wale, sab jeevon ko tum chalne ke liye taiyaar karti ho.

Mantra 6

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

Purane zamane mein Ribu naam ke log the. Unhone apni shakti se kaam kiya tha. Woh bade skilled the. Ushaayen chamak-dar hoti hain aur aage badhti hain. Inki koi budhaai nahi hoti. Har roz nayi subah aati hai, magar yeh sab ek jaisi lagti hain. Phir bhi har subah kuch alag hi hoti hai.

Mantra 7

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

Purane zamane ki baat hai, tab bhi ushaayen badi acchi thin. Unmein chamak thi, woh sach thi aur sahi raaste se paida hui thin. Jo log bhagwan ki puja karte the, woh jaag ke ushaayen se dhan pa lete the. Unhone shabd se prarthana ki aur unhe dhan mil gaya.

Mantra 8

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

Yeh deviyan sab milkar aati hain. Aage se bhi saath mein, peeche se bhi saath mein. Woh ek hi tarah se failti hain. Yeh sachai ki deviyan hain jo jaag chuki hain. Jaise gaay nikal padi ho, waise hi yeh savere ki roshni failti hain. Raat ko dhakelti hain aur din laati hain.

Mantra 9

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

Yeh savere ki roshni ek hi tarah se aati hain. Unka rang alag-alag ho sakta hai, par woh sab milkar chalti hain. Andhera ko chupa deti hain apni chamak se. Unka badan chamakdaar hai aur woh saaf roshni failati hain. Mann ko bhi roshan kar deti hain.

Mantra 10

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

Aakash ki betiyan, tum chamak rahi ho. Humein dhan do jo phal de. Jo humare liye accha ho. Tumhari wajah se hum jaag ke uthenge. Humein taakat mile, hum bade ban jayenge.

Mantra 11

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

Aakash ki chamakti betiyan, main tumse yeh kehta hoon. Savere ki roshni, tum yagya ka sign ho. Humein logon mein naam roshan karne do. Aakash aur dharti humare liye yeh sambhal lein.

Inside Sukta 51

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by pointing to the abundant Light arisen in front, emerging from darkness with discerning order, as the Dawns begin to shine and create a path for humanity.

  2. Development

    Praise unfolds through wonder at Uṣas’s recurring manifestation: each dawn is similar in form yet newly revealing; the hymn reflects on the hidden ‘ancient secret’ behind this orderly becoming, with an allusive nod to formative powers (R̥bhus).

  3. Climax

    The peak is the recognition that the unaging Dawns are not fully ‘distinguished’—their sameness and novelty disclose a deeper, perennial truth-light returning day after day.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet addresses the Dawns as the sign of sacrifice and prays for glory among peoples, asking Heaven and divine Earth to firmly establish that blessing.

The deity: Uṣas

  • In the VedaUṣas is praised as the radiant daughter of Heaven who appears in front (purastāt), drives away tamas (darkness), and shines with orderly intelligence (vayunāvat). She is repeatedly portrayed as ever-young yet unaging, returning daily in beauty and beneficence.
  • Cosmic functionShe inaugurates the day, restores visibility and movement, awakens beings, and sets the rhythm for work, travel, and sacrifice—making the world fit for action and worship.
  • Inner significanceDawn signifies the arising of clarity in consciousness: discrimination, hope, renewal, and the ‘opening of the path’ for right action; the repeated dawns mirror recurring spiritual awakening and the steady return of truth-light.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva as a Gautama seer of Maṇḍala 4) · A major Ṛgvedic seer of the Fourth Maṇḍala, noted for visionary hymns that link cosmic phenomena (like Dawn) with inner illumination and yajña-ordered life.

Famous verses

jyotis tamaso… uṣaso janāya
Verse 4.51.1Programmatic opening: Dawn as abundant light arising from darkness with ordered discernment, explicitly ‘making a path’ for humans—core theology of Uṣas in this sukta.Read verse 4.51.1 →
क्व स्विदासां कतमा पुराणी यया विधाना विदधुॠभूणाम् । शुभं यच्छुभ्रा उषसश्चरन्ति न वि ज्ञायन्ते सदृशीरजुर्याः ॥
Verse 4.51.6Philosophical center: asks after the ‘ancient secret’ in the Dawns’ recurrence; highlights their unaging sameness and daily freshness, with an allusive link to the R̥bhus’ formative ordering.Read verse 4.51.6 →
uṣaso yajñaketuḥ
Verse 4.51.11Concluding prayer: addresses the Dawns as yajñaketu (sign of sacrifice) and requests renown and establishment by Heaven and Earth—tying cosmic dawn to social and ritual fruition.Read verse 4.51.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Daughter of Heaven (divo duhitā)
  • Dispeller of darkness
  • Bringer of ordered discernment (vayunā)
  • Path-maker for humans (gātuṃ kṛṇoti)
  • Ever-renewing yet unaging (ajuryā)
  • Auspicious beauty and beneficence
  • Yajña-sign (yajñaketu)

Also by this seer

  • Traditional attribution of many hymns in Ṛgveda Maṇḍala 4 (Vāmadeva’s collection)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, and other deities within RV 4, reflecting a strong synthesis of ritual and contemplative insight

The rite, step by step

  • Begin at first light with purification and silent attention to the east (orientation to purastāt, ‘in front’).
  • Kindle or tend the household/ritual fire and recite the Uṣas verses as an invocation for clarity and right course.
  • State the intention: that Dawn ‘make the path’—safe passage, successful work, and fruitful sacrifice.
  • Conclude with a blessing-prayer for renown and stability, invoking Heaven and Earth to ‘establish’ the sought good.

Offerings

  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni (as the standard carrier for praise)
  • Morning oblation (prātaḥ-homa style offering)
  • Optional soma-related remembrance in a pressing milieu (contextual, not explicit in every verse)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises Uṣas, the Vedic goddess of Dawn, described as the shining daughter of Heaven who brings light, order, and auspicious beginnings.

It says that Dawn is the abundant light that rises from darkness with wise order, repeatedly renewing the world and making a clear path for human life and sacred work.

Because dawn returns every day with the same essential form, yet each appearance feels newly revealing—pointing to a timeless truth that renews itself in experience.

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