Kingly vows

My shoulders will be vast so that I can support the kingdom. I will look after my subjects the way I look after my stomach, shoulders, neck, thighs, waist and other parts of my anatomy. That is, I will take good care of my subjects.

I will be the source of knowledge and prosperity for my kingdom. I am the king who has been crowned, I will rule over my subjects in accordance with the norms of righteousness.

I am the lord of this kingdom and I will protect it from all decay. I will ensure its prosperity and I will ensure that my kingdom is full of cows, horses and all manner of riches. I will be like the soul of the kingdom. I will be like its breath of life. I will rule so that I became dear to heaven.

May the eleven gods of heaven, the eleven gods of the atmosphere, and the eleven gods of the earth protect me. May the learned Brihaspati, the leader of the gods, spur them to bless me with their divine qualities. May all the gods protect me.

The hair on my body will be sensitive to the needs of the kingdom. My skin and bones will be sensitive to the needs of the kingdom. My bones and marrow will serve the world and be sensitive to the needs of the kingdom.

O radiant gods! May the god Agni preserve me from all manner of sinful deeds.

The god Vayu will free me from all the sins that I may have committed during the day or during the night.

The god Surya will free me from all the sins that I may have committed while I was sleeping or while I was awake.

The gods will free me from all the sins that I may have committed in villages, in forests or in assemblies. May all the sins that I have committed through my various senses be pardoned.

Extracted from the ‘The Holy Vedas’, translated by Bibek Debroy and Dipavali Debroy