Ascend this stone, be as firm as a rock. Stand on it, granted with joy, of excellent glory. May you have long life and prosperity, she who is to be my wife. R scatters rice, which was placed already upon the altar with the candles. Long live he who is to be my husband, may he live a hundred autumns.
R steps down.
This acts as a symbol of prosperity and fertility. D grasps R's right hand in his right hand. It is also noted that the manner in which the groom grasps the bride's hand indicates his wishes for male children, female children, or both. To date, no studies have indicated any biological mechanism by which the groom's manner of grasping the hand increases the production of either X or Y sperm. DR recite phrases from the Vedas which describe the meaning of each step, or, in this case, each circle of the fire.