May this woman bring prosperity into my life, and may Bṛhaspati, the wise priest of the gods, grant that you become mine. Together, as husband and wife, may we share a hundred autumns, blessed with children and happiness. Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine craftsman, once created a beautiful garment under Bṛhaspati’s guidance. With that garment, may Savitar, the inspirer, and Bhaga, the bestower of fortune, clothe this woman with the blessing of offspring, as Sūryā herself was adorned. Let Indra and Agni, Heaven and Earth, Mātariśvan, Mitra and Varuṇa, Bhaga, the twin Aśvins, Bṛhaspati, the Maruts, Brahman, and Soma—all the divine powers—cause this woman to flourish with children. Long ago, Bṛhaspati arranged the hair upon Sūryā’s head for her wedding. O Aśvins, with that same care, we adorn this bride for her husband, preparing her for her new life. It is the nature of a woman, as wife, to seek understanding of her husband, her thoughts moving towards him. I, too, will follow her with new companions, pondering: who, knowing this mystery, has loosened the ancient bonds? I declare: I will loosen them myself. Her inner form I know and see, perceiving the nest of her mind. I have not stolen; I am not released by mere thought—I myself loosen the bonds of Varuṇa that hold her. Thus, I release you from Varuṇa’s ties, those with which Savitar, the gracious, once bound you. O bride, I prepare for you a broad world, a smooth and easy path, to walk side by side with your husband. Rise up, drive away all demons and darkness. May this woman be placed among the good and virtuous. The wise Creator has found her a worthy husband; may King Bhaga, knowing, arrive to bless them with children. Bhaga has fashioned the bridal car with four feet and four wheels; Tvaṣṭṛ has crafted its center and fitted the spokes. May this chariot of union be auspicious for us. Let her wear a beautiful covering, golden and splendid, well-joined and adorned with strong wheels. Ascend, O bride, to the immortal realm of the sun; may the path before your husbands be pleasant for you. Savitar, bring us a wife who is gentle—one who brings no harm to brother or husband, who is blessed by Varuṇa, fruitful, and cherished by Bṛhaspati and Indra. O sacred post, do not harm the maiden as she walks the path made by the gods. At the threshold of the divine house, we make the bride’s way smooth and joyful. Let sacred utterance be present at the beginning, the end, and the middle—may it pervade all. Enter the city of the gods unharmed, O bride, and shine auspiciously in the world of your husband. At the front, Sūryā herself is yoked to the bridal car. O Agni, grant us a wife who brings offspring and prosperity to her husband’s home. Agni returns the wife, bestowing upon her long life and brilliance. May her husband, too, live a hundred autumns in vitality and health. Soma was the first husband, the Gandharva the second, Agni the third, and the fourth are men of this world—thus is the sacred order of union. Soma gave the bride to the Gandharva; the Gandharva gave her to Agni; Agni has given me wealth, sons, and this woman as my wife. O Aśvins, come with good thoughts and abundance; may the desires of your hearts be fulfilled. Be our guardians, lords of beauty, and may we win the favor of Aryaman. With joyful minds and auspicious intentions, bestow wealth upon us—famed and heroic. Grant us an easy crossing, sweet waters, and firm standing; remove all evil intentions. May the herbs, rivers, fields, and forests protect you, O bride, making you fruitful for your husband and safe from all harm. We choose this path, smooth and prosperous, where the hero never perishes and gains the wealth of others. Listen, O people: by these blessings, may you both enjoy happiness as a couple. May Gandharvas, Apsarases, and all the divine beings who dwell in the trees be auspicious for this bride, causing her no harm as she enters her new home. Any spirits that follow people and bring disease to the bride—may the gods lead them back to where they belong. Let no lurking robbers harm the couple; may all enemies flee far away as you cross safely through difficult places. I harness the bridal car with sacred utterance, with the household, with gentle sight and friendship. Whatever is bound and manifold, may Savitar make it pleasant for the husbands. A gracious woman has entered this house; the Creator has assigned her this place. May Aryaman, Bhaga, the Aśvins, and Prajāpati grant her prosperity and children. Let the noble woman, strong in self, come here; let her husband sow the seed in her. May she bear you children, nourishing them with her milk and the essence of the bull. Stand firm, O bride, majestic as Vishnu, O Sarasvati. May Sinivali be born in you, dwelling in Bhaga’s favor. Let the wave rise gently, O waters, and release all bonds. Let no evil-doer, no envious one, nor slayer of life, bring us harm. With gentle gaze, free from hostility, auspicious, gracious, and well-guided—may she, desiring sons and brothers-in-law, come to you, seeking happiness. Come, O bride, free from hostility to brothers-in-law, auspicious to cattle, radiant and fruitful; desiring sons and kin, sit down at this household fire, O gentle one. Why do you rise, what do you seek here? I have claimed you from your father’s house. That home is now empty, O Nirriti—you have bound it, now rise and depart, remain not here. If the bride has not yet worshipped the household fire, let her first honor Sarasvati and the ancestors. This protection, this armor, I spread for this woman. May Sinivali be born in her, dwelling in Bhaga’s favor. When you lay down the bulrush and spread the hide, may the maiden who finds a husband prosper with good offspring. Spread the bulrush upon the red hide; sitting there, may she worship this fire and be blessed with children. Climb upon the hide, sit near the sacred fire—this god destroys all evil. Here, bear children for your husband; may you attain the highest honor, may this be your son. Let the cattle, of many forms, be born and stand by their mothers. Sit here with good fortune, worship this fire, and adorn the gods, O co-wife. Cross over auspiciously and enter the houses; be gracious to your husband, gentle to your father-in-law, gentle to your mother-in-law, and enter all homes with goodwill. Be gentle to your fathers-in-law, gentle to your husband and all the households; be gentle to all people and bring them prosperity. Thus, with blessings from the gods and the elements, with sacred utterance and gentle hearts, the bride enters her new home, bringing happiness, harmony, and the promise of thriving generations.