Vivaah Sanskaara – Part I

आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुवस्ता न ऊर्जे दधातन ।
महे रणाय चक्षसे ॥

Om aapo hiṣhţhaa mayo bhuvastaa na oorje dadhaatana.
Mahe-raṇaaya chakshase.²

Water is a source of health and energy and it provides the earth with significant value to our benefit and happiness.May we continue to be blessed with strength and joy. May the calming and healthy qualities of water so influence us.

आपः waters हि indeed, for स्थ exist, happen मयोभुव source of vital things मयः refreshment, various uses भुवः earth ताः this नः I, mine, us ऊर्जे strength, energy दधातन give, cause महे great, distinguishable रणाय joy, battle, splendor चक्षसे look, watch

यो व: शिवतमो रसस्तस्य भाजयतेह न: ।
उशतीरिव मातर: ॥

Yovah shivatamo rasatasya bhaajayateha nah.
Usha-teeriva maatarah.³

Water is like God’s nectar to us; the essence of life that He has blessed to us. May we, like this water, be blessed by God. Just like a mother’s best wish for her children, may we be blessed with fulfilment and satisfaction. Just as mothers always wish the best for their children, may we be similarly blessed with the best in life. 

यः who, which वः you शिवतमः like nectar of the gods, auspicious रसः essence तस्य this भाजयत enjoy, pursue, divide इह here, now नः I, mine उशत desiring, wishing for इव  like मातरः mothers

तस्मा अरं गमाम वो यस्य क्षयाय जिन्वथ ।
आपो जनयथा च नः ॥

Tasmaa araṅgamaam vo yasya kshayaaya jinvatha.
Aapo-janayathaa cha nah.⁴

Just as water is vital when someone is weak or at work and just as water is essential to the growth of crops and to the body, may we be blessed with strength, development, and long life.

तस्मै for that, for this अरम् sufficiently, enough गमाम going, goes वः you, he/she यस्य who क्षयाय loss, weakness जिन्वथ liven, help, urge on, energize आपः water जनयथ produce, cause to grow च and नः us

ओमापः शिवाः शिवतमाः शान्ताः शांततामास्तास्ते कृण्वन्तु भेषजम् ॥ Paar 1.8.5

Om aapah shivaah shiva-tamaah shaantaah
shaant-tamaa-staaste kṛiṇ vantu bheśhajam.⁵

Water is a nectar, auspicious, firm and yet non-rigid, peaceful and yet powerful and beneficial. May we know the healthy and good qualities of water and may we, like water, serve our purpose.

अपः waters शिवाः bliss, godly शिवतमः like nectar of the gods, auspicious शान्ताः for calmness, peaceful शांततामः for benefits of peace and calm, advantageous for health अस्ते non-rigid कृण्वन्तु know भेषजम् water, medication, healing power

तच्चक्षुर्देवहितं पुरस्ताच्छुक्रमुच्चरत् ।
पश्येम शरदः शतं जीवेम शरदः शतं
श्रृणुयाम शरदः शतं प्रब्रवाम शरदः शतं
अदीनाः स्याम शरदः शतं भूयश्चा शरदः शतात् ॥

Tach-chakshur-devahitam
purastaach-chhukram-uch-charat
Pashyema sharadah shatam
jeevema sharadaḥ shatam
Shriṇuyaama sharadah shatam
Prabravaama sharadah shatam
Adeenaah syaam sharadah shatam
Bhooyash-cha sharadah shataat.⁶

That sun around which all planets in this solar system revolve and by which all life is sustained on Earth, that sun never dims or diminishes. Like the ever-present and permeating sunlight, our Almighty God is in and aware of everything; He permeates every particle of energy in the world. He protects and blesses those who maintain a noble life. May we be so favored by Him to see and perceive; breathe/function and be healthy; hear and retain positive sounds and words; speak, teach, and spread (the Vedas); and be independent and free from any negative for a hundred years and more.

तत् He/that चक्षुः seer/perceiver of all देवहितम् benefactor of the righteous people पुरस्तात् before creation (time immemorial) शुच्छुक्रम् (शुद्ध) pious उच्चरत् continuously omnipotent पश्येम may we see शरदः years शतम् hundred – The 100 years denotes more than just the number, it represents fullness in life time जीवेम जीवेम breathe/breath श्रृणुयाम hear, perceive, mental processing प्रब्रवाम speak, Communicate, cohabit अदीनाः independent स्याम may we be भूयः more च and शरदः years शतात् hundred (lifetime).