1Truth is the base that bears the earth; by Súrya are the heavens upheld.
By Law the Ádityas stand secure, and Soma holds his place in heaven.

2By Soma are the Ádityas strong, by Soma mighty is the earth:
Thus Soma in the lap of all these constellations hath his home.

3One thinks, when men have brayed the plant, that he hath drunk the Soma's juice.
Of him whom Bráhmans truly know as Soma never mortal eats.

4When they begin to drink thee, then, O God, thou swellest out again.
Váyu in Soma's sentinel. The month is that which shapes the years.

5Soma, preserved by covering rules, guarded by hymns in Brihatí,
Thou standest listening to the stones; none tastes of thee who dwells on earth.

6Thought was her coverlet, the power of sight was unguent for her eyes:
Her treasure-chest was earth and heaven, when Súryá went unto her lord.

7Raibhi was her dear bridal friend, and Nārásátisi led her home.
Lovely to see was Súryá's robe: by Gáthá beautified she moves

8Songs were the cross-bars of the pole, Kurira metre docked her head.
Both Asvins were the paranymphs: Agni was leader of the train.

9Soma was he who wooed the maid: the groomsmen were both Asvins, when
The Sun-God Savitar bestowed his willing Súryá on her lord.

10Her spirit was the bridal car, the canopy thereof was heaven:
Two radiant oxen formed the team when Súryá came unto her lord.

11Steadily went the steers upheld by holy verse and song of praise,
The chariot-wheels were listening ears: thy path was tremulous in the sky.

12Pure, as thou wentest, were thy wheels, breath was the axle piercing them.
Súryá advancing to her lord rode on the chariot of her heart.

13The bridal pomp of Súryá, which Savitar started, moved along.
In Maghá days are oxen slain, in Phalgunis they wed the bride.

14When on your three-wheeled chariot, O ye Asvins, ye came as suitors unto Súrya's bridal,
Where was one chariot-wheel of yours? Where stood ye for the sire's command?

15Twin Lords of Lustre, at the time when ye to Súryá's wooing came,
Then all the Gods agreed to your proposal Púshan as son elected you as father.

16Two wheels of thine the Bráhmans know, Súrya! according to their times.
That which is hidden only those who know the highest truths have learned.

17Worship we pay to Aryaman, finder of husbands, kindly friend.
As from its stalk a cucumber, from here I loose thee, not from there.

18Hence and not thence I send her free. I make her softly fettered there.
That, bounteous Indra! she may live blest in her fortune and her sons.

19Now from the noose of Váruna I free thee, where with the blessed Savitar hath bound thee.
May bliss be thine together with thy wooer in Order's dwelling, in the world of virtue.

20Let Bhaga take thy hand and hence conduct thee: let the two
Asvins on their car transport thee.
Go to the house to be the household's mistress, and speak as lady to thy gathered people.

21Happy be thou and prosper with thy children here: be vigilant to rule the household in this home.
Closely unite thy body with this man thy lord. So shalt thou, full of years, address thy company.

22Be not divided; dwell ye here; reach the full time of human life.
With sons and grandsons sport and play, rejoicing in your happy home.

23Moving by magic power from east to westward, these children twain go sporting round the ocean.
The one beholds all creatures: thou, the other, art born anew, duly arranging seasons.

24Thou, born afresh, art new and new for ever; ensign of days, before the Dawns thou goest.
Coming, thou orderest for Gods their portion. Thou lengthenest, Moon, the days of our existence.

25Give thou the wollen robe away: deal treasure to the Bráhman-priests.
This Witchery hath got her feet: the wife attendeth on her lord.

26It turneth dusky-red: the witch who clingeth close is driven off.
Well thrive the kinsmen of this bride: the husband is bound fast in bonds.

27Unlovely is his body when it glistens with that wicked fiend,
What time the husband wraps about his limbs the garment of his wife.

28The butchering, the cutting-up, the severing of limb and joint —
Behold the forms which Súryá wears: yet these the Bráhman purifies.

29Pungent is this, bitter is this, filled as it were with arrow barbs, empoisoned and not fit for use.
The Bráhman who knows Súryá well deserves the garment of the bride.

30The Bráhman takes away the robe as a fair thing that brings good luck.
He knows the expiating rite whereby the wife is kept unharmed.

31Prepare, ye twain, happy and prosperous fortune, speaking the truth in faithful utterances.
Dear unto her, Brihaspati, make the husband, and pleasant be these words the wooer speaketh.

32Remain ye even here and go no farther: strengthen this man, ye Cows, with plenteous offspring.
May Dawns that come for glory, bright with Soma, here may all
Gods fix and enchant your spirits.

33Come, O ye Cows, with offspring dwell around him: he doth not stint the Gods' alloted portion.
To him, your friend, may Púshan, all the Maruts, to him may Dhátar, Savitar send vigour.

34Straight in direction be the paths, and thornless, whereby our fellows travel to the wooing.
With Bhaga and with Aryaman Dhátar endue the pair with strength!

35Whatever lustre is in dice, whatever lustre is in wine,
Whatever lustre is in cows, Asvins, endue this dame therewith.

36With all the sheen that balmeth wine, or thigh of female paramour,
With all the sheen that balmeth dice, even with this adorn the dame.

37He who in water shines unfed with fuel, whom sages worship in their sacrifices.
May he, the Waters' Child, send us sweet waters those that enhanced the power of mighty Indra.

38I cast away a handful here, hurtful, injurious to health.
I lift another handful up, sparkling and bringing happiness.

39Hither let Bráhmans bring her bathing water; let them draw such as guards the lives of heroes.
Aryaman's fire let her encircle, Púshan! Fathers-in-law stand, with their sons, expectant.

40Blest be the gold to thee, and blest the water, blest the yoke's opening, and blest the pillar.
Blest he the waters with their hundred cleansings: blest be thy body's union with thy husband.

41Cleansing Apálá, Indra! thrice, thou gavest sunbright skin to her
Drawn, Satakratu! through the hole of car, of wagon, and of yoke.

42Saying thy prayer for cheerfulness, children, prosperity, and wealth,
Devoted to thy husband, gird thyself for immortality.

43As vigorous Sindhu won himself imperial lordship of the streams,
So be imperial queen when thou hast come within thy husband's home.

44Over thy husband's fathers and his brothers be imperial queen.
Over thy husband's sister and, his mother bear supreme control.

45They who have spun, and woven, and extended Goddesses who have drawn the ends together,
May they invest thee for full long existence. Heiress of lengthened life, endue this garment,

46They mourn the living, they arrange the sacred rite: the men have set their thoughts upon a distant cast:
They who have brought the Fathers this delightful gift, when wives allowed their lords the joy of their embrace.

47I place upon the lap of Earth the Goddess, a firm auspicious stone to bring thee children.
Stand on it, thou, greeted with joy, resplendent: a long long life may Savitar vouchsafe thee.

48As Agni in the olden time took the right hand of this our Earth.
Even so I take and hold thy hand: be not disquieted, with me, with children and with store of wealth.

49God Savitar shall take thy hand, and Soma the King shall make thee rich in goodly offspring,
Let Agni, Lord Omniscient, make thee happy, till old old age a wife unto thy husband.

50I take thy hand in mine for happy fortune that thou mayst reach old age with me thy consort,
Gods, Aryaman, Bhaga, Savitar, Purandhi, have given thee to be my household's mistress.

51Bhaga and Savitar the God have clasped that hand of thine in theirs,
By rule and law thou art my wife: the master of thy house am I.

52Be it my care to cherish her: Brihaspati hath made thee mine.
A hundred autumns live with me thy husband, mother of my sons!

53Tvashtar, by order of the holy sages, hath laid on her Brihaspati's robe for glory,
By means of this let Savitar and Bhaga surround this dame, like Súryá, with her children.

54May Indra-Agni, Heaven-Earth, Mátarisvan, may Mitra-Váruna, Bhaga, both the Asvins,
Brihaspati, the host of Maruts, Brahma, and Soma magnify this dame with offspring.

55It was Brihaspati who first arranged the hair on Súryá's head,
And therefore, O ye Asvins, we adorn this woman for her lord.

56This lovely form the maiden wears in spirit I long to look on as my wife approaching,
Her will I follow with my nine companions. Who is the sage that loosed the bonds that held her?

57I free her: he who sees, within my bosom, my heart's nest knows how her fair form hath struck me.
I taste no stolen food: myself untying Váruna's nooses I am freed in spirit.

58Now from the bond of Váruna I loose thee, wherein the blessed Savitar hath bound thee.
O bride, I give thee here beside thy husband fair space and room and pleasant paths to travel.

59Lift up your weapons. Drive away the demons. Transport this woman to the world of virtue.
Dilator, most wise, hath found for her a husband. Let him who knows, King Bhaga, go before her.

60Bhaga hath formed the four legs of the litter, wrought the four pieces that compose the frame-work.
Tvashtar hath decked the straps that go across it, May it be blest, and bring us happy fortune.

61Mount this, all-hued. gold tinted, strong wheeled, fashioned of Kinsuka, this chariot lightly rolling,
Bound for the world of life immortal, Súryá! Made for thy lord a happy bride's procession.

62To us, O Váruna, bring her, kind to brothers; bring her, Brihaspati, gentle to the cattle.
Bring her, O Indra, gentle to her husband: bring her to us, O Savitar, blest with children.

63Hurt not the girl, ye Pillars twain upon the path which Gods have made.
The portal of the heavenly home we make the bride's auspicious road.

64Let prayer he offered up before and after, prayer in the middle, lastly, all around her.
Reaching the Gods' inviolable castle shine in thy lord's world

1For thee with bridal train they first escorted Súryá to her home,
Give to the husband in return, Agni, the wife with future sons.

2Agni hath given the bride again with splendour and a lengthened life.
Long-lived be he who is her lord: a hundred autumns let him live.

3She was the wife of Soma first: next the Gandharva was thy lord.
Agni was the third husband: now one born of woman is thy fourth.

4Soma to the Gandharva, and to Agni the Gandharva gave.
Now, Agni hath bestowed on me riches and sons and this my bride.

5Your favouring grace hath come, ye who are rich in spoil!
Asvins, your longings are stored up within your hearts.
Ye, Lords of Splendour have become our twofold guard: may we as dear friends reach the dwelling of the friend.

6Thou, Dame, rejoicing, take with kindly spirit wealth worthy to be famed, with all thy heroes.
Give, Lords of Light a fair ford, good to drink at: remove the spiteful stump that blocks the pathway.

7May all the Rivers, all the Plants, may all the Forests, all the Fields,
O Bride, protect thee from the fiend, guard his sons' mother for her lord.

8Our feet are on this pleasant path, easy to travel, bringing bliss,
Whereon no hero suffers harm, which wins the wealth of other men.

9Hear these my words, ye men, the benediction through which the wedded pair have found high fortune.
May the divine Apsarases, Gandharvas, all they who are these fruitful trees' protectors,
Regard this bride with their auspicious, favour, nor harm the nuptial pomp as it advances.

10Consumptions, which, through various folk, attack the bride's resplendent train,
These let the holy Gods again bear to the place from which they sprang.

11Let not the highway thieves who lie in ambush find the wedded pair.
Let wicked men's malignities go elsewhere by an easy path.

12I look upon the house and bride's procession with prayer and with the gentle eye of friendship.
All that is covered there in perfect beauty may Savitar make pleasant to the husband.

13She hath come home this dame come home to bless us: this her appointed world hath Dhátar shown her.
So may Prajápati, and both the Asvins, Aryaman, Bhaga gladden her with offspring.

14This dame hath come, an animated corn-field: there sow, thou man, the seed of future harvest.
She from her teeming side shall bear thee children, and feed them from the fountain of her bosom.

15Take thou thy stand, a Queen art thou, like Vishnu here, Sarasvati!
O Siniváli, let her bear children, and live in Bhaga's grace.

16So let your wave bear up the pins, and ye, O Waters, spare the thongs;
And never may the holy pair, sinless and innocent, suffer harm.

17Not evil-eyed no slayer of thy husband, be strong, mild, kind, and gentle to thy household.
Mother of heroes, love thy husband's father: be happy, and through thee may we too prosper.

18No slayer of thy husband or his father, gentle and bright, bring blessing on the cattle.
Loving thy husband's father, bring forth heroes. Tend well this household fire: be soft and pleasant.

19Up and begone! What wish hath brought thee hither from thine own house? Thy mightier, I conjure thee.
Vain is the hope, O Nirriti, that brought thee. Fly off, Malignity; stay here no longer.

20As first of all this woman hath adored the sacred household fire.
So do thou, Dame, pay homage to the Fathers and Sarasvati.

21Take thou this wrapper as a screen, to be a covering for the bride
O Siniváli, let her bear children, and live in Bhaga's grace.

22Let her who shall be blest with sons, the maid who finds a husband, step
Upon the rough grass that ye spread and on the skin ye lay beneath.

23Over the ruddy-coloured skin strew thou the grass, the Balbuja.
Let her, the mother of good sons, sit there and serve this Agni here.

24Step on the skin and wait upon this Agni: he is the God who drives away all demons.
Here bear thou children to this man thy husband: let this thy boy be happy in his birthnight.

25Let many babes of varied form and nature spring in succession from this fruitful mother.
Wait on this fire, thou bringer of good fortune. Here with thy husband serve the Gods with worship.

26Bliss-bringer, furthering thy household's welfare, dear gladdening thy husband and his father, enter this home, mild to thy husband's mother.

27Be pleasant to the husband's sire, sweet to thy household and thy lord,
To all this clan be gentle, and favour these men's prosperity.

28Signs of good fortune mark the bride. Come all of you and look at her.
Wish her prosperity: take on you her evil lucks and go your way.

29Ye youthful maidens, ill-disposed, and all ye ancient woman here.
Give all your brilliance to the bride, then to your several homes depart!

30Súryá the child of Savitar mounted for high felicity Her litter with its cloth of gold, wearing all forms of loveliness.

31Rise, mount the bridal bed with cheerful spirit. Here bring forth children to this man thy husband.
Watchful and understanding like Indráni wake thou before the earliest light of Morning.

32The Gods at first lay down beside their consorts; body with body met in close embracement.
O Dame, like Súryá perfect in her grandeur, here rich in future children, meet thy husband.

33Rise and go hence, Visvāvasu: with reverence we worship thee.
Steal to her sister dwelling with her father: this is the share — mark this — of old assigned thee.

34Apsarases rejoice and feast together between the sun and place of sacrificing.
These are thy kith and kin: go thou and join them: I in due season worship thee Gandharva.

35Homage we pay to the Gandharva's favour, obeisance to his eye and fiery anger.
Visvāvasu, with prayer we pay thee homage. Go hence to those Apsarases thy consorts.

36May we be happy with abundant riches. We from this place have banished the Gandharva.
The God is gone to the remotest region, and we have come where men prolong existence.

37In your due season, Parents! come together. Mother and sire be ye of future children.
Embrace this woman like a happy lover. Raise ye up offspring here: increase your riches.

38Send her most rich in every charm, O Púshan, her who shall be the sharer of my pleasures;
Her who shall twine her eager arms about me, and welcome all my love and soft embraces.

39Up, happy bridegroom! with a joyous spirit caress thy wife and throw thine arm around her.
Here take your pleasure, procreate your offspring. May Savitar bestow long life upon you.

40So may the Lord of Life vouchsafe you children, Aryaman bind you, day and night, together.
Enter thy husband's house with happy omens, bring blessing to our quadrupeds and bipeds.

41Sent by the Gods associate with Manu, the vesture of the bride, the nuptial garment,
He who bestows this on a thoughtful Bráhman, drives from the marriage-bed all evil demons.

42The priestly meed wherewith ye twain present me, the vesture of the bride, the nuptial garment,
This do ye both, Brihaspati and Indra, bestow with loving-kindness on the Bráhman.

43On your soft couch awaking both together, revelling heartily with joy and laughter,
Rich with brave sons, good cattle, goodly homestead, live long to look on many radiant mornings.

44Clad in new garments, fragrant, well-apparelled, to meet refulgent Dawn have I arisen.
I, like a bird that quits the egg, am freed from sin and purified.

45Splendid are Heaven and Earth, still near to bless us, mighty in their power;
The seven streams have flowed: may they, Goddesses, free us from distress.

46To Súryá and the Deities, to Mitra and to Váruna,
Who know aright the thing that is, this adoration have I paid.

47He without ligature, before making incision in the neck.
Closed up the wound again, most wealthy Bounteous Lord who healeth the dissevered parts.

48Let him flash gloom away from us, the blue, the yellow and the red.
I fasten to this pillar here the burning pest Prishátaki.

49All witcheries that hang about this garment, all royal Váruna's entangling nooses.
All failure of success and all misfortunes here I deposit fastened to the pillar.

50My body that I hold most dear trembles in terror at this robe.
Tree, make an apron at the top. Let no misfortune fall on us.

51May all the hems and borders all the threads that form the web and woof,
The garment woven by the bride, be soft and pleasant to our touch.

52These maids who from their father's house have come with longing to their lord have let the preparation pass. All hail!

53Her whom Brihaspati hath loosed the Visve Devas keep secure.
With all the splendour that is stored in cows do we enrich this girl.

54Her whom Brihaspati hath loosed the Visve Devas keep secure.
With all the vigour that is stored in cows do we enrich this girl.

5Her whom Brihaspati, etc.
With all good fortune, etc.

56Her whom Brihaspati, etc.
With all the glory, etc.

57Her whom Brihaspati, etc.
With all the milky store possessed by cows do we enrich this girl.

58Her whom Brihaspati hath freed the Visve Devas keep secure.
With all the store of sap that cows contain do we enrich this girl.

59If, wearing long loose hair, these men have danced together in thy house, committing sin with shout and cry,
May Agni free thee from that guilt, may Savitar deliver thee,

60If in thy house thy daughter here have wept, with wild dishevelled locks, committing sin with her lament.
May Agni, etc.

61If the bride's sisters, if young maids have danced together in thy house, committing sin with shout and cry.
May Agni free thee from that guilt, may Savitar deliver thee.

62If any evil have been wrought by mischief-makers that affects thy cattle progeny or house,
May Agni free thee from the woe, may Savitar deliver thee.

63This woman utters wish and prayer, as down she casts the husks of corn:
Long live my lord and master! yea, a hundred autumns let him live!

64Join thou this couple, Indra! like the Chakravaka and his mate:
May they attain to full old age with children in their happy home.

65Whatever magic hath been wrought on cushion, chair, or canopy.
Each spell to mar the wedding rites, all this we throw into the bath.

66Whatever fault or error was in marriage or in bridal pomp.
This woe we wipe away upon the cloak the interceder wears.

67We, having laid the stain and fault upon the interceder's cloak,
Are pure and meet for sacrifice. May he prolong our lives for us.

68Now let this artificial comb, wrought with a hundred teeth, remove
Aught of impurity that dims the hair upon this woman's head.

69We take away consumption from each limb and member of the bride.
Let not this reach Earth, nor the Gods in heaven, let it not reach the sky or air's wide region.
Let not this dust that sullies reach the Waters, nor Yama, Agni, nor the host of Fathers.

70With all the milk that is in Earth I gird thee, with all the milk that Plants contain I dress thee.
I gird thee round with children and with riches. Do thou, thus girt, receive the offered treasure.

71I am this man, that dame art thou I am the psalm and thou the verse. I am the heaven and thou the earth.
So will we dwell together here, parents of children yet to be.

72Unmarried men desire to wed; bountiful givers wish for sons.
Together may we dwell with strength unscathed for high prosperity.

73May they, the Fathers who, to view the bride, have joined this nuptial train,
Grant to this lady and her lord children and peaceful happiness.

74Her who first guided by a rein came hither, giving the bride, here offspring and possessions,
Let them convey along the future's pathway. Splendid, with noble children, she hath conquered.

75Wake to long life, watchful and understanding, yea, to a life shall last a hundred autumns
Enter the house to be the household's mistress. A long long life let Savitar vouchsafe thee.