Atharva Veda · 565 of 724

HYMN LVI

A hymn to Sleep 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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.