Rig Veda 4.52.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 52, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.52
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उत सखास्यश्विनोरुत माता गवामसि । उतोषो वस्व ईशिषे ॥
utá sákhā asy aśvínoḥ utá mātā́ gavām asi | utóṣo vásva īśiṣe ||
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।
Word by Word
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conj./particle)Root उत
- सखासि
- you are a friendVerb (with nominal predicate)लट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘सखा’ = प्रथमा एकवचनम् (predicate-noun)Role Kartā (implicit ‘त्वम्’), predicate = ‘सखा’Root सखा (प्रातिपदिक) + अस् (धातु ‘अस्’)
- अश्विनोः
- of the two Aśvins / with the two AśvinsNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचनम् (Vedic: -ोः = gen./loc. dual)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive relation) / Adhikaraṇa (if locative sense)Root अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययRoot उत
- माता
- motherNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role Kartā (with implied ‘त्वम्’ in equational clause) / predicate-nounRoot मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- गवाम्
- of the cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive: whose mother)Root गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- you areVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (implicit ‘त्वम्’)Root अस् (धातु)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययRoot उत
- उषः
- O Dawn (Uṣas)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (voc./nom. form ‘उषः’ in Vedic)Role Sambodhana / Kartā (addressed subject)Root उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वस्वः
- of wealth; wealthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी एकवचनम् (Vedic: ‘वस्वः’ = gen. sg.)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive: of wealth) / Karma (as object in genitive with īś)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईशिषे
- you rule; you have masteryVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्Role Kartā (implicit ‘त्वम्’ = Uṣas)Root ईश् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: सखा॑स्य॒श्विनो॑र् → सखासि + अश्विनोः (असि + अ = आ; final -ि of असि before vowel gives सखासि). उ॒तोषो॒ → उत + उषः (उत + उषः with vowel coalescence in saṃhitā). Other padas are already in resolved form
- accents are notated in the saṃhitā text but not required for morphological segmentation here
The meaning
Outer meaning
Dawn is the companion of the Aśvins, the mother of the rays (cows), and she rules over riches.
Inner meaning
Illumination (Uṣas) naturally allies with the swift twin powers (Aśvins) that bring effective help in the human journey—quick discernment and quick restoration. She is again ‘mother of the cows’: from awakening arise the rays of knowledge. Because she establishes the luminous order, she ‘rules the vasu’: not merely outer wealth, but inner treasures—energies, capacities, truths, and harmonies that become available when consciousness turns toward light.
Universal truth
When awareness awakens, support arrives: clarity and healing join hands. The real ‘wealth’ of life is governed by the quality of consciousness; illumination becomes the sovereign key to abundance of being.
Themes
Dawn’s lordship, Inner riches, Companionship with divine twins
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.52 (Uṣas sequence), RV 4.16 (Indra themes of illumination and victory—conceptual neighborhood)
Family tradition
Vāmadeva’s hymns often weave Uṣas with helper-powers (Aśvins/Indra/Agni), emphasizing practical transformation: light that also heals and empowers.
Significance
The seer’s stress here is on the functional fruit of awakening: illumination is not passive; it governs ‘vasu’—the resources for integral progress.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Epithets
- aśvinor sakhā, mātā gavām, vasva īśiṣe
- Related deities
- Aśvins, Bhaga (distributor of wealth), Savitar (impeller)
Cosmic role
She inaugurates the day and releases the wealth of the worlds—light, movement, and auspiciousness.
Inner power
Sovereign awakening that organizes inner resources; a governance of energies by clarity and right perception.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning praise of Uṣas; general daily recitation to invite auspiciousness and prosperity (vasu).
उ॒त सखा॑स्य॒श्विनो॑रु॒त मा॒ता गवा॑मसि । उ॒तोषो॒ वस्व॑ ईशिषे ॥
उ॒त । सखा॑ । अ॒सि॒ । अ॒श्विनोः॑ । उ॒त । मा॒ता । गवा॑म् । अ॒सि॒ । उ॒त । उ॒षः॒ । वस्वः॑ । ई॒शि॒षे॒ ॥
uta | sakhā | asi | aśvinoḥ | uta | mātā | gavām | asi | uta | uṣaḥ | vasvaḥ | īśiṣe
24
3 x 8
Compact affirmations, each clause a ‘step’ of ascent: companionhood → motherhood of rays → lordship of riches.
Builds conviction and steadiness; helpful for morning resolve and confidence in inner support.
- सखा (sakhā)
- Literal: friend/companion. Symbolic: intimate alliance of awakening with assisting divine powers
- अश्विनोः (aśvinoḥ)
- Literal: of the Aśvins. Symbolic: twin swift helpers—luminous action and healing balance
- माता गवाम् (mātā gavām)
- Literal: mother of the cows. Symbolic: source of rays of knowledge/illumined perceptions
- वस्वः (vasvaḥ)
- Literal: riches, treasures. Symbolic: inner wealth: powers, harmonies, truths, capacities
- ईशिषे (īśiṣe)
- Literal: you rule, you have lordship. Symbolic: illumination governs and organizes energies toward fulfillment
Morning invocation emphasizing Dawn’s sovereignty over vasu; supports petitions for abundance and right guidance at the day’s beginning.
At dawn; also before beginning work, travel, or healing-oriented acts (Aśvin quality).
Stotra-like affirmation of Uṣas’ powers; invoking protection, clarity, and abundance.
Chant before planning the day: ask for right perception to govern resources, decisions, and relationships.
vasu ‘good, wealth, treasure’ derives from √vas ‘dwell’/‘be’ in prosperity; inner sense: stable substance of being. √īś ‘rule’ expresses mastery/sovereignty—Dawn as governing power that distributes or opens access to treasures (material and spiritual). Repetition of ut marks a litany-like accumulation, characteristic of gāyatrī praise.
Sovereignty of light over riches (īśiṣe vasvaḥ), Go as knowledge, Aśvins as helpers in transition
Implicit: lordship over vasu is effective when aligned to right order; dawn sets the rhythm for ṛta in the day-consciousness.
Rays (go) as truth-forms appearing in mind.
Unveiling and distribution: dawn ‘dispenses’ the day’s possibilities and powers.
Integral yoga psychology: illumination that governs life-energy and resources.
dawn
The inner morning when clarity becomes the ruler of one’s energies and capacities, and help arrives swiftly.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Dawn as sovereign distributor: she is mother of rays and ruler of treasures, while allied to the Aśvins. Mythically, illumination both generates light and governs the ‘wealth’ that becomes available with waking.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśvin < aśva (PIE *h₁éḱwos) preserves the horse-twin complex. √īś ‘rule’ aligns with a widespread IE semantic of ‘power/ownership’ though direct cognates are less transparent; the concept of sovereignty is central in IE hymn diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi establishes Dawn’s credentials for granting boons: as the ruler of vasu, she can open inner treasures. Praise functions as alignment—recognizing her sovereignty invites her governance into the human life.
Rest in the feeling: ‘Awakening is my ally; swift help accompanies clarity; inner wealth is governed by light.’
Maṇipūra (governance/inner resources) with support from Ājñā (clarity)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for steadiness; silently repeat ‘uto…’ on exhale.
Settled, organized wakefulness; readiness for right action.
After chanting, list (mentally) the day’s ‘vasu’—time, energy, attention—and offer them to Uṣas’ governance (īśiṣe).
Maintain Ṛgvedic accenting; emphasize udatta on key invocations (uṣaḥ) and predicates (īśiṣe) without over-stressing.
Three clear clauses; slight pause after each ‘uta’ to preserve gāyatrī clarity.
uta: short ‘u-ta’ (not ‘oo-taa’), sakhā: final ā sustained, īśiṣe: long ī; retroflex ṣ; ‘ṣe’ as ‘shay’ with e-vowel, aśvinoḥ: keep ‘śvi’ crisp, avoid ‘ash-vee’ drag
Even, luminous, gently authoritative.
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