Vivaah Sanskaara – Part III

जीवं रुदन्ति वि मयन्ते अध्वरे दीर्घामनु प्रसितिं दीधियुर्नरः । 
वाम पितृभ्यो य इदं समेरिरे मयः पतिभ्यो जनयः परिष्वजे॥

Jeevam rudanti vi mayante adhvare 
dirghaamanu prasitim deedhiryunarah. 
Vaam pitribhyo ya idam samerire 
mayah patibhyo janayah pariṣhvaje.¹

Live without lamentation. Be happy instead of sad. As we embark on this new journey of life together, let us desire to be united in life, and let us inspire each other. As we embrace this marriage, let us move ahead without any fear. May the blessings of God, our parents and fore-parents always be with us.

जीवम् live, alive रुदन्ति cry, lament विमयन्ते alternatively, do the opposite अध्वरे yagya, roadway, journey दीर्घाम् long-lived अनु toward प्रसितिम् binding दीधियुः think, desire, contemplate नरः man वामम् beautiful, agreeable पितृभ्यः father, forefathers ये who इदम् this समेरिरे create, inspire, put together मयः enjoy पतिभ्यः husband जनयः wife परिस्वजे embrace

पूषा त्वेतो नयतु हस्तगृह्याश्विना त्वा प्र वहतां रथेन । 
गृहान्गच्छ गृहपत्नी यथासो वशिनी त्वं विदथमा वदासि ॥

Pooṣhaa tveto nayatu hasta-grihyaashvinaa
tvaa pra vahataam rathena.
Grihaangachchha grihapatnee yathaaso
vashinee tvam vidathamaa vadaasi.²

Let us cherish each other as we proceed, hand in hand, together in this journey. May God bless us as we take this vehicle to our home in which you will be the queen of our home and where you will lead our family always with your love, wisdom and authority decreed by our scriptures.

पूषा cherish त्वा your इतः hereon नयतु lead, add हस्तगृह्य hand in hand अश्विना day’s journey त्वा you प्र toward वहताम् transport, marry रथेन vehicle गृहान् house, home गच्छ go गृहपत्नी queen of the home यथा equally, like असः be वशिनी power, authority त्वम् you विदथम् wisdom, council, meeting आ toward वदासि teach, tell, declare

सुकिंशुकं शल्मलिं विश्वरूपं हिरण्यवर्णं सुवृतं सुचक्रम् ।
आ रोह सूर्ये अमृतस्य लोकं स्योनं पत्ये वहतुं कृणुष्व ॥

Sukim-shukam shalmalim vishvaroopam
hiraṇya-varṇan suvritam suchakram.
Aa roha soorye amritasya lokam
syonam patye vahatum kriṇuṣhva.³

Today, you are like the grandest tree of all trees! You are the rarest of pure flowers in the world! Your appearance is golden like the sun, and your cheerful smile is the most pleasant. As we head into the world after our marriage, let us embark on this journey bravely. Ascend into this vehicle bravely and gracefully with me, your husband, and let us journey together.

सुकिंशुकम् very beautiful flower of the forest शल्मलिम् silkcotton tree विश्वरूपम् all forms हिरण्यवर्णम् golden appearance सुवृतम् modest, cheerful, graceful सुचक्रम्  excellent wheels आ toward रोह ascend सूर्ये like the sun अमृतस्य immortality लोकम् world स्योनम् benevolent, pleasant पत्ये husband वहतुम् marriage कृणुष्व do, perform, act

अश्मन्वती रीयते सं रभध्वमुत्तिष्ठत प्र तरता सखायः । 

Ashmanvatee reeyate sam rabhadhvam-uttiṣhṭhata
pra tarataa sakhaayah.⁴

Cross over any difficulty in life, there is no challenge that you cannot overcome. Stand up, endure what you can and overcome the rest as we traverse this journey together.

अश्मन्वती rocks, stones रीयते let go, be free सम् together रभध्वम् clasp, ardour उत् up तिष्ठत stand up, resist, endure प्र ahead, toward तरत overcome, traverse सखायः friend, companion.

अत्रा जहाम ये असन्नशेवाः शिवान्वयमुत्तरेमाभि वाजान् ॥

Atraa jahaama ye asannashevaah
shivaan-vayam-uttaremaabhi vaajaan.⁵

I pray that all unfriendly and harmful forces get out of the way of our journey. What does not get out of the way will be overcome as we forge ahead with life at this auspicious time of our life. May success in life be our reward for facing up to any challenges.

अत्र now, here जहाम abandon, get rid of ये which असन् be, become अशेवाः harmful, unfriendly शिवान् auspicious, benevolent वयम् mine, I उत् up तरेम traverse, overcome अभि toward, onward वाजान् prize, reward, contest, strength

मा विदन्परिपन्थिनो य आसीदन्ति दम्पती । 
सुगेभिर्दुर्गमतीतामप द्रान्त्वरातयः ॥

Maa vidan-paripanthino ya aaseedanti dampatee
Sugebhir-durgam-ateetaam-apa draantvaraatayaḥ.⁶

May we not face any difficult, unfriendly, unhealthy situation. May there be no evil lurking in the waters or on the road that we cannot overcome and surpass. May our pathways be free, clear, and accessible to us. May there be no enemy, foe or anyone with envy in our way.

मा not विदन् find परिपन्थिनः unfriendly, unhealthy ये that which आसीदन् marine monsters, marine challenges दम्पती husband and wife सुगेभिः clear and free दुर्गम difficult situation, impassable, inaccessible, difficult to be traversed अतीत surpassed, overcome अप waters, away द्रान्तु run अरातयः foe, adversity, envy