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RV 1.123
i: kakvn dairghatamasa (auija); devat: u; chanda: triup

p&/wU rwae/ di]?[aya Ayae/Jy! @en<? de/vasae? A/m&ta?sae ASwu> ,

k/:[ad! %d! A?Swad! A/yaR ivha?ya/z! icik?TsNtI/ manu?;ay/ ]ya?y . 1-123-01

pUvaR/ iv?Sma/d! -uv?nad! Abaeix/ jy?NtI/ vaj?m! b&h/tI snu?I ,

%/a Vy! AOyd! yuv/it> pu?n/-URr! Aae;a A?gn! w/ma pU/vR?taE . 1-123-02

yd! A/* -a/g< iv/-ja?is/ n&_y/ %;ae? deiv mTyR/a su?jate ,

de/vae nae/ A? siv/ta dmU?na/ Ana?gsae vaecit/ sUyaR?y . 1-123-03

g&/h<-g&?hm! Ah/na ya/Ty! ACDa? id/ve-id?ve/ Aix/ nama/ dxa?na ,

is;a?sNtI *aet/na z/d! Aaga/d! A?<-A/m! #d! -?jte/ vsU?nam! . 1-123-04

-g?Sy/ Svsa/ v?[Sy ja/imr! %;>? sUn&te w/ma j?rSv ,

p/a s d?ya/ yae A/"Sy? xa/ta jye?m/ t< di]?[ya/ rwe?n . 1-123-05

%d! $?rta< sU/n&ta/ %t! pur<?xI/r! %d! A/y>? zuzuca/nasae? ASwu> ,

Spa/haR vsU?in/ tm/sap?gU!ha/iv;! k?{vNTy! %/;sae? iv-a/tI> . 1-123-06

Apa/Nyd! @Ty! A/_y! ANyd! @?it/ iv;u?pe/ Ah?nI/ s< c?rete ,

p/ir/i]tae/s! tmae? A/Nya guha?k/r! A*aE?d! %/;a> zaezu?cta/ rwe?n . 1-123-07

s/zI?r! A/* s/zI/r! #d! %/ ae dI/" s?cNte/ v?[Sy/ xam? ,

A/n/v/*as! i</zt</ yaej?na/Ny! @kE?ka/ tu/m! pir? yiNt s/*> . 1-123-08

ja/n/Ty! A>? w/mSy/ nam? zu/a k/:[ad! A?jin itI/cI ,

\/tSy/ yae;a/ n im?nait/ xamah?r!-Ahr! in:k/tm! Aa/cr?NtI . 1-123-09

k/Nyev t/Nva zaz?dana/ @i;? deiv de/vm! #y?]ma[m! ,

s</Smy?mana yuv/it> pu/rSta?d! Aa/ivr! v]a<?is k[u;e iv-a/tI . 1-123-10

su/s</ka/za ma/t&m&?ev/ yae;a/ivs! t/Nv< k[u;e /ze km! ,

-/a Tvm! %?;ae ivt/r< Vy! %CD/ n tt! te? A/Nya %/;sae? nzNt . 1-123-11
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Aa?vtI/r! gaem?tIr! iv/va?ra/ yt?mana r/iZmi->/ sUyR?Sy ,

pra? c/ yiNt/ pun/r! Aa c? yiNt -/a nam/ vh?mana %/;as>? . 1-123-12

\/tSy? r/iZmm! A?nu/yCD?mana -/<--?</ tu?m! A/Smasu? xeih ,

%;ae? nae A/* su/hva/ Vy! %CDa/Smasu/ rayae? m/"v?Tsu c Syu> . 1-123-13

Analysis of RV 1.123

p&/wU rwae/ di]?[aya Ayae/Jy! @en<? de/vasae? A/m&ta?sae ASwu> ,

k/:[ad! %d! A?Swad! A/yaR ivha?ya/z! icik?TsNtI/ manu?;ay/ ]ya?y . 1-123-01

prth rtho dkiy ayoji ana devso amtso asthu

krd d asthd ary vhy ckitsant mnuya kyya 1.123.01

Interpretation:
Vast is the Chariot of Dakshina (prth rtho dkiy), which is
yoked to movement (ayoji)! That (chariot-movement) all the Immortal
Gods have ascended (ana devso amtso asthu).
Noble and Vast, Shes risen from the Darkness (krd d asthd
ary vhy), bringing the light (or lit. wanting to shine/illumine) for
human dwelling (ckitsant mnuya kyya).

Vocabulary:
vihyas, (vi-) mfn. (for 2., from which perhaps it is scarcely separable see vi-
h) vigorous , active , mighty RV. AV. TAr.; (accord. to Sch. = mahat).

Griffiths translation:
1. THE Daksina's broad chariot hath been harnessed: this car the
Gods Immortal have ascended.
Fain to bring light to homes of men the noble and active Goddess hath
emerged from darkness.

pUvaR/ iv?Sma/d! -uv?nad! Abaeix/ jy?NtI/ vaj?m! b&h/tI snu?I ,

%/a Vy! AOyd! yuv/it> pu?n/-URr! Aae;a A?gn! w/ma pU/vR?taE . 1-123-02

prv vvasmd bhvand abodhi jyant vjam

brhat snutr
ucc v akhyad yuvat punarbhr agan pratham prvhtau 1.123.02

Interpretation:
Awoke first she before the whole world (prv vvasmd bhvand

abodhi), conquering plenitude (jyant vjam), vast and all-achieving

(brhat snutr)!
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High has she stood again, far-seeing, the young maiden (ucc v
akhyad yuvat punarbhr)! Dawn has come first to the first
invocations ( agan pratham prvhtau).

Vocabulary:
sanut, mfn. (only in f. sanutr) gaining , procuring RV.

Griffiths translation:
2 She before all the living world hath wakened, the Lofty One who
wins and gathers treasure.
Revived and ever young on high she glances. Dawn hath come first
unto our morning worship.

yd! A/* -a/g< iv/-ja?is/ n&_y/ %;ae? deiv mTyR/a su?jate ,

de/vae nae/ A? siv/ta dmU?na/ Ana?gsae vaecit/ sUyaR?y . 1-123-03

yd ady bhg vibhjsi nbhya o devi martiyatr sujte

dev no tra savit dmn ngaso vocati sriyya 1.123.03

Interpretation:
Today, O Dawn, O Goddess, among the mortals, (o devi
martiyatr) when you shall bestow upon the souls of men the portion
of delight (yd ady bhg vibhjsi nbhya), O Perfectly-born
(sujte), [then] our God Savitar, who grows here in the House of Man
(dev no tra savit dmn), shall thus declare [us] sinless for the
Sun [to come] (ngaso vocati sriyya).

Griffiths translation:
3 If, Dawn, thou Goddess nobly born, thou dealest fortune this day to
all the race of mortals,
May Savitar the God, Friend of the homestead, declare before the Sun
that we are sinless.

g&/h<-g&?hm! Ah/na ya/Ty! ACDa? id/ve-id?ve/ Aix/ nama/ dxa?na ,

is;a?sNtI *aet/na z/d! Aaga/d! A?<-A/m! #d! -?jte/ vsU?nam! . 1-123-04

grh-grham ahan yti ch div-dive dhi nm ddhn

ssant dyotan vad gd gram-agram d bhajate vsnm 1.123.04

Interpretation:
To every house she goes directly (grh-grham ahan yti ch),
and every day holding her different Names (div-dive dhi nm
ddhn), She of the Day (ahan)!
Desiring to conquer/to gain [all], shining bright and ever She
approaches (ssant dyotan vad gd)! At every front (or top)
she bestows/apportions of the Riches (gram-agram d bhajate
vsnm)!
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Vocabulary:
ahan, the base of the weak and some other cases of ahar, q.v. e.g. instr.
ahn [once ahan RV. i , 123 , 4]

Griffiths translation:
4 Showing her wonted form each day that passeth, spreading the light
she visiteth each dwelling.
Eager for conquest, with bright sheen she cometh. Her portion is the
best of goodly treasures.

-g?Sy/ Svsa/ v?[Sy ja/imr! %;>? sUn&te w/ma j?rSv ,

p/a s d?ya/ yae A/"Sy? xa/ta jye?m/ t< di]?[ya/ rwe?n . 1-123-05

bhgasya svs vruasya jmr a snrte pratham jarasva

pac s daghy y aghsya dht jyema t dkiay rthena 1.123.05

Interpretation:
Sister of Bhaga, sister of Varuna (bhgasya svs vruasya jmr), O Usha,
O Happy Truth sung you be first (a snrte pratham jarasva)!
And he should fall short, who is holding to evil (pac s daghy y aghsya
dht)! May we conquer him with the Chariot-Dakshina (jyema t
dkiay rthena)!

Vocabulary:
dagh, cl. 5. (Pot. -ghnuyt; Prec. 3. sg. -ghys; aor. Subj , 1 pl. -ghma) with pazc, or
-ct , to fall short of (cf. a-pasc-daghvan) RV. i , 123 , 5;

Griffiths translation:
5 Sister of Varuna, sister of Bhaga, first among all sing forth, O joyous
Morning.
Weak be the strength of him who worketh evil - may we subdue him
with our car the guerdon.

%d! $?rta< sU/n&ta/ %t! pur<?xI/r! %d! A/y>? zuzuca/nasae? ASwu> ,

Spa/haR vsU?in/ tm/sap?gU!ha/iv;! k?{vNTy! %/;sae? iv-a/tI> . 1-123-06

d rat snt t pradhr d agnya uucnso asthu

sprh vsni tmaspagh v krvanti uso vibht 1.123.06

Interpretation:
Up should they rise (d rat), the happy truths [of ours]! Up who
fulfill (hold onto) the Many (or the Fullness) (snt t pradhr)! Up
have arisen flames of Agni burning and shining (d agnya
uucnso asthu)!
Excellent the Dawns reveal the treasures, hidden by Darkness,
(sprh vsni tmaspagh v krvanti uso) shining wide and
thorough with precision (vibht).
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Vocabulary:
sprha, mfn. desirable , enviable , excellent RV. BhP.

Griffiths translation:
6 Let our glad hymns and holy thoughts rise upward, for the flames
brightly burning have ascended.
The far-refulgent Mornings make apparent the lovely treasures which
the darkness covered.

Apa/Nyd! @Ty! A/_y! ANyd! @?it/ iv;u?pe/ Ah?nI/ s< c?rete ,

p/ir/i]tae/s! tmae? A/Nya guha?k/r! A*aE?d! %/;a> zaezu?cta/ rwe?n . 1-123-07

pnyd ti abh anyd eti vurpe han s carete

pariktos tmo any ghkar dyaud u ucat rthena 1.123.07

Interpretation:
One goes away, another comes (pnyd ti abh anyd eti), thus
these two halves [of the Day and Night] follow each other (han s
carete), opposite in form (vurpe).
Of both these dwellings (of Heaven and Earth or Day and Night)
another one has made this Darkness in the Cave (pariktos tmo
any ghkar), [and] the other Dawn illumined it with Her constantly
burning and moving chariot (dyaud u ucat rthena).

Vocabulary:
parikit, mfn. dwelling or spreading around , surrounding , extending (as
Agni , heaven and earth &c.) RV. AV. AitBr.

Griffiths translation:
7 The one departeth and the other cometh: unlike in hue day's, halves
march on successive.
One hides the gloom of the surrounding Parents. Dawn on her shining
chariot is resplendent.

s/zI?r! A/* s/zI/r! #d! %/ ae dI/" s?cNte/ v?[Sy/ xam? ,

A/n/v/*as! i</zt</ yaej?na/Ny! @kE?ka/ tu/m! pir? yiNt s/*> . 1-123-08

sadr ady sadr d u v drgh sacante vruasya dhma

anavadys trita yjanni kaik krtum pri yanti sady
1.123.08

Interpretation:
The same are these Dawns today and same tomorrow (sadr ady
sadr d u v), for they have accompanied the vast abode of Varuna
(drgh sacante vruasya dhma).
Perfect are they and move in thirty paces (anavadys trita
yjanni), and one by one at once they go around the Creative Power
(kaik krtum pri yanti sady)!
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Griffiths translation:
8 The same in form to-day, the same tomorrow, they still keep
Varuna's eternal statute.
Blameless, in turn they traverse thirty regions, and dart across the
spirit in a moment.

ja/n/Ty! A>? w/mSy/ nam? zu/a k/:[ad! A?jin itI/cI ,

\/tSy/ yae;a/ n im?nait/ xamah?r!-Ahr! in:k/tm! Aa/cr?NtI . 1-123-09

jnat hna prathamsya nma ukr krd ajania vitc

rtsya y n minti dhma har-ahar nikrtm crant 1.123.09

Interpretation:
She who knows Name of the First Day (jnat hna prathamsya
nma) is born Bright from the Darkness, white in color (ukr krd
ajania vitc!)!
The Maiden does not diminish establishments of the Dynamic Truth
[here] (rtsya y n minti dhma), day after day coming closer to
the Goal/Solution/Fulfillment (har-ahar nikrtm crant)!

Vocabulary:
vityac, mf(-tc)n. whitish RV.
nikta, mfn. done away , removed , expelled , atoned , expiated (cf. a-
nikta) made ready, prepared; n. atonement , expiation BhP. a fixed place ,
place of rendezvous RV.

Griffiths translation:
9 She who hath knowledge of the first day's nature is born refulgent
white from out the darkness.
The Maiden breaketh not the law of Order, day by day coming to the
place appointed.

k/Nyev t/Nva zaz?dana/ @i;? deiv de/vm! #y?]ma[m! ,

s</Smy?mana yuv/it> pu/rSta?d! Aa/ivr! v]a<?is k[u;e iv-a/tI . 1-123-10

kanyeva tanv adnm i devi devm yakamam

sasmyamn yuvat purstd vr vksi krue vibht 1.123.10

Interpretation:
Like a young maiden conscious of her beauty you go (kanyeva
tanv adnm i), O Goddess, to the God who seeks you (devi
devm yakamam). Smiling, young (sasmyamn yuvat) and
shining you reveal before [him] your bosom (purstd vr vksi
krue vibht).

Vocabulary:
ad, (only occurring in the forms adu, admahe, adre, and
adna) , to distinguish one's self, be eminent or superior , prevail ,
triumph RV. AV.
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iyak, (anom. Desid. of yaj) P. iyakati (Subj. 3. pl. iyakn RV. x , 50 , 3 ; p.

iyakat) A1. (p. iyakama RV. i , 123 , 10; VS. xvii , 69) to go towards ,
approach to request , endeavour to gain, to long for , seek RV. VS.

Griffiths translation:
10 In pride of beauty like a maid thou goest, O Goddess, to the God
who longs to win thee,
And smiling youthful, as thou shinest brightly, before him thou
discoverest thy bosom.

su/s</ka/za ma/t&m&?ev/ yae;a/ivs! t/Nv< k[u;e /ze km! ,

-/a Tvm! %?;ae ivt/r< Vy! %CD/ n tt! te? A/Nya %/;sae? nzNt . 1-123-11

susak mtmreva y vs tanva krue dr km

bhadr tvm uo vitar v ucha n tt te any uso naanta
1.123.11

Interpretation:
Perfect are you in appearance [like] a young Lady, as if adorned by the
Mother (susak mtmreva y), you reveal your Self [for all] to see
(vs tanva krue dr km)!
Blissful are you, O Dawn (bhadr tvm uo)! Shine wider and clearer (vitar
v ucha)! What you achieved today no other Dawns have done it (n tt te
any uso naanta)!

Vocabulary:
susaka, mfn. of beautiful appearance , handsome RV.
mtma, mfn. adorned by a mother RV.

Griffiths translation:
11 Fair as a bride embellished by her mother thou showest forth thy
form that all may see it.
Blessed art thou O Dawn. Shine yet more widely. No other Dawns
have reached what thou attainest.

Aa?vtI/r! gaem?tIr! iv/va?ra/ yt?mana r/iZmi->/ sUyR?Sy ,

pra? c/ yiNt/ pun/r! Aa c? yiNt -/a nam/ vh?mana %/;as>? . 1-123-12

vvatr gmatr vivvr ytamn rambhi sriyasya

pr ca ynti pnar ca yanti bhadr nma vhamn usa 1.123.12

Interpretation:
The Dawns are full of Power and of Knowledge (vvatr gmatr),
and of all treasures (vivvr), they spread by (or yoked with) the
rays of the Sun (ytamn rambhi sriyasya); they go beyond and
then again they come [down] (pr ca ynti pnar ca yanti), the
blissful Dawns carry the [secret] Name (bhadr nma vhamn
usa)!
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Griffiths translation:
12 Rich in kine, horses, and all goodly treasures, in constant operation
with the sunbeams,
The Dawns depart and come again again assuming their wonted
forms that promise happy fortune.

\/tSy? r/iZmm! A?nu/yCD?mana -/<--?</ tu?m! A/Smasu? xeih ,

%;ae? nae A/* su/hva/ Vy! %CDa/Smasu/ rayae? m/"v?Tsu c Syu> . 1-123-13

rtsya ramm anuychamn bhadrm-bhadra krtum asmsu dhehi

o no ady suhv v ucha asmsu ryo maghvatsu ca syu 1.123.13

Interpretation:
Giving a direction for the Ray of the Dynamic Truth (rtsya ramm
anuychamn), establish in us the Sacrificial Will of/for every bliss
(bhadrm-bhadra krtum asmsu dhehi)!
O Dawn, who is so easy to invoke, (o suhv) shine widely onto us
today (...no ady ...v ucha)! May riches be within us, who are of
greatness (who is generous/grew by the Sacrificial Offering) (asmsu
ryo maghvatsu ca syu)!

Vocabulary:
anuyam, (3. pl. -yacchanti; Imper. -yacchatu; p. fem. -yacchamn) to
direct, guide, give a direction to RV. i , 123 , 13

Griffiths translation:
13 Obedient to the rein of Law Eternal give us each thought that more
and more shall bless us.
Shine thou on us to-day, Dawn, swift to listen. With us be riches and
with chiefs who worship.
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Elizarenkovas translation:

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