by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation by Ralph Thomas Hotchkin Griffith (1826 - 1906)
Child of Heaven
Language: English  after the Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्)
Shedding her light on human habitations this Child of Heaven hath called us from our slumber; She who at night-time with her argent lustre hath shown herself e’en through the shades of darkness. All this with red-rayed steeds have they divided: the Dawns on bright cars shine in wondrous fashion. They, bringing near the stately rite's commencement, drive far away the night's surrounding shadows. Dawns, bringing hither, to the man who worships, glory and power and might and food and vigour, Opulent, with imperial sway like heroes, favour your servant and this day enrich him. Now is there treasure for the man who serves you, now for the hero, Dawns! who brings oblation; Now for the singer when he sings the praise-song. Even to one like me ye brought aforetime. O Dawn who standest on the mountain ridges, Aṅgirases now praise thy stalls of cattle. With prayer and holy hymn they burst them open: the heroes' calling on the Gods was fruitful. Shine on us as of old, thou Child of Heaven, on him, rich Maid! who serves like Bharadvāja. Give to the singer wealth with noble heroes, and upon us bestow wide-spreading glory.
R. Panufnik sets stanzas 1, 3 (lines 1-2), 4 (lines 3-4), 6
Text Authorship:
- by Ralph Thomas Hotchkin Griffith (1826 - 1906) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in The Rig Veda ( ऋग्वेद ) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Roxanna Panufnik (b. 1968), "Child of Heaven", 2017, first performed 2018, stanzas 1, 3 (lines 1-2), 4 (lines 3-4), 6 [ mixed chorus ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2024-06-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 194