Atharva Veda · 48 of 724

HYMN XIII

A youth’s Investiture ceremony (godānam) 1. Strength-giver, winning lengthened life, O Agni, with face and    back shining with molten butter,   Drink thou the butter and fair milk and honey, and, as a sire    his sons, keep this man safely. 2. For us surround him, cover him with splendour, give him long    life, and death when age removes him.   The garment hath Brihaspati presented to Soma, to the King, to    w rap about him. 3. Thou for our w eal hast clothed thee in the mantle: thou hast    become our heifers’ guard from witchcraft.   Live thou a hundred full and plenteous autumns, and wrap thee    in prosperity of riches. 4. Come hither, stand upon the stone: thy body shall become a    stone.   The Universal Gods shall make thy life a hundred autumns    long. 5. So may the Universal Gods protect thee, whom we divest of    raiment worn aforetime.   So after thee, well-formed and growing stronger, be born a    multitude of thriving brothers.