Rig Veda Sukta 78
Mandala 7Sukta 785 Mantras

Sukta 78

Sukta 7.78

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (Mandala 7 default attribution for these Uṣas hymns)

Devata

Uṣas

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Himne Uṣas yang ringkas ini merayakan tanda-tanda pertama Fajar yang kelihatan, ketika rupa-rupanya yang bercahaya merebak dan dunia kembali berpaling kepada terang. Ia memuji para Fajar kerana menampakkan Sūrya, menyalakan kembali Agni dan yajña, serta menghalau kegelapan yang tidak diingini. Penyair memohon agar Fajar yang bersinar menganugerahkan kurnia yang diidamkan, meleraikan kekusutan, dan melindungi para penyanyi dengan kesejahteraan yang berkekalan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.78

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्रति केतवः प्रथमा अदृश्रन्नूर्ध्वा अस्या अञ्जयो वि श्रयन्ते । उषो अर्वाचा बृहता रथेन ज्योतिष्मता वाममस्मभ्यं वक्षि ॥

Tanda-tanda pembawa khabar yang pertama pun kelihatan; sinar-sinar yang terangkat daripadanya mengembang luas. Wahai Uṣas, datanglah mendekati kami dengan ratamu yang lebar, penuh cahaya; dan bawalah kepada kami yang diingini—kebahagiaan-kebahagiaan bercahaya yang menuntun jiwa ke hadapan.

Mantra 2

प्रति षीमग्निर्जरते समिद्धः प्रति विप्रासो मतिभिर्गृणन्तः । उषा याति ज्योतिषा बाधमाना विश्वा तमांसि दुरिताप देवी ॥

Sebagai jawapan, Api (Agni) yang dinyalakan terjaga dan menjadi hangat; sebagai jawapan, para ṛṣi (orang bijaksana) menyanyi dengan fikiran-fikiran ilham. Uṣā mara ke hadapan dengan cahayanya, menolak segala kegelapan dan membakar kebengkokan kesukaran batin—dialah Sang Dewi.

Mantra 3

एता उ त्याः प्रत्यदृश्रन्पुरस्ताज्ज्योतिर्यच्छन्तीरुषसो विभातीः । अजीजनन्त्सूर्यं यज्ञमग्निमपाचीनं तमो अगादजुष्टम् ॥

Sesungguhnya, fajar-fajar itu telah tampak di hadapan, menghulurkan cahaya ketika mereka bersinar. Mereka melahirkan Surya, yajña, dan Agni; dan kegelapan—berpaling dari jalan—telah pergi, tidak disukai jiwa.

Mantra 4

अचेति दिवो दुहिता मघोनी विश्वे पश्यन्त्युषसं विभातीम् । आस्थाद्रथं स्वधया युज्यमानमा यमश्वासः सुयुजो वहन्ति ॥

Puteri Langit yang pemurah telah terjaga; semua memandang Fajar yang bercahaya. Ia menaiki keretanya, memasang kuknya dengan daya tabiinya sendiri; dan tenaga-tenaga yang terpasang baik membawanya maju.

Mantra 5

प्रति त्वाद्य सुमनसो बुधन्तास्माकासो मघवानो वयं च । तिल्विलायध्वमुषसो विभातीर्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Kepadamu hari ini kami terjaga dengan budi yang baik dan seia-sekata—kami, rombongan para pencari, dan kami yang mengupayakan kelimpahan. Wahai fajar-fajar yang bercahaya, lerai-beraikan kekusutan dan belenggu; dan peliharalah kami sentiasa dengan sejahtera.

Inside Sukta 78

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens with the first herald-signs of Dawn becoming visible as her raised splendors spread across the sky.

  2. Development

    Dawn is invited to come near on her luminous chariot and to bring desirable gifts; the Dawns are then praised as bearers of light who enable the reappearance of the Sun, the sacrifice, and Agni.

  3. Climax

    The revelation that the Dawns ‘bring to birth’ Sūrya, yajña, and Agni, while the unwelcome darkness turns away—light as the condition for sacred order and right action.

  4. Where it settles

    The singers awaken with a consenting, hopeful mind and ask the shining Dawns to break confusions and guard them always with svasti (well-being).

The deity: Uṣas

  • In the VedaUṣas is the radiant Dawn who first shows her ketu (herald-signs), spreads her uplifted splendors, and arrives on a wide, light-filled chariot. She reveals the world, sets beings in motion, and is praised as the power by which darkness retreats and light is offered forth.
  • Cosmic functionShe inaugurates the daily renewal of cosmic order: opening the paths, releasing light, and enabling the appearance of Sūrya, the kindling of Agni, and the continuation of yajña.
  • Inner significanceThe awakening of consciousness: clarity, right orientation, and the dispersal of inner tamas (inertia/confusion). Uṣas symbolizes the mind’s first illumination that makes sacrifice (disciplined action) and aspiration possible.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage) · One of the most eminent ṛṣis of the Rig Veda, renowned for the Vasiṣṭha hymns of Mandala 7, for profound devotional-poetic vision, and for shaping royal-sacrificial ideology around ṛta (cosmic order).

Famous verses

प्रति केतवः प्रथमा अदृश्रन्नूर्ध्वा अस्या अञ्जयो वि श्रयन्ते । उषो अर्वाचा बृहता रथेन ज्योतिष्मता वाममस्मभ्यं वक्षि ॥
Verse 7.78.1Sets the core imagery of the sukta: the first signs of Dawn, her spreading radiance, and the direct invitation to bring ‘what is desirable’ on a light-filled chariot.Read verse 7.78.1 →
एता उ त्याः प्रत्यदृश्रन्पुरस्ताज्ज्योतिर्यच्छन्तीरुषसो विभातीः । अजीजनन्त्सूर्यं यज्ञमग्निमपाचीनं तमो अगादजुष्टम् ॥
Verse 7.78.3Doctrinal peak: Uṣas as the power that holds out light and makes possible the manifestation of Sūrya, yajña, and Agni; darkness is explicitly expelled as ‘unwelcome’.Read verse 7.78.3 →
स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः
Verse 7.78.5Practical closing prayer: the community awakens toward Dawn and requests the breaking of entanglements and ongoing protection through svasti.Read verse 7.78.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Radiant and all-revealing
  • Path-opener and awakener
  • Chariot-borne, wide-moving, light-filled
  • Dispeller of darkness and obstruction
  • Giver of auspiciousness (svasti) and desirable boons (vāmam)

Also by this seer

  • Primary attribution of Rig Veda Mandala 7 (many hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa-Mitra, and others)
  • Numerous Dawn (Uṣas) hymns within Mandala 7
  • Vedic tradition also remembers Vasiṣṭha as a paradigmatic brahmarṣi and royal purohita figure in later Itihāsa-Purāṇa memory

The rite, step by step

  • Perform dawn purification (ācamanā/śauca) and face east as light appears
  • Kindle or re-awaken the household/altar fire (Agni) and prepare the place of offering
  • Recite the Uṣas verses to invite Dawn’s approach ‘on the wide chariot full of light’
  • Make simple offerings while praying for vāmam (desired boons), clarity, and protection (svasti)
  • Conclude with a request that confusions/entanglements be broken and that well-being remain

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Morning oblations appropriate to the householder rite
  • Simple water/flowers as ancillary offerings where fire is not maintained

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a hymn to Uṣas (Dawn), praising her first appearance, her spreading radiance, and her power to restore light and order each day. It asks her to bring desirable boons and protect the worshippers with well-being.

In Vedic thought, dawn’s light makes all sacred and worldly activity possible: the Sun becomes manifest, the fire can be kindled and seen, and the sacrifice can proceed. So Uṣas is praised as the enabling power behind these renewals.

It asks Dawn to disperse inner and outer obstacles—mental darkness, uncertainty, and tangled difficulties—so the day can begin with clarity, right direction, and lasting auspiciousness (svasti).

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