Rig Veda Sukta 81
Mandala 7Sukta 816 Mantras

Sukta 81

Sukta 7.81

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Devata

Uṣas

Chandas

Gāyatrī (likely; RV 7.81 often in gāyatrī-like trimeter)

ヴァシシュタのこの短いウシャス讃歌は、暁の即時の顕現を讃える。暁は「われらの眼前に」現れ、水と視界の野をひろげ、夜の闇を光に満ちた秩序へと変える。詩人は、その慈しみ深い昇りが輝く世界を明晰に見分ける力を授け、彼女の「宝」(繁栄・力・名声)を分かち与え、また曲がり(邪曲)と失敗、内なる妨げを取り除くよう祈り求める。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.81

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्रत्यु अदर्श्यायत्युच्छन्ती दुहिता दिवः । अपो महि व्ययति चक्षसे तमो ज्योतिष्कृणोति सूनरी ॥

彼女はわれらの前に現れ、来たりて昇る——天の娘。視るために大いなる水を広げ、闇を光へと変える、輝ける鼓舞者よ。

Mantra 2

उदुस्रियाः सृजते सूर्यः सचाँ उद्यन्नक्षत्रमर्चिवत् । तवेदुषो व्युषि सूर्यस्य च सं भक्तेन गमेमहि ॥

昇りゆく太陽は、光り輝く「牝牛の群れ」(光の群)を放ち、星宿のきらめきを伴う。だが、ウシャス(Uṣas、曙光の女神)よ、あなたの暁の開けと、太陽の完全な出現とによってこそ、われらは定められた分け前とともに、共に前進し得ますように。

Mantra 3

प्रति त्वा दुहितर्दिव उषो जीरा अभुत्स्महि । या वहसि पुरु स्पार्हं वनन्वति रत्नं न दाशुषे मयः ॥

あなたに向かって、曙光よ、天の娘よ、われらは願いにおいて速やかとなりました。あなたは、身を捧げ施す者のために、多くして慕わしい歓喜を——宝のごとく——運んで来られるからです。

Mantra 4

उच्छन्ती या कृणोषि मंहना महि प्रख्यै देवि स्वर्दृशे । तस्यास्ते रत्नभाज ईमहे वयं स्याम मातुर्न सूनवः ॥

女神よ、あなたが昇るとき、寛大なる偉力によって、光明の世界を明らかに見通すことを成就される。その宝蔵の分け前を、われらは願い求める。母の子らのように——その光の養いに生まれた者として——われらが在らんことを。

Mantra 5

तच्चित्रं राध आ भरोषो यद्दीर्घश्रुत्तमम् । यत्ते दिवो दुहितर्मर्तभोजनं तद्रास्व भुनजामहै ॥

曙光よ、その妙なる豊饒をわれらに運べ――久しく聞き伝えられた最も名高きものを。天の娘よ、汝が人に与うる糧のすべてを、ここに授けよ。われらはそれを享け、そこより育まれん。

Mantra 6

श्रवः सूरिभ्यो अमृतं वसुत्वनं वाजाँ अस्मभ्यं गोमतः । चोदयित्री मघोनः सूनृतावत्युषा उच्छदप स्रिधः ॥

賢者らには不死の名声を――富の境地を与えよ。またわれらには、光の牛群に満ちた力ある勝ち取り(ヴァージャ)をもたらせ。施し手を駆り立てる者、光明の真言(スーヌリター)を具える曙光よ、昇り輝き、曲がりと失敗とを追い払え。

Inside Sukta 81

How it unfolds

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 VedaUṣas is the “Daughter of Heaven” who rises in beauty and power, unveiling the world for sight, setting the waters and paths in motion, and making darkness yield to light. She 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)
Verse 7.81.1Programmatic opening: Uṣas’ epiphany and her core act—making darkness into light and enabling vision—sets the hymn’s theological and experiential center.Read verse 7.81.1 →
mātur na sūnavaḥ (like children of a mother)
Verse 7.81.4Defines the boon sought from Dawn: ‘clear seeing of the luminous world’ and a share in her treasures, with the intimate image of worshippers as children of the Mother.Read verse 7.81.4 →
tamo jyotiṣ kṛṇoti (makes darkness into light)
Verse 7.81.6Culminating request: immortal fame, wealth, and victorious force; Uṣas is invoked as codayitrī and sūnṛtāvatī who removes inner and outer distortions.Read verse 7.81.6 →

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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