Another Hymn to mitra

I had written about mitra earlier here. This morning I read another hymn revealed to gāthino viśvāmitra about this divinity. Originally contained in the ṛgveda, this hymn also finds place in the daily sandhi rites of the hindus. Some of us would recognise this powerful prayer:

मित्रस्य चर्षणीधृतः श्रवो देवस्य सानसिम्
सत्यं चित्रश्रवस्तमम्
मित्रो जनान् यातयति प्रजानन् मित्रो दाधार पृथिवीमुत द्याम्
मित्रः कृष्टीरनिमिषाऽभि चष्टे सत्याय हव्यं घृतवद्विधेम
प्र स मित्र मर्तो अस्तु प्रयस्वान् यस्त आदित्य शिक्षति व्रतेन
न हन्यते न जीयते त्वोतः नैनम-हो अश्नोत्यन्तितो न दूरात्

mitrasya carṣaṇī dhṛtaḥ śravo devasya sānasim
satyaṁ citraśravastamam
mitro janān yātayati prajānan mitro dādhāra pṛthivīm uta dyām
mitraḥ kṛṣṭīra animiṣā abhi caṣṭe satyāya havyaṁ ghṛtavat vidhema
pra sa mitra marto astu prayasvān yasta āditya śikṣati vratena
na hanyate na jīyate tvotaḥ nainama-amho aśnoti antito na dūrāt

The audition (śravas) of the godhead (devasya) mitra, the upholder of all strivers is steadfast (dhṛtaḥ); [mitra grants us] a true (satyaḥ) audition (śravas) that is of infinite variety (citra) and excellent (tamaḥ)
Knowing (janān) everything, mitra guides (yāta yati) all persons (prajānan); mitra supports (dādhāra) earth (pṛthivīm) and heaven (dyām)
mitra watches all strivers all around (abhi) with an unwinking (animiṣā) eye
To the true one (satyāya), an oblation (havyaṁ) rich in clarity (ghṛtavat) let us offer (vidhema)
O mitra, may the mortal (marto) have a pleasant and abundant offering (prayasvān); who O aditya endeavours to follow (yasta vratena) your law (śikṣati)
Aided by you, he is neither slain (na hanyate) nor oppressed (na jīyate), sin or affliction (nam) does not (nai) come to him either from near (antito) or from far (dūrāt)

Peace

S