We begin by choosing a path that is gentle and brings well-being, a way upon which the hero does not fall, but instead gains prosperity and abundance. To all assembled, listen well: here is a blessing by which husband and wife may share happiness together. May the Gandharvas and Apsarases, and all the divine beings who dwell among the trees, look kindly on the bride as she is led to her new home; let no harm come to her. If there are those who, following people, bring sickness to the bride, may the revered gods turn them back, sending them to their own place. May the couple be safe from robbers who lie in wait; let all enemies flee far away as they cross any difficult place unharmed. With sacred words, I prepare the bridal chariot, joined with the household, with gentle vision and friendship. May Savitar make all that is bound and manifold pleasing for the husbands. A gracious woman comes into the house, her place assigned by the Creator. May Aryaman, Bhaga, the Ashvins, and Prajapati grant her prosperity and many children. Let this noble woman, complete in herself, come forth; let her husband sow the seed within her, that she may bear children and nourish them with her milk and the essence of the bull. Stand firm and majestic, O bride, like Vishnu; O Sarasvati, may Sinivali be born, favored by Bhaga. Let the wave of blessing rise and strike gently; O waters, release all bonds. May the evildoer, the envious, and the slayer of life not harm us. With gentle gaze and free from hostility, may the bride come, full of goodwill, seeking sons and harmony with her new brothers-in-law, desiring happiness. Come forth, gentle to your brothers-in-law, auspicious for cattle, radiant and fruitful; sit by the household fire, O gentle one, ready to bear sons and desiring the goodwill of your new family. Why do you rise and what do you seek here? I have claimed you from your father’s house. This place is empty, O Nirriti, you have bound it—now rise, depart, and remain not here. If the bride has not worshipped the household fire before, let her first pay homage to Sarasvati and the ancestors. This protection, this armor, I spread for the woman—may Sinivali be born, dwelling in the favor of Bhaga. When you lay down the bulrush and spread the hide, may the maiden who finds a husband grow 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 and sit near the fire, which destroys all demons. Here, bear children for your husband, attain the highest rank, and may your son be strong. Let the cattle, in all their forms, stand by the mother’s side as they are born. Sit with good fortune, worship the fire, and adorn the gods, O co-wife. Enter the houses auspiciously, crossing over with grace; be well-disposed to your husband and gentle to your father-in-law. Be gentle to your mother-in-law and enter all the homes with kindness. Be gentle to your fathers-in-law, to your husband, and to the households; be gentle to all the people and bring them prosperity. This bride is auspicious—gather around, look upon her, bestow good fortune, and drive away misfortune. May the radiance of all women, young and old, be given to her, and may their misfortune be turned away. Bring the golden covering, bearing all forms; let Surya, daughter of Savitr, ascend for great good fortune. Ascend the marriage bed with a cheerful heart; here, bear children for your husband. Awaken alert like Indrani, holding the light, rising at dawn. In ancient times, the gods withdrew, and the wives touched one another with their bodies. O woman, be manifold in form like the sun, great and fruitful; unite with your husband here. Rise, O Vishvavasu; we honor and bow to you. Seek your kin among the ancestors, for your share is with them by birth—know this. The Apsarases delight in the shared feast between the offering and the sun. Go to your origin, to those; to you we bow, and with the Gandharva’s permission, you may pass. Homage to the Gandharva, to you; homage to Bhama and to the eye. O Vishvavasu, with sacred words we bow; pass on, O bride, with the Apsarases. May we be of good mind through wealth and rejoice; may we invoke the Gandharva. The god has reached the highest seat, and we have come to the place where life is renewed. Let mother and father, the givers of seed, send forth the bride; as man and woman unite, place her upon the marriage-bed. Here, may you produce offspring and prosper in wealth. Lead her, O Pushan, to the most auspicious place, where men sow their seed. She whose strength does not fail, who is steadfast—may we cast off the fetter in her who is strong. Take her hand and place it upon your thigh; embrace your wife with a joyful heart. Together, may you create children and rejoice; may Savitr grant you long life. May Prajapati grant you two offspring; may day and night unite you with Aryaman. May we enter the world of the husband without misfortune, and may we find welfare among all living beings. This bridal garment, given by the gods with Manu, is both the bride’s robe and the bridegroom’s garment. Whoever gives it to a learned Brahmin drives away demons and misfortune from the bed. The share of the Brahmin, the bridal garment, the bride’s robe and garment—may you both, with consent, give it to the Brahmin, together with Brihaspati and Indra. Bound upon the pleasant marriage-bed, laughing together, rejoicing—may you two be well protected, raise good children, and be good householders, living to see many dawns. Clad in new garments, fragrant and well-dressed, rise alive to greet the dawns; as a bird emerges from the egg, may you be freed from all sin. Heaven and earth, adorned and kindly, of great vow, and the seven divine waters have flowed forth—may they release us from evil. To Surya, to the gods, to Mitra and Varuna, and to those wise in being, I make this homage. He who, even without ritual, once gave support to the limbs—he is the joiner, the binder, Maghavan the many-gifted, who restores what was lost.