The Gâyatri, the most sacred Indian verse, the Mother of the Vedas, is taken from the third of the ten cycles of hymns, the cycle of the Râjaputra Sage Vishvâmitra. This is its original form, preceded by the four sacred syllables:
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah!
Tat Savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhîmahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayât.
Taken word for word, it may be translated:
Om Earth Mid-World, Heaven!
That Life-Sun’s adorable
Light,—god’s,— let-us-think-on,
Souls who for-us may-quicken.
Or, rendered more freely: Let us keep in mind the adorable light of that divine Sun of Life, who may illumine our souls.