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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 593 of 1027

Mandala 7: HYMN LXXVII. Dawn.

1.SHE hath shone brightly like a youthful woman, stirring to motion every living creature. Agni hath come to feed on mortal? fuel. She hath made light and chased away the darkness.

2.Turned to this All, far-spreading, she hath risen and shone in brightness with white robes about her. She hath beamed forth lovely with golden colours, Mother of kine, Guide of the days she bringeth.

3.Bearing the Gods’ own Eye, auspicious Lady, leading her Courser white and fair to look on, Distinguished by her bean-is Dawn shines apparent, come forth to all the world with wondrous treasure.

4.Draw nigh with wealth and dawn away the foeman: prepare for us wide pasture free from danger. Drive away those who hate us, bring us riches: pour bounty, opulent Lady, on the singer.

5.Send thy most excellent beams to shine and light us, giving us lengthened days, O Dawn, O Goddess, Granting us food, thou who hast all things precious, and bounty rich in chariots, kine, and horses.

6.O Uṣas, nobly-born, Daughter of Heaven, whom the Vasisthas with their hymns make mighty, Bestow thou on us vast and glorious riches. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn call Dawn a goddess who brings wealth and drives away enemies?

The hymn treats Uṣas as an active, visible force: she “shone brightly” and “beamed forth lovely,” arriving with light that transforms the world and makes action possible. Dawn’s coming opens pastures, lengthens days, and is imagined as delivering “wealth,” chariots, kine and protection because sunlight enables grazing, travel and victory; the poet links natural order to social goods.

Calling Dawn a nurturer and war‑dispeller is consistent with Rig Veda portrayals where cosmic phenomena are persons who confer prosperity; see Hymn I.92 where Dawn’s appearance also brings blessings and order. The requests—“drive away those who hate us” and “pour bounty… on the singer”—treat Uṣas as the source of both material and communal well‑being.

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