An accompaniment to funeral ceremonies and sacrificial offerings to ancestral spirits

1Fain would I win my friend to kindly friendship. So may the Sage, come through the air’s wide ocean, Remembering the earth and days to follow, obtain a son the issue of his father.

2Thy friend loves not the friendship which considers her who is near in kindred as a stranger. Sons of the mighty Asura, the heroes, supporters of the heaven, see far around them.

3Yea, this the Immortals seek of thee with longing, a scion of the only man existing. Then let thy soul and mine be knit together. Embrace thy con-sort as her loving husband.

4Shall we do now what we ne’er did aforetime? we who spoke righteously now talk impurely? Gandharva in the floods, the Dame of Waters — such is our bond, such our most lofty kinship.

5Even in the womb God Tvashtar, vivifier, shaping all forms, Creator, made us consorts. Ne’er are his holy statutes violated: that we are his the heaven and earth acknowledge.

6Who yokes to-day unto the pole of Order the strong and passio-nate steers of checkless spirit, With shaft-armed mouths, heart-piercing, joy-bestowing? Long shall he live who duly pays them service.

7Who knows that earliest day whereof thou speakest, Who hath beheld it? Who can here declare it? Great is the law of Varuna and Mitra. What, wanton, wilt thou say to men to tempt them?

8Yami am possessed by love of Yama, that I may rest on the same couch beside him. I as a wife would yield me to my husband. Like car-wheels let us speed to meet each other.

9They stand not still, they never close their eyelids, those senti-nels of Gods who wander round us. Not me — go quickly, wanton, with another, and hasten like a chariot-wheel to meet him.

10May Sūrya’s eye with days and nights endow him, and ever may his light spread out before him. In heaven and earth the kindred pair commingle. On Yami be the unbrotherly act of Yama.

11Sure there will come succeeding times when brothers and sisters will do acts unmeet for kinsfolk. Not me, O fair one — seek another husband, and make thine arm a pillow for thy consort.

12Is he a brother when no help is left her? Is she a sister when Destruction cometh? Forced by my love these many words I utter. Come near, and hold me in thy close embraces,

13I am no help for thee, no refuge, Yami, I will not clasp and press thee to my bosom. This is abhorrent to my mind and spirit — a brother on the couch beside a sister.

14I will not fold mine arms about thy body: they call it sin when one comes near a sister. Not me — prepare thy pleasure with another. Thy brother seeks not this from thee, O fair one.

15Alas;