Sukta 81
Sukta 7.81
Vasiṣṭha
Uṣas
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.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रत्यु अदर्श्यायत्युच्छन्ती दुहिता दिवः । अपो महि व्ययति चक्षसे तमो ज्योतिष्कृणोति सूनरी ॥
She has appeared before us, coming and rising—the Daughter of Heaven; she spreads out the mighty waters for vision and turns darkness into light, the luminous inspirer.
Mantra 2
उदुस्रियाः सृजते सूर्यः सचाँ उद्यन्नक्षत्रमर्चिवत् । तवेदुषो व्युषि सूर्यस्य च सं भक्तेन गमेमहि ॥
Rising, the Sun releases the radiant herds of light and the starry brilliance; but it is by your dawning, O Dawn, and by the Sun’s full emergence, that we may go forward together with our destined share.
Mantra 3
प्रति त्वा दुहितर्दिव उषो जीरा अभुत्स्महि । या वहसि पुरु स्पार्हं वनन्वति रत्नं न दाशुषे मयः ॥
Toward you, O Dawn, Daughter of Heaven, we have become swift in our aspiration; for you carry abundant, desirable delight—like a treasure—for the giver who offers himself.
Mantra 4
उच्छन्ती या कृणोषि मंहना महि प्रख्यै देवि स्वर्दृशे । तस्यास्ते रत्नभाज ईमहे वयं स्याम मातुर्न सूनवः ॥
O Goddess, when you rise you accomplish by your generous greatness the clear seeing of the luminous world; of that your treasure we would be the sharers, that we may be as children of the Mother—born to her nurture of light.
Mantra 5
तच्चित्रं राध आ भरोषो यद्दीर्घश्रुत्तमम् । यत्ते दिवो दुहितर्मर्तभोजनं तद्रास्व भुनजामहै ॥
Bring to us that wondrous plenitude, O Dawn, most famed through long hearing; whatever is your mortal nourishment, O Daughter of Heaven—give that, so that we may partake and grow by it.
Mantra 6
श्रवः सूरिभ्यो अमृतं वसुत्वनं वाजाँ अस्मभ्यं गोमतः । चोदयित्री मघोनः सूनृतावत्युषा उच्छदप स्रिधः ॥
O Dawn, bring the immortal fame to the seers, the state of rich plenitude; and for us too bring the forceful winnings, full of rays of light. O impeller of the generous, endowed with luminous truth, shine forth and drive away the crookednesses and failures.
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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