Sukta 52
Sukta 4.52
Vāmadeva Gautama
Gāyatrī (3×8 syllables)
This hymn praises Uṣas (Dawn) as the radiant daughter of Heaven who appears facing the worshipper, encircling and dispelling her sister Night. The poet asks Dawn to widen the worlds with her rays, awaken auspicious activity, and drive away hatred and divisive forces, so that the sacrificer may be received through truthful praise.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रति ष्या सूनरी जनी व्युच्छन्ती परि स्वसुः । दिवो अदर्शि दुहिता ॥
वो चमकदारी लड़की हमारे सामने आयी है। सवेरा हो रहा है। रात की बहन को पीछे छोड़ के आयी है। आकाश की बेटी दिख गयी है।
Mantra 2
अश्वेव चित्रारुषी माता गवामृतावरी । सखाभूदश्विनोरुषाः ॥
उषा, यानी सुबह की रोशनी, एक लाल घोड़े जैसी चमकदी है। वो रोशनी की माँ है, जो सही रास्ता चुनती है और आगे बढ़ाती है। उषा अश्विन दोनों की साथी बन गयी है। यह वो शक्ति है जो जल्दी मदद करती है।
Mantra 3
उत सखास्यश्विनोरुत माता गवामसि । उतोषो वस्व ईशिषे ॥
और तुम अश्विन दोनों की साथी हो। और तुम रोशनी की माँ हो। उषा, तुम धन और खज़ाने पर राज करती हो। अंदर की खुशियाँ भी तुम्हारे हाथ में हैं।
Mantra 4
यावयद्द्वेषसं त्वा चिकित्वित्सूनृतावरि । प्रति स्तोमैरभुत्स्महि ॥
हे समझदार, तुम सच्चाई को उठा के चलनेवाली हो। हमें नफ़रत और बंटवारे से दूर रखना। हम अपने गानों के साथ तुम्हारे पास आते हैं। हमें अपना मान लो।
Mantra 5
प्रति भद्रा अदृक्षत गवां सर्गा न रश्मयः । ओषा अप्रा उरु ज्रयः ॥
जवाब में अच्छी शक्तियाँ दिखने लगती हैं। रोशनी की किरणें निकल कर फैलती हैं। उषा ने अपना रास्ता खोला है। यह रास्ता बड़ा और तेज़ है।
Mantra 6
आपप्रुषी विभावरि व्यावर्ज्योतिषा तमः । उषो अनु स्वधामव ॥
उषा, तुम बहुत चमकदार हो। तुमने अपनी रोशनी से अंधेरा दूर कर दिया। अब अपने नेचुरल ढंग से चलो। अपने अंदर की शक्ति के साथ आगे बढ़ो।
Mantra 7
आ द्यां तनोषि रश्मिभिरान्तरिक्षमुरु प्रियम् । उषः शुक्रेण शोचिषा ॥
हे उषा, तुम अपनी किरण से आसमान को फैला देती हो। बीच की दुनिया को बड़ा और प्यारा बना देती हो। तुम्हारी चमक से अंदर की जगह साफ हो जाती है।
Inside Sukta 52
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Dawn appears directly before the worshipper—radiant, youthful—encircling Night and revealing herself as Heaven’s daughter.
- Development
Her coming is praised as a cosmic unveiling: she spreads rays, opens space, and sets beings into ordered movement; the poet aligns with her through hymns.
- Climax
A focused petition: Dawn, wise and truth-bearing, drive away hatred and divisive forces so the worshipper may be accepted through praise.
- Where it settles
The hymn rests in the image of Dawn’s bright flame widening heaven and midspace, leaving the sacrificer in a clarified, spacious, dear field of light.
The deity: Uṣas
- In the VedaShe is repeatedly portrayed as overcoming or encircling Night, bringing clarity, movement, and auspiciousness.
- Cosmic functionShe inaugurates the daily cosmic rhythm: unveiling the sky, spreading light, awakening creatures, and opening the paths for gods and humans—thus restoring and renewing ṛta (right order).
- Inner significanceDawn symbolizes the arising of awareness: the first light of discernment that disperses inner darkness, loosens hostility and confusion, and expands the ‘inner sky’ into a wide, joyful field fit for truth and right action.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra · A major seer of the Fourth Maṇḍala, renowned for luminous hymns that unite poetic beauty with inner-psychological insight, especially in praises of the deities as powers of awakening and right order (ṛta).
Famous verses
divo adarśi duhitā
यावयद्द्वेषसं त्वा चिकित्वित्सूनृतावरि । प्रति स्तोमैरभुत्स्महि ॥ā dyāṃ tanoṣi raśmibhiḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Radiant, youthful, and beautiful
- Daughter of Heaven (divo duhitā)
- Dispeller/encircler of Night
- Opener of paths and awakener of beings
- Bringer of sūnṛtā (luminous truth / right speech)
- Expander of the worlds with rays
Also by this seer
- Many hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 attributed to Vāmadeva (Vāmadeva-gāthā)
- Notable compositions to Indra, Agni, and the Aśvins within the Fourth Maṇḍala tradition
- Frequently cited as an exemplar of inspired vision (dhī) and truth-speaking (sūnṛtā) in Vedic praise
The rite, step by step
- At first appearance of dawn-light, face east and prepare the praise (stoma) with a calm, attentive mind (dhī).
- Recite the Gāyatrī verses to Uṣas, visualizing her as the Heaven-born light encircling and replacing Night.
- Make the central petition: that Dawn drive away dveṣas (hatred/division) and widen the worlds for harmonious activity.
- Conclude with a final offering and a silent moment, receiving the ‘opening’ (uru priyam) as inner clarity for the day.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into the fire (where applicable)
- Simple oblation such as milk or soma-libation (context-dependent)
- The primary offering of stoma (hymn/praise) and satya-vāc (truthful speech)
Frequently Asked Questions
Uṣas is Dawn, praised as a radiant young goddess and the “daughter of Heaven,” who appears each morning to replace Night and reveal the world in light.
The hymn asks Dawn to drive away hatred and divisive forces (dveṣas) and to open a wide, auspicious space for right action and successful worship.
Because Dawn is described as widening the worlds with her rays and kindling bright light, which can be read as the arising of discernment that dispels inner darkness and conflict.
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