Atharva Veda · 476 of 724
BOOK XIV
HYMN I On the Bridal of Sūryā, marriage ceremonies in general 1. Truth is the base that bears the earth; by Sūrya are the heavens upheld. By Law the Ādityas stand secure, and Soma holds his place in heaven. 2. By Soma are the Ādityas strong, by Soma mighty is the earth: Thus Soma in the lap of all these constellations hath his home. 3. One thinks, when men have brayed the plant, that he hath drunk the Soma’s juice. Of him whom Brāhmans truly know as Soma never mortal eats. 4. When they begin to drink thee, then, O God, thou swellest out again. Vāyu in Soma’s sentinel. The month is that which shapes the years. 5. Soma, preserved by covering rules, guarded by hymns in Brihatī, Thou standest listening to the stones; none tastes of thee who dwells on earth. 6. Thought was her coverlet, the power of sight was unguent for her eyes: Her treasure-chest was earth and heaven, when Sūryā went unto her lord. 7. Raibhi was her dear bridal friend, and Nārāsatisi led her home. Lovely to see was Sūryā’s robe: by Gāthā beautified she moves 8. Songs were the cross-bars of the pole, Kurira metre docked her head. Both Asvins were the paranymphs: Agni was leader of the train. 9. Soma was he who wooed the maid: the groomsmen were both. Asvins, when The Sun-God Savitar bestowed his willing Sūryā on her lord. 10. Her spirit was the bridal car, the canopy thereof was heaven: Two radiant oxen formed the team when Sūryā came unto her lord. 11. Steadily went the steers upheld by holy verse and song of praise, The chariot-wheels were listening ears: thy path was tremulous in the sky. 12. Pure, as thou wentest, were thy wheels, breath was the axle pier- cing them. Sūryā advancing to her lord rode on the chariot of her heart. 13. The bridal pomp of Sūryā, which Savitar started, moved along. In Maghā days are oxen slain, in Phalgunis they wed the bride. 14. When on your three-wheeled chariot, O ye Asvins, ye came as suitors unto Sūrya’s bridal, Where was one chariot-wheel of yours? Where stood ye for the sire’s command? 15. Twin Lords of Lustre, at the time when ye to Sūryā’s wooing came, Then all the Gods agreed to your proposal Pūshan as son elected you as father. 16. Two wheels of thine the Brāhmans know, Sūrya! according to their times. That which is hidden only those who know the highest truths have learned. 17. Worship we pay to Aryaman, finder of husbands, kindly friend. As from its stalk a cucumber, from here I loose thee, not from there 18. Hence 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. 19. Now from the noose of Varuna I free thee, where with the bless- ed Savitar hath bound thee. May bless be thine together with thy wooer in Order’s dwelling, in the world of virtue. 20. Let 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. 21. Happy 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. 22. Be not divided; dwell ye here; reach the full time of human life. With sons and grandsons sport and play, rejoicing in your happy home. 23. Moving 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. 24. Thou, 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. 25. Give thou the wollen robe away: deal treasure to the Brāhman- priests. This Witchery hath got her feet: the wife attendeth on her lord. 26. It 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. 27. Unlovely is his body when it glistens with that wicked fiend, What time the husband wraps about his limbs the garment of his wife. 28. The butchering, the cutting-up, the severing of limb and joint— Behold the forms which Sūryā wears: yet these the Brāhman purifies, 29. Pungent is this, bitter is this, filled as it were with arrow barbs, empoisoned and not fit for use. The Brāhman who knows Sūryā well deserves the garment of the bride. 30. The Brāhman takes away the robe as a fair thing that brings good luck. He knows the expiating rite whereby the wife is kept unharmed. 31. Prepare, 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. 32. Remain 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. 33. Come, O ye Cows, with offspring dwell around him: he doth not stint the Gods’ alloted portion. To him, your friend, may Pūshan, all the Maruts, to him may Dhatar, Savitar send vigour. 34. Straight in direction be the paths, and thornless, whereby our fellows travel to the wooing. With Bhaga and with Aryaman Dhātar endue the pair with strength! 35. Whatever lustre is in dice, whatever lustre is in wine, Whatever lustre is in cows, Asvins, endue this dame therewith. 36. With all the sheen that balmeth wine, or thigh of female para- mour, With all the sheen that balmeth dice, even with this adorn the dame. 37. He who in water shines unfed with fuel, whom sages worship in their sacrifices. May he, the Waters’ Child, send us sweet waters those that en- hanced the power of mighty Indra. 38. I cast away a handful here, hurtful, injurious to health. I lift another handful up, sparkling and bringing happiness. 39. Hither let Brāhmans bring her bathing water; let them draw such as guards the lives of heroes. Aryaman’s fire let her encircle, Pūshan! Fathers-in-law stand, with their sons, expectant. 40. Blest 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. 41. Cleansing Apālā, Indra! thrice, thou gavest sunbright skin to her Drawn, Satakratu! through the hole of car, of wagon, and of yoke. 42. Saying thy prayer for cheerfulness, children, prosperity, and wealth, Devoted to thy husband, gird thyself for immortality. 43. As vigorous Sindhu won himself imperial lordship of the streams, So be imperial queen when thou hast come within thy husband’s home. 44. Over thy husband’s fathers and his brothers be imperial queen. p. 133 Over thy husband’s sister and, his mother bear supreme control. 45. They who have spun, and woven, and extended Goddesses who have drawn the ends together, May they invest thee for full long existence. Heiress of lengthen- ed life, endue this garment, 46. They 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. 47. I 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. 48. As 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. 49. God 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. 50. I 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. 51. Bhaga 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. 52. Be it my care to cherish her: Brihaspati hath made thee mine. A hundred autumns live with me thy husband, mother of my sons! 53. Tvashtar, by order of the holy sages, hath laid on her Brihas- pati’s robe for glory, By means of this let Savitar and Bhaga surround this dame, like Sūryā, with her children. 54. May Indra-Agni, Heaven-Earth, Mātarisvan, may Mitra-Varuna, Bhaga, both the Asvins, Brihaspati, the host of Maruts, Brahma, and Soma magnify this dame with offspring. 55. It was Brihaspati who first arranged the hair on Sūryā’s head, And therefore, O ye Asvins, we adorn this woman for her lord. 56. This 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? 57. I 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 Varuna’s nooses I am freed in spirit. 58. Now from the bond of Varuna 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. 59. Lift 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. 60. Bhaga 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. 61. Mount this, all-hued. gold tinted, strong wheeled, fashioned of Kinsuka, this chariot lightly rolling, Bound for the world of life immortal, Sūryā! Made for thy lord a happy bride’s procession. 62. To us, O Varuna, bring her, kind to brothers; bring her, Brihas- pati, gentle to the cattle. Bring her, O Indra, gentle to her husband: bring her to us, O Savitar, blest with children. 63. 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. 64. Let 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 gentle and auspicious.
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