Sukta 76
Sukta 7.76
Vasiṣṭha
Triṣṭubh (likely)
अस्य वसिष्ठस्य सूक्तस्य स्तुतिः उषसम् उद्दिश्य—सा जगतो विवर्त्री, दिव्येन संकल्पेन जाता ‘चक्षुः’ इव, या अमृतं विश्वं ज्योतिर् उद्यच्छति। तस्याः सहायकौ सविता वैश्वानरश्च विश्वप्रकाशकौ स्तः; ताभ्यां सह प्रभातः केवलं नित्यघटना न, अपि तु ऋतस्य (सत्य-व्यवस्थायाः) प्रादुर्भावः प्रबुद्धदृष्टेश्च प्रकाशः। कवयः पुरातनान् ऋषीन् पितॄंश्च स्मरन्ति ये गुह्यं ज्योतिर् अविन्दन्, सत्यैर्मन्त्रैः ‘उषसं जनयामासुः’ इव। अन्ते च धनं सुकीर्तिं दीर्घकालं रक्षणं च प्रार्थयन्ते।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
उदु ज्योतिरमृतं विश्वजन्यं विश्वानरः सविता देवो अश्रेत् । क्रत्वा देवानामजनिष्ट चक्षुराविरकर्भुवनं विश्वमुषाः ॥
उदु ज्योतिरमृतं विश्वजन्यं विश्वानरः सविता देवोऽश्रेत्। क्रत्वा देवानामजनिष्ट चक्षुराविरकर्भुवनं विश्वमुṣाः॥
Mantra 2
प्र मे पन्था देवयाना अदृश्रन्नमर्धन्तो वसुभिरिष्कृतासः । अभूदु केतुरुषसः पुरस्तात्प्रतीच्यागादधि हर्म्येभ्यः ॥
प्र मे पन्था देवयाना अदृश्रन्नमर्धन्तो वसुभिरिष्कृतासः। अभूदु केतुरुषसः पुरस्तात्प्रतीच्यागादधि हर्म्येभ्यः॥
Mantra 3
तानीदहानि बहुलान्यासन्या प्राचीनमुदिता सूर्यस्य । यतः परि जार इवाचरन्त्युषो ददृक्षे न पुनर्यतीव ॥
तानीदहानी बहुलान्यासन्न्या प्राचीनमुदिता सूर्यस्य। यतः परि जार इवाचरन्त्युषो ददृक्षे न पुनर्यतीव॥
Mantra 4
त इद्देवानां सधमाद आसन्नृतावानः कवयः पूर्व्यासः । गूळ्हं ज्योतिः पितरो अन्वविन्दन्त्सत्यमन्त्रा अजनयन्नुषासम् ॥
ते इद् देवानां सधमादे आसन्, ऋतावानः कवयः पूर्व्यासः। गूढं ज्योतिः पितरः अन्वविन्दन्; सत्य-मन्त्राः उषसम् अजनयन्॥
Mantra 5
समान ऊर्वे अधि संगतासः सं जानते न यतन्ते मिथस्ते । ते देवानां न मिनन्ति व्रतान्यमर्धन्तो वसुभिर्यादमानाः ॥
समान ऊर्वे अधि संगतासः सं जानते, न यतन्ते मिथस्ते। ते देवानां न मिनन्ति व्रतानि; अमर्धन्तो वसुभिः यादमानाः॥
Mantra 6
प्रति त्वा स्तोमैरीळते वसिष्ठा उषर्बुधः सुभगे तुष्टुवांसः । गवां नेत्री वाजपत्नी न उच्छोषः सुजाते प्रथमा जरस्व ॥
प्रति त्वा स्तोमैः ईळते वसिष्ठाः, उषर्बुधः सुभगे तुष्टुवांसः। गवां नेत्री वाजपत्नी न उच्छोषः; सुजाते प्रथमा जरस्व॥
Mantra 7
एषा नेत्री राधसः सूनृतानामुषा उच्छन्ती रिभ्यते वसिष्ठैः । दीर्घश्रुतं रयिमस्मे दधाना यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
एषा नेत्री राधसः सूनीतानाम् उषा उच्छन्ती वसिष्ठैः स्तूयते। दीर्घश्रुतं रयिमस्मे दधाना यूयं नः सदा स्वस्तिभिः पात।
Inside Sukta 76
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with the rising of the “immortal, universal light,” extended by Savitṛ/Viśvānara, as Dawn makes the entire world manifest.
- Development
It moves from cosmic description to sacred history: the ancient ṛtāvāns and Pitṛs discover the hidden light and, with true mantras, generate the dawn—linking revelation to inspired speech.
- Climax
The key revelation is that light and vision (‘the Eye’) are born by divine will and are accessed through truth-mantra, making dawn a perpetual epiphany of Ṛta.
- Where it settles
It ends in direct praise by the Vasiṣṭhas and a practical benediction: may Dawn bring wealth and enduring fame and protect the worshippers with harmonies of well-being.
The deity: Uṣas
- In the VedaSavitṛ extends the light and impels life into motion, while Viśvānara (universal fire) is invoked as the all-pervading luminous principle that supports the dawn’s unveiling.
- Cosmic functionTo disclose the worlds (bhuvana), set beings into right activity, and renew the rhythm of Ṛta by re-establishing visibility, orientation, and the daily opening of life.
- Inner significanceThe awakening of consciousness—clarity after obscurity—where inner light rises, truth becomes speakable, and perception becomes ‘the Eye’ that sees rightly; a movement from hidden knowledge to manifest understanding.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Vasiṣṭhas) · One of the foremost ṛṣis of the Rig Veda, celebrated as a master of mantra-vision (kavi), closely associated with royal priesthood and with hymns that articulate Ṛta, divine order, and luminous revelation.
Famous verses
ud u jyotir amṛtaṃ viśvajanyam
gūḻhaṃ jyotiḥ... ajanayann uṣāsam
एषा नेत्री राधसः सूनृतानामुषा उच्छन्ती रिभ्यते वसिष्ठैः । दीर्घश्रुतं रयिमस्मे दधाना यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥Attributes of the deity
- Revealer of hidden light
- Bringer of vision (cakṣus) and awakening
- Leader of prosperity and truthful speech (sūnṛtā)
- Aligned with Ṛta and ancient seer-knowledge
- Protective and beneficent, granting well-being (svasti)
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha Maṇḍala)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa-Mitra, and Uṣas emphasizing Ṛta and divine guardianship
- Tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with exemplary brahminical authority and inspired speech (sūnṛtā)
The rite, step by step
- Purification and facing east at first light
- Kindling/attending the household fire (or mentally invoking Viśvānara as inner fire)
- Recite the sukta, dwelling on the ‘immortal light’ and the birth of the ‘Eye’
- Offer oblations while requesting revelation of what is hidden and protection through Ṛta
- Conclude with a prayer for svasti (well-being), wealth, and far-reaching renown
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into fire
- Milk or soma substitute in later practice (where appropriate)
- Water libation and simple food offerings as per household custom
Frequently Asked Questions
The main deity is Uṣas (Dawn). Savitṛ and Viśvānara appear in supportive roles as cosmic powers that extend and uphold the light Dawn reveals.
The “hidden light” is the radiance of truth and knowledge concealed by darkness or ignorance. The “Eye” is awakened vision—right perception—said to be born by divine will when dawn (illumination) arises.
It can be recited at dawn as a prayer for clarity, right direction, and auspiciousness. Many use it before morning worship or meditation to invoke inner awakening and well-being (svasti).
Ask anything about Sukta 76 of the Rig Veda
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