Rig Veda 7.2.6: Mandala 7, Sukta 2, Mantra 6
Sukta 7.2
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Uṣas and Naktā as paired powers supportive of yajña
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उत योषणे दिव्ये मही न उषासानक्ता सुदुघेव धेनुः । बर्हिषदा पुरुहूते मघोनी आ यज्ञिये सुविताय श्रयेताम् ॥
utá yóṣaṇe divyé mahī́ na uṣásā-náktā su-dúgheva dhenúḥ | barhi-ṣádā puru-hūté maghónī ā́ yajñíye suvitā́ya śrayetām ||
അതു പോലെ ആ രണ്ടു ദിവ്യ യുവതികൾ—ഉഷസ്സും നക്തയും (രാത്രി)—ഞങ്ങൾക്കായി മഹത്തായി, നന്നായി പാലുതരുന്ന ധേനുവിനെപ്പോലെ, ബർഹിഷിൽ ഇരിക്കട്ടെ; പുരുഹൂത (അനേകർ വിളിക്കുന്ന) മഘോനീ (സമൃദ്ധിദായിനി)യായി യജ്ഞീയ കർമ്മത്തിലേക്ക്, സുവിതായ—ശുഭഗതിക്കും വിശാല സൗഭാഗ്യത്തിനുമായി—ചായട്ടെ.
Word by Word
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableनिपात (समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ)Root उत (निपात)
- योषणे
- O young woman / maiden (voc./loc. sg.)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी/सम्बोधन?; एकवचन (वेदे—स्थाने/सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)Role Adhikaraṇa (सम्बोधन/संबन्ध-स्थल)Root योषण (स्त्रीप्रा.)
- दिव्ये
- in the heavenly (realm) / heavenlyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (विशेषण-सम्बन्धः)Root दिव्य (विशेषण) < दिव्
- मही
- the great oneNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole Kartā (समुच्चित-विषयः) / विशेष्यRoot मही (स्त्रीप्रा.)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sampradāna/सम्बन्ध (our)Root अस्मद्
- उषासा
- Dawn (and)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole Kartā (समुच्चित-विषयः)Root उषस् (स्त्री) द्विवचन-प्रा.
- नक्ता
- Night (and)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole Kartā (उषासा-सह)Root नक्त्/नक्तम् (स्त्री) द्विवचन-प्रा.
- सुदुघा
- well-milking, bountifulAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole Kartā-विशेषण (उषासा-नक्ता)Root सु-दुघा (विशेषण) < दुह्
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot इव
- धेनुः
- a cowNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole उपमान (comparison-base)Root धेनु (स्त्री)
- बर्हिषदौ
- sitting on the sacred grassAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole Kartā-विशेषण (उषासा-नक्ता)Root बर्हिषद् (कृदन्त/बहुव्रीहि) < बर्हिस् + सद्
- पुरुहूते
- much-invokedAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole Kartā-विशेषणRoot पुरुहूत (विशेषण) < पुरु + हूत (√ह्वा/हू)
- मघोनी
- bountiful (givers)Noun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचनRole Kartā-विशेषणRoot मघोनी (स्त्री) < मघवन्/मघ
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableआगमन/समन्तात्-भावRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यज्ञिये
- to the sacrificial (place/act), worthy of sacrificeAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन)Role Karma (गमनस्य लक्ष्यः) / प्रयोजनRoot यज्ञिय (विशेषण) < यज्ञ
- सुविताय
- for good fortune, for well-beingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole Sampradāna/प्रयोजन (for welfare)Root सुवित (नपुंसक) < सु + √विद्/वित् (वेदे ‘good course/prosperity’)
- श्रयेताम्
- may the two resort/approach/lean (towards)Verbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्/आज्ञार्थे); मध्यम?—प्रथमपुरुष; द्विवचन; आत्मनेपदRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √श्रि (श्रय्)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: उषासा॒नक्ता॑ → उषासा + नक्ता (dvandva, dual subject)
- सु॒दुघे॑व → सुदुघा + इव (final -ā + i- → -e-)
- बर्हि॒षदा॑ → बर्हिषदौ (dual nominative of बर्हिषद् ‘sitting on barhis’)
- पुरुहू॒ते remains as dual nominative feminine of पुरुहूत
- Final verb श्रयेताम् agrees with dual subject (उषासा नक्ता)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the two divine maidens, Dawn and Night, vast for us like a well-milking cow, sit on the sacred seat—richly invoked, bestowing abundance; may they incline to the sacrifice for a happy going and wide felicity.
Inner meaning
Uṣas and Naktā are complementary powers of illumination and rest/assimilation. Together they are ‘mahī’—vast—because the rhythm of awakening and repose widens consciousness. The ‘well-milking cow’ is the steady yield of inner nourishment: rays of knowledge and quiet strength. Seated on the barhis means these powers become established in the prepared consciousness, supporting the yajña (the transformative work). ‘Suvitāya’ is the right passage: an unobstructed movement of life guided by alternating clarity (dawn) and integrative depth (night).
Universal truth
True progress needs both illumination and integration. Regular cycles of insight and quiet assimilation create abundance, ease in the path, and a broad well-being.
Themes
Uṣas-Naktā pair, cow as luminous abundance, support for spiritual journey (suvitā)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.77 (Uṣas hymns in RV, thematic proximity), RV 7.2.3, RV 7.2.5
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭha vision often balances complementary powers (day/night, heaven/earth) to establish harmony (sam) in the yoga of works.
Significance
By invoking Dawn and Night as a paired support, the seer teaches integral practice: illumination must be grounded by depth and rest.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas and Naktā
- Epithets
- divye yoṣaṇe (divine maidens), mahī (vast), sudughā dhenuḥ (well-milking cow), barhiṣadā (seated on the sacred seat), puruhūte (much-invoked), maghonī (bounteous)
- Related deities
- Agni (fire that dawn awakens), Soma (bliss often associated with night), Aśvins (twilight helpers)
Cosmic role
They govern the alternation of light and darkness, enabling rhythms of manifestation, rest, and renewal; supporters of yajña and right movement (suvitā).
Inner power
Uṣas: awakening, revelation, hope, clarity. Naktā: inwardness, protection, assimilation, quiet strength. Together: integral growth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocations to Uṣas/Naktā in morning/evening contexts within larger rites; supportive seating on barhis
उ॒त योष॑णे दि॒व्ये म॒ही न॑ उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ सु॒दुघे॑व धे॒नुः । ब॒र्हि॒षदा॑ पुरुहू॒ते म॒घोनी॒ आ य॒ज्ञिये॑ सुवि॒ताय॑ श्रयेताम् ॥
उ॒त । योष॑णे॒ इति॑ । दि॒व्ये इति॑ । म॒ही इति॑ । नः॒ । उ॒षसा॒नक्ता॑ । सु॒दुघा॑ऽइव । धे॒नुः । ब॒र्हि॒ऽसदा॑ । पु॒रु॒हू॒ते इति॑ पु॒रु॒ऽहू॒ते । म॒घोनी॒ इति॑ । आ । य॒ज्ञिये॑ । सु॒वि॒ताय॑ । श्र॒ये॒ता॒म् ॥
uta | yoṣaṇeiti | divye iti | mahī iti | naḥ | uṣasānaktā | sudughāiva | dhenuḥ | barhi-sadā | puruhūte itipuru-hūte | maghonī iti | ā | yajñiye | suvitāya | śrayetām
11
4 × 11; flowing dual-invocation structure
Gentle and expansive; suited to paired deities and the sense of widening.
Soothes the nervous system while opening subtle perception; supports a balanced, rhythmic inner poise.
- उषासा-नक्ता (uṣāsā-naktā)
- Literal: Dawn and Night. Symbolic: illumination and integrative rest; revelation and assimilation
- योषणे दिव्ये (yoṣaṇe divye)
- Literal: two divine maidens. Symbolic: beautiful, supportive powers of consciousness
- मही (mahī)
- Literal: vast, great. Symbolic: widening of awareness through balanced rhythms
- सुदुघा इव धेनुः (sudughā iva dhenuḥ)
- Literal: like a well-milking cow. Symbolic: steady outpouring of knowledge, joy, and strength
- बर्हिषदā (barhiṣadā)
- Literal: sitting on the barhis. Symbolic: established in the receptive inner field
- पुरुहूते (puruhūte)
- Literal: much-invoked. Symbolic: powers readily responsive to sincere call
- मघोनी (maghonī)
- Literal: bounteous, givers of riches. Symbolic: bestowers of inner plenitudes (light, peace, right movement)
- सुविताय (suvitāya)
- Literal: for good going, happy passage. Symbolic: clear path of progress; unobstructed inner journey
Invocation of time-powers that regulate the rite; psychologically, harmonizing alternating states (illumination/rest) so they support the sacrifice and ‘good passage’.
At dawn/evening transitions, or when invoking supportive powers for smooth progress of the rite
Invite the paired powers to ‘sit’ and support the yajña; seek suvitā (good passage)
Use at daybreak or before sleep: at dawn for clarity; at night for integration—chant to balance effort and rest.
uṣás ‘dawn’ (from √vas/√uṣ ‘shine, burn’), náktā ‘night’ (PIE *nokʷts; cf. Latin nox, English night). dhénu ‘cow’ from √dhā/√dhen ‘to suckle/give milk’ → symbolically ‘giver of nourishment’, in Vedic poetics often rays/knowledges. maghá ‘gift, bounty’ → maghónī ‘bountiful’. su-vitá from su ‘good’ + √vid/√vit ‘find, know, obtain’ → ‘good finding/way’, inner ‘right passage’.
rhythm of manifestation, abundance (magha) as fullness of being, support of the yajña (inner work)
Day-night alternation is ṛta embodied; aligning practice with it harmonizes inner evolution.
Dawn reveals satya; night protects it by inward assimilation.
The worlds renew through cyclic emergence and withdrawal; consciousness grows by repeated dawns.
Integral yoga symbolism: complementary powers required for wholeness
dawn and night (paired)
Dawn = illumination; Night = inward peace/assimilation; Cow/milk = rays of knowledge and nourishing joy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The paired goddesses Dawn and Night as cosmic regulators who ‘sit on the barhis’ and nourish like a cow—mythically, the alternation of light and darkness is turned into supportive powers for the seeker’s progress.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- náktā ‘night’ reflects PIE *nokʷts (Latin nox, Greek nýx, English night). This inherited lexeme anchors a shared Indo-European cosmology of day/night powers, here poetically personified and integrated into the sacrificial psychology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi does not fear Night as mere darkness; he calls both Dawn and Night as ‘bountiful’ supports. The reciprocity is a harmonization: the seeker offers the yajña, and the time-powers grant suvitā—right passage and widening felicity.
Alternate contemplation: (1) Dawn—invite clear light into mind; (2) Night—let the light settle into quiet depth.
ajna (clarity) with sahasrara (vastness)
Nadi-śodhana (alternate nostril) to embody the paired powers and establish suvitā (smooth passage).
Balanced wakefulness—clear, wide, and quietly supported.
At dawn, chant once then sit facing light; at night, chant once then lie/sit in darkness, offering the day into quiet assimilation.
Keep a soft udatta rise on uṣāsānaktā and maghonī; let the cadence fall gently on suvitāya śrayetām.
u-ṣā-sā-nak-tā; su-du-ghe-va dhe-nuḥ; ba-rhi-ṣa-dā; su-vi-tā-ya.
Maintain long vowels: uṣāsā (ā), naktā (ā), Retroflex ṣ in barhiṣadā, In śrayetām, keep ‘śr’ cluster clear and light
Soft, wide, and soothing; allow spacious pauses between pādas.
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