By that which is, is the earth upheld; by the sun is the heaven borne aloft.
By truth stand the sons of Aditi, and Soma is fixed upon the firmament.

Through Soma is the strength of the sons of Aditi; by truth is the earth made great.
And in the bosom of the starry host, Soma is laid to rest.

To Sūryā, to the gods, to Mitra and to Varuṇa— those who held forethought at the shaping of the world—to them is my lowly bow made in this place.

First to the fore, then behind, these twain do wander through their craft.
Like two merry children they go their hallowed course.
The one, the Sun, beholdeth all that lives; the other, the Moon, is born anew as he marketh out the seasons with his hand.

He is ever fresh in his arising; as lamp of the days he goeth before the dawns.
To the gods he giveth their share as he draweth nigh; and the Moon lengtheneth his tale of days.

Fair with blossoms of the kimśuka tree, framed of śalmali wood, shaped in all forms, golden in hue, well-turning with even wheels—

Mount thou, O Sūryā, the realm of deathlessness.
Make thy bridal way a resting-place for thy spouse.

"Arise from this place, for this woman hath a husband."
With awe and with song I call upon Viśvāvasu:
"Seek thou another maid who sitteth in her father's house, adorned for espousal.
That is thy portion by right—be it known unto thee."

"Rise now, O Viśvāvasu," we entreat with honour.
"Seek thou another blooming maid. Let this wife go hence, to be joined with her lord."

Let the ways be straight and safe for men, whereby the companions go unto their wooing.
Let Aryaman and Bhaga lead us all as one.
Let the joined household be easy to hold fast, O ye gods.

From the bond of Varuṇa I unbind thee, with which the kindly Savitar did fasten thee.
In the womb of truth, in the realm of right-offering, I place thee whole beside thy spouse.

From here I loose thee—not from afar. I have well-bound thee yonder, that, O Indra the giver of rewards, this woman may bear fair sons and be full of blessing.

Let Pūṣan take thee hence, leading thee by the hand.
Let the Aśvins bear thee forth in their car.
Go to the house, to be its lady; with thy strength proclaim the holy portions.

Here may thy heart’s longing be fulfilled through offspring; here in this dwelling keep watch o’er its rule.

With this thy husband join thy flesh. And even in thine aged years, together shall ye declare the holy portion.

She is clad in blood-dark raiment; she becometh spell and snare.
She is smeared with stain. Her kin rejoice, her husband is bound in unseen cords.

Lay down the stained cloth; deal out the gifts to the god-learned.
She walketh as living witchcraft—the wife entereth into her husband.

His flesh dimmeth of its brightness, shining with an unclean glow, when the man taketh on his flesh the garment of the bride.

The plagues that cling to the folk who follow the glimmering bridal march— may the gods of worthy offering send them back to whence they came.

Let no footpad lying in wait fall upon the wedded twain.
Let their steps o'erpass the rough places upon smooth paths.
Let strife flee away from them.

Of good fate is this bride: come ye near, behold her.
Give her your blessing, then scatter ye home.

This thing is harsh, this thing is edged—barbed and bitter, fit not for food.
Let him that would know Sūryā—let the brahmin alone—be found worthy of this dread bridal thing.

Rending, cleaving, sundering—behold the shapes of Sūryā!
Yet the brahmin maketh them clean.

I take thy hand for good lot, that with me for thy husband thou shalt reach thy grey years.

Bhaga, Aryaman, Savitar, and Fulness—all the gods—have given thee unto me, for the rule and care of house and kin.

O Pūṣan, awaken her, most kind of heart—she in whom men sow their seed, she who of her own will openeth her thighs to us, she who will take our flesh into herself.

First was Sūryā brought forth to thee with her bridal train.
O Agni, give her back to her man, with the hope of sons.

Agni hath given the wife back—along with life and light— unto him that shall dwell with her as husband, long-living through a hundred harvests.

Soma had her first; the Gandharva next;
Agni held her third. The fourth was born of men.

Soma gave her unto the Gandharva;
the Gandharva gave her unto Agni.
Agni gave her to me—sons, wealth, and this woman likewise.

Tarry here, ye two; depart not.
Fulfil thy span of days, delighting in thy sons and sons' sons, gladdened in thine own hearth.

Let Prajāpati raise seed for us; let Aryaman anoint thee until old age.
Go forth into thy husband’s world without ill sign.
Be blessing to our two-footed, blessing to our four-footed.

Be thou free from evil eye, not a smiter of thy mate, kindly to kine, right-hearted and bright of face, a bearer of heroes, a friend of gods, restful in body.
Be blessing to our two-footed, blessing to our four-footed.

O Indra the Giver, make this woman rich in good sons and good hap.
Grant unto her ten sons; let her husband be the eleventh.

Become thou queen o’er thy father-in-law; queen o’er thy mother-in-law; queen o’er thy sister-in-law, and queen o’er thy brothers-in-law.

Let all the gods together, and the waters together, anoint our hearts as one.

Together Mātariśvan, the Shaper, and the Steerer— let them bind us two in one yoke.