Vivaah Sanskaara – Part I

The groom places his hand symbolically on the hair of the bride:

ओं प्र त्वा मुञ्चामि वरुणस्य पाशाद्येन त्वाबध्नात्सविता सुशेव: ।
ऋतस्य योनौ सुकृतस्य लोकेऽरिष्टां त्वा सह पत्या दधामि ॥

Om pratvaa muṅg-chaami varunaṡya
paashaadyenatvaavadh-naat-savitaa sushevah.
Ritasya yonau sukritasya
loke’riṡhṭaan-tvaa saha dadhaami.¹

As we get together, may we be blessed in our marriage life together. May we honor our duties as husband and wife, and may we look ahead to success as we free ourselves from whatever is our past and is behind us. May the Omnipresent Lord bless us with wisdom and good company so that we uphold truth, live a meritorious life, and provide for each other.

प्र forward, towards, ahead, protect त्वा you मुञ्चामि liberate, release वरुणस्य material world previously attached to पश्चात् at the back, behind येन so that त्वा you अबध्नात् bound, tied सविता Omnipresent सुशेवः nicely, auspicious, favorable ऋतस्य truth, order, custom योनौ matrimonial duties सुकृतस्य merit, virtue लोके world, people अरिष्टाम्  safe, secure त्वा you सह together पत्या husband दधामि give, make, provide

ओं प्रेतो मुञ्चामि नामुत: सुबद्धाममुतस्करम् ।
यथेयमिन्द्र मीढ्वः सुपुत्रा सुभगासति ॥

Om preto muṅgchaami naamutah
subaddhaam-amutaskaram.
Yatheyam-indram meeḍvah
suputraa subhagaasati.²Rig veda 10.85.25³

May we be free of past mistakes or habits and not let our lives be influenced from that. May we become duty-bound to each other. May we be strong, valiant, and auspicious. Please bless us with beautiful children.

प्र proceed, advance forward मुञ्चामि liberate, free न not अमुतः thus, from there सुबद्धाम् good tie, duty-bound अमुतः thus, from there करम् make, perform यथा equally, so that इयम् this इन्द्र powerful one मीढ्वः valiant, strong, big सुपुत्रा superior child सुभगा auspicious, beloved, fortunate, best-looking असति be, happen