Kāṇḍa 14 — Wedding hymns

Truth is the base that bears the earth ; by Siirya

By Soma are the Adityas strong, by Soma mighty ' IK the ear(h :

Kwom a$Soma : know to be the Moon, regarded as the food of the Gods and the Fathers or Manes. The Moon wanes while it is being eaten, and waxes while being tilled with the souls of the Departed wIki snter it Soou, from Mi to squeess^ poiir out» means the miuvir, tha ecMuoe of rain, and is primarily the Hoon, its identification with the Soma nlant being a seeondaiy phase in the development of lunar'

When they begin to drink theef then, O God, thou

Soma, preserved by covering rules, guarded by

Soma the Moon is the deitj or deifled subject of the proeeding five sUnsas. Sdryi's Bridal is the subject of stanaas 6—17. Tr^mmif^ ek4U : bd^; meanmg, probably, troussean or bridal outfit Asooidin^ to some, the box or body of the chariot is intended.

Kaibhl was her dear bridal friend, and N&rAsafist led

One thinks, when men have brayed the plant, that be hath drunk the Soma's juioe. Of him whom Brabmaus truly know as Soma nerer mortal eats.

Her spirit was the bridal oar, the canopy thereof f was heaven :

Steadily went the steers upheld by holy verse and

Pure, as thou wentest, were thy wheelsi breath was

The bridal pomp of SAryA, which Savitar started,

'When on your three- wheeled chariot, O ye Asvins,

Two wheels of thine the Brahmans know, S&ry4!

Worship we pay to Aryaman, finder of husbands^

Hence and not thence I send her free. I make her

Now from the noose of Varu^a I free thee, where*

Let Bhaga take tiiy hand and hence conduct thee :

Thou, bora afresh, art new and new for ever ; ensign

It turaeth dusky^red : the witoh who clingetb close

Unlovely is his body when it glistens with that

The butchering, the catting-upt the serering of Umb

Pungent il this, bitter is this, filled as it were with

The Brahman takes away the robe as a fwr thing . that brings good luck.

Prepare, ye twain, happv and prosperous fortunet

Come, O ye Cows, with oflEsprinff dwell around him :

Stum S3 in the 9 ^* hjvoxk. To th» wooing : Moording to SAjspa't siplsostbn, to the father, to whom the interoeden are to spply for his cUughter't hand on hehalf of their friend. 'Ihe etanis is out of pUee at this edTenoed stage of the proeeedings.

Ho : AgnL The following formolas are reeited when' water is bnmght for the bride's morning bath. ' 33 l/aM(Ail/cf water.

ArwammCiJlroi the husband's household tro, round which the hiide walks qHrinklins the floor of the room with holy water. JC^gpocU wU : waiting for the wiAe to oome.

Blest be the gold to thee, and blest the water, blest the yoke's openings and blest the pillar.

Cleansing Ap&U, Indra! thrice, thoa gavest son-

Sayin|^ thy prayer for cheerfalness, childreiit pros-

As vieorous Sindha won himself imperial lordship ' of tne streams.

dOver iby bnsband's faiheri And hii brothers bo im- perial qoeen.

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

I place upon the lap of Earth the Goddess, a firm

As Agni in the olden time took the right hand of

I take thy hand in mine for happy fortune thai

Bhaga and Savitar the God have clasped that hand

Be it my care to cherish her ; Bfihaspati hath made

Tvash^r, by order of the holy sages, hath laid on

3iniigl>t in direotion be the paths, and thorolessi

Whatever lustre is in dioe, whatever lastre is in wine, Whatever lustre is in oows, Afvins, endue this dame

Now from the bond of Varupa I loose thee, wherein

Lift up your weapons. Drive away the demons.

To as, Varapa, bring her, kind to brothers ; bring her, Bribaspati, gentle to the cattle. Bring her, O indra, gentle to her husband : bring her to as, O Savitar, blest with children.

Let prayer be offered up before and after, prayer in the middle, lastly, all around ber. Reaching the Gods' inviolable castle shine in thy lord's world gentle and auspicious.

Hurt 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.

Remain ye even here and go no farther : strengthea

Moving by mafpo power from east to westward, these obildren twam go sporting roand the ocean. The one beholds all oreatares : thou, the other, art bora anew, duly arranging seasons.

He who in water shines unfed with fuel, whom sages

I cast away a handful here, hurtful, injurious to

Hither let Br&hmans bring her bathing water; let

the rest of the hjnin, with the eicepticn of some fire sU is peculiar to the Athanra-Teda and not borrowed ftoss ths 9^ Y.

With all the sheen that balmeth wine, or thigh of female paramour, With all toe sheen that balmeth diee, even with this adorn Uie dame.

Fob thee with bridal train they first escorted SAryi

Agoi bath given the bride again with spleodour and

Thou, Dame, rejoioinffi take with kindly spirit wealth

May all the Riyers, all thePlauU, may all the Forests,

Our feet are od this pleassut path, easy to travel,

Consumptions, which, through various folk, attack

Let not the highway thieves who lie in ambush find the wedded pair.

I look upon the house and bride's procession with prayer and with the gentle eye of friendship.

She hath come home, this dame come home to bless us this her appointed world hath Dhitar shown her.

This dame hath come, an animated corn-field : there

Take thou thy stand, a Queen art thou, like VishQU

So let your wave bear up the pins, and ye, O Waters,

Not evil -eyed no slayer of thy husband, be strong,

No slayer of thy huHband. or his father, gentle and

Stansas IS-^IB oontdn foramlas to be iseiled when the psgess*

As first of all this woman hath adored the sacred

Take thou this wrapper as a screen, to be a covering

Let her who shall be blest with sons, the maid who

Over the ruddy-coloured skin strew thou the grass,

Step on the skin and wait upon this Agni : he is the

Let manjr babes of varied form and nature spring in

Blifls-bringer, farthering thy household's welfare, dear, ^laddeniiig thy busbaDd and his father, enter this home, iDild to thy hasband's mother*.

Signs of ffood fortune mark the bride. Come all of

Te youthful maidens, ill^lisposed, and all ye ancient

Apsarases rejoice and feast together between the

Homage we pay to the Gandharra's fitvour, obei-

May we be happy with abundant riches. We from

In your due season, Parents! come together. Mother

Send her most rich in every charm, O PA^han, her

Up, happy bridegroom I with a joyous spirit caress

So may the Lord of Life vouchsafe yon children,

Sent by the Qods associate with Manu, the vesture

The priestly meed wherewith ye twain present me,

Clad in new garments, fragrant, well-apparelledrta

Splendid are Heaven and Earth, still near to Uesa

To SAryA and the Deities, to Mitra and to VaroQa, Who know aright the thing that is, this adoration

He without ligature, before oaaking inoiMdn in the

On your soft couch awaking both together, revelling

All witcheries that hang about this garment, all

My body that I hold most dear trembles in terror at

May all the hems and borders, all the threads that

H0^: the bride. Aooording to Lndwig. the dIkM (weihe). fhs lolkHritig iH Sliiua aM laeM i^pHiUoni with th« ehaago of one iNMd la^idL

Her whom Brihaspati hath loosed the Yifve Devas

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

Her whom Bi'ihaspati, etc. With all the glory, etc.

Her whom Bfibaspati, eto.

Her whom Brihtepati hath loosed ih0 VisVe Devas keep secure. With all the splendour that is stored in oows do we enrich this girl.

If, weariog long loose hidr, these men have danced

If the bride's sisters, if young maidis have 4anced together in *b/ hpuae, wmmHihg Mia wilh ^o»t and cry,

Thia and the two following ttanias oontain the prayen of the friendu and relativee of the bridegroom who are awaiting the arrival of the nuptial prooeesion.

7'JU Ood^i ianoMU cattU : the bridegroom's boose in which the Gods are duly honoured ; the heaveulg komg of the preceding stansa.

Whatever magic huth been wrought on cushion,

Whatever fiault or :eiror was in marriage or in bridal

We, havine laid the atain and fault upon the inter-

Now let this artificial comb, wrought with a hundred

We take away Consumption from each limb and

With all the milk that is in Earth I gird thee, with

Uomarried men desire to wed ; boontifal givers wish

May they, the Fathers who, to view the bride^ have

Her who first guided by a rein came hither, giving

Wake to long life, watchful and understanding, yea,

SAryA the child of Savitar mounted for high felicity Her litter with its cloth of gold, wearing all forms of

Rise, mount the bridal bed with cheerful spirit

The Gods at 6rst lay down beside their consorts ;

Thki^UMtwofoUowiiigaUiintsisoatofpliiosliMrs. TW MS rsmtod while the piooeMkmls on its way.

The Chifkmvika: this bird (Anas Gasara, oommonlj eidled <he Brahmanj duck) and his mate— the CbakwiandOhakwt— arofegmided as (ctmblems of oomugallove and eonstanojr, and as yw h aie veij fi^. q.ueutl J mentioned in later Indian pootiy.

Rise and go hence, Visv&vasq : with reverence we worship thee. Steal to her sister dwelling with her father : this is the share~mark this-— of old assigned thee.