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the first immaterial author of the universe—and so one may walk straight from the physical beginning of the Rig Vedic religion to its spiritual Brahmanic end.
We turn now to one or two phenomena-deities that were never much tampered with by priestly speculation; their forms being still as bright and clear as when the first Vedic worshipper, waiting to salute the rising sun, beheld in all her beauty, and thus praised
THE DAWN.[94]
As comes a bride hath she approached us, gleaming; All things that live she rouses now to action. A fire is born that shines for human beings; Light hath she made, and driven away the darkness.
Wide-reaching hath she risen, to all approaching, And shone forth clothed in garments white and glistening, Of gold her color, fair to see her look is, Mother of kine,[95] leader of days she gleameth.
Bearing the gods' eye, she, the gracious maiden, - Leading along the white and sightly charger[96] -Aurora, now is seen, revealed in glory, With shining guerdons unto all appearing.
O near and dear one, light far off our foes, and Make safe to us our kines' wide pasture-places. Keep from us hatred; what is good, that bring us, And send the singer wealth, O generous maiden.
With thy best beams for us do thou beam widely, Aurora, goddess bright, our life extending; And food bestow, O thou all goods possessing, Wealth, too, bestowing, kine and steeds and war-cars