Rig Veda Sukta 124
Mandala 1Sukta 12413 Mantras

Sukta 124

Sukta 1.124

Rishi

Kutsa Āṅgirasa (traditional attribution for RV 1.124, subject to śākhā recensional listings)

Devata

Uṣas (primary); with functional presence of Agni, Sūrya, Savitṛ as allied powers in the dawn-process

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (11-syllable lines; standard for many Uṣas hymns)

这首《曙光》(Uṣas)赞歌颂扬黎明为点燃阿耆尼(Agni)、铺展太阳广阔光辉的力量,并使一切众生——两足与四足——进入正当的行动与目的。诗人以鲜明的女性意象赞美曙光为仁惠的唤醒者:她澄清生命之水,带来财富与吉祥,并日日更新世界的秩序。末尾以正式祈请收束,求她施以护佑,并赐充沛的精力与繁荣。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.124

Mantras

Mantra 1

उषा उच्छन्ती समिधाने अग्ना उद्यन्त्सूर्य उर्विया ज्योतिरश्रेत् । देवो नो अत्र सविता न्वर्थं प्रासावीद्द्विपत्प्र चतुष्पदित्यै ॥

曙光升起,点燃我们内在的阿耆尼(Agni);而太阳上腾,倾注广阔的光明。此处,神萨维特里(Savitṛ)如今为我们推动那真实的目标——使我们存在中的两足与四足,都得以前行,趋向正当的圆成。

Mantra 2

अमिनती दैव्यानि व्रतानि प्रमिनती मनुष्या युगानि । ईयुषीणामुपमा शश्वतीनामायतीनां प्रथमोषा व्यद्यौत् ॥

她不违越诸神的誓律(vrata),却打破人间惰滞的岁代。她是已往者与复归者、恒常往来者的范式与尺度;曙光——最初者——照耀而出,更新灵魂的行进。

Mantra 3

एषा दिवो दुहिता प्रत्यदर्शि ज्योतिर्वसाना समना पुरस्तात् । ऋतस्य पन्थामन्वेति साधु प्रजानतीव न दिशो मिनाति ॥

这位天之女已在我们面前显现,披着光辉(jyotis),自太初以来其法则一如。她善随ṛta(宇宙正法、真理之序)的道路;如同明知者,她不违越存在之诸方与界限。

Mantra 4

उपो अदर्शि शुन्ध्युवो न वक्षो नोधा इवाविरकृत प्रियाणि । अद्मसन्न ससतो बोधयन्ती शश्वत्तमागात्पुनरेयुषीणाम् ॥

她已入目显现——洁净如明亮的胸怀——又如诺达萨(Nodhās)一般,使可爱之物昭然。她如从家中唤醒沉睡者,唤起众生;那最恒常的黎明再度来到归来者之中。

Mantra 5

पूर्वे अर्धे रजसो अप्त्यस्य गवां जनित्र्यकृत प्र केतुम् । व्यु प्रथते वितरं वरीय ओभा पृणन्ती पित्रोरुपस्था ॥

在中界(rajas)之前半部,她——光线之母——已举示认知之标记。她展开而广布,向更远、更宏阔的境域延伸;充盈两方,安住于双亲之广阔怀抱。

Mantra 6

एवेदेषा पुरुतमा दृशे कं नाजामिं न परि वृणक्ति जामिम् । अरेपसा तन्वा शाशदाना नार्भादीषते न महो विभाती ॥

如此,这位女神为我等所见而最为丰盈;她不偏择一族而弃绝另一族。以无垢之身,她不断照耀;不畏微小,亦不在伟大之前减损——她于一切处皆光明。

Mantra 7

अभ्रातेव पुंस एति प्रतीची गर्तारुगिव सनये धनानाम् । जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासा उषा हस्रेव नि रिणीते अप्सः ॥

如同无兄之女,她向那男子走来;又如自坑中攀出之人,她带来赢得财富的胜利。又如渴慕夫君的妻子,衣饰华美;黎明微笑着,澄清诸水——放出生命之流,供旅程前行。

Mantra 8

स्वसा स्वस्रे ज्यायस्यै योनिमारैगपैत्यस्याः प्रतिचक्ष्येव । व्युच्छन्ती रश्मिभिः सूर्यस्याञ्ज्यङ्क्ते समनगा इव व्राः ॥

妹妹离开子宫,归向更长的姐姐;她悄然滑去,仿佛当面相见而退。她广阔地破晓,以太阳的光线为己涂抹——如善饰之舞者,她披取光明的诸形。

Mantra 9

आसां पूर्वासामहसु स्वसॄणामपरा पूर्वामभ्येति पश्चात् । ताः प्रत्नवन्नव्यसीर्नूनमस्मे रेवदुच्छन्तु सुदिना उषासः ॥

在这些姊妹般的黎明之中,于诸日里,后来的随从先前的而来,步步在后。愿那些黎明——古而常新——如今为我们富饶地升起,带来吉祥之日,令心灵得其善辰。

Mantra 10

प्र बोधयोषः पृणतो मघोन्यबुध्यमानाः पणयः ससन्तु । रेवदुच्छ मघवद्भ्यो मघोनि रेवत्स्तोत्रे सूनृते जारयन्ती ॥

醒起吧,曙光啊,唤醒那以丰盈充满、施与的慷慨者;让不肯醒起的悭吝者——般尼(Paṇi)——败退消散。富饶地升起吧,为慷慨者而富饶,富饶的曙光啊;也为赞歌而富饶,善言者啊,使我们的言辞温热而有生机。

Mantra 11

अवेयमश्वैद्युवतिः पुरस्ताद्युङ्क्ते गवामरुणानामनीकम् । वि नूनमुच्छादसति प्र केतुर्गृहंगृहमुप तिष्ठाते अग्निः ॥

看哪,这位年轻的曙光自前方而来,驾轭那光辉的群畜——赤红之光的行列与面容。如今她广阔地升起;觉醒的标志已然前行:阿耆尼(Agni),那内在意志之火,在我们每一处家宅之中都挺立而起。

Mantra 12

उत्ते वयश्चिद्वसतेरपप्तन्नरश्च ये पितुभाजो व्युष्टौ । अमा सते वहसि भूरि वाममुषो देवि दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥

当你升起之时,连群鸟也从栖止处飞出;分受父业之分的人们在拂晓醒来。你与他们同在,于此时此地为献供的凡人载来丰饶的欢悦与广阔——噢,神圣的曙光女神(Uṣas)。

Mantra 13

अस्तोढ्वं स्तोम्या ब्रह्मणा मेऽवीवृधध्वमुशतीरुषासः । युष्माकं देवीरवसा सनेम सहस्रिणं च शतिनं च वाजम् ॥

我以可颂之梵言(brahman)赞颂你们;愿你们因此增长,噢,喜爱祭供的诸曙光(Uṣas)。凭你们女神的护佑(avas),愿我们赢得充盈的力量之财——千倍与百倍丰盛的战利(vāja)。

Inside Sukta 124

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Dawn’s arising is immediately linked with the ignition of Agni and the Sun’s outpouring of vast light, while Savitṛ impels beings toward their true purpose.

  2. Development

    Uṣas is elaborated through dynamic images: she awakens, adorns, advances, and bestows—clearing the life-waters and enabling gain, movement, and auspicious activity in the world.

  3. Climax

    The hymn’s vision peaks in the sense of universal propulsion: the dawn-process aligns inner fire, solar revelation, and Savitṛ’s impulsion so that all life moves forward into right fulfillment.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet seals the praise with a direct request for the Dawns’ gracious help and for abundant, many-counted strength and prosperity.

The deity: Uṣas

  • In the VedaUṣas is praised as the radiant Dawn—beautifully adorned, smiling, and ever-renewing—who reveals forms, stirs beings to activity, and opens the paths for sacrifice and life. She is portrayed with intimate, human metaphors (wife, maiden, benefactress) while remaining a cosmic power who dispels darkness and sets the world in motion.
  • Cosmic functionShe marks the daily renewal of ṛta (cosmic order) by bringing light, awakening Agni’s flame, and preparing the ascent of Sūrya and the impulsion of Savitṛ for all creatures.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, Uṣas signifies the arising of clarity and aspiration: the first light of discernment that awakens the inner fire (will/attention) and releases the ‘waters’ of life-energy, enabling right aim and forward progress in thought and action.

The seer

  • Kutsa ĀṅgirasaĀṅgirasa (Angiras lineage; sometimes connected in tradition with the Kutsa family of seers) · A prominent early Rigvedic seer associated with hymns of illumination and victory motifs, and remembered in later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition for links with Indra and the overcoming of obstructive powers.

Famous verses

urviyā jyotir aśret
Verse 1.124.1Sets the hymn’s program: Uṣas awakens, Agni is kindled, Sūrya spreads wide light, and Savitṛ impels right aim for all beings—linking cosmic dawn with ethical-ritual direction.Read verse 1.124.1 →
uṣā hasreva
Verse 1.124.7A signature Uṣas verse rich in metaphor: Dawn approaches like a beloved, brings gain like one who climbs out of a pit, and ‘smiles’ as she clears the waters—capturing her beneficence and life-releasing power.Read verse 1.124.7 →
sahasriṇaṃ ca śatinaṃ ca vājam
Verse 1.124.13Concluding invocation and boon-request: praise as mantric nourishment for the Dawns and a clear petition for their protective help and abundant vāja (force/wealth).Read verse 1.124.13 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Bringer of light and awakening
  • Renewer of order (ṛta) each day
  • Kindler of Agni and opener of the sacrificial path
  • Auspicious, beneficent, wealth-bestowing
  • Clearer of the waters/streams of life
  • Feminine beauty, grace, and joyful radiance

Also by this seer

  • Hymns attributed to Kutsa in Mandala 1 (including several Uṣas and allied-deity hymns in traditional listings)
  • Associated in Anukramaṇī tradition with multiple sūktas where dawn/light imagery and forward movement (pravṛtti) are central themes

The rite, step by step

  • Purificatory preparation at daybreak (silence, cleansing, orientation to the eastern light)
  • Kindling/attention to Agni (lamp or sacred fire) as Dawn is invoked
  • Recitation of the sūkta in Triṣṭubh cadence, with mental offering of praise (stoma/brahman)
  • Contemplation of ‘wide light’ and right aim (artha) for the day’s works—humans and cattle alike
  • Concluding petition for avas (help/protection) and for vāja (strength, plenty)

Offerings

  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni (where a fire rite is performed)
  • Milk or soma-substitutes in domestic observance (as customary to one’s śrauta/smārta setting)
  • Mental offering of praise (stoma), intention, and gratitude

Frequently Asked Questions

Uṣas is Dawn, praised as a divine power who brings light, awakens beings to action, and renews the world’s order each morning.

They function as allied powers in the dawn-process: Dawn awakens the inner and outer fire (Agni), the Sun (Sūrya) rises with wide light, and Savitṛ ‘impels’ beings toward right activity and purpose.

The hymn asks for Uṣas’ protective help (avas) and for abundant vāja—strength, vitality, and prosperity—often expressed as wealth “in thousands and in hundreds.”

Ask anything about Sukta 124 of the Rig Veda

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