Religion
Rig Veda 3.59: MITRA, when speaking, stirreth men to labour: Mitra sustaineth both…
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896) · From The Hymns of the Rigveda (1896)
MITRA, when speaking, stirreth men to labour: Mitra sustaineth both the earth and heaven.
Mitra beholdeth men with eyes that close not. To Mitra bring, with holy oil, oblation.
Foremost be he who brings thee food, O Mitra, who strives to keep thy sacred Law, Aditya.
He whom thou helpest ne'er is slain or conquered, on him, from near or far, falls no affliction.
joying in sacred food and free from sickness, with knees bent lowly on the earth's broad surface,
Following closely the Aditya's statute, may we remain in Mitra's gracious favour.
Auspicious and adorable, this Mitra was born with fair dominion, King, Disposer.
May we enjoy the grace of him the Holy, yea, rest in his propitious loving-kindness.
The great Aditya, to be served with worship, who stirreth men, is gracious to the singer.
To Mitra, him most highly to be lauded, offer in fire oblation that he loveth.
The gainful grace of Mitra, God, supporter of the race of man,
Gives splendour of most glorious fame.
Mitra whose glory spreads afar, he who in might surpasses heaven,
Surpasses earth in his renown.
All the Five Races have repaired to Mitra, ever strong to aid,
For he sustaineth all the Gods.
Mitra to Gods, to living men, to him who strews the holy grass,
Gives food fulfilling sacred Law.
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Rig. “Rig Veda 3.59: MITRA, when speaking, stirreth men to labour: Mitra sustaineth both….” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rigveda-rishis/291/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Rig. “Rig Veda 3.59: MITRA, when speaking, stirreth men to labour: Mitra sustaineth both….” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rigveda-rishis/291/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by The Rishis of the Rig Veda
- Rig Veda 1.20: FOR the Celestial Race this song of praise which gives wealth lavishly
- Rig Veda 2.35: EAGER for spoil my flow of speech I utter…
- Rig Veda 5.80: THE singers welcome with their hymns and praises the Goddess Dawn who bringeth in the sunlight…
- Rig Veda 8.18: Now let the mortal offer prayer to win the unexampled grace
- Rig Veda 10.6: THIS is that Agni, he by whose protection, favour, and help. the singer is successful