﻿1:92 ON THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



the sects, Avlilcb follow it. While looking into the 

 vessel, the bridegroom says, " 1 view thee with the 

 eye of the sun [who draws unto himself what he con- 

 templates."] On accepting the niad'huparca, the 

 bridegroom says, " I take thee with the assent of 

 the generou"S sun ; with the arms of both sons of 

 As'zv'mi ; with the hands of the cherishing lumi- 

 nary." He mixes it, saying, "may I mix thee, 

 () venerable present! and remove M'hatever might 

 be hurtful in the eating of tliee. " He tastes it three 

 times, saying, *' may I eat that sweet, best, and 

 iiourisliing form of hone}', which is the sweet, best, 

 and nourishing form of honey ; and may I thus be- 

 come excellent, sweet-tempered, and well nouiislied 

 b}^ food." After eating until he be satisfied, and 

 after sipping water, he touches his mouth and other 

 parts of his body v/ith his hand, saying, " may 

 there be speech in my mouth ; breath in my nostrils ; 

 sight in my eye-balls ; hearing in my ears ; strength 

 in my arms; firmness in m}^ thighs : may my limbs 

 and members remain unhurt together with my 

 soul." 



Presents suitable to the rank of the parties are 

 then presented to the guest. At the marriage cere- 

 iriOny, too, the bride is formally given by her father 

 to the bridegroom, in this stage of the solemnity 

 according to some rituals, but later according to 

 others. The hospitable rites are then concluded by 

 letting loose the cow at the intercession of the guest. 

 A barber, who attends for that purpose, exclaims, 

 " the cow ! the cow !" Upon which the guest pro- 

 nounces this text : " Release the cow from the fet- 

 ters of Varun'a. iMay she subdue my foe: may 

 she destroy the enemies of both him (the host) [and 

 me.] Dismiss the cow, that she may eat grass and 

 drink water." When the cow has been released, 

 the guest thus addresses her: " I have earnestly en- 

 treated this prudent person, [o?', according to an- 



' other 



