Uṣas, the Dawn

Beat 1

Before sunrise, the poets of the Ṛgveda sang to Uṣas, the Dawn, more than to almost any other goddess. This hymn is credited to the seer Kutsa, son of Āṅgiras.

Uṣas. The goddess of dawn, sister of Night and daughter of Heaven (Dyaus). The word is related to Greek Eos and Latin Aurora.

From the scripture · Ṛgveda 1.113 (anukramaṇī)

Beat 2

"This best of lights has come," the hymn begins. Her many-coloured banner spreads across the sky.

From the scripture · Ṛgveda 1.113.1 · rigveda/1.113.1

Beat 3

Night and Dawn are two sisters on one endless road. They take turns, never colliding, never standing still: of one mind, of different forms.

From the scripture · Ṛgveda 1.113.2–3 · rigveda/1.113.3

Beat 4

She opens the doors of the world like the gates of a house, and everything that moves wakes up.

The seer: Uṣas has awakened all beings.

From the scripture · Ṛgveda 1.113.4–6 · rigveda/1.113.4

Beat 5

At her coming the household fire is kindled and people gather for the morning rite.

From the scripture · Ṛgveda 1.113.9 · rigveda/1.113.9

Beat 6

The poet turns thoughtful. Those who watched the dawn before us are gone; those who come after will see her too, and go the same way.

From the scripture · Ṛgveda 1.113.10–11 · rigveda/1.113.11

Beat 7

But this morning there is light. "Like breath of life, Uṣas has risen; darkness has gone." She clears the road for the Sun.

From the scripture · Ṛgveda 1.113.16 · rigveda/1.113.16