Religion
Atharva Veda 19.56: A hymn to Sleep
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
Thou art come hither from the world of Yama: thou, resolute, affectest men with rapture.
Thou, Sleep, created in the Asura's dwelling, goest, well-know-ing, with the solitary.
At first the all-containing, depth beheld thee, ere Night was born, when only Day existed.
Thence hast thou come, thence, Sleep, hast thou come hither, concealing, deep within, all form and figure.
Come from the Asuras in lofty, glory, he hath approached the Gods in search of greatness.
Winners of heavenly light, the Three-and-Thirty endowed this Sleep with his supreme dominion.
Of him nor Fathers nor the Gods have knowledge, the Gods whose gentle talk is still about him.
Urged by command of Varuna the Ādityas, Heroes, transported Sleep to Trita Āptya.
Thou whose severity hath reached ill-doers, and whose reward the good have gained in slumber, Delightest heaven with thy most lofty kinship, born from his spirit who was worn and weary.
Of old we know all places whence thou comest. O Sleep, we know him who is here thy ruler.
Protect us here illustrious with glory. Go, from afar, with poisons, into distance.
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 19.56: A hymn to Sleep.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/524/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 19.56: A hymn to Sleep.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/524/.
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