Rig Veda 1.113.12: Mandala 1, Sukta 113, Mantra 12
Sukta 1.113
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
यावयद्द्वेषा ऋतपा ऋतेजाः सुम्नावरी सूनृता ईरयन्ती । सुमङ्गलीर्बिभ्रती देववीतिमिहाद्योषः श्रेष्ठतमा व्युच्छ ॥
yāvayád dveṣā ṛtapā́ ṛtejā́ḥ sumnāvarī sūnṛ́tā īráyantī | sumáṅgalīr bíbh ratī devávītim ihā́dyóṣaḥ śréṣṭhatamā vyùccha ||
نفرت کو بھگاتے ہوئے، حق کی نگہبان اور حق سے پیدا ہوئی، فضل کے احاطے لاتی، وہ سچی بات کو متحرک کرتی ہے۔ خوش آئند ہم آہنگیاں اور دیوتاؤں کا راستہ اٹھاتی، اے سب سے بہترین سویرا، آج یہاں طلوع ہو۔
Word by Word
- यावयत्
- drove away, dispelledVerbलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, singularRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया) / Uṣas-कर्तृकRoot यावय (यु/यौ धातु-प्रेरणे; caus.)
- द्वेषः
- hatred, hostilityNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Vedic usage also masc.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (collective)Role KarmaRoot द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक) / द्विष् (धातु)
- ऋतपा
- drinker/guardian of ṛta (cosmic order)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषसः विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण) / UṣasRoot ऋत-पा (समास; ‘ऋत’ + ‘पा’)
- ऋतेजाः
- born of ṛta, sprung from truth/orderAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषसः विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण) / UṣasRoot ऋत-जा (समास; ‘ऋत’ + ‘जा’)
- सुम्नावरी
- rich in favor/blessingAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषसः विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण) / UṣasRoot सुम्न-वरी (समास; ‘सुम्न’ + ‘वरी’)
- सूनृता
- true/pleasant speech, gracious utteranceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (collective/abstract)Role KarmaRoot सूनृता (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईरयन्ती
- setting in motion, sending forthVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषसः)Role Kartā (सहायक क्रिया/भाव) / UṣasRoot ईरय् (caus. of ईर्/इर् ‘to set in motion, raise’)
- सुमङ्गलीः
- auspicious, bringing good fortuneAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (उषसः किरणाः/स्त्रियः इव)Role Kartā (विशेषण) / attendant raysRoot सु-मङ्गली (समास; ‘सु’ + ‘मङ्गली’)
- बिभ्रती
- bearing, carryingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषसः)Role Kartā (सहायक क्रिया) / UṣasRoot भृ (धातु) → बिभ्रत्
- देववीतिम्
- the gods’ pursuit/way; divine course (of worship/approach)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot देव-वीति (समास; ‘देव’ + ‘वीति’)
- इह
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (देश)Root इह (अव्यय)
- अद्य
- today, nowIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (काल)Root अद्य (अव्यय)
- उषः
- Dawn (Uṣas)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Vedic voc./nom. form उषः)Role KartāRoot उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रेष्ठतमा
- most excellentAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उषसः विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण) / UṣasRoot श्रेष्ठ-तम (superlative)
- वि
- apart, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- उच्छ
- shine forth, dawnVerbलोट् (imperative) / Vedic injunctive-like, परस्मैपद, 2nd person, singularRole Kriyā (आह्वान) / addressed to UṣasRoot वस्/उष् (धातु ‘to shine’) with preverb वि-; Vedic injunctive/imperative stem उच्छ-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): यावयत् + द्वेषः | ऋतपा + ऋतेजाः | सुम्नावरी + सूनृता + ईरयन्ती | सुमङ्गलीः + बिभ्रती + देववीतिम् | इह + अद्य + उषः + श्रेष्ठतमा + वि + उच्छ । प्रमुख संधयः: (1) यावयत् + द्वेषा → यावयद्द्वेषा (त् + द् = द्द्)
- (2) ऋतपा ऋतेजाः: संधि-रहित पदयुग्म (पदपाठे पृथक्)
- (4) इह + अद्य → इहाद्य (अ + अ = आ)
- (5) उषः + श्रेष्ठतमा: विसर्गः पदान्ते, संहितायां उषः श्रेष्ठतमा (जिह्वामूलीय/उपध्मानीय नहीं)
- (6) वि + उच्छ → व्युच्छ (इ + उ = यु)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Driving away hatred, a guardian of ṛta and born of ṛta, bringing grace, setting true speech in motion; bearing auspiciousness and the way of the gods—O most excellent Dawn, dawn here today.
Inner meaning
Dawn as illumination purifies the being: it drives away inner द्वेष (hostility, division), protects ṛta (right order) and arises from ṛta itself (truth-born). She brings ‘sumnāvarī’—coverings or envelopes of grace—so the seeker is sheltered and aided. She sets ‘sūnṛtā’ (true, harmonious speech) into movement: the expression of consciousness becomes aligned with truth. Bearing auspicious harmonies and the देववीति (the path/going of the gods—higher powers), she is invoked to manifest here and now as the day’s governing light.
Universal truth
Illumination is ethical and transformative: it dispels hatred, establishes right order, and makes speech truthful. True spirituality is recognized by increased harmony, auspiciousness, and alignment with a higher way of living—invoked freshly each day.
Themes
Rita-centered dawn, Purification of hostility, Activation of truth-speech, Auspicious divine way
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.113, RV 1.112, RV 1.114
Family tradition
Āṅgirasa tradition ties illumination to ṛta and to the release of right speech and right action; the seer’s emphasis is practical: dawn must reform the nature—speech, harmony, and inner relations.
Significance
This concluding invocation (within the sequence) is a daily prayer for integral transformation: purification of hostility, establishment of ṛta, and the awakening of sūnṛtā (true speech)—key markers of an advancing inner sacrifice.
The deity
- Devata
- Uṣas
- Epithets
- ṛtapā (guardian of ṛta), ṛtejā (ṛta-born), sumaṅgalī (auspicious), śreṣṭhatamā (most excellent)
- Related deities
- Mitra-Varuṇa (ṛta), Sarasvatī (speech), Agni (inner sacrifice), Sūrya (truth-vision)
Cosmic role
She inaugurates the day in harmony with cosmic order, dispelling darkness and disharmony, and leading beings on the divine way.
Inner power
Purifier and harmonizer; awakener of truth-speech; establisher of right rhythm (ṛta) in thought, word, and deed.
In ritual
Where it is used
Morning Uṣas invocation; suitable as an opening benediction before recitation, study, or offerings.
या॒व॒यद्द्वे॑षा ऋत॒पा ऋ॑ते॒जाः सु॑म्ना॒वरी॑ सू॒नृता॑ ई॒रय॑न्ती । सु॒म॒ङ्ग॒लीर्बिभ्र॑ती दे॒ववी॑तिमि॒हाद्योष॒: श्रेष्ठ॑तमा॒ व्यु॑च्छ ॥
या॒व॒यत्ऽद्वे॑षाः । ऋ॒त॒ऽपाः । ऋ॒ते॒ऽजाः । सु॒म्न॒ऽवरी॑ । सू॒नृताः॑ । ई॒रय॑न्ती । सु॒ऽम॒ङ्ग॒लीः । बिभ्र॑ती । दे॒वऽवी॑तिम् । इ॒ह । अ॒द्य । उ॒षः॒ । श्रेष्ठ॑ऽतमा । वि । उ॒च्छ॒ ॥
yāvayat-dveṣāḥ | ṛta-pāḥ | ṛte--jāḥ | sumna-varī | sūnṛtāḥ | īrayantī | su-maṅgalīḥ | bibhratī | deva-vītim | iha | adya | uṣaḥ | śreṣṭha-tamā | vi | uccha
44
4×11
Blessing-like, with strong epithets and an imperative close
Cleansing and uplifting; the final ‘vy uccha’ lands as a clear invocation for immediate descent of light.
- dveṣāḥ
- Literal: hatreds, hostilities. Symbolic: Inner division, resentment, ego-reactivity that blocks light
- yāvayat
- Literal: driving away. Symbolic: Purificatory force of awakening removing obstacles
- ṛtapāḥ
- Literal: guardian of ṛta. Symbolic: Power that maintains right order in consciousness and life
- ṛtejāḥ
- Literal: born of ṛta. Symbolic: Illumination arising from truth-order, not from impulse
- sumnāvarī
- Literal: bearing coverings of grace/favor. Symbolic: Protective benediction; supportive atmosphere for growth
- sūnṛtāḥ īrayantī
- Literal: setting true speech in motion. Symbolic: Activation of truth-speaking; mantra and expression aligned with inner reality
- sumaṅgalīḥ
- Literal: very auspicious. Symbolic: Harmonizing energies; wellbeing of the being
- devavītim
- Literal: the way/going of the gods. Symbolic: The higher path of the soul guided by divine powers
- śreṣṭhatamā
- Literal: most excellent. Symbolic: Highest form of awakening available to the seeker ‘today’
Purificatory and auspicious dawn-invocation; suitable at the opening of morning rites to remove hostile forces and establish ṛta-aligned speech and action.
At dawn; also at the start of any auspicious undertaking to dispel inner hostility and establish harmony.
Praise with a direct call for dawning ‘here today’; may accompany lighting a lamp or offering water.
Daily ‘inner ethics’ practice: chant to reset speech and relationships; especially helpful before difficult conversations to invoke sūnṛtā.
ṛta-pā ‘keeper of ṛta’ from √pā ‘protect, drink’ (protector sense here). ṛta-jā from √jan ‘be born’ indicates Dawn as an embodiment of cosmic order. √īr ‘set in motion’ in īrayantī: Dawn activates sūnṛtā (truth-speech). deva-vīti ‘divine course’ from √vī ‘to pursue, go’/vīti ‘track, pursuit’: the path of divine workings. yāvayat ‘drive away’ expresses purification: removal of dveṣas (hostile movements) as prerequisite for illumination.
Ṛta as source and law, Satya in speech (sūnṛtā), purification (driving away dveṣas), divine path (deva-vīti)
Explicit: Uṣas is ṛtapā and ṛtejā—she both guards and originates from ṛta.
Sūnṛtā is satya expressed as harmonious, beneficent speech; truth that builds concord.
Order emerges from disorder each morning; harmony is re-established by the advent of light.
Dharma-yoga of consciousness: inner illumination expresses as ethical harmony and truth-speaking.
dawn
Light that purifies emotional hostility, aligns the being to ṛta, and activates truthful expression; a daily re-consecration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Dawn as the ṛta-born purifier who drives away hostile powers and sets truth-speech in motion, bearing the divine way. Inner myth: illumination establishes cosmic order within the human—removing antagonistic impulses (dveṣas), activating truthful expression (sūnṛtā), and aligning life with the gods’ path (deva-vīti).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The central concept ṛta has Indo-Iranian cognacy with Avestan aša (truth/order), reflecting a shared IE heritage of cosmic order language. The morphology of compounds (ṛta-pā, ṛta-jā, deva-vīti) shows the archaic nominal compositional style typical of early IE hymn diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi asks for an inner re-ordering: removal of hostile movements and the establishment of truth-speech and auspicious harmony. The Devatā is approached as the carrier of deva-vīti; the human offers receptivity and invocation, and Dawn grants alignment with ṛta and the right movement of speech and action.
Let dawn-light fill the chest and throat: release hostility, then speak inwardly one sentence of sūnṛtā (true, kind truth).
viśuddha (truth-speech)
soft bhrāmarī (3–7 rounds) to harmonize speech-energy, then silent recitation
Sattvic harmony; benevolent clarity
Before speaking today, pause and recall ‘sūnṛtā īrayantī’. Practice one act of speech that is simultaneously true, timely, and non-hostile. If reactivity arises, return to the felt sense of dawn as ṛta—reorder the breath, then respond.
Vedic accents with emphatic epithets; keep the imperative ‘vy uccha’ clean and bright.
Slightly broaden on ‘ṛtapā ṛtejāḥ’ to honor the ṛta-epithets; then tighten rhythm toward the closing invocation.
yāvayat: long ā; avoid ‘yavayat’, ṛtapā: vocalic ṛ; dental t; long ā, ṛtejāḥ: pronounce ‘te’ clearly; long āḥ at end, sūnṛtā: long ū; retroflex ṛ; long ā, devavītim: long ī, śreṣṭhatamā: retroflex ṣṭh cluster; long ā
Clear, pure, benedictive; brighter on the final command
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