Sukta 81
Sukta 7.81
Vasiṣṭha
Gāyatrī (likely; RV 7.81 often in gāyatrī-like trimeter)
This short Uṣas-hymn of Vasiṣṭha celebrates Dawn’s immediate epiphany: she comes “before our eyes,” spreads the waters and the field of vision, and converts night’s obscurity into luminous order. The poet asks that her gracious rising grant clear perception of the radiant world, a share in her “treasures” (prosperity, strength, fame), and the removal of crookedness, failure, and inner impediments.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रत्यु अदर्श्यायत्युच्छन्ती दुहिता दिवः । अपो महि व्ययति चक्षसे तमो ज्योतिष्कृणोति सूनरी ॥
वो आगे आ गई है, उठ के चमक रही है। यह आसमान की बेटी है। बड़े पानी को फैला देती है ताकि हम साफ देख सकें। अंधेरे को रोशनी में बदल देती है, सबको जगाती है।
Mantra 2
उदुस्रियाः सृजते सूर्यः सचाँ उद्यन्नक्षत्रमर्चिवत् । तवेदुषो व्युषि सूर्यस्य च सं भक्तेन गमेमहि ॥
सूरज निकलता है तो रोशनी की किरणें निकलती हैं, तारे भी चमकते हैं। लेकिन जब सुबह आती है और सूरज पूरा निकलता है, तब हम साथ में आगे बढ़ते हैं। अपना हिस्सा पाके।
Mantra 3
प्रति त्वा दुहितर्दिव उषो जीरा अभुत्स्महि । या वहसि पुरु स्पार्हं वनन्वति रत्नं न दाशुषे मयः ॥
हे उषा, तुम आसमान की बेटी हो। हम तुम्हारे पास जल्दी-जल्दी आते हैं। तुम जो लाती हो वो बहुत अच्छा लगता है, जैसे कोई खज़ाना मिल जाए। जो लोग भगवान को अपना सब कुछ समझ के मानते हैं, उनके लिए यह खुशी लाती हो।
Mantra 4
उच्छन्ती या कृणोषि मंहना महि प्रख्यै देवि स्वर्दृशे । तस्यास्ते रत्नभाज ईमहे वयं स्याम मातुर्न सूनवः ॥
देवी उषा, जब तुम उगती हो तो तुम्हारा बड़ा काम होता है। तुम रोशनी दिखाती हो, सब साफ साफ दिखने लगता है। तुम्हारी यह खज़ाना हम भी चाहते हैं। हम माँ के बच्चे जैसे बन जाएँ, माँ जो हमें रोशनी देती है।
Mantra 5
तच्चित्रं राध आ भरोषो यद्दीर्घश्रुत्तमम् । यत्ते दिवो दुहितर्मर्तभोजनं तद्रास्व भुनजामहै ॥
उषा, तुम्हारा नाम बहुत पुराना है, लोगों को पता है तुम कितनी बड़ी हो। तुम वो खज़ाना लाओ जो सबसे अलग है। जो भी खाना तुम आसमान से लाती हो, वो हमें भी दो। हम भी उसे खाएँ और आगे बढ़ें।
Mantra 6
श्रवः सूरिभ्यो अमृतं वसुत्वनं वाजाँ अस्मभ्यं गोमतः । चोदयित्री मघोनः सूनृतावत्युषा उच्छदप स्रिधः ॥
उषा, रिशियों के लिए वो नाम लाओ जो कभी खत्म न हो। उनके लिए समृद्धि लाओ। हमारे लिए भी ताकत लाओ, रोशनी लाओ। तुम जो लोगों को आगे बढ़ाती हो, उनके लिए सच्चाई लेकर आती हो। चमक के उठो और हमारे रास्ते सीधे करो, हार दूर करो।
Inside Sukta 81
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Dawn appears directly before the sacrificers—Heaven’s Daughter arriving and rising, transforming night into light and expanding the waters/space for sight.
- Development
Her rising is linked to generous greatness: she enables clear perception of the radiant realm and is approached as a Mother whose ‘children’ seek nurture, wealth, and rightful share.
- Climax
The hymn’s petition intensifies: grant immortal fame and rich plenitude to the seers, and strong winnings to the worshippers—Uṣas as the impelling power of prosperity and truth.
- Where it settles
It ends with a cleansing command: let Dawn shine forth and drive away crookedness and failure, leaving the day established in clarity and auspicious momentum.
The deity: Uṣas
- In the VedaShe is praised as generous, truth-bearing (sūnṛtāvatī), and an awakener who rouses beings to activity.
- Cosmic functionShe inaugurates the daily order (ṛta) by opening the sky’s radiance, releasing movement and life, and re-establishing visibility, direction, and time’s rhythm.
- Inner significanceUṣas symbolizes the awakening of consciousness—clarity after confusion, truthful speech after distortion, and the fresh beginning in which insight, energy, and right orientation arise.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/solar-affiliated seer-family; Maṇḍala 7 tradition) · Principal seer of the Vasiṣṭha family book (Maṇḍala 7), renowned for hymns of spiritual clarity and for his role as a paradigmatic brahmarṣi connected with royal priesthood and the ordering power of mantra.
Famous verses
divo duhitā (Daughter of Heaven)
mātur na sūnavaḥ (like children of a mother)
tamo jyotiṣ kṛṇoti (makes darkness into light)
Attributes of the deity
- Daughter of Heaven (divo duhitā)
- Light-maker who dispels darkness
- Revealer of vision and pathways
- Generous bestower of wealth, strength, and fame
- Impeller/awakener (codayitrī)
- Associated with sūnṛtā (truthful, luminous speech)
Also by this seer
- Major authorship/association with Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (many sūktas)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa–Mitra, and other deities within the Vasiṣṭha corpus
- Later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition remembers Vasiṣṭha as a foundational teacher of dharma and ritual knowledge (smṛti/epic reception)
The rite, step by step
- Rise before sunrise; maintain purity and silence; orient to the east
- Kindle or tend the household/altar fire (Agni) and prepare the space
- Recite RV 7.81 as Uṣas becomes visible, focusing on the transition from darkness to light
- Make offerings while requesting ‘clear seeing’ (svar-dṛś) and a share in Uṣas’ treasures
- Conclude with a protective petition: removal of crookedness, obstacles, and failures; then proceed to the day’s main rites/work
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Milk or curds (payas/dadhi) where customary
- Simple oblations and water libations as supportive acts
Frequently Asked Questions
Uṣas is Dawn, praised as the “Daughter of Heaven” who arrives each morning, reveals the world for sight, and replaces darkness with light.
It asks for clear perception of the radiant world, a share in Dawn’s treasures (prosperity and strength), and “immortal fame,” along with the removal of obstacles and failure.
At dawn—before and during sunrise—because the hymn is built around the lived moment of light appearing and the mind awakening into clarity.
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