Atharva Veda · 533 of 724

HYMN XXIV

A benediction on a newly elected King 1. Do ye, O Brāhmanaspati, invest for the royal sway this man.   With that wherewith the Deities invested Savitar the God. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,   Indra the mightiest of all. 8. 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.