Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/46

The Religion of the Veda difficult as it is important. In any case enough is known to justify the statement that the key-note and engrossing theme of Rig-Vedic thought is worship of the personified powers of nature. 30 In order to make good this last statement, and at the same time by way of fore-taste of the Rig-Veda, I present here some stanzas of one of its finest hymns.' It is addressed to the goddess Ushas, Dawn person- fied, whom the Vedic poets sing with special warmth and liking; the metre imitates the original: This light hath come, of all the lights the fairest, The brilliant brightness hath been born, far-shining, Urged on to prompt the sun-god's shining power. Night now hath yielded up her place to morning. The sisters' pathway is the same unending, Taught by the gods, alternately they tread it. Fair-shaped, of different forms, and yet one-minded, Night and Morning clash not, nor yet do linger. Bright bringer of delights, Dawn shines effulgent, Wide open she hath thrown for us her portals. Arousing all the world, she shows us riches, Dawn hath awakened every living creature. 'T is Heaven's Daughter hath appeared before us, The maiden dazzling in her brilliant garments. Thou sovereign mistress of all earthly treasure, Auspicious Dawn, flash thou to-day upon us ! ¹ Rig-Veda 1.113 in Professor A. A. Macdonell's translation, in his History of Sanskrit Literature, p. 83. I have taken the liberty of making a few slight alterations.