Rig Veda 7.78.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 78, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.78
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
एता उ त्याः प्रत्यदृश्रन्पुरस्ताज्ज्योतिर्यच्छन्तीरुषसो विभातीः । अजीजनन्त्सूर्यं यज्ञमग्निमपाचीनं तमो अगादजुष्टम् ॥
etā́ u tyā́ḥ práty adṛśran purástāj jyótir yácchantīr uṣáso vibhātī́ḥ | ájījanan sū́ryaṃ yajñám agním apācī́naṃ támo agād ájuṣṭam ||
ये सुबह की रोशनियाँ सामने आ गई हैं। उन्होंने सूर्य को जन्मा है। यज्ञ और अग्नि भी शुरू हुए। अंधेरा अब नहीं दिखता, वो चला गया।
Word by Word
- एताः
- these (f.)Pronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot एतद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- उ
- indeed, andIndeclinableनिपातः (emphatic/connecting)Root उ (nipāta)
- त्याः
- those (f.)Pronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (एताः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root तद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- प्रति
- towards, in frontIndeclinableउपसर्गः/अव्ययम्Root प्रति (upasarga/avyaya)
- अदृश्रन्
- they appeared, were seenVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपदम्, 3 पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ=उषसः)Root दृश् (दर्शन) + अ (aorist)
- पुरस्तात्
- in front, in the eastIndeclinableअव्ययम् (देशवाचकः)Role अधिकरणRoot पुरस् + तात् (avyayībhāva)
- ज्योतिः
- lightNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot ज्योतिस् (prātipadika)
- यच्छन्तीः
- bestowing, extendingParticiple (Adjective) from verbवर्तमाने शतृ-प्रत्ययः, स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (उषसः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root यम् (यच्छति) + शतृ (वर्तमाने कृदन्तः)
- उषसः
- the DawnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot उषस् (prātipadika)
- विभातीः
- shining forth, radiantParticiple (Adjective) from verbवर्तमाने शतृ-प्रत्ययः, स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (उषसः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root वि + भा (दीप्तौ) + शतृ
- अजीजनन्
- they generated, brought forthVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपदम्, 3 पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ=उषसः)Root जन्/जनि (जनने) – causative stem जनय-/जीजन- (Vedic aorist)
- सूर्यम्
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot सूर्य (prātipadika)
- यज्ञम्
- the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot यज्ञ (prātipadika)
- अग्निम्
- Agni (fire)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अग्नि (prātipadika)
- अपाचीनम्
- turned away/backward (westward), avertedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (तमस् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (तमः इत्यस्य)Root अप + अञ्च् (अञ्चति) → अपाचीन (prātipadika)
- तमः
- darknessNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तमस् (prātipadika)
- अगात्
- went awayVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपदम्, 3 पुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ=तमः)Root गम् (गतौ)
- अजुष्टम्
- unwelcome, unapprovedAdjective (past passive participle)भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययः (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (तमः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role (विशेषणम्)Root जुष् (सेवने/तोषणे) + नञ्-अ (neg.) → अजुष्ट (ppp)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: एताः उ त्याः प्रति अदृश्रन् पुरस्तात् ज्योतिः यच्छन्तीः उषसः विभातीः । अजीजनन् सूर्यम् यज्ञम् अग्निम् अपाचीनम् तमः अगात् अजुष्टम् ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) प्रत्य॑दृश्रन् = प्रति + अदृश्रन् (इति-आदि सन्धिः; इकारान्त उपसर्गः + अ-आदिः)
- (2) पुरस्ता॒ज्ज्योतिः = पुरस्तात् + ज्योतिः (त् + ज् संयोगः; पदान्त-त् परे ज्)
- (3) यच्छ॑न्तीरु॒षसो॑ = यच्छन्तीः + उषसः (विसर्ग-लोपः/सन्धिः: ईः + उ-)
- (4) तमो॑ अगा॒त् = तमः + अगात् (विसर्गः ओ-आदेशः परे अ-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
These Dawns have appeared in front, giving the light as they shine. They have brought forth the Sun, the Sacrifice, and the Fire; the darkness has gone away, unwelcome.
Inner meaning
Successive illuminations (plural Uṣasaḥ) arise before the seeker, each offering a portion of light. Through their action the higher Truth-consciousness (Sūrya), the inner sacrificial process (yajña: self-offering), and the guiding will (Agni) are born in the being. The obscurity that turns one away from the path (apācīnam tamaḥ) withdraws as something the soul no longer accepts (ajuṣṭam).
Universal truth
Awakening comes in a series of dawns; each deepens the birth of truth, right practice, and inner will, until darkness loses consent and falls away.
Themes
Birth of Sun and Agni, Cosmogonic renewal, Darkness rejected
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.78.1-5, RV 7.76.3-5, RV 7.77.1-4
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Uṣas hymns often present dawn as the initiator of inner births (Agni/Sūrya/yajña) rather than a mere natural sunrise.
Significance
The seer maps an inner cosmogony: illumination gives birth to truth-sun, the right practice of offering, and the flame of will—an integral triad for transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣasaḥ (plural Dawns)
- Epithets
- vibhātīḥ (shining)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Agni, Indra
Cosmic role
They repeatedly open the way for Sūrya; they establish the conditions for sacrifice and for Agni’s activity; they turn away darkness from the path.
Inner power
Progressive revelation—illumination arriving in stages that stabilizes truth and practice.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning stotra acknowledging dawn as opener of yajña and fire; suitable in dawn recitations preceding offerings.
ए॒ता उ॒ त्याः प्रत्य॑दृश्रन्पु॒रस्ता॒ज्ज्योति॒र्यच्छ॑न्तीरु॒षसो॑ विभा॒तीः । अजी॑जन॒न्त्सूर्यं॑ य॒ज्ञम॒ग्निम॑पा॒चीनं॒ तमो॑ अगा॒दजु॑ष्टम् ॥
ए॒ताः । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । त्याः । प्रति॑ । अ॒दृ॒श्र॒न् । पु॒रस्ता॑त् । ज्योतिः॑ । यच्छ॑न्तीः । उ॒षसः॑ । वि॒ऽभा॒तीः । अजी॑जनन् । सूर्य॑म् । य॒ज्ञम् । अ॒ग्निम् । अ॒पा॒चीन॑म् । तमः॑ । अ॒गा॒त् । अजु॑ष्टम् ॥
etāḥ | oṃ iti | tyāḥ | prati | adṛśran | purastāt | jyotiḥ | yacchantīḥ | uṣasaḥ | vi-bhātīḥ | ajījanan | sūryam | yajñam | agnim | apācīnam | tamaḥ | agāt | ajuṣṭam
44
4 × ~11
Narrative and declarative; strong ‘birth’ verbs create a generative momentum.
Produces a sense of inevitability: light arrives, births occur, darkness departs.
- uṣaso vibhātīḥ
- Literal: shining Dawns. Symbolic: successive waves of illumination; repeated awakenings in sādhanā
- purastāt
- Literal: in front, before. Symbolic: guiding light placed ahead as path-indicator
- jyotiḥ yacchantīḥ
- Literal: holding out/giving the light. Symbolic: illumination offered to the seeking consciousness as a gift and guidance
- ajījanan
- Literal: they have generated/brought to birth. Symbolic: inner birth of powers in consciousness
- sūryam
- Literal: Sun. Symbolic: truth-light, supramental illumination, the unveiled seeing
- yajñam
- Literal: sacrifice. Symbolic: inner offering; conscious self-giving that transforms nature
- agnim
- Literal: Fire. Symbolic: divine will/psychic flame leading the process
- apācīnam tamaḥ
- Literal: darkness turned away/backward. Symbolic: obscurity that deviates from the right course; resistance pushed out of the forward movement
- ajuṣṭam
- Literal: unwelcome, not enjoyed/accepted. Symbolic: that which the soul refuses; non-consent to ignorance
Dawn hymn emphasizing the birth of Sun/Agni/yajña—apt for the daily renewal of sacrificial consciousness at daybreak (general).
At dawn, especially when beginning any ‘work of offering’ (study, service, meditation).
Praise and recollection of dawn’s generative role; mental dedication of the day as yajña.
Use before meditation or service-work to set the frame: ‘today is yajña’—let truth and will be born anew.
from causative/intensive of √jan ‘to be born, generate’: Dawns are generative powers. from √yaj ‘to worship/sacrifice’: inner act of offering and harmonization with ṛta. ‘turned away’ from apa- + √añc ‘to bend/turn’: darkness is reoriented away from the forward path (purastāt), i.e., consciousness’ front is reclaimed. from √juṣ ‘to enjoy, accept, be pleased’: darkness becomes ‘not enjoyed/accepted’ by the awakened nature.
cosmic generation (jan) as inner awakening, yajña as inner discipline, reversal of darkness (apācīnam tamaḥ)
Darkness ‘apācīnam’ indicates deviation from ṛta; dawn restores forward rightness.
Sūrya symbolizes satya’s unveiled seeing; born through successive illuminations.
Inner cosmogony: birth of sun/truth, sacrifice/practice, fire/will; daily re-enactment of creation.
Integral yoga hermeneutic: successive dawns as stages of ascent and stabilization.
dawn
Repeated awakenings that generate truth-vision, right offering, and will-force; darkness loses its place and consent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Cosmogonic dawn: the Dawns ‘generate’ Sun, Agni, and Yajña—renewing the world-order each morning. Psychologically, illumination awakens truth-vision (Sūrya), kindles will (Agni), and establishes the inner sacrifice (Yajña), forcing darkness into retreat.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jan ‘be born’ continues PIE *ǵenh₁- ‘produce, beget’ (cf. Latin gignere, English kin). The dawn-as-generator preserves an inherited Indo-European poetic pattern: light ‘begets’ order and lawful action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer witnesses and affirms a repeating inner cosmogony: the Devatā is not merely praised but recognized as the power that continually births the instruments of realization (Sun/Agni/Yajña). The human role is to align with this renewal so darkness becomes ajusṭa—no longer consented to.
Contemplate the ‘births’ within: truth-vision (Sūrya), self-offering (yajña), will (Agni). Ask which one needs to be born today.
Ājñā (Sūrya/truth-seeing) with Maṇipūra (Agni/will) integrated through Anāhata (offering).
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for steadiness; on exhale feel ‘tamaḥ’ receding.
Progressive illumination; firming of inner orientation toward the path.
Treat each ‘dawn’ as a step: receive light, offer yourself, kindle will; withdraw consent from the old darkness (ajuṣṭam).
Keep the lift on ‘uṣáso’ and ‘sū́ryam’; sustain long vowels in ‘ajījanan’ and ‘apācīnam’.
Let pāda 2 (‘jyotir yacchantīr…’) flow without chopping; emphasize the generative verb ‘ajījanan’ as the pivot.
etā u tyāḥ: keep ‘tyāḥ’ clear, not ‘chā’, praty adṛśran: articulate ‘praty-a’ sandhi cleanly, vibhātīḥ: long ‘īḥ’ ending, apācīnam: long ‘ā’; ‘c’ palatal, ajuṣṭam: retroflex ‘ṣṭ’ cluster
Luminous, declarative, confident.
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