Vivaah Sanskaara – Part I

ओममोऽहमस्मि सा तवांसा त्वमस्यमोऽहम्।
सामाहमस्मि ऋक्त्वं द्यौरहं पृथिवी त्वं तावेव विवहावहै सह रेतो दधावहै।
प्रजां प्रजनयावहै पुत्रान् विन्दावहै बहून्।
ते सन्तु जरदष्टायः सं प्रियौ रोचिष्णू सुमनस्यमानौ।
पश्येम शरदः शतं जीवेम शरदः शतम् शृणुयाम शरदः शतम् ॥

Om amo’ham-asmi saa tvam
saa tvam-asyamo’ham.
Saamaaham-asmi ṛiktvam
dyour-aham prithivee tvam taave-va
vivahaa-vahai saha reto dadhaa-vahai.
Prajaam prajanayaa-vahai
putraan vindaa-vahai bahoon.
Te santu jaradaṡh-ṭayah
sam-priyau rochiṡhṇu sumanasya-maanau.
Pashyema sharadah shatam jeevema sharadah shatam
shri-ṇuyaama sharadah shatam.¹

O bride, you and I accept each other voluntarily. With deep affection we have accepted each other and recognize the responsibilities toward each other. O beautiful one, at this moment, I am the harmony of music, and you are the words of wisdom. I am like the sun² and you are like the earth³. We are blessed to be married and to live together. May we be blessed with noble children. May we live contentedly and happily with each other until ripe old age – and during our life together, let us see and hear the best things in life.

अहम् I, me अस्मि am सा also, us तवाम् you सा us, also त्वम् you असि as, just as अमो अहम् साम Sama veda, music अहम् I अस्मि am ऋक wisdom, rig veda त्वम् you द्यौः heavens, sun अहम् I पृथिवी earth त्वम् you तावेव both, us विवहावहै married सह tohether रेतो beget, vital elements दधावहै get प्रजाम् offspring प्रजनयावहै produce पुत्रान् children विन्दावहै getting, blessed with बहून् many ते us सन्तु satisfied, contented जरदष्टायः old age सम्प्रियौ contentment, greatly please with रोचिष्णू splendid, brilliant सुमनस्य cheerful मानौ  mind पश्येम see शरदः years, autumns शतम् hundred जीवेम live शृणुयाम hear, listen 

Groom says

ओं आरोहेममश्मानमश्मेव तवं स्थिरा भव।
अभितिष्ठ पृतन्यतोऽवबाधस्व पृतनायतः ॥

Om-aaroha-imam-ashmaanam-ashmeva
tvam sthiraa bhava.
Abhi-tiśhţha pritanyato-avabaa-dhasva pritanaa-yatah.⁵

O bride, please ascend this stone as a mark of courage. May you assume the firmness of a rock in your life. May your decisions be always firm. May you resist all problems and overcome any quarrel. May you always overcome and overwhelm any threats to you and our family.

आरोह climb, ascend इमम् this अश्मानम् stone अश्मेव confidently तवम् you स्थिरा steadfastness, firm resolve भव you अभितिष्ठ overpower, advance, rise over पृतन्या fight, overcome, overwhelm अवबाधस्व keep off पृतनायतः those who threaten you