{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/av/av14002.htm","path":"hin/av/av14002.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av14002.htm","text":"Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895]\n1For thee with bridal train they first escorted S\u016bry\u0101 to her home,\n \u00a0\u00a0Give to the husband in return, Agni, the wife with future sons.\n 2Agni hath given the bride again with splendour and a lengthened.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0life.\n \u00a0\u00a0Long-lived be he who is her lord: a hundred autumns let him\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0live.\n 3She was the wife of Soma first: next the Gandharva was thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0lord.\n \u00a0\u00a0Agni was the third husband: now one born of woman is thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0fourth.\n 4Soma to the Gandharva, and to Agni the Gandharva gave.\n \u00a0\u00a0Now, Agni hath bestowed on me riches and sons and this my\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bride.\n 5Your favouring grace hath come, ye who are rich in spoil!\n \u00a0\u00a0Asvins, your longings are stored up within your hearts.\n \u00a0\u00a0Ye, Lords of Splendour have become our twofold guard: may\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0we as dear friends reach the dwelling of the friend.\n 6Thou, Dame, rejoicing, take with kindly spirit wealth worthy to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0be famed, with all thy heroes.\n \u00a0\u00a0Give, Lords of Light a fair ford, good to drink at: remove the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0spiteful stump that blocks the pathway.\n 7May all the Rivers, all the Plants, may all the Forests, all the\n \u00a0\u00a0Fields,\n \u00a0\u00a0O Bride, protect thee from the fiend, guard his sons' mother for\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0her lord. p. 140\n 8Our feet are on this pleasant path, easy to travel, bringing bliss,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whereon no hero suffers harm, which wins the wealth of other\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0men.\n 9Here these my words, ye men, the benediction through which\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the wedded pair have found high fortune.\n \u00a0\u00a0May the divine Apsarases, Gandharvas, all they who are these\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0fruitful trees' protectors,\n \u00a0\u00a0Regard this bride with their auspicious, favour, nor harm the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nuptial pomp as it advances.\n 10Consumptions, which, through various folk, attack the bride's\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0resplendent train,\n \u00a0\u00a0These let the holy Gods again bear to the place from which they\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sprang.\n 11Let not the highway thieves who lie in ambush find the wedded\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0pair.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let wicked men's malignities go elsewhere by an easy path.\n 12I look upon the house and bride's procession with prayer and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0with the gentle eye of friendship.\n \u00a0\u00a0All that is covered there in perfect beauty may Savitar make\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0pleasant to the husband.\n 13She hath come home this dame come home to bless us: this her\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0appointed world hath Dh\u0101tar shown her.\n \u00a0\u00a0So may Praj\u0101pati, and both the Asvins, Aryaman, Bhaga gladden\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0her with offspring.\n 14This dame hath come, an animated corn-field: there sow, thou\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0man, the seed of future harvest.\n \u00a0\u00a0She from her teeming side shall bear thee children, and feed\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0them from the fountain of her bosom.\n 15Take thou thy stand, a Queen art thou, like Vishnu here,\n \u00a0\u00a0Sarasvati!\n \u00a0\u00a0O Sinivali, let her bear children, and live in Bhaga's grace.\n 16So let your wave bear up the pins, and ye, O Waters, spare the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thongs;\n \u00a0\u00a0And never may the holy pair, sinless and innocent, suffer harm.\n 17Not evil-eyed no slayer of thy husband, be strong, mild, kind,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and gentle to thy household.\n \u00a0\u00a0Mother of heroes, love thy husband's father: be happy, and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0through thee may we too prosper.\n 18No slayer of thy husband or his father, gentle and bright, bring\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0blessing on the cattle. p. 141\n \u00a0\u00a0Loving thy husband's father, bring forth heroes. Tend well this\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0household fire: be soft and pleasant.\n 19Up and begone! What wish hath brought thee hither from thine\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0own house? Thy mightier, I conjure thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Vain is the hope, O Nirriti, that brought thee. Fly off, Malignity;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0stay here no longer.\n 20As first of all this woman hath adored the sacred household\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0fire.\n \u00a0\u00a0So do thou, Dame, pay homage to the Fathers and Sarasvati.\n 21Take thou this wrapper as a screen, to be a covering for the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bride\n \u00a0\u00a0O Sinivali, let her bear children, and live in Bhaga's grace.\n 22Let her who shall be blest with sons, the maid who finds a.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0husband, step\n \u00a0\u00a0Upon the rough grass that ye spread and on the skin ye lay\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0beneath.\n 23Over the ruddy-coloured skin strew thou the grass, the Balbuja.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let her, the mother of good sons, sit there and serve this Agni\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0here.\n 24Step on the skin and wait upon this Agni: he is the God who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0drives away all demons.\n \u00a0\u00a0Here bear thou children to this man thy husband: let this thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0boy be happy in his birthnight.\n 25Let many babes of varied form and nature spring in succession\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0from this fruitful mother.\n \u00a0\u00a0Wait on this fire, thou bringer of good fortune. Here with thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0husband serve the Gods with worship.\n 26Bliss-bringer, furthering thy household's welfare, dear gladdening\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thy husband and his father, enter this home, mild to thy hus-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0band's mother.\n 27Be pleasant to the husband's sire, sweet to thy household and thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0To all this clan be gentle, and favour these men's prosperity.\n 28Signs of good fortune mark the bride. Come all of you and look\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0at her.\n \u00a0\u00a0Wish her prosperity: take on you her evil lucks and go your\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0way.\n 29Ye youthful maidens, ill-disposed, and all ye ancient woman\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0here, p. 142\n \u00a0\u00a0Give all your brilliance to the bride, then to your several homes\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0depart!\n 30S\u016bry\u0101 the child of Savitar mounted for high felicity Her litter\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0with its cloth of gold, wearing all forms of loveliness.\n 31Rise, mount the bridal bed with cheerful spirit. Here bring forth\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0children to this man thy husband.\n \u00a0\u00a0Watchful and understanding like Indr\u0101ni wake thou before the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0earliest light of Morning.\n 32The Gods at first lay down beside their consorts; body with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0body met in close embracement.\n \u00a0\u00a0O Dame, like S\u016bry\u0101 perfect in her grandeur, here rich in future\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0children, meet thy husband.\n 33Rise and go hence, Visv\u0101vasu: with reverence we worship thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Steal to her sister dwelling with her father: this is the share\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mark this\u2014of old assigned thee.\n 34Apsarases rejoice and feast together between the sun and place\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of sacrificing.\n \u00a0\u00a0These are thy kith and kin: go thou and join them: I in due\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0season worship thee Gandharva.\n 35Homage we pay to the Gandharva's favour, obeisance to his eye\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and fiery anger.\n \u00a0\u00a0Visv\u0101vasu, with prayer we pay thee homage. Go hence to those\n \u00a0\u00a0Apsarases thy consorts.\n 36May we be happy with abundant riches. We from this place\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0have banished the Gandharva.\n \u00a0\u00a0The God is gone to the remotest region, and we have come\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0where men prolong existence.\n 37In your due season, Parents! come together. Mother and sire be\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ye of future children.\n \u00a0\u00a0Embrace this woman like a happy lover. Raise ye up offspring\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0here: increase your riches.\n 38Send her most rich in every charm, O P\u016bshan, her who shall be\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the sharer of my pleasures;\n \u00a0\u00a0Her who shall twine her eager arms about me, and welcome all\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0my love and soft embraces.\n 39Up, happy bridegroom! with a joyous spirit caress thy wife and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0throw thine arm around her.\n \u00a0\u00a0Here take your pleasure, procreate your offspring. May Savitar\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bestow long life upon you. p. 143\n 40So may the Lord of Life vouchsafe you children, Aryaman bind\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0you, day and night, together.\n \u00a0\u00a0Enter thy husband's house with happy omens, bring blessing to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0our quadrupeds and bipeds.\n 41Sent by the Gods associate with Manu, the vesture of the bride,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the nuptial garment,\n \u00a0\u00a0He who bestows this on a thoughtful Br\u0101hman, drives from the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0marriage-bed all evil demons.\n 42The priestly meed wherewith ye twain present me, the vesture of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the bride, the nuptial garment,\n \u00a0\u00a0This do ye both, Brihaspati and Indra, bestow with loving-kind-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ness on the Br\u0101hman.\n 43On your soft couch awaking both together, revelling heartily with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0joy and laughter,\n \u00a0\u00a0Rich with brave sons, good cattle, goodly homestead, live long to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0look on many radiant mornings.\n 44Clad in new garments, fragrant, well-apparelled, to meet reful-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0gent Dawn have I arisen.\n \u00a0\u00a0I, like a bird that quits the egg, am freed from sin and purified.\n 45Splendid are Heaven and Earth, still near to bless us, mighty in\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0their power;\n \u00a0\u00a0The seven streams have flowed: may they, Goddesses, free us\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0from distress\n 46To S\u016bry\u0101 and the Deities, to Mitra and to Varuna,\n \u00a0\u00a0Who know aright the thing that is, this adoration have I paid.\n 47He without ligature, before making incision in the neck.\n \u00a0\u00a0Closed up the wound again, most wealthy Bounteous Lord who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0healeth the dissevered parts.\n 48Let him flash gloom away from us, the blue, the yellow and the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0red.\n \u00a0\u00a0I fasten to this pillar here the burning pest Prish\u0101taki.\n 49All witcheries that hang about this garment, all royal Varuna's\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0entangling nooses.\n \u00a0\u00a0All failure of success and all misfortunes here I deposit fastened\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to the pillar.\n 50My body that I hold most dear trembles in terror at this robe.\n \u00a0\u00a0Tree, make an apron at the top. Let no misfortune fall on us.\n 51May all the hems and borders all the threads that form the web\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and woof. p. 144\n \u00a0\u00a0The garment woven by the bride, be soft and pleasant to our\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0touch.\n 52These maids who from their father's house have come with long-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ing to their lord have let the preparation pass. All hail!\n 53Her whom Brihaspati hath loosed the Visve Devas keep secure.\n \u00a0\u00a0With all the splendour that is stored in cows do we enrich this.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0girl.\n 54Her whom Brihaspati hath loosed the Visve Devas keep secure.\n \u00a0\u00a0With all the vigour that is stored in cows do we enrich this girl.\n 55Her whom Brihaspati, etc.\n \u00a0\u00a0With all good fortune, etc.\n 56Her whom Brihaspati, etc.\n \u00a0\u00a0With all the glory, etc.\n 57Her whom Brihaspati, etc.\n \u00a0\u00a0With all the milky store possessed by cows do we enrich this\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0girl.\n 58Her whom Brihaspati hath freed the Visve Devas keep secure.\n \u00a0\u00a0With all the store of sap that cows contain do we enrich this.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0girl.\n 59If, wearing long loose hair, these men have danced together in\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thy house, committing sin with shout and cry,\n \u00a0\u00a0May Agni free thee from that guilt, may Savitar deliver thee,\n 60If in thy house thy daughter here have wept, with wild dishevel-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0led locks, committing sin with her lament.\n \u00a0\u00a0May Agni, etc.\n 61If the bride's sisters, if young maids have danced together in thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0house, committing sin with shout and cry.\n \u00a0\u00a0May Agni free thee from that guilt, may Savitar deliver thee.\n 62If any evil have been wrought by mischief-makers that affects\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thy cattle progeny or house,\n \u00a0\u00a0May Agni free thee from the woe, may Savitar deliver thee.\n 63This woman utters wish and prayer, as down she casts the husks\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of corn:\n \u00a0\u00a0Long live my lord and master! yea, a hundred autumns let him\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0live!\n 64Join thou this couple, Indra! like the Chakravaka and his.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mate:\n \u00a0\u00a0May they attain to full old age with children in their happy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0home. p. 145\n 65Whatever magic hath been wrought on cushion, chair, or\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0canopy.\n \u00a0\u00a0Each spell to mar the wedding rites, all this we throw into the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bath.\n 66Whatever fault or error was in marriage or in bridal pomp.\n \u00a0\u00a0This woe we wipe away upon the cloak the interceder wears.\n 67We, having laid the stain and fault upon the interceder's cloak,\n \u00a0\u00a0Are pure and meet for sacrifice. May he prolong our lives for\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0us.\n 68Now let this artificial comb, wrought with a hundred teeth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0remove\n \u00a0\u00a0Aught of impurity that dims the hair upon this woman's head.\n 69We take away consumption from each limb and member of the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bride.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let not this reach Earth, nor the Gods in heaven, let it not reach\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the sky or air's wide region.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let not this dust that sullies reach the Waters, nor Yama, Agni,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nor the host of Fathers.\n 70With all the milk that is in Earth I gird thee, with all the milk\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0that Plants contain I dress thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0I gird thee round with children and with riches. Do thou, thus\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0girt, receive the offered treasure.\n 71I am this man, that dame art thou I am the psalm and thou the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0verse. I am the heaven and thou the earth.\n \u00a0\u00a0So will we dwell together here, parents of children yet to be.\n 72Unmarried men desire to wed; bountiful givers wish for sons.\n \u00a0\u00a0Together may we dwell with strength unscathed for high pros-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0perity.\n 73May they, the Fathers who, to view the bride, have joined this\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nuptial train,\n \u00a0\u00a0Grant to this lady and her lord children and peaceful happiness.\n 74Her who first guided by a rein came hither, giving the bride, here\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0offspring and possessions,\n \u00a0\u00a0Let them convey along the future's pathway. Splendid, with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0noble children, she hath conquered.\n 75Wake to long life, watchful and understanding, yea, to a life shall\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0last a hundred autumns\n \u00a0\u00a0Enter the house to be the household's mistress. A long long life\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0let Savitar vouchsafe thee.","title":"Atharva Veda: Book 14: Hymn 2: On the Bridal of S\u016bry\u0101, marriage ceremonies in general, continued","type":"page"}