Religion
Atharva Veda 19.24: A benediction on a newly elected King
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
Do ye, O Brāhmanaspati, invest for the royal sway this man.
With that wherewith the Deities invested Savitar the God.
Invest this Indra for long life, invest him for great princely power, That I may lead him on to eld, that the man watch his princedom long.
Invest this Soma for long life, invest him for great hearing power.
That I may lead him on to eld, that he may watch o'er hearing long.
For us, surround him, cover him with splendour, give him long life, and death when age removes him.
This garment hath Brihaspati presented to Soma, to the King, to wrap about him.
Advance to good old age: endue the mantle. Be thou our heifers' guard from imprecation.
Live thou a hundred full and plenteous autumns, and wrap thee in prosperity of riches.
Thou for weal hast clothed thee in this garment: thou hast become our cows' sure guard from curses.
Live thou a hundred full and plenteous autumns: then living, fair thyself, shalt deal forth treasures.
In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us, Indra the mightiest of all.
Gold-coloured, undecaying, blest with heroes, dwell, dying in old age, with children round thee.
This is the spoken word of Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and Savitar, and Indra.
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 19.24: A benediction on a newly elected King.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/492/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 19.24: A benediction on a newly elected King.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/492/.
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