२१

1. (He makes her step forward, and goes with her himself), with (the Mantras), ‘One (step) for sap, may Viṣṇu go after thee; two (steps) for juice, may Viṣṇu go after thee; three (steps) for vows, may Viṣṇu go after thee; four (steps) for comfort, may Viṣṇu go after thee; five (steps) for cattle, may Viṣṇu go after thee; six (steps) for the prospering of wealth, may Viṣṇu go after thee; seven (steps) for the sevenfold Hotṛṣip, may Viṣṇu go after thee.’

एकमिषे विष्णुस्त्वान्वेतु । द्वे ऊर्जे विष्णुस्त्वान्वेतु । त्रीणि व्रताय विष्णुस्त्वान्वेतु । चत्वारि मायोभवाय विष्णुस्त्वान्वेतु । पञ्च पशुभ्यो विष्णुस्त्वान्वेतु । षड्रायस्पोषाय विष्णुस्त्वान्वेतु । सप्त सप्तभ्यो होत्राभ्यो विष्णुस्त्वान्वेतु । इति १

2. After the seventh step he makes her abide (in that position) and murmurs, ‘With seven steps we have become friends. May I attain to friendship with thee. May I not be separated from thy friendship. Mayst thou not be separated from my friendship.’

सप्तमं पदमवस्थाप्य जपति । सखायौ सप्तपदावभूव सख्यं ते गमेयं सख्यात्ते मा योषं सख्यान्मे मा योष्ठाः इति २

3. ¹ He then puts his right foot on her right foot, moves his right hand down gradually over her right shoulder, and touches the place of her heart as above,

अथास्या दक्षिणेन पादेन दक्षिणं पादमवक्रम्य दक्षिणेन हस्तेन दक्षि-णमंसमुपर्युपर्यन्ववमृश्य हृदयदेशमभिमृशति यथा पुरस्तात् ३

4. ² And the place of her navel with (the formula), ‘Thou art the knot of all breath; do not loosen thyself.’

प्राणानां ग्रन्थिरसि स मा विस्रसः । इति नाभिदेशम् ४

5. ³ After he has made her sit down to the west of the fire, so that she faces the east, he stands to the east (of his bride), facing the west, and besprinkles her with water, with the three verses, ‘O waters, ye are wholesome’ (Taitt. Saṃh. IV, I, 5, 1), with the four verses, ‘The gold-coloured, clean, purifying waters’ (V, 6, 1), and with the Anuvāka, ‘The purifier, the heavenly one’ (Taitt. Brāhmaṇa I, 4, 8).

तामपरेणाग्निं प्राचीमुपवेश्य पुरस्तात्प्रत्यङ्तिष्ठन्नद्भिः प्रोक्षति । आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुवः । इति तिसृभिः । हिरण्यवर्णाः शुचयः पावकाः । इति चतसृभिः । पवमानः सुवर्जनः । इति चैतेनानुवाकेन ५

6. ⁴ Now they pour seeds (of rice, &c.) on (the heads of the bridegroom and bride).

End of the Sixth Paṭala.

अत्र बीजान्यधिश्रयन्ति ६