Rig Veda 1.124.1: Mandala 1, Sukta 124, Mantra 1
Sukta 1.124
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
उषा उच्छन्ती समिधाने अग्ना उद्यन्त्सूर्य उर्विया ज्योतिरश्रेत् । देवो नो अत्र सविता न्वर्थं प्रासावीद्द्विपत्प्र चतुष्पदित्यै ॥
uṣā́ ucchántī samidhāné agnā́ udyánt sū́rya urviyā́ jyótir aśret | devó no átra savitā́ nvàrthaṁ prā́sāvīd dvipát prá cátuṣpad ítyai ||
ఉషా ఉదయిస్తుంది, మా లోన అగ్నిని ప్రజ్వలింపజేస్తూ; పైకెగసే సూర్యుడు విశాలమైన జ్యోతిని పొంగనిచ్చాడు. ఇక్కడ దేవుడు సవితా ఇప్పుడు మా కొరకు సత్య లక్ష్యాన్ని ప్రేరేపించాడు—మా సత్తాలోని ద్విపదమూ చతుష్పదమూ ఋత-సిద్ధికి ముందుకు సాగునట్లు.
Word by Word
- उषाः
- Dawn (Uṣas)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot उषस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उच्छन्ती
- shining forth, dawningVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot उद्-√शा/शि (शा=to shine; Vedic: उच्छ्- ‘to shine forth’) (धातु) → उच्छन्ती (वर्त. कृदन्त)
- समिधाने
- when (the two) are being kindledVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्/आन); द्विवचन? (पदपाठे सामान्यतः लोकेटिव-द्विवचन/एकवचन रूपेण) — नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; द्विवचन (अग्न्योः)Role अधिकरणRoot सम्-√इध् (दीप्तौ) → समिधान- (कृदन्त)
- अग्ना
- the two fires / two AgnisNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (Vedic dual)Role कर्तृRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उद्यन्
- risingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot उद्-√या (गत्यर्थ) → उद्यन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- सूर्यः
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सूर्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उर्वियाः
- of the wide (earth/expanse)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root उर्वी- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ज्योतिः
- light, radianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (प्रकाशं) / (वाक्ये कर्मत्वेन)Root ज्योतिस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्रेत्
- has reached/extended (spread)Verbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √श्रि/श्रय् (आश्रये/गत्यर्थ; Vedic aorist) → अश्रेत्
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (to/for us)Root अस्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- अत्र
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot अत्र (अव्यय)
- सविता
- Savitṛ (the Impeller)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सवितृ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRole सम्बन्ध (particle)Root नु (अव्यय)
- अर्थम्
- aim, purpose, benefitNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अर्थ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- असावीत्
- has impelled, set in motionVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot प्र-√सू (प्रसवे/प्रेरणे) → (लुङ्) असावीत्
- द्विपत्
- the two-footed (humans)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective); प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (जातिवाचक)Role कर्म (यत् प्रेर्यते)Root द्वि-पद् (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्र (अव्यय)
- चतुष्पदि
- among the four-footed (cattle)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective); सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरण (क्षेत्र/लोक)Root चतुर्-पद् (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्यै
- thus; so (indeed)Indeclinableअव्यय (उक्तिसूचक/समाप्तिसूचक)Role सम्बन्ध (quotative/particle)Root इति (अव्यय) + ए (enclitic particle) → इत्यै (Vedic)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (one possible pada-split consistent with RV usage): उषा उच्छन्ती | समिधाने अग्ना | उद्यन् सूर्यः | उर्वियाः ज्योतिः अश्रेत् || देवः नः अत्र सविता नु अर्थम् | प्र असावीत् | द्विपत् प्र चतुष्पदि इत्यै || Notes: (1) समिधाने + अग्ना: vowel sandhi -e a- (often written together in saṃhitā)
- (2) उद्यन्त्सूर्यः → उद्यन् सूर्यः (final -nt + s- with saṃhitā assimilation)
- (3) ज्योतिः + अश्रेत्: visarga before vowel becomes -r- in saṃhitā (ज्योतिरश्रेत्)
- (4) न्वर्थम् → नु अर्थम् (u+a → va; written as न्व-)
- (5) प्रासा॑वीत् analyzed as प्र + असावीत् (aorist of √सू with preverb प्र)
- (6) द्विपत्प्र → द्विपत् + प्र (final -t + p- in saṃhitā)
- (7) चतुष्पदि॒त्यै → चतुष्पदि + इत्यै (i+i contraction in saṃhitā)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Dawn rises, kindling Agni; the Sun ascending spreads wide light. Savitṛ here has impelled the true aim so that the two-footed and four-footed may move forward toward fulfillment.
Inner meaning
The dawn-process begins with Uṣas awakening the inner fire (Agni) — the divine will in the heart-mind. With this kindling, Sūrya (illumined consciousness) rises and pours out a vast field of light, widening perception beyond narrow ego-frames. Savitṛ, the impeller, sets the ‘artha’ (true aim) in motion: the whole nature—mental-human (dvipat) and vital-physical (catuṣpad)—is urged to advance into right accomplishment (ityai), i.e., toward integral right ordering of life by truth-light.
Universal truth
True progress requires awakening (dawn), a kindled will (fire), a widening illumination (sunlight), and an inner impulsion toward the right aim—so that all parts of our nature move together toward fulfillment.
Themes
Dawn hymn, Awakening of Agni, Impulsion of Savitṛ, Light vs. darkness, Inner progress (sādhana)
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.124 (Uṣas hymn sequence), RV 1.123 (Uṣas-related)
Family tradition
Āṅgirasa seers frequently articulate the coordinated ascent: Agni kindled → Sūrya’s light → right action under Ṛta/Savitṛ.
Significance
Kutsa frames dawn not as scenery but as a disciplined inner process: awakening kindles will, illumination widens, and the impulsion of Truth moves the entire being toward its dharma/aim.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas (with Agni, Sūrya, Savitṛ as allied powers)
- Epithets
- ucchantī (shining forth), urviyā-jyotiḥ (wide-light, via Sūrya), pravartayitrī (impeller, via Savitṛ—functional epithet)
- Related deities
- Agni, Sūrya, Savitṛ, Ṛta (as governing law, implicit)
Cosmic role
Initiates the daily cycle of manifestation; sets the sacrificial energies moving; reveals the path for beings to act.
Inner power
The awakening force that lights Agni (will), lifts Sūrya (illumination), and releases Savitṛ’s impulsion (right movement).
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning Uṣas/Agni praise; suitable at the commencement of agnihotra-style daily fire remembrance (inner/outer).
उ॒षा उ॒च्छन्ती॑ समिधा॒ने अ॒ग्ना उ॒द्यन्त्सूर्य॑ उर्वि॒या ज्योति॑रश्रेत् । दे॒वो नो॒ अत्र॑ सवि॒ता न्वर्थं॒ प्रासा॑वीद्द्वि॒पत्प्र चतु॑ष्पदि॒त्यै ॥
उ॒षाः । उ॒च्छन्ती॑ । स॒म्ऽइध॒ा॒ने । अ॒ग्नौ । उ॒त्ऽयन् । सूर्यः॑ । उ॒र्वि॒या । ज्योतिः॑ । अ॒श्रे॒त् । दे॒वः । नः॒ । अत्र॑ । स॒वि॒ता । नु । अर्थ॑म् । प्र । अ॒सा॒वी॒त् । द्वि॒ऽपत् । प्र । चतुः॑ऽपत् । इ॒त्यै ॥
uṣāḥ | ucchantī | sam-idhāne | agnau | ut-yan | sūryaḥ | urviyā | jyotiḥ | aśret | devaḥ | naḥ | atra | savitā | nu | artham | pra | asāvīt | dvi-pat | pra | catuḥ-pat | ityai
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4 × ~11 syllables
Expansive, upward-surging; suitable for describing ascent (Agni kindled → Sun rising).
Energizes aspiration while keeping a dignified steadiness; supports a ‘lifting’ sensation in the chest and brow.
- उषाः उच्छन्ती (uṣā ucchantī)
- Literal: Dawn shining/rising. Symbolic: awakening of consciousness; first opening of light
- समिधाने अग्नौ (samidhāne agnāu)
- Literal: when Agni is kindled. Symbolic: divine will being fed/enkindled by aspiration
- उद्यन् सूर्यः (udyán sūryaḥ)
- Literal: the Sun rising. Symbolic: illumined mind; higher seeing ascending
- उर्विया ज्योतिः (urviyā jyotiḥ)
- Literal: wide light. Symbolic: vastening of consciousness; broad clarity and peace
- सविता (savitā)
- Literal: Savitṛ, the impeller. Symbolic: inner impulsion of the Truth that sets right movement in action
- अर्थम् (artham)
- Literal: aim, purpose, meaning. Symbolic: the true object of life and yoga; right direction of becoming
- द्विपत् (dvipat)
- Literal: two-footed. Symbolic: human/mental nature; reflective faculties
- चतुष्पद् (catuṣpad)
- Literal: four-footed. Symbolic: vital-physical powers; embodied energies
- इत्यै (ityai)
- Literal: for going/attainment. Symbolic: movement toward right fulfillment; progressive realization
Morning pressing and dawn recitations (prātaḥ-savana); general use in invoking the dawn powers that awaken Agni and align action with Savitṛ’s impulsion
At dawn; before study/work; at the start of a sādhanā session.
Offer ghee/attention to Agni (outer/inner); recite while facing east; end with silent resolve for ‘artha’.
Use as a ‘start-of-day’ mantra to align purpose: chant, then write one sentence of true aim (artha) for the day; act from it.
Key terms: (1) uṣā́ from √vas/√uṣ ‘to shine/burn’ → dawn as luminous emergence; in inner sense, the first opening of awareness. (2) sam-idhāné from √idh ‘to kindle’ with sam- ‘together/fully’ → a complete ignition; psychologically, the gathering of energies into a single flame of will (Agni). (3) aśret from √sṛ ‘to flow, stream’ (aor.) → light ‘streams’ rather than merely ‘appears’, emphasizing dynamic outpouring. (4) savitā́ from √sū ‘to impel, set in motion’ → the inspirer/impeller that initiates right action. (5) ítyai infinitival dative from √i ‘to go’ → ‘for going/advancing’, i.e., directed progress in the sādhana.
Ṛta (right order implied by Savitṛ’s ‘artham’ and the regulated advance), Satyam-Ritam (truth-light as streaming illumination), inner awakening (bodha via dawn)
Implied through Savitṛ’s impelling of ‘artha’ and the coordinated forward movement of faculties.
Wide light as the condition for perceiving true aim.
Dawn as daily re-manifestation: ignition → illumination → ordered movement of beings.
Aurobindonian Vedic yoga: integral movement of mind-life-body under truth-impulsion.
dawn
Ignition of will and ascent of illumined mind producing a widened field of awareness that moves the whole nature forward.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The dawn-arrival mythologem: Uṣas as the divine opener who kindles Agni and enables Sūrya’s ascent; the ‘streaming light’ is the release of hidden illumination into the human field. Savitṛ then ‘impels the aim’, making the dawn not only a phenomenon but a commanded advance of consciousness toward Ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- uṣā́ corresponds to the Indo-European Dawn figure (*h₂éwsōs), cf. Greek Ēōs, Latin Aurōra, Lithuanian Aušrà—showing inherited dawn-poetics. The verb-root √sṛ ‘to flow’ (aśret) has PIE parallels in flowing/streaming semantics (*srew-), supporting the image of light as a current rather than a static state.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer does not merely praise; he situates the human collectivity (‘naḥ’) inside the dawn-process and asks for alignment: Savitṛ is invoked to impel ‘artham’ (right purpose). The reciprocity is practical—by receiving dawn’s illumination and Agni’s ignition, the human being advances (ítyai) in ordered life (Ṛta), which is the true ‘gift’ sought.
Four-step inner dawn: (1) awaken (Uṣas), (2) kindle will (Agni), (3) widen seeing (Sūrya), (4) set right aim in motion (Savitṛ).
maṇipūra (Agni/will) and ājñā (Sūrya/illumination)
Inhale on ‘uṣā ucchantī’, feel chest brighten; exhale on ‘urviyā jyotiḥ’, feel mind widen; brief pause contemplating ‘artham’.
Alert, luminous, purpose-aligned.
Chant 3 times; after each recitation, silently affirm the ‘artha’ (true aim) and invite all parts of nature (mind/vital/body) to consent and move together.
Rigvedic udatta/anudatta/svarita; keep lift on key verbs of rising/impelling (ucchantī, udyan, prāsāvīt).
Mark gentle emphasis: ‘samidhāne agnāu’, ‘urviyā jyotiḥ’, ‘savitā… artham’, ‘dvipat… catuṣpad’.
uṣā: long ā, samidhāne: clear ‘dh’ voiced aspirate, agṇāu: nasal + retroflex ṇ; keep diphthong āu, jyotiḥ: ‘jy’ conjunct; final ḥ audible but light, prāsāvīt: long ā, and vīt with clear dental t
Bright, ascending, with controlled power; avoid haste.
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