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)

Ang maikling himalang Uṣas na ito ay nagdiriwang sa unang nakikitang mga tanda ng Bukang-liwayway habang kumakalat ang kanyang maliwanag na anyo at muling tumatahik ang sanlibutan patungo sa liwanag. Ito ay nagpupuri sa mga Bukang-liwayway sa pagpapalabas ni Sūrya, sa muling pagbibuhay kay Agni at sa yajña, at sa pagtaboy sa hindi kanais-nais na kadiliman. Ang makata ay nananalangin na ang mga kisap-matang Bukang-liwayway ay magkaloob ng kanais-nais na mga biyaya, mag-alsa ng mga kalituhan, at mangalaga sa mga mang-aawit ng pangmatagalang kagalingan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.78

Mantras

Mantra 1

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

Ang mga unang tandang-mensahero ay nagiging nakikita; ang kanyang mga sinag na nakataas ay kumakalat. O Bukang-liwayway, lumapit sa amin sa iyong malawak na karo, puno ng liwanag, at dalhin sa amin ang ninanais, ang mga luminosong pagpapala na nagpapabuti sa kaluluwa.

Mantra 2

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

Sa pagtugon, ang niningas na Apoy ay nagigising at nagiging mainit; sa pagtugon, ang mga mangunguna ay umaawit gamit ang kanilang mga inspiradong saloobin. Ang Bukang-liwayway ay sumusulong kasama ang kanyang liwanag, itinutulak pabalik ang lahat ng kadiliman at sinusunog ang kasamaan ng panloob na paghihirap, siya, ang Diyosa.

Mantra 3

एता उ त्याः प्रत्यदृश्रन्पुरस्ताज्ज्योतिर्यच्छन्तीरुषसो विभातीः । अजीजनन्त्सूर्यं यज्ञमग्निमपाचीनं तमो अगादजुष्टम् ॥

Ang mga Bukang-liwayway na ito ay talagang lumitaw sa harapan, iniaalay ang liwanag habang nagkakinang. Sila ay nagluwal ng Araw, ng Sakripisyo, at ng Apoy; at ang kadiliman, na iniwasan ang landas, ay naglaho, hindi tinatanggap ng kaluluwa.

Mantra 4

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

Ang mapagbigay na Anak na Babae ng Langit ay nagising; lahat ay nakikita ang Bukang-liwayway habang siya ay nagkakinang. Siya ay sumakay sa kanyang karo, ginagamit ang kanyang sariling kapangyarihan; at ang mga mahusay na lakas ay nagdadala sa kanya pasulong.

Mantra 5

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

Sa iyo ngayon kami ay nagigising na may mabuti at sumasang-ayong isip, ang aming grupo ng mga naghahanap at kami na nagsusumikap ng kasaganaan. O kumikinang na mga Bukang-liwayway, alisin ang mga kalituhan at abala; at inyong bantayan kami palagi ng kagalingan.

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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