Book 19: Hymn 24: A benediction on a newly elected King

HYMN XXIV

A benediction on a newly elected King

1Do ye, O Brāhmanaspati, invest for the royal sway this man.
With that wherewith the Deities invested Savitar the God.
2Invest 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.
3Invest 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.
4For 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.
5Advance 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.
6Thou 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.
7In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,
Indra the mightiest of all.
8Gold-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.