Atharva Veda · 59 of 724

HYMN XXVIII

A prayer for a boy's long and happy life 1. This Child, Old Age! shall grow to meet thee only: none of    the hundred other deaths shall harm him.   From trouble caused by friends let Mitra guard him, as a kind    mother guards the son she nurses. 2. Mitra or Varuna the foe-destroyer, accordant, grant him death    in course of nature!   Thus Agni, Hotar-priest, skilled in high statutes, declareth all    the deities' generations. 3. Thou art the Lord of all terrestrial cattle, of cattle born and to    be born hereafter.   Let not breath drawn or breath emitted fail him. Let not his    friends, let not his foemen slay him. 4. Let Heaven thy father and let Earth thy mother, accordant, give    thee death in course of nature,   That thou mayst live on Aditi's bosom, guarded, a hundred    winters, through thy respirations. 5. Lead him to life, O Agni, and to splendour, this dear child,   Varuna! and thou King Mitra!   Give him protection, Aditi! as a mother; All Gods, that his be    life of long duration;