Go now, O Death, to thine own path apart from theirs. I say this to thee, who sees and hears: Touch not our offspring, harm not our heroes.
As thou hast come, erasing Mrtyu’s footprint, to extend the times, May thou be blessed with many children and possessions. Cleansed, purified, and fit for sacrifice.
These are divided from the dead, the living ones: now may our callings with the Gods succeed. We have gone forth for dancing and laughter, to extend our times.
Here I build this wall for the living; let none of these, none other, reach this limit. May they live a hundred long autumns, and may Death lie buried under this mountain.
As days follow days in close succession, as seasons come after seasons, As each successor does not fail his predecessor, so form the lives of these, Great Ordainer.
Live your full lives and find old age delightful, all of you striving one behind the other. May Tvaṣṭar, maker of fair things, be gracious and lengthen out the days of your existence.
Let these unwidowed women, with noble husbands, adorn themselves with fragrant balm and unguent. Decked with fair jewels, tearless, free from sorrow, let the women go up to where he lies.
Rise, come into the world of life, O woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest. Wifehood with this thy husband was thy portion, who took thy hand and wooed thee as a lover.
From his dead hand I take the bow, that it may be our power and might and glory. There art thou, there; and here with noble heroes may we overcome all hosts that fight against us.
Go to the Earth’s womb, O Woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest. Young Dame, wool-soft to the guerdongiver, may she preserve thee from Destruction’s bosom.
Heave yourself, Earth, do not press downward heavily: give him easy access, gently tending him. Cover him, as a mother wraps her skirt about her child, O Earth. 1mlow yourself, Earth, and let a thousand clods remain above him. Be they to him a home distilling fatness, here let them ever be his place of refuge.
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