एमं पन्थामरुक्षाम सुगं स्वस्तिवाहनम् । यस्मिन् वीरो न रिष्यत्यन्येषां विन्दते वसु
We choose this path, easy and bringing well-being, on which the hero does not perish and gains the wealth of others.
इदं सु मे नरः शृणुत ययाशिषा दंपती वाममश्नुतः । ये गन्धर्वा अप्सरसश्च देवीरेषु वानस्पत्येषु येऽधि तस्थुः । स्योनास्ते अस्यै वध्वै भवन्तु मा हिंसिषुर्वहतुमुह्यमानम्
Hear this well, O men, by which blessing you both may enjoy happiness as a couple. May the Gandharvas, the Apsarases, and the divine beings who dwell in the trees be auspicious for this bride; let them not harm her as she is led to her new home.
ये वध्वश्चन्द्रं वहतुं यक्ष्मा यन्ति जनामनु । पुनस्तान् यज्ञिया देवा नयन्तु यत आगताः
Those who, following people, bring disease to the bride, may the worshipful gods lead them back to where they came from.
{७} मा विदन् परिपन्थिनो य आसीदन्ति दंपती । सुगेन दुर्गमतीतामप द्रान्त्वरातयः
Let not the robbers who lie in wait harm the couple. May enemies flee far away as you cross the difficult place safely.
सं काशयामि वहतुं ब्रह्मणा गृहैरघोरेण चक्षुषा मित्रियेण । पर्याणद्धं विश्वरूपं यदस्ति स्योनं पतिभ्यः सविता तत्कृणोतु
I harness the bridal car with sacred utterance, with the household, with gentle sight, with friendship. Whatever is bound and of many forms, may Savitar make it pleasant for the husbands.
शिवा नारीयमस्तमागन्न् इमं धाता लोकमस्यै दिदेश । तामर्यमा भगो अश्विनोभा प्रजापतिः प्रजया वर्धयन्तु
A gracious woman has come to the house; the Creator has assigned her this place. May Aryaman, Bhaga, the Aśvins, and Prajāpati cause her to prosper with offspring.
आत्मन्वत्युर्वरा नारीयमागन् तस्यां नरो वपत बीजमस्याम् । सा वः प्रजां जनयद्वक्षणाभ्यो बिभ्रती दुग्धमृषभस्य रेतः
Let the noble woman, endowed with self, come here; let the man sow the seed in her. May she bear offspring for you, carrying from her breasts the milk and the essence of the bull.
प्रति तिष्ठ विराडसि विष्णुरिवेह सरस्वति । सिनीवालि प्र जायतां भगस्य सुमतावसत्
Stand firm, you are majestic here, like Vishnu, O Sarasvati. May Sinivali be born, dwelling in the good favor of Bhaga.
उद्व ऊर्मिः शम्या हन्त्वापो योक्त्राणि मुञ्चत । मादुष्कृतौ व्येनसावघ्न्यावशुनमारताम्
Let the wave rise, let it strike gently; O waters, release the bonds. Let not the evil-doer, the envious one, nor the slayer of life, harm us.
अघोरचक्षुरपतिघ्नी स्योना शग्मा सुशेवा सुयमा गृहेभ्यः । वीरसूर्देवृकामा सं त्वयैधिषीमहि सुमस्यमाना
With gentle gaze, free from hostility, auspicious, gracious, well-disposed, and well-guided from the homes—may she, desiring sons and brothers-in-law, come to you, seeking happiness.
अदेवृघ्न्यपतिघ्नीहैधि शिवा पशुभ्यः सुयमा सुवर्चाः । प्रजावती वीरसूर्देवृकामा स्योनेममग्निं गार्हपत्यं सपर्य
Come here, free from hostility to brothers-in-law, auspicious to cattle, well-guided, radiant; fruitful, bearing sons, desiring brothers-in-law, sit down on this household fire, O gentle one.
उत्तिष्ठेतः किमिच्छन्तीदमागा अहं त्वेडे अभिभूः स्वाद्गृहात्। शून्यैषी निर्ऋते याजगन्थोत्तिष्ठाराते प्र पत मेह रंस्थाः
Why do you rise, what do you desire, coming here? I have overpowered you, departing from your own house. This one is empty, O Nirriti, you have bound it; rise, go away, remain not here.
यदा गार्हपत्यमसपर्यैत्पूर्वमग्निं वधूरियम् । अधा सरस्वत्यै नारि पितृभ्यश्च नमस्कुरु
If the bride has not worshipped the household fire before, then let her first pay homage to Sarasvati and to the ancestors.
{८} शर्म वर्मैतदा हरास्यै नार्या उपस्तिरे । सिनीवालि प्र जायतां भगस्य सुमतावसत्
This protection, this armor, I spread for this woman. May Sinivali be born, dwelling in the good favor of Bhaga.
यं बल्बजं न्यस्यथ चर्म चोपस्तृणीथन । तदा रोहतु सुप्रजा या कन्या विन्दते पतिम्
When you lay down the bulrush and spread the hide, then may she, the maiden who finds a husband, grow with good offspring.
उप स्तृणीहि बल्बजमधि चर्मणि रोहिते । तत्रोपविश्य सुप्रजा इममग्निं सपर्यतु
Spread the bulrush upon the red hide; sitting there, may she with good offspring worship this fire.
आ रोह चर्मोप सीदाग्निमेष देवो हन्ति रक्षांसि सर्वा । इह प्रजां जनय पत्ये अस्मै सुज्यैष्ठ्यो भवत्पुत्रस्त एषः
Climb upon the hide, sit near the fire; this god destroys all demons. Here, bear children for this husband; may you have the highest rank, may this be your son.
वि तिष्ठन्तां मातुरस्या उपस्थान् नानारूपाः पशवो जायमानाः । सुमङ्गल्युप सीदेममग्निं संपत्नी प्रति भूषेह देवान्
Let the variously-formed cattle, being born, stand by the mother's side. Sit here with good fortune, worship this fire, adorn the gods, O co-wife.
सुमङ्गली प्रतरणी गृहाणां सुशेवा पत्ये श्वशुराय शंभूः । स्योना श्वश्र्वै प्र गृहान् विशेमान्
Auspicious, crossing over, enter the houses; well-disposed to your husband, gracious to your father-in-law. Gentle to your mother-in-law, may you enter all the homes.
स्योना भव श्वशुरेभ्यः स्योना पत्ये गृहेभ्यः । स्योनास्यै सर्वस्यै विशे स्योना पुष्टायैषां भव
Be gentle to your fathers-in-law, gentle to your husband and the households; gentle to all the people, gentle for their prosperity.
सुमङ्गलीरियं वधूरिमां समेत पश्यत । सौभाग्यमस्यै दत्त्वा दौर्भाग्यैर्विपरेतन
This bride is auspicious; come together, look upon her. Give her good fortune, and drive away misfortune.
या दुर्हार्दो युवतयो याश्चेह जरतीरपि । वर्चो न्वस्यै सं दत्ताथास्तं विपरेतन
Whatever young women are hard to please, and even those who are old here—let their radiance be given to her, and let their misfortune be turned away.
रुक्मप्रस्तरणं वह्यं विश्वा रूपाणि बिभ्रतम् । आरोहत्सूर्या सावित्री बृहते सौभगाय कम्
Bring the golden covering, bearing all forms. Let Sūryā, the daughter of Savitṛ, ascend for great good fortune.
{९} आ रोह तल्पं सुमनस्यमानेह प्रजां जनय पत्ये अस्मै । इन्द्राणीव सुबुधा बुध्यमाना ज्योतिरग्रा उषसः प्रति जागरासि
Ascend the bed with a cheerful mind; here, bear children for this husband. Awake alertly like Indrani, holding the light, you awaken at the coming of dawn.
देवा अग्रे न्यपद्यन्त पत्नीः समस्पृशन्त तन्वस्तनूभिः । सूर्येव नारि विश्वरूपा महित्वा प्रजावती पत्या सं भवेह
The gods at first withdrew; the wives touched one another with their bodies. O woman, be manifold in form like the sun, great in majesty, fruitful; unite with your husband here.
उत्तिष्ठेतो विश्वावसो नमसेडामहे त्वा । जामिमिच्छ पितृषदं न्यक्तां स ते भागो जनुषा तस्य विद्धि
Rise up, O Viśvāvasu; we bow and honor you. Seek your kin among the ancestors, the one who has been cast down; your share is with him by birth—know that.
अप्सरसः सधमादं मदन्ति हविर्धानमन्तरा सूर्यं च । तास्ते जनित्रमभि ताः परेहि नमस्ते गन्धर्वर्तुना कृणोमि
The Apsarases delight in the shared feast, between the offering and the sun. Go to your origin, to those; to you I bow, I make you pass with the permission of the Gandharva.
नमो गन्धर्वस्य नमसे नमो भामाय चक्षुषे च कृण्मः । विश्वावसो ब्रह्मणा ते नमोऽभि जाया अप्सरसः परेहि
Homage to the Gandharva, homage to you; homage to Bhāma and to the eye we offer. O Viśvāvasu, with sacred utterance we bow to you; pass on, O bride, with the Apsarases.
राया वयं सुमनसः स्यामोदितो गन्धर्वमावीवृताम । अगन्त्स देवः परमं सधस्थमगन्म यत्र प्रतिरन्त आयुः
May we be of good mind through wealth, may we rejoice; may we call forth the Gandharva. The god has reached the highest seat; we have come where life is renewed.
सं पितरावृत्विये सृजेथां माता पिता च रेतसो भवाथः । मर्य इव योषामधि रोहयैनां प्रजां कृण्वाथामिह पुष्यतं रयिम्
Let mother and father, as givers of seed, send forth the bride; like a man with a woman, place her upon the marriage-bed. Here, may you produce offspring and prosper in wealth.