[ No introduction written yet. ]
Saptapadi.
[Taking seven steps together is symbolic of the joint journey of life. This is the act which completes the Hindu sacrament of marriage (recognised by modern Hindu Law as well). Addressed by the bridgegroom to the bride.)]
Having taken seven steps with me, become my friend; may we two, who have taken together these seven steps become companions; may I have your friendship; may I not be separated from your friendship, nor you from mine; with utmost love to each other, gaining lustre (by each other's association), with mutually amicable minds, and enjoying together our food and invigorating things, may we walk together and take our resolves together; may our minds be united, of the same voews and of the same thoughts; I am the Rik (the text), you are the Saman (the tune); I am the Saman, you are the Rik. I am Heaven, you are Earth; I am the seed, you are the bearer; I am the thought, you are the word; I am the Saman, you are the Rik; you act at one with me, so that we may be blessed with a son, may attain prosperity and progeny; come (with me), O lady of pleasing words!
Asmarohana
[The placing of the bride's foot on a piece of stone, symbolic of the stone-like firmness of her devotion.)
Step on this stone; be you as firm as the stone; resist the assailants, overcome the aggressors.
Dhruva-Arundhati-Darsana
[Looking up of the Pole star and the Alcor (in the constellation Great Bear), i.e., Dhruva and Arundhati. The former signifies steadfastness and the latter devotion to her lord, sage Vasishtha (one in the Great Bear). The husband points out the two to the wife with these words:)
1. (O Dhruva!) You abide in a stable place; you are the source of stability; you are responsible for stable existence; you are stable; you are the peg of the constellations; you protect me from assailants.
2. When the Seven Sages gave Arundhati precedence over the Krittikas (the Pleiades) and made her position secure, the six Krittikas accepted the leadership of Arundhati (the seventh); may this wife of mine flourish as the eighth (of those stars).
The New-Born Child
[The mantra with which the father takes the baby.]
From each limb of mine are you born; you are born especially from my heart; you are my own Self bearing the name "son"; may you live for a hundred autumns.
Rigveda. X. 85. Marriage
36. (The bridgroom to the bride:) I take hold of your hand for good fortune, so that with me, the husband, you may attain to old age; the divinities Bhaga, Aryaman, Savitar and Pushan gave you to me for conducting domestic life.
37. (To the couple:) Be here itself, you two; may you not be separated; reach your full years, sporting with sons, grandsons and delighting in your houses.
44. (To the bride:) May you flourish, without fierce looks and without harm to your husband; be kind to animals, of amiable mind and endowed with all splendour; be the mother of heroes, be devoted to gods and the bringer of happiness; be propitious to our men and women and to our cattle.
45. Bounteous Indra! Endow this bride with excellent sons and fortune; give her ten sons and make her husband the eleventh. *F1.
46. (To the bride:) Be thou a queen over thy father-in-law, be thou a queen over thy mother-in-law; be thou a queen over thy sister-in-law; be thou a queen over thy brother-in-law.
47. (To the couple:) May all the gods unite your hearts, may the Waters unite your hearts; may Wind unite your hearts; may the Creator unite your hearts; may the fruit-yielding Sarasvati unite your hearts.
