Classic Poem

1

U SHAS ! Daughter of the sky,
Hold thy ruddy lights on high;
Bring as food with dawning day,
Riches with thy radiant ray;
White-robed nymph of morning sky,
Bring us light, let shadows fly!

2

Rich in cattle, rich in steed,
With thy gifts to mortals speed;
Joyous nations hail thy name,
For thy favours chant thy fame;
Waken sounds of life and joy,
Grant us bliss without alloy!

3

Our fathers hailed thy crimson light,
As we hail thee, Goddess bright;
Ride thy sky-borne chariot brave
Like a ship on ocean wave;
Bring upon thy radiant car,
Light and lustre from afar!

4

Men of wisdom raise their song,
Morning hymns to thee belong;
Ancient Kanwa lifts his lay
To thy red resplendent ray, —
Kanwa wise in prophet's lore
Blesses those who feed the poor!

5

Come like house-wife gentle-hearted,
Tending us, for night's departed,
Rousing with thy radiant ray,
Sending us to work of day; —
Men to various tasks repair,
Birds with wild notes fill the air!

6

To the strong their work you send,
To the weak your favours lend,
Be a house-wife unto all,
Waking nature hears your call; —
Men to various tasks repair,
Birds with wild notes fill the air!

7

Lo, she comes in crimson car,
Scattering splendour from afar;
From the realms beyond the sun
In her chariot comes the Dawn;
Ushas in her loveliness
Comes to rouse us and to bless!

8

Mortals in devotion bend,
Hymns and songs of joy ascend;
Ushas in her radiant beauty
Comes to wake us to our duty;
Brings us blessings in her car,
Drives all evil things afar!

9

White-robed daughter of the sky,
Hold thy ruddy light on high,
Day by day with dawning light
Bring us blessings ever bright,
Bring us blessings in thy car,
Drive the shades of night afar!

10

Golden nymph of grace divine,
Gift of life and light is thine,
Chase the shadows of the night,
Dawn in radiance red and bright,
Bring us blessings in thy car,
List unto our lay from far!

11

Win the vigour of the strong,
Manhood which to us belong;
Hark the lays to thee ascending
From our priests by altars bending;
Grant, our rites from harm be free,
And our hearts may turn to thee!

12

Come with dwellers of the sky,
Swift to our libations hie;
Grant us kine and warlike steed,
And our rites with blessings speed;
Grant us food and warrior's name,
Manhood's strength and soldier's fame!

13

Maiden of the morning sky,
Fling thy radiance far and nigh;
Bear us riches in thy arm,
Shield us from each earthly harm;
Speed our crops and corn and grain,
Every gift which men attain!

14

Damsel of the dawning light,
Fathers hailed thy radiance bright,
Raised their voices in thy praise
Sang thy bounty in their lays;
We too chant thy deathless song,
And the ancient rites prolong!

15

Ope the portals of the sky,
Light comes in, let shadows fly;
Grant us happy homes and bright,
Free from discord, free from spite,
Milch-kine with their copious yield,
Wealth of crops from grateful field!

16

Bring us, nymph of loveliness,
Food to comfort and to bless,
Wealth and cattle rich and rare,
Joy and blessings fresh and fair;
Ushas! World-pervading Glory,
Mortals chant thy wonders story!