I call upon Heaven and Earth, ancient and enduring, to remember and bear witness. I invoke Agni, the radiant warmth that lights our path. And I summon you, Ashvins—divine twins, swift and gracious—whose presence stirs the laborer to action. With the same aids by which you rouse and assist, come to us now with your help. You, Ashvins, are renowned for your eager generosity. You set forth your chariot as one would set forth wise words in counsel. With those very aids by which you support our thoughts and journeys, come to us and bring your blessings. By the command of the divine, you rule over peoples, dispensing the measure of immortality. With the powers that nourish both cow and horse, you sustain life. With these same aids, Ashvins, come now to our side. With the aids that adorned Parijma, marked by his swift, two-mothered son, and by which Trimantur gained discernment, come, Ashvins, with your help. Recall how, with your aid, you brought Rebha—hidden and pale—from the waters so that he might see the sun, and how you protected Kanva, striving to shine forth. With those protections, come to us. You rescued Antaka from distress, and Bhujyu as well; you triumphed over the tireless foe and invigorated Karkandhu and Vayya. With such strength, Ashvins, come to us. You preserved Shuchanti, wealthy and radiant, for Atri, and protected Prishnigu and Purukutsa. With the same care, come to us now. By your might, Paravrija was turned back, Prandha and Shrona were granted vision, and Vartikā was released from being swallowed up. With those same powers, come, Ashvins. You made the honeyed river flow for the eager, invigorated ageless Vasiṣṭha, and protected the noble Kutsa. Bring us those blessings. You enriched Vishpala, the wealthy Atharvan, with a thousand gifts at the race, and protected Vasha, the beloved horseman. With these generous gifts, come to us. For Ushija the merchant, you made the honeyed vessel overflow for Dirghashravas and shielded Kakshivanta, the singer. With such bounty, come, Ashvins. You filled the Rasā river with milk, protected Anashva’s chariot in victory, and helped Trishoka raise up the cows. With these blessings, come to us. You surrounded Sūrya in the distance, safeguarded Mandhātā’s sovereignty, and protected the sage Bharadvāja. With these powers, come, Ashvins. You protected Mahāmatithigva, Kashojuva, and Divodāsa in the slaying of Shambara, and shielded Purbhid Trasadasyu. With such strength, come to us now. You have favored the humble, the singer, the seeker of wealth, and those longing for horses or land. Come, Ashvins, with those protections. You aided Shayava, Atraya, and Manu in reaching their goals, and helped Shariraja and Syumarashmi. With these same protections, come to us. By your power, Agni blazed forth from the womb, kindled at birth, and you protected Sharyata in great wealth. Ashvins, come with these blessings. You guided the Angirasas by mind, reached the foremost place in the cave of the cows, and brought Manu the hero together with nourishment. With these protections, come, Ashvins. You have brought wives for joy, taught Aruni, and led Sudas to good fortune. With these aids, come to us. You have favored Shantati, the devout giver; protected Bhujyu and Adhrigu; and brought Omya, Subhara, and Ritastubha. With such kindness, come, Ashvins. You favor the lean one at sacrifice, bring the swift horse to the youth, and the beloved honey to the Saras. With these gifts, come to us. You have aided men in contests for cows, quickened the son in the field, and protected chariots and horses. With these strengths, come, Ashvins. You have brought Kutsa, Arjuneya, Turviti, Dabhiti, Dhvasanti, and Purushanti across their trials. With these protections, come to us. Grant us, Ashvins, speech that accomplishes, wisdom that endures, and strength in the contest for prizes. I call upon you today—be our support. Guard us, Ashvins, by day and night with unharmed good fortune. May Mitra, Varuna, Aditi, the river, the earth, and the sky keep us from harm. Now, see: the best of lights has come forth among all lights. The brilliant, far-seeing one is born, shining anew. As the child of Savitar is born for action, so Night approaches the womb of Dawn. She comes, bright with her bright calves, shining white. Her dark abodes are set apart. Sisters of equal kin, immortal and closely joined, Heaven and Earth move together, each with her own colors. Their path is the same, endless; each moves in her own way, guided by the gods. They do not clash, nor stand still together. Night and Dawn, differing in form, are united in purpose. Dawn, the radiant leader of good words, approaches—wondrous, as if bringing home the cattle. The active one sets all worlds in motion; Dawn awakens all beings. For those on crooked paths, O bountiful one, you make them straight; for seekers of wealth, you bring gain. To those who see little, you reveal wide vision. Dawn awakens all beings. For power, fame, greatness, gain, wealth, and purpose, you are sought. You reveal to all the many forms of life. Dawn awakens all beings. Daughter of heaven, you appear shining, a youthful woman in bright garments. Ruler of all earthly wealth, O Dawn, shine forth today, O fortunate one. You follow the paths of those who have gone before, first among the eternal ones. Dawning, you awaken the living, as if rousing the dead. When you kindle the fire for offering, open the eye of the sun, and awaken sleeping men, O Dawn, you bring good fortune among the gods. How many of your appointed times have passed, how many dawns have come and will yet come? Following the earlier ones, you are eager to shine, moving in harmony with your sisters. Those mortals who saw the earlier dawns have gone before; now we behold the dawning Ushas. Let us look upon her, for those who see her in later days will also go their way. Dispelling hatred, upholding truth, shining with righteousness, bringing pleasantness and fair speech, bearing auspiciousness—O goddess, best of dawns, shine forth for us here. The goddess has always awakened the days before, and today this generous one has spread the light. She follows the days to come—ageless, immortal, moving by her own laws. With her rays, she uncovers darkness from the sky; the goddess drives away the blackness. With her reddish horses, Ushas awakens, arriving in her well-yoked chariot. Bringing riches and desirable things, she is a brilliant sign for the wise. She is the model for all dawns that have gone before, and among the shining ones, Ushas is the first to appear.