The hymn 10.85 of the Rigveda includes the Vivaha-sukta (above). Its recitation continues to be a part of Hindu wedding rituals.[134][135]
English: The Vedas are scriptures of Hinduism. The Rigveda samhita is dated between 1500 to 1200 BCE, while the others to between 1200 and 1000 BCE. Each Vedic samhita consists of books. These texts are in the archaic Sanskrit language and include four layers of texts, samhita being one layer of the Vedas. They contain hymns that cover a wide mix of topics: benedictions, mythologies, questions and riddles, the methodology for yajna sacrifices, potions and incantations, drama and poems, samskara (rites of passage verses), philosophy and mystical speculations. The hymns are set in the form of dialogues, dramatic play, or pedagogic style. The corpus of Vedic texts, as well all post-Vedic texts, are generally accepted to have been orally transmitted from generation to generation for over a millennium, till about the start of the common era. In Sanskrit, they were written in many Indic scripts. The scripture was written on palm leaf manuscripts, copied for preservation in Hindu temples and monasteries. Later paper and cloth versions were produced, where the page size was similar to the heritage palm leaf-like long pages. The above image is from Mandala 10, Hymn 85, of a northern recension of the Rigveda manuscript. It shows the Vivaha sukta, the celebrated hymn part of which continue to be in use for contemporary Hindu weddings. (bolded below, see: Swami Vivekananda Bharata Press Prabuddha Bharata: Or Awakened India, pp. 362, 594 ; The Vivaha (Marriage) Samskara as a Paradigm for Religio-cultural Integration in Hinduism, Nelistra Singh (1992), Journal for the Study of Religion) In the Rigveda these are verses 10.85.16 – 10.85.27 (blue circle marks the start). The text reads (Sanskrit Wikisource): द्वे ते चक्रे सूर्ये ब्रह्माण ऋतुथा विदुः । अथैकं चक्रं यद्गुहा तदद्धातय इद्विदुः ॥१६॥ सूर्यायै देवेभ्यो मित्राय वरुणाय च । ये भूतस्य प्रचेतस इदं तेभ्योऽकरं नमः ॥१७॥ पूर्वापरं चरतो माययैतौ शिशू क्रीळन्तौ परि यातो अध्वरम् । विश्वान्यन्यो भुवनाभिचष्ट ऋतूँरन्यो विदधज्जायते पुनः ॥१८॥ नवोनवो भवति जायमानोऽह्नां केतुरुषसामेत्यग्रम् । भागं देवेभ्यो वि दधात्यायन्प्र चन्द्रमास्तिरते दीर्घमायुः ॥१९॥ सुकिंशुकं शल्मलिं विश्वरूपं हिरण्यवर्णं सुवृतं सुचक्रम् । आ रोह सूर्ये अमृतस्य लोकं स्योनं पत्ये वहतुं कृणुष्व ॥२०॥ उदीर्ष्वातः पतिवती ह्येषा विश्वावसुं नमसा गीर्भिरीळे । अन्यामिच्छ पितृषदं व्यक्तां स ते भागो जनुषा तस्य विद्धि ॥२१॥ उदीर्ष्वातो विश्वावसो नमसेळा महे त्वा । अन्यामिच्छ प्रफर्व्यं सं जायां पत्या सृज ॥२२॥ अनृक्षरा ऋजवः सन्तु पन्था येभिः सखायो यन्ति नो वरेयम् । समर्यमा सं भगो नो निनीयात्सं जास्पत्यं सुयममस्तु देवाः ॥२३॥ प्र त्वा मुञ्चामि वरुणस्य पाशाद्येन त्वाबध्नात्सविता सुशेवः । ऋतस्य योनौ सुकृतस्य लोकेऽरिष्टां त्वा सह पत्या दधामि ॥२४॥ प्रेतो मुञ्चामि नामुतः सुबद्धाममुतस्करम् । यथेयमिन्द्र मीढ्वः सुपुत्रा सुभगासति ॥२५॥ पूषा त्वेतो नयतु हस्तगृह्याश्विना त्वा प्र वहतां रथेन । गृहान्गच्छ गृहपत्नी यथासो वशिनी त्वं विदथमा वदासि ॥२६॥ इह प्रियं प्रजया ते समृध्यतामस्मिन्गृहे गार्हपत्याय जागृहि । एना पत्या तन्वं सं सृजस्वाधा जिव्री विदथमा वदाथः ॥२७॥ Ralph Griffith's translation: (Wikisource) 16. The Brahmans, by their seasons, know, O Surya, those two wheels of thine:      One kept concealed, those only who are skilled in highest truths have learned. 17. To Surya and the Deities, to Mitra and to Varuna.      Who know aright the thing that is, this adoration have I paid. 18. By their own power these Twain in close succession move;      They go as playing children round the sacrifice.      One of the Pair beholdeth all existing things; the other ordereth seasons and is born again. 19. He, born afresh, is new and new for ever ensign of days he goes before the Mornings      Coming, he orders for the Gods their portion. The Moon prolongs the days of our existence. 20. Mount this, all-shaped, gold-hued, with strong wheels, fashioned of Kimsuka and Salmali, light-rolling,      Bound for the world of life immortal, Surya: make for thy lord a happy bridal journey. 21. Rise up from hence: this maiden hath a husband. I laud Visvavasu with hymns and homage.       Seek in her father's home another fair one, and find the portion from of old assigned thee. 22. Rise up from hence, Visvavasu: with reverence we worship thee.       Seek thou another willing maid, and with her husband leave the bride. 23. Straight in direction be the paths, and thornless, whereon our fellows travel to the wooing.       Let Aryaman and Bhaga lead us: perfect, O Gods, the union of the wife and husband. 24. Now from the noose of Varuna I free thee, wherewith Most Blessed Savitar hath bound thee.       In Law's seat, to the world of virtuous action, I give thee up uninjured with thy consort. 25. Hence, and not thence, I send these free. I make thee softly fettered there.       That, Bounteous Indra, she may live blest in her fortune and her sons. 26. Let Pusan take thy hand and hence conduct thee; may the two Asvins on their car transport thee.       Go to the house to be the household's mistress and speak as lady to thy gathered people. 27. Happy be thou and prosper with thy children here: be vigilant to rule thy household in this home.       Closely unite thy body with this man, thy lord. So shall ye, full of years, address your company. These manuscripts are preserved at the Lalchand Research Library, Ancient Indian Manuscript Collection, DAV College Digital Library Initiative, Chandigarh India, in association with SP Lohia and Indorama Charitable Trust. The text is over 3000 years old, the re-copying into this particular manuscript is a pre-1890 reproduction. The manuscript shows stain marks, decay and damage on the sides and its edges. Language: Sanskrit Script: Devanagari Script style: pre-14th century (Northern / Western) ऋग्वेदसंहिता । मण्डल १० । सूक्तं १०.८५ । The photo above is of a 2D artwork of a text that is over 3,000 years old, from a manuscript that was produced decades before 1923. Therefore Wikimedia Commons PD-Art licensing guidelines apply. Any rights I have as a photographer is herewith donated to wikimedia commons under CC 4.0 license.