४

प्रागुदीचीमुद्वहेत् १

1 ¹. He should carry her away in a north-eastern direction.

ब्राह्मणकुलेऽग्निमुपसमाधाय पश्चादग्नेर्लोहितं चर्मानडुहमुत्तरलोम प्राग्ग्रीवमास्तीर्य वाग्यतामुपवेशयेत् २

2. In a Brāhmaṇa’s house he should establish the (nuptial) fire, should spread out to the west of the fire a red bull’s hide with the hair outside and with the neck to the east, and should make her, who has to keep silence, sit down (thereon).

प्रोक्ते नक्षत्रेऽन्वारब्धायां स्रुवेणोपघातं जुहुयात् षड्भिर्लेखाप्रभृतिभिस्सम्पातानवनयन् मूर्धनि वध्वाः ३

3. When (somebody) has said that a star has appeared, he should, while she touches him, make oblations (of Ājya) with the Sruva, picking out (portions of it), with the six (verses) commencing with (the verse), ‘In the lines’ (MB. I, 3, 1 seqq.). The remnants he should pour out over the bride’s head.

प्रदक्षिणमग्निं परिक्रम्य ध्रुवं दर्शयति ध्रुवाद्यौरिति ४

4. Having circumambulated the fire so that their right sides are turned towards it, he shows her the polar star (literally, the firm one), with the verse, ‘Firm is the sky’ (l.l. 7).

अभिवाद्य गुरून् गोत्रेण विसृजेद्वाचम् ५

5. She should break her silence by respectfully calling her Gurus by their Gotra names.

गौर्दक्षिणा ६

6. A cow constitutes the sacrificial fee.

अत्रार्घ्यम् ७

7. Here the Arghya ceremony should be performed.

आगतेष्वित्येके ८

8. (Or rather it should be performed) when they have come (to their house), according to some (teachers): [comp. Sāṅkh. I, 12, 10.]

त्रिरात्रं क्षारलवणे दुग्धमिति वर्जयन्तौ सह शयीयातां ब्रह्मचारिणौ ९

9. Through a period of three nights they should avoid eating saline food and drinking milk, and should sleep together without having conjugal intercourse.

हविष्यमन्नं परिजप्यान्नपाशेनेत्यसाविति वध्वा नाम ब्रूयात् १०

10. Having murmured over food which is fit for sacrifice, the (verses), ‘With the tie of food (MB. I, 3, 8-10), he should pronounce the wife’s name, N.N.!’

भुक्त्वोच्छिष्टं वध्वै दद्यात् ११

11. After he has sacrificed (or, eaten?) he should give the rest to the wife.

ऊर्ध्वं त्रिरात्राच्चतसृभिराज्यं जुहुयात् अग्ने प्रायश्चित्तिरिति समस्त पञ्चमीं सम्पातानवनयन्नुदपात्रे १२

12 ². After the lapse of that period of three nights, he should make oblations of Ājya with the four

verses, ‘Agni, thou art expiation’ (MB. I, 4, I seqq.). A fifth (oblation) combining (the names of the four gods invoked in those verses). The remnants (of Ājya) he should pour into a water-pot.

तेनैनां सकेशनखामाप्लावयेत् १३

13. With that (Ājya) he should wash her, including her hair and nails.

ततो यथार्थं स्यात् १४

14 ³. Thenceforward he should behave as required by circumstances.

ऋतुकाले दक्षिणेन पाणिनोपस्थमालभेद्विष्णुर्योनिं कल्प यत्विति समाप्तायाम् १५

15 ⁴. At the time of her courses he should touch with his right hand her secret parts with (the verse), ‘May Vishṇu make thy womb ready’ (MB. I, 4, 6).

सम्भवेद्गर्भं धेहीति १६

16. When (that verse) is finished, he should cohabit with her, with (the verse), ‘Give conception’ (l.l. 7).