The Radiant, the Fair has come, to her the dark Night has consigned her home. Both akin and allied to the Sun, immortal, succeeding and effacing each other mutually, traverse the heavens. These sisters have a common and unending pathway, they travel it alternately guided by the Sun, combined in purpose, though of diverse forms, Dawn and Night of the endless mornings to come, being the dispenser of darkness, urges and awakens every living being, but she awakes not one from his slumber who is dead. The men who looked upon the rising Dawn of yore have departed. We the living now see her and feel happy. Those who shall behold her hereafter will also feel happy. Those who shall behold her hereafter will also feel happy. From times immemorial the radiant Usha has been rising with her splendour of light, full of wealth, So will she shine hereafter in future times. Eternal, she moves on with her own strength. On the sky’s border she has appeared in full splendour, the Goddess has thrown off the veil of darkness. Her well-yoked chariot of purple steeds, heralding her approach, has awakened the world.

Bringing all the life-sustaining blessing with her, brilliantly she shines sending forth her radiance. She is the last of countless mornings that have disappeared, she is the first of bright ones yet to arrive. Arise, the breath of life is again here, darkness has fled and light approaches. For the Sun she has left a pathway to travel. We have arrived where men’s existence continues. With the web of songs for Dawns, the priest, the bard rises. They drive onward steering their way, the radiant ones. Shine then today, O bounteous Dawn on him who sing thy praise, shine on us the gifts of life and children! Mother of Gods, Aditi’s radiant form, token of sacrifice, shine forth exalted. Rise up, looking on our devotion with favour and be gracious to make us chief among the people. Whatever marvellous wealth the Dawns bestow as blessing to bless a devotee, who offers oblations, that may Mitra and Varuna vouchsafe us, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth and Heaven!

The Sun follows the radiant Usha, the Goddess, as a youth follows an elegant maiden. In whose auspicious presence learned men calculate the ages for happy days to come. Auspicious are his bay steeds, splendid, swift, changing colours and praiseworthy are they. Bearing our prayers they circumambulate the Earth and Heaven with speed. When the mighty Sun withdraws his majesty which spreads all over the world, people stop their labour leaving the work even unfinished. Then, Night spreads her veil of darkness over all the world.

The same today, the same tomorrow, the joyous Dawns do not transgress the eternal law. The irreproachable, they traverse the long and distant space in a moment and can be seen across the thirty regions. Though born out of gloom but she is shining, white and refulgent and marks the advent of the day. This Maiden transgresses not the eternal law, and comes day by day to the appointed place. The noble Dawn manifests herself like an ever active maiden, and goes to her loving husband, the Sun. She being youthful and maiden meets the Sun smiling and uncovering her bosom and shining lustrously. Radiant as a bride, well embellished by her mother, she displays her beautiful form that all may behold. Blessed are you, O Dawn, shine yet more splendidly. May thy joy never decay. Opulent in kine, steeds and wealth, she is ever possessed of the rays of the Sun, the Dawn goes away and returns again in her usual form sending down her happy gifts.