- CHAPTER 5
(This chapter is identical with Yasna 37. )
- CHAPTER 6
THE SACRIFICE CONTINUES WITH FULLER EXPRESSION
1. We worship the Creator Ahura Mazda with our sacrifice, and
the Bountiful Immortals who rule aright, and who dispose of all
aright.
2. And we worship the Asnya with our sacrifice, and Havani, Savanghi
and Visya, the holy lords of the ritual order, and Mithra of the
wide pastures, of the thousand ears, and myriad eyes, the Yazad
of the spoken name, and we worship Raman Hvastra.
3. And we worship Rapithwina with our sacrifice, and Fradat-fshu,
and the Zantuma, and Righteousness the Best, and the Fire, Ahura
Mazda's son, holy lords of the ritual order.
4. And we worship Uzayeirina, and Fradat-vira, and Dahvyuma*,
the holy lord of the ritual order, and that kingly Ahura, the
radiant Napat-apam, of the fleet horses, and the water holy, and
Mazda-made.
5. And we worship Aiwisruthrima and Aibigaya in our sacrifice,
the holy lord of the ritual order, and Fradat-vispam-hujyaiti
and the Zarathushtrotema, the holy lord of the ritual order, and
the good, heroic, bountiful Fravashis of the saints, and the women
who bring forth many sons, and the Prosperous home-life which
endures without reverse throughout the year, and Force which is
well-shaped and stately, and the Blow which brings the victory,
which is Ahura-given, and the Victorious Ascendency (which it
secures).
6. And we worship Ushahina with our sacrifice, and Berejya, and
Nmanya, and Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed and the stately who
smites with victory, and makes the settlements advance, and Rashnu,
the most just, and Arshtat who makes the settlements advance and
causes them to increase, the holy lords of the ritual order.
7. And we worship the Mahya in our sacrifice, the new moon and
the waning moon (the moon within) and the full moon which scatters
night, the holy lord of the ritual order.
8. And we worship the Yearly festivals in our sacrifice, Maidhya-zaremaya,
Maidhyo-shema, Paitishhahya, and Ayathrima, the furtherer (or
breeder), the spender of virile strength, and Maidhyairya, the
holy lord of the ritual order, and Hamaspathmaedhaya, and the
Seasons (in which they are).
9. And we worship with our sacrifice all the lords of the ritual
order, who are the thirty and three who approach the nearest around
about us at Havani, who are the lords of Righteousness the Best,
and whose observances were inculcated by Ahura Mazda, and uttered
forth by Zarathushtra.
10. And we worship Ahura and Mithra with our sacrifice, the lofty,
and imperishable, and holy two, and the stars, moon, and sun,
among the plants of the Baresman, and Mithra, the province-lord
of all the provinces, even Ahura Mazda, the radiant, the glorious,
and the good, valiant, and bountiful Fravashis of the saints.
11. And we worship thee, the Fire, Ahura Mazda's son, together
with all the fires, and the good waters, the best and Mazda-made,
and holy, even all the waters which are Mazda-made and holy, and
all the plants which Mazda made.
12. And we worship the Mathra Spenta with our sacrifice, the glorious
and of a truth, the law revealed against the Daevas, the Zarathushtrian
law, and we worship with our sacrifice its long descent, and the
good Mazdayasnian Religion.
13. And we worship Mount Ushi-darena, the Mazda-made, the glorious
Yazad, shining with holiness, and all the mountains that shine
with holiness, with abundant brilliance, Mazda-made, the holy
lords of the ritual order. And we worship the mighty Kingly glory
Mazda-made, the mighty glory, unconsumed and Mazda-made, and the
good Sanctity, the brilliant, the lofty, the powerful and the
stately, delivering (men) with its inherent power. Yea, we worship
the Glory, and the Benefit which are Mazda-made.
14. And we worship the pious and good Blessing with our sacrifice,
and the pious man, the saint, and that Yazad, the mighty Curse
of wisdom.
15. And we worship these waters, lands, and plants, these places,
districts, pastures, and abodes with their springs of water, and
we worship this lord of the district with our sacrifice, who is
Ahura Mazda (Himself).
16. And we worship all the greatest lords, the Day-lords in the
day's duration, and the Day-lords during daylight, and the Month-lords,
and the Year-lords.
17. And we worship Haurvatat (who guards the water) and Ameretatat
(who guards the plants and the wood), and Sraosha (Obedience)
the blessed and the stately, who smites with the blow of victory,
and makes the settlements advance, the holy lord of the ritual
order.
18. And we worship Haoma with our sacrifice and the Haoma-juice.
And we worship the sacred Fravashi of Zarathushtra Spitama the
saint.
And we worship the wood-billets, and the perfume and thee, the
Fire, Ahura Mazda's son, the holy lord of the ritual order.
19. And we worship the good, heroic, bountiful Fravashis of the
saints.
20. And we worship all the holy Yazads, and all the lords of the
ritual order at the time of Havani, and Savanghi, and all the
greatest lords at their (proper) time. (The Yenhe hatam follows.)
21. The Ratu. As an Ahu (revered and) to be chosen, the priest
speaks forth to me. The Zaotar. So let the Ratu from his Righteousness,
holy and learned, speak forth!
- CHAPTER 7
PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS BY THE PRIEST WITH THE OBJECT OF PROPITIATION
NAMED.
1. With a complete and sacred offering [Ashi] I offer and I give
this meat-offering, and (with it) Haurvatat (who guards the water),
and Ameretatat (who guards the plants and the wood), and the flesh
of the Kine of blessed gift1, for the propitiation of Ahura Mazda,
and of the Bountiful Immortals (all, and) for the propitiation
of Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed, endowed with sanctity, who
smites with the blow of victory, and who causes the settlements
to advance.
+ NOTE: 1. Hum 93: "truthfully I offer integrity and immortality and
(the flesh of) the munificent cow";
Hum2 98 (daD&mi qare+em myazdem haurvata ameretAta gAuc hud@):
"as sacrificial repast and food I offer integrity [water],
immortality [plants], and the munificent cow [flesh]"
2. And I offer the Haoma and Haoma-juice with a complete and
sacred offering for the propitiation of the Fravashi of Zarathushtra
Spitama the saint, and I offer the wood-billets with the perfume
for Thy propitiation, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's son!
3. And I offer the Haomas with a complete and sacred offering
for propitiation [to the good waters] for the good waters Mazda-made.
And I offer this Haoma-water with scrupulous exactness and with
sanctity, and this fresh milk, and the plant Hadhanaepata uplifted
with a complete and sacred offering for the propitiation of the
waters which are Mazda-made.
4. And I offer this Baresman with its Zaothra (and with its binding)
for a girdle spread with complete sanctity and order for the propitiation
of the Bountiful Immortals, and I offer with my voice the thoughts
well-thought, the words well-spoken, and the deeds well-done,
and the heard recital of the Gathas, the Mathras well-composed
and well-delivered, and this Lordship, and this Sanctity, and
this ritual mastership, and the timely Prayer for blessings, with
a complete and sacred offering for the propitiation of the holy
Yazads, heavenly and earthly, and for the contentment of the individual
soul!
5. And I offer to the Asnya with a complete and sacred offering,
as lords of the ritual order, and to Havani, and to Savanghi and
Visya, holy lords of the ritual order, and to Mithra of the wide
pastures, of the thousand ears, and myriad eyes, the Yazad of
the spoken name, and to Raman Hvastra.
6. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to Rapithwina,
the holy lord of the ritual order; and I offer to Fradat-fshu
and to the Zantuma, and to Asha Vahishta (who is Righteousness
the Best) and to Ahura Mazda's Fire.
7. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to Uzayeirina,
Fradat-vira, and to the Dahvyuma*, the holy lord of the ritual
order, and to that lofty Ahura Napat-apam, and to the waters which
Mazda created.
8. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to Aiwisruthrima,
the life-furtherer, and to Fradat-vispam-hujyaiti, and to the
Zarathushtrotema, and to the Fravashis of the saints, and to the
women who have many sons, and to the Prosperous home-life which
endures (without reverse) throughout the year, and to Force, the
well-shaped and stately, and to the Blow which smites with victory
Ahura-given, and to the Victorious Ascendency (which it secures).
9. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to Ushahina,
the holy lord of the ritual order, and to Berejya, and Nmanya,
and to Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed, endowed with sanctity,
who smites with the blow of victory, and makes the settlements
advance, and to Rashnu the most just, and to Arshtat who furthers
the settlements and causes them to increase.
10. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to the Mahya,
lords of the ritual order, to the new and the waning moon (the
moon within), and to the full moon which scatters night, holy
lords of the ritual order.
11. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to the Yearly
festivals, the lords of the ritual order, to Maidhyo-zaremaya,
and Maidhyo-shema, to Paitishahya, and to Ayathrima the furtherer
(the breeder), the spender of the strength of males, and to Maidhyairya
and Hamaspathmaedhaya, holy lords of the ritual order, and I offer
with sanctity to the several seasons, the lords of the ritual
order.
12. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to all those
lords who are the thirty and three, who approach the nearest round
about our Havani, and who are the lords of Asha (the ritual by-eminence),
of Righteousness who is (the Best), whose observances are inculcated
as precepts by Mazda, and uttered forth by Zarathushtra. 13. And
I offer with a complete and sacred offering to Ahura and Mithra,
the lofty and imperishable, and holy two, and to the stars which
are the creatures of Spenta Mainyu, and to the star Tishtrya,
the radiant, the glorious, and to the Moon which contains the
seed of cattle in its beams, and to the resplendent Sun of the
fleet horses, the eye of Ahura Mazda, and to Mithra, the lord
of the provinces. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering
to Ahura Mazda, the resplendent, the glorious, (who rules this
day), and to the Fravashis of the saints (who name the month).
14. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to thee, the
Fire, O Ahura Mazda's son! together with all the fires, and to
the good waters, even to the waters which are Mazda-made, and
to all the plants which Mazda made.
15. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to the Mathra
Spenta, the holy, the effective, revealed against the Daevas,
the Zarathushtrian law, and to the long descent of the good Religion,
of the Mazdayasnian faith.
16. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to Mount Ushi-darena,
the Mazda-made, brilliant with holiness, and to all the mountains
shining with holiness, of abundant brightness, and which Mazda
made, and to the Royal glory unconsumed and Mazda-made. And I
offer with a complete and sacred offering to Ashi Vanguhi, and
to Chishti Vanguhi, and to Erethe, and to Rasastat, and to the
Glory (and the) Benefit which Mazda made.
17. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to the good
and pious Prayer for blessings of the pious man, and to that Yazad,
the swift and dreadful Curse of the wise.
18.
19. And I offer with a complete and sacred blessing to that lofty
lord who is Righteousness (the Best) and the Day-lords, the lords
of the days during their duration, and to those of the days during
daylight, and to the Month-lords, and the Year-lords, and to those
of the seasons, the lords who are lords of the ritual, and at
the time of Havani.
20. And I offer the Myazda meat-offering with a complete and sacred
offering, and Haurvatat (who guards the water), and Ameretatat
(who guards the wood), and the flesh of the Kine of blessed gift,
for the propitiation of Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed, whose
body is the Mathra, him of the daring spear, the lordly, the Yazad
of the spoken name.
21. And I offer the Haoma and the Haoma-juice for the propitiation
of the Fravashi of Zarathushtra Spitama the saint, the Yazad of
the spoken name.
And I offer the wood-billets with the perfume for Thy propitiation,
the Fire's, Ahura Mazda's son, the Yazad of the spoken name.
22. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to the Fravashis
of the saints, the mighty and overwhelming, to those of the saints
of the ancient lore, and to those of the next of kin.
23. And I offer with a complete and sacred offering to all the
lords of the ritual order, and to all the good Yazads heavenly
and earthly who are (meet) for sacrifice and homage because of
Asha who is Vahishta (of Righteousness who is the Best).
24. May that approach to us, and with a sacred blessing (O Lord!)
whose benefits the offerers are seeking for. Thy praisers and
Mathra-speakers, O Ahura Mazda! may we be named; we desire it,
and such may we be. What reward, O Ahura Mazda! adapted to myself
Thou hast appointed unto souls,
25. Of this do Thou Thyself bestow upon us for this world and
for that of mind; (yea, do Thou bestow) so much of this as that
we may attain to Thy ruling protection and to that of Righteousness
for ever.
26. We sacrifice to the Ahuna-vairya and to the veracious word
correctly uttered, and to the good and pious prayer for blessings,
and to the dreadful curse of the wise, the Yazad, and to Haurvatat
and Ameretatat, and to the flesh of the Kine of blessed gift,
and to the Haoma and Haoma-juice, and to the wood-billets, and
the perfume, for the praise of the pious and good prayer for blessings.
(The Yenghe hatam:)
27. (To that one) of beings do we sacrifice whose superior (fidelity)
in the sacrifice Ahura Mazda knows through his Righteousness (within
him, yea, even to those female saints do we sacrifice) whose (superior
sanctity is thus known. We sacrifice to all) both males and females
whose (superiority is such).
(The Ratu speaks.) As an Ahu (revered and) to be chosen, he who is the Zaotar speaks
forth to me.
(The Zaotar.) So let the Ratu from his Righteousness, holy and learned, speak
forth!
- CHAPTER 8
OFFERING OF THE MEAT-OFFERING IN PARTICULAR. THE FAITHFUL PARTAKE.
1. A blessing is Righteousness (called) the Best.
It is weal; it is weal to this (man),
When toward Righteousness Best there is right.
I offer the Myazda (of the) meat-offering with a complete and
sacred offering; and I offer Haurvatatat (who guards the water),
and Ameretatat (who guards the plants and the wood), and the flesh
of the blessed Kine; and I offer the Haoma and the Haoma-juice,
the wood-billets and the perfume for the praise of Ahura Mazda,
and of the Ahuna-vairya, the veracious word, and for that of the
pious and beneficent Prayer for blessings, and for the redoubted
Curse of the wise, and for the praise of the Haoma, and of the
Mathra of the holy Zarathushtra; and may it come to us with sacred
fullness (to accept and to recompense our gift).
2. (The Ratu speaks.)
3. O ye Bountiful Immortals, and thou, the Mazdayasnian law,
ye just men and just women, and ye Zaothras, whoever among these
Mazdayasnians would call himself a Mazdayasnian desiring to live
in the practice of the liberality of Righteousness [for by sorcery
the settlements of Righteousness are ruined], do ye cause (such
an one) to be (still further) taught1, (ye), who are the waters,
the plants, and the Zaothras!
+ NOTE: 1. Hum2 159 (mazdayasnO aoJanO aCah= rA+ma JIctayamnO):
"pretending to be a Mazdayasnian (but) *hating (those
who are) *dependent on truth"
4. And whoever of these Mazdayasnians, adults, when he invokes
with earnestness, does not adhere to these words, and (so) speaks,
he approaches to that (word) of the magician; (but, as against
that magician's word) 'a blessing is Righteousness (called) the
Best.'
5. May'st Thou, O Ahura Mazda! reign at Thy will, and with a
saving rule over Thine own creatures, and render Ye the holy (man)
also a sovereign at his will over waters, and over plants, and
over all the clean and sacred (creatures) which contain the seed
of Righteousness. Strip ye the wicked of all power!2
+ NOTE: 2. Hum2 90 (xCayamnem aCavanem dAyata axCayamnem drva#tem):
"cause You the truthful one to be in control (of himself),
the deceitful one not to be in control (of himself)"
6. Absolute in power may the holy be, bereft of all free choice
the wicked ! Gone (may he be), met as foe, carried out from the
creatures of Spenta Mainyu, hemmed in without power over any wish!
7. I will incite, even I who am Zarathushtra, the heads of the
houses, villages, Zantus, and provinces, to the careful following
of this Religion which is that of Ahura, and according to Zarathushtra,
in their thoughts, their words, and their deeds.3
+ NOTE: 3. Hum2 183 (haxCaya ... fratem& ... ai*h@ da%nay@ anumataya%ja
anuxtaya%ja anuvarctaya%ja): "I would spur on the authorities
... to follow this religion with thoughts, word, and actions"
8. I pray for the freedom and glory of the entire existence of
the holy (man) while I bless it, and I pray for the repression
and shame of the entire existence of the wicked.
9. Ashem Vohu ... (3).
Propitiation to Haoma who brings righteousness (to us) for
sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and for praise. (The Zaotar?)
As the Ahu to be (revered and) chosen, the Zaotar speaks forth
to me. (The Ratu.) As an Ahu to be (revered and) chosen, the Zaotar
speaks forth to me. (The Zaotar.) So let the Ratu from his Righteousness,
holy and learned, speak forth!
- CHAPTER 9
THE HOM YASHT
1. At the hour of Havani, Haoma came to Zarathushtra, as he served
the (sacred) Fire, and sanctified (its flame), while he sang aloud
the Gathas. And Zarathushtra asked him: Who art thou, O honorable one1! who art
of all the incarnate world the most beautiful in Thine own body of those
whom I have, seen, (thou) glorious [immortal]?
+ NOTE: 1. So Hum2 138; Mills has 'O man'.
2.  Praise me so that
also the other Saoshyants [benefactors] may praise me2.
+ NOTE: 2. So Hum2 74. Mills reads. 'Praise toward
me in (Thy) praises as the other [Saoshyants] praise.'
3. Thereupon spake Zarathushtra: Unto Haoma be the praise. What
man, O Haoma! first prepared thee for the corporeal world? What
award3 was offered him? what gain did he acquire?
+ NOTE: 3. (ashish) Mills relates Ashi to Asha and reads 'blessedness'.
4. Thereupon did Haoma answer me, he the holy one, and driving
death afar: Vivanghvant was the first of men who prepared me for
the incarnate world. This award4 was offered him; this gain
did he acquire, that to him was born a son who was Yima, called
the brilliant, (he of the many flocks, the most glorious of those
yet born, the sunlike-one of men), that he made from his authority
both herds and people free from dying, both plants and waters
free from drought, and men could eat inexhaustible5 food.
+ NOTE: 4. Mills: 'blessedness'.
5. So Malandra, Mills reads 'imperishable'.
5. In the reign of brave6 Yima was there neither cold
nor heat, there was neither age nor death, nor envy demon-made.
Like teenagers7 walked the two forth, son and father, in
their stature and their form, so long as Yima, son of Vivanghvant
ruled, he of the many herds!
+ NOTE: 6. (Yimahe xshathre aurvahe) So Malandra, Mills reads 'swift of motion'.
Wolff reads 'Herrschaft' (cf B542).
7. Mills: 'fifteen-yearlings'.
6. Who was the second man, O Haoma! who prepared thee for the
corporeal world? What award8 was offered him? what gain did
he acquire?
+ NOTE: 8. Mills: 'sanctity'.
7. Thereupon gave Haoma answer, he the holy one, and driving
death afar: Athwya was the second who prepared-me for the corporeal
world. This award9 was given him, this gain did he acquire,
that to him a son was born, Thraetaona of the mighty clan10,
+ NOTE: 9. Mills: 'blessedness'.
10. (vîsô sûrayau) Following Gershevitch.
Mills reads 'heroic tribe'. Malandra reads 'mighty house'.
8. Who smote Azhi Dahaka11, three-jawed and triple-headed,
six-eyed, with thousand perceptions12, and of mighty strength, a lie-demon
[druj] of the Daevas, evil for our settlements, and wicked, whom the
evil spirit Angra Mainyu made as the most mighty Druj [against
the corporeal world], and for the murder of (our) settlements,
and to slay the (homes) of Asha!
+ NOTE: 11. Mills: 'the dragon Dahaka'.
12. (hazanrâ-yaoxshtîm) Mills: 'thousand powers'.
9. Who was the third man, O Haoma! who prepared thee for the
corporeal world? What award13 was given him? what gain did
he acquire?
+ NOTE: 13. Mills: 'blessedness'.
10. Thereupon gave Haoma answer, the holy one, and driving death
afar: Thrita, [the most helpful of the Samids], was the third man
who prepared me for the corporeal world. This award was
given him, this gain did he acquire, that to him two son were
born, Urvakhshaya and Keresaspa, the one a judge confirming order,
the other a youth of great ascendant, curly-haired14, bludgeon-bearing.
+ NOTE: 14. Mills: 'blessedness'.
15. Mills: 'ringlet-headed'.
11. He who smote the horny dragon swallowing men, and swallowing
horses, poisonous, and green of color over which, as thick as
thumbs are, greenish poison flowed aside, on whose back once Keresaspa
cooked his meat in iron caldron at the noonday meal; and the deadly,
scorched, upstarted, and springing off, dashed out the water as
it boiled. Headlong fled affrighted manly-minded Keresaspa.
12. Who was the fourth man who prepared thee, O Haoma! for the
corporeal world? What blessedness was given him? what gain did
he acquire?
13. Thereupon gave Haoma answer, he the holy, and driving death
afar: Pourushaspa was the fourth man who prepared me for the corporeal
world. This blessedness was given him, this gain did he acquire,
that thou, O Zarathushtra! wast born to him, the just, in Pourushaspa's
house, the Daeva's foe, the friend of Mazda's lore, (14) famed
in Airyana Vaejah; and thou, O Zarathushtra! didst recite the
first the Ahuna-vairya, four times intoning it, and with verses
kept apart [(Pazand) each time with louder and still louder voice].
15. And thou didst cause, O Zarathushtra! all the demon-gods to
vanish in the ground who aforetime flew about this earth in human
shape (and power. This hast thou done), thou who hast been the
strongest, and the staunchest, the most active, and the swiftest,
and (in every deed) the most victorious in the two spirits' world.
16. Thereupon spake Zarathushtra: Praise to Haoma. Good is Haoma,
and the well-endowed, exact and righteous in its nature, and good
inherently, and healing, beautiful of form, and good in deed,
and most successful in its working, golden-hued, with bending
sprouts. As it is the best for drinking, so (through its sacred
stimulus) is it the most nutritious for the soul.
17. I make my claim on thee, O yellow one! for inspiration. I
make my claim on thee for strength; I make my claim on thee for
victory; I make my claim on thee for health and healing (when
healing is my need); I make my claim on thee for progress and
increased prosperity, and vigor of the entire frame, and for understanding,
of each adorning kind, and for this, that I may have free course
among our settlements, having power where I will, overwhelming
angry malice, and a conqueror of lies.
18. Yea, I make my claim on thee that I may overwhelm the angry
hate of haters, of the Daevas and of mortals, of the sorcerers
and sirens, of the tyrants, and the Kavis, of the Karpans, murderous
bipeds, of the sanctity-destroyers, the profane apostate bipeds,
of the wolves four-footed monsters, of the invading host, wide-fronted,
which with stratagems advance.
19. This first blessing I beseech of thee, O Haoma, thou that
drivest death afar! I beseech of thee for (heaven), the best life
of the saints, the radiant, all-glorious.
This second blessing I beseech of thee, O Haoma, thou that drivest
death afar! this body's health (before that blest life is attained).
This third blessing I beseech of thee, O Haoma, thou that drivest
death afar! the long vitality of life.
20. This fourth blessing I beseech of thee, O Haoma, thou that
drivest death afar! that I may stand forth on this earth with
desires gained, and powerful, receiving satisfaction, overwhelming
the assaults of hate, and conquering the lie.
This fifth blessing, O Haoma, I beseech of thee, thou that drivest
death afar! that I may stand victorious on earth, conquering in
battles, overwhelming the assaults of hate, and conquering the
lie.
21. This sixth blessing I ask of thee, O Haoma, thou that drivest
death afar! that we may get good warning of the thief, good warning
of the murderer, see first the bludgeon-bearer, get first sight
of the wolf. May no one whichsoever get first the sight of us.
In the strife with each may we be they who get the first alarm!
22. Haoma grants to racers who would run a course with span both
speed and bottom (in their horses). Haoma grants to women come
to bed with child a brilliant offspring and a righteous line.
Haoma grants to those (how many!) who have long sat searching
books, more knowledge and more wisdom.
23. Haoma grants to those long maidens, who sit at home unwed,
good husbands, and that as soon as asked, he Haoma, the well-minded.
24. Haoma lowered Keresani, dethroned him from his throne, for
he grew so fond of power, that he treacherously said: No priest
behind (and watching) shall walk the lands for me, as a counselor
to prosper them, he would rob everything of progress, he would
crush the growth of all!
25. Hail to thee, O Haoma, who hast power as thou wilt, and by
thine inborn strength! Hail to thee, thou art well-versed in many
sayings, and true and holy words. Hail to thee for thou dost ask
no wily questions, but questionest direct.
26. Forth hath Mazda borne to thee, the star-bespangled girdle,
the spirit-made, the ancient one, the Mazdayasnian Faith.
So with this thou art begirt on the summits of the mountains,
for the spreading of the precepts, and the headings of the Mathra,
(and to help the Mathra's teacher),
27. O Haoma, thou house-lord, and thou clan-lord, thou tribe-lord,
and chieftain of the land, and thou successful learned teacher,
for aggressive strength I speak to thee, for that which smites
with victory, and for my body's saving, and for manifold delight!
28. Bear off from us the torment and the malice of the hateful.
Divert the angry foe's intent!
What man soever in this house is violent and wicked, what man
soever in this village, or this tribe, or province, seize thou
away the fleetness from his feet; throw thou a veil of darkness
o'er his mind; make thou his intellect (at once) a wreck!
29. Let not the man who harms us, mind or body, have power to
go forth on both his legs, or hold with both his hands, or see
with both his eyes, not the land (beneath his feet), or the herd
before his face.
30. At the aroused and fearful Dragon, green, and belching forth
his poison, for the righteous saint that perishes, yellow Haoma,
hurl thy mace!
At the (murderous) bludgeon-bearer, committing deeds unheard of,
blood-thirsty, (drunk) with fury, yellow Haoma, hurl thy mace!
31. Against the wicked human tyrant, hurling weapons at the head,
for the righteous saint that perishes, yellow Haoma, hurl thy
mace!
Against the righteousness-disturber, the unholy life-destroyer,
thoughts and words of our religion well-delivering, yet in actions
never reaching, for the righteous saint that perishes, yellow
Haoma, hurl thy mace!
32. Against the body of the harlot, with her magic minds o'erthrowing
with (intoxicating) pleasures, to the lusts her person offering,
whose mind as vapor wavers as it flies before the wind, for the
righteous saint that perishes, yellow Haoma, hurl thy mace!
- CHAPTER 10
1. Let the Demon-gods and Goddesses fly far away from hence,
and let the good Sraosha make here his home! [And may the good
Blessedness here likewise dwell], and may she here spread delight
and peace within this house, Ahura's, which is sanctified by Haoma,
bringing righteousness (to all).
2. At the first force of thy pressure, O intelligent! I praise
thee with my voice, while I grasp at first thy shoots. At thy
next pressure, O intelligent! I praise thee with my voice, when
as with full force of a man I crush thee down.
3. I praise the cloud that waters thee, and the rains which make
thee grow on the summits of the mountains; and I praise thy lofty
mountains where the Haoma branches spread.
4. This wide earth do I praise, expanded far (with paths), the
productive, the full bearing, thy mother, holy plant! Yea, I praise
the lands where thou dost grow, sweet-scented, swiftly spreading,
the good growth of the Lord. O Haoma, thou growest on the mountains,
apart on many paths, and there still may'st thou flourish. The
springs of Righteousness most verily thou art, (and the fountains
of the ritual find their source in thee)!
5. Grow (then) because I pray to thee on all thy stems and branches,
in all thy shoots (and tendrils) increase thou through my word!
6. Haoma grows while he is praised, and the man who praises him
is therewith more victorious. The lightest pressure of thee, Haoma,
thy feeblest praise, the slightest tasting of thy juice, avails
to the thousand-smiting of the Daevas.
7. Wasting doth vanish from that house, and-with it foulness,
whither in verity they bear thee, and where thy praise in truth
is sung, the drink of Haoma, famed, health-bringing (as thou art).
[(Pazand) to his village and abode they bear him.]
8.
[Light is the drunkenness of Haoma (Pazand).]
Who as a tender son caresses Haoma, forth to the bodies of such
persons Haoma comes to heal.
9. Of all the healing virtues, Haoma, whereby thou art a healer,
grant me some. Of all the victorious powers, whereby thou art
a victor, grant me some. A faithful praiser will I be to thee,
O Haoma, and a faithful praiser (is) a better (thing) than Righteousness
the Best; so hath the Lord, declaring (it), decreed.
10. Swift and wise hath the well-skilled Deity created thee; swift
and wise on high Haraiti did He, the well-skilled, plant thee.
11. And taught (by implanted instinct) on every side, the bounteous
birds have carried thee to the Peaks-above-the-eagles, to the
mount's extremest summit, to the gorges and abysses, to the heights
of many pathways, to the snow-peaks ever whitened.
12. There, Haoma, on the ranges dost thou grow of many kinds.
Now thou growest of milky whiteness, and now thou growest golden;
and forth thine healing liquors flow for the inspiring of the
pious. So terrify away from me the (death's) aim of the curser.
So terrify and crush his thought who stands as my maligner.
13. Praise be to thee, O Haoma, (for he makes the poor man's thoughts
as great as any of the richest whomsoever.) Praise be to Haoma,
(for he makes the poor man's thoughts as great as when mind reacheth
culmination.) With manifold retainers dost thou, O Haoma, endow
the man who drinks thee mixed with milk; yea, more prosperous
thou makest him, and more endowed with mind.
14. Do not vanish from me suddenly like milk-drops in the rain;
let thine exhilarations go forth ever vigorous and fresh; and
let them come to me with strong effect. Before thee, holy Haoma,
thou bearer of the ritual truth, and around thee would I cast
this body, a body which (as all) may see (is fit for gift and)
grown.
15. I renounce with vehemence the murderous woman's emptiness,
the Jaini's, hers, with intellect dethroned. She vainly thinks
to foil us, and would beguile both Fire-priest and Haoma; but
she herself, deceived therein, shall perish. And when she sits
at home, and wrongly eats of Haoma's offering, priest's mother
will that never make her, nor give her holy sons!
16. To five do I belong, to five others do I not; of the good
thought am I, of the evil am I not; of the good word am I, of
the evil am I not; of the good deed am I, and of the evil, not.
To Obedience am I given, and to deaf disobedience, not; to the
saint do I belong, and to the wicked, not; and so from this on
till the ending shall be the spirits' parting. (The two shall
here divide.)
17. Thereupon spake Zarathushtra: Praise to Haoma, Mazda-made.
Good is Haoma, Mazda-made. All the plants of Haoma praise I, on
the heights of lofty mountains, in the gorges of the valleys,
in the clefts (of sundered hill-sides) cut for the bundles bound
by women. From the silver cup I pour Thee to the golden chalice
over. Let me not thy (sacred) liquor spill to earth, of precious
cost.
18. These are thy Gathas, holy Haoma, these thy songs, and these
thy teachings, and these thy truthful ritual words, health-imparting,
victory-giving, from harmful hatred healing giving.
19. These and thou art mine, and forth let thine exhilarations
flow; bright and sparkling let them hold on their (steadfast)
way; for light are thine exhilaration(s), and flying lightly come
they here. Victory-giving smiteth Haoma, victory-giving is it
worshipped; with this Gathic word we praise it.
20. Praise to the Kine; praise and victory (be) spoken to her!
Food for the Kine, and pasture! 'For the Kine let thrift use toil;
yield thou us food.'
21. We worship the yellow lofty one; we worship Haoma who causes
progress, who makes the settlements advance; we worship Haoma
who drives death afar; yea, we worship all the Haoma plants. And
we worship (their) blessedness, and the Fravashi of Zarathushtra
Spitama, the saint.
- CHAPTER 11
PRELUDE TO THE HAOMA-OFFERING.
1. Three clean creatures (full of blessings) curse betimes while
yet invoking, the cow, the horse, and then Haoma. The cow cries
to her driver thus: Childless be thou, shorn of offspring evil-famed,
and slander-followed, who foddered fairly dost not use me, but
fattenest me for wife or children, and for thy niggard selfish
meal.
2. The horse cries to his rider thus: Be not spanner of the racers;
stretch no coursers to full-speed; do not stride across the fleetest,
thou, who dost not pray me swiftness in the meeting thick with
numbers, in the circuit thronged with men.
3. Haoma speaks his drinker thus: Childless be thou, shorn of
offspring, evil-famed, and slander-followed, who holdest me from
full outpouring, as a robber, skulls in-crushing. No head-smiter
am I ever, holy Haoma, far from death.
4. Forth my father gave an offering, tongue and left eye chose
Ahura, set apart for Haoma's meal.
5. Who this offering would deny me, eats himself, or prays it
from me, this which Mazda gave to bless me, tongue with left eye
(as my portion).
6. In his house is born no fire-priest, warrior ne'er in chariot
standing, never more the thrifty tiller. In his home be born Dahakas,
Murakas of evil practice, doing deeds of double nature.
7. Quick, cut off then Haoma's portion, gift of flesh for doughty
Haoma! Heed lest Haoma bind thee fettered, as he bound the fell
Turanian Frangrasyan (the murderous robber) fast in iron close-surrounded
in the mid-third of this earth!
8. Thereupon spake Zarathushtra: Praise to Haoma made by Mazda,
good is Haoma Mazda-made.
9. Who to us is one hereupon to thee (becomes) two, to be made
to three, for the five-making of the four, for the seven-making
of the sixth, who are your nine in the decade (?), who serve you
and with zeal.
10. To thee, O holy Haoma! bearer of the ritual sanctity, I offer
this my person which is seen (by all to be) mature, (and fit for
gift); to Haoma the effective do I offer it, and to the sacred
exhilaration which he bestows; and do thou grant to me (for this),
O holy Haoma! thou that drivest death afar, (Heaven) the best
world of the saints, shining, all brilliant.
11. (The Ashem Vohu, &c.)
12-15. May'st Thou rule at Thy will, O Lord....(Repeat Y8.5-7)!
16. I confess myself a Mazdayasnian of Zarathushtra's order.
17. I celebrate my praises for good thoughts, good words, and
good deeds for my thoughts, my speeches, and (my) actions. With
chanting praises I present all good thoughts, good words, and
good deeds, and with rejection I repudiate all evil thoughts,
and words, and deeds. 18. Here I give to you, O ye Bountiful Immortals!
sacrifice and homage with the mind, with words, deeds, and my
entire person; yea, (I offer) to you the flesh of my very body
(as your own). And I praise Righteousness. A blessing is Righteousness
(called) the Best, &c.
- CHAPTER 12. The Zoroastrian Creed
+ NOTE: Translation of this chapter by Joseph H Peterson,
copyright © 1997 by Joseph H. Peterson. All rights reserved.
This creed probably dates
to the earliest days of the faith, but seems to have undergone
some linguistic shift and subsequent recasting in the Old Avestan
dialect. It was probably intended to be recited before an open
assembly. See discussion in Boyce, Zoroastrianism
- Its Antiquity and Constant Vigour, (Costa Mesa, Mazda Pub, 1992, p. 84 and 10. ff). The last phrase of verse 7, plus all of verses 8 and 9, are
incorporated into the daily Kusti ritual.
1. I curse the Daevas.
I declare myself a Mazda-worshipper, a supporter of Zarathushtra,
hostile to the Daevas, fond of Ahura's teaching, a praiser of
the Amesha Spentas, a worshipper of the Amesha Spentas.
2. I choose the good Spenta Armaiti for myself; let her be mine.
I renounce the theft and robbery of the cow, and the damaging
and plundering of the Mazdayasnian settlements.
3. I want freedom of movement and freedom of dwelling for those
with homesteads, to those who dwell upon this earth with their
cattle. With reverence for Asha, and (offerings) offered up, I
vow this: I shall nevermore damage or plunder the Mazdayasnian
settlements, even if I have to risk life and limb.
4. I reject the authority of the Daevas, the wicked, no-good,
lawless, evil-knowing, the most druj-like of beings, the foulest
of beings, the most damaging of beings. I reject the Daevas and
their comrades, I reject the demons (yatu) and their comrades;
I reject any who harm beings. I reject them with my thoughts,
words, and deeds. I reject them publicly.
Even as I reject the head (authorities), so too do I reject
the hostile followers of the druj.
5. As Ahura Mazda taught Zarathushtra at all discussions, at
all meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed;
6. as Ahura Mazda taught Zarathushtra at all discussions, at
all meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed — even
as Zarathushtra rejected the authority of the Daevas, so I also
reject, as Mazda-worshipper and supporter of Zarathushtra, the
authority of the Daevas, even as he, the Asha-endowed Zarathushtra,
has rejected them.
7. As the belief of the waters, the belief of the plants, the
belief of the well-made (Original) Cow; as the belief of Ahura
Mazda who created the cow and the Asha-endowed Man; as the belief
of Zarathushtra, the belief of Kavi Vishtaspa, the belief of both
Frashaostra and Jamaspa; as the belief of each of the Saoshyants
(saviors) — fulfilling destiny and Asha-endowed —
so I am a Mazda-worshipper
of this belief and teaching.
8. I profess myself a Mazda-worshipper, a Zoroastrian, having
vowed it and professed it. I pledge myself to the well-thought
thought, I pledge myself to the well-spoken word, I pledge myself
to the well-done action.
9. I pledge myself to the Mazdayasnian religion, which causes
the attack to be put off and weapons put down; [which upholds khvaetvadatha],
Asha-endowed; which of all religions that exist or shall be, is the greatest,
the best, and the most beautiful: Ahuric, Zoroastrian. I ascribe all good to
Ahura Mazda.
This is the creed of the Mazdayasnian religion.
- CHAPTER 13
+ NOTE: INVOCATIONS AND DEDICATIONS.
Y13.1-6 and the beginning of 7 is in the Old Avesta dialect.
1. I address (my invocation to) Ahura Mazda. And I invoke (among
guardian beings) the chief of the house-lord, and the chief of
the Vis-lord, and the chief of the Zantu-lord. And I invoke the
chief of the province-lord. And the chief of women I invoke, the
Mazdayasnian Faith, the blessed and good Parendi, her who is the
holy one of human-kind. And I invoke this (holy) earth which bears
us.
2. And I invoke the friendly and most helpful person's lord,
the Fire of Ahura Mazda, and also the most energetic lords of
holy men, those who are most strenuous in their care of cattle
and the fields, and the chief of the thrifty tiller of the earth.
And I invoke the steady settler of sanctity, (and) the chief of
the charioteer.
3. And I invoke the chief of the fire-priest by means of the
most imposing sciences of the Mazdayasnian Faith. And I invoke
the chief of the Atharvan, and his pupils I invoke; yea, the lords
of each of them. I invoke these lords, and I summon the Bountiful
Immortals here, and the Prophets who shall serve us, the wisest
as they are, the most scrupulous in their exactness (as) they
utter words (of doctrine and of service), the most devoted (to
their duties likewise), and the most glorious in their thoughts(?).
And I invoke the most imposing forces of the Mazdayasnian Faith,
and the fire-priests I invoke, and the charioteers, the warriors,
and the thrifty tillers of the soil.
4. And to You, O Ye Bountiful Immortals! Ye who rule aright,
and dispose (of all) aright, I offer the flesh of my very frame,
and all the blessings of my life.
Thus the two spirits thought, thus they spoke, and thus they did;
5. And therefore as Thou, O Ahura Mazda! didst think, speak,
dispose, and do all things good (for us), so to Thee would we
give, so would we assign to Thee our homage; so would we worship
Thee with our sacrifices. So would we bow before Thee with these
gifts, and so direct our prayers to Thee with confessions of our
debt.
6. By the kinship of the good kindred, by that of Righteousness
the good (Thy righteous servant's nature) would we approach Thee,
and by that of the good thrift-law, and of Piety the good.
7. And we would worship the Fravashi of the Kine of blessed gift,
and that of the holy Gaya Mareyan [Gayomard], and we would worship the holy
Fravashi of Zarathushtra Spitama, the saint. Yea, that one of
beings do we worship whose better (service) in the sacrifice Ahura
Mazda knows; (even those women do we worship) whose (better service
thus is known). Yea, both (holy) men and women (do we worship
whom Ahura Mazda knows).
As the Ahu is excelling....
A blessing is the Right called the best....
8. We worship the Ahuna-vairya; and we worship Asha Vahishta
the best(?), the bountiful Immortal. And we sacrifice to the Ha
fraoreti, even to the confession and laudation of the Mazdayasnian
Faith!
- CHAPTER 14
+ NOTE: DEDICATIONS.
1. I will come to You, O Ye Bountiful Immortals! as a praiser
and a priest, and an invoker and sacrificer, as a memorizing reciter
and a chanter, for Your sacrifice and homage, which are to be
offered to You, the Bountiful Immortals, and for our dedication
and sanctification; (yea, for ours) who are the holy prophets
(destined to benefit the saints).
2. And to You, O Ye Bountiful Immortals! would I dedicate the
flesh of my very body, and all the blessings of a prospered life.
3. In this Zaothra with this Baresman, I desire to approach the
holy Yazads with my praise, and all the holy lords of the ritual
order at their times, Havani at his time, and Savanghi and Visya
at their times. 4. I confess myself a Mazdayasnian, and of Zarathushtra's
order.
5. The Zaotar speaks: As an Ahu (revered and) chosen, the Zaotar
(?) speaks forth to me (?).
The Ratu speaks: As an Ahu (revered and) to be chosen, the Zaotar
speaks forth to me.
The Zaotar: So let the Ratu from his Righteousness, holy and learned,
speak forth!
- CHAPTER 15
+ NOTE: THE SACRIFICE CONTINUES.
1. With precept, praise, and with delight produced by grace,
I call upon the Bountiful Immortals the good, and also therewith
the beautiful by name; and I sacrifice to them with the blessing
of the good ritual, with the earnest blessings of the good Mazdayasnian
Faith.
2. Whose best gift from his Righteousness is mine in the offering
Ahura this knoweth; who have lived, and live ever, by their names
these I worship, while I draw near with praises. The Good Kingdom
is to be chosen, that lot which most of all bears on (our blessings).
3. Let Sraosha (Obedience) be here present for the sacrifice
of Ahura Mazda, the most beneficent, the holy, who is so dear
to us as at the first, so at the last; yea, let him be present
here.
4. As the Ahu (revered and) to be chosen, the Atarevakhsha thus
speaks forth to me.
(Response): So let the Ratu from his righteousness, holy and learned,
speak forth!
- CHAPTER 16
+ NOTE: THE SACRIFICE CONTINUES WITH INCREASED FULLNESS OF EXPRESSION.
1. We worship Ahura Mazda, the holy lord of the ritual order,
who disposes (all) aright, the greatest Yazad, who is also the
most beneficent, and the one who causes the settlements to advance,
the creator of good creatures; yea, we worship Him with these
offered Zaothras and with truthfully and scrupulously delivered
words; and we worship every holy Yazad of the heaven (as well)!
2. And we worship Zarathushtra Spitama in our sacrifice, the
holy lord of the ritual order with these Zaothras and with faithfully
delivered words; and we worship every holy earthly Yazad as we
worship him; and we worship also the Fravashi of Zarathushtra
Spitama, the saint. And we worship the utterances of Zarathushtra
and his religion, his faith and his lore.
3. And we worship the former religions of the world devoted to
Righteousness which were instituted at the creation, the holy
religions of the Creator Ahura Mazda, the resplendent and glorious.
And we worship Vohu Manah (the Good Mind), and Asha Vahishta (who
is Righteousness the Best), and Khshathra-vairya, the Kingdom
to be desired, and the good and bountiful Armaiti (true piety
in the believers), and Haurvatat and Ameretat (our Weal and Immortality).
4. Yea, we worship the Creator Ahura Mazda and the Fire, Ahura
Mazda's son, and the good waters which are Mazda-made and holy,
and the resplendent sun of the swift horses, and the moon with
the seed of cattle (in his beams); and we worship the star Tishtrya,
the lustrous and glorious; and we worship the soul of the Kine
of blessed endowment, (5) and its Creator Ahura Mazda; and we
worship Mithra of the wide pastures, and Sraosha (Obedience) the
blessed, and Rashnu the most just, and the good, heroic, bountiful
Fravashis of the saints, and the Blow-of-victory Ahura-given (as
it is). And we worship Raman Hvastra, and the bounteous Wind of
blessed gift, (6) and (its) Creator Ahura Mazda, and the good
Mazdayasnian Religion, and the good Blessedness and Arshtat.
And we worship the heaven and the earth of blessed gift, and the
bounteous Mathra, and the stars without beginning (to their course),
self-disposing as they are.
7. And we worship the glorious works of Righteousness in which
the souls of the dead find satisfaction and delight [(Pazand)
which are the Fravashis of the saints], and we worship (Heaven)
the best world of the saints, shining, all glorious.
8. And we worship the two, the milk-offering and the libation,
the two which cause the waters to flow forth, and the plants to
flourish, the two foes who meet the Dragon demon-made; and who
are set to meet, to defeat, and to put to flight, that cheat,
the Pairika, and to contradict the insulting malice of the Ashemaogha
(the persecuting heretic) and that of the unholy tyrant full of
death.
9. And we worship all waters and all plants, and all good men
and all good women. And we worship all these Yazads, heavenly
and earthly, who are beneficent and holy.
10. And we worship thee (our) dwelling-place who art the (earth,
our) bounteous Armaiti, and Thee, O Ahura Mazda, O holy Lord of
this abode! which is the home of healthy herds and healthy men,
and of those who are both endowed with health and lover(s) of
the ritual right.
(Response of the individual worshipper (?).) Wherefore whichever
of persons, or whatever of bodily influences, is most helpful
and preserving in that abode (thus owned by Mazda) let this meet
me in mine abode, and there may it abide for summer and for winter.
(Or let that one meet me in all my house, in whom are what of
influences are the most mighty power for the body and the person's
life; yea, let that one meet me there, and there abide for summer
and for winter (for my help)!)
- CHAPTER 17
+ NOTE: TO THE FIRES, WATERS, PLANTS, &C.
1-10. (See Y6, which is nearly identical with verses 1-10.)
11. We worship thee, the Fire, O Ahura Mazda's son!
12. And we worship the good and best waters Mazda-made, holy,
all the waters Mazda-made and holy, and all the plants which Mazda
made, and which are holy.
13. And we worship the Mathra-spenta (the bounteous word-of-reason),
the Zarathushtrian law against the Daevas, and its long descent.
14. And we worship Mount Ushi-darena which is Mazda-made and shining
with its holiness, and all the mountains shining with holiness,
and of abundant glory, and which Mazda made ---.
15. And we worship the good and pious prayer for blessings, (16)
and these waters and (these lands), (17) and all the greatest
chieftains, lords of the ritual order;
18. And I praise, invoke, and glorify the good, heroic, bountiful
Fravashis of the saints, those of the house, the Vis, the Zantuma,
the Dahvyuma, and the Zarathushtrotema, and all the holy Yazads!
- CHAPTER 18
1. Grant me, Thou who art maker of the Kine, plants and waters,
Immortality, Mazda! Grant, too, Weal, Spirit bounteous.... (See
Y51.7 and Y47).
- CHAPTER 19
+ NOTE: ZAND OR COMMENTARY ON THE AHUNA-VAIRYA FORMULAS.
(As the Ahu is excellent, so (is) the Ratu (one who rules)
from the righteous Order, a creator of mental goodness and of
life's actions done for Mazda; and the Kingdom (is) for Ahura
which to the poor shall offer a nurturer.)
1. Zarathushtra asked of Ahura Mazda: O Ahura Mazda, Thou most
bounteous Spirit! maker of the corporeal worlds, the holy One!
which was that word which Thou did'st declare to me, (2) which
was before the sky, and before the water, before the earth, and
before the cattle, before the plants, and before the fire, and
before the holy man, and the Demon-gods (the Daevas), before the
Khrafstra-men, and before all the incarnate world; even before
all the good creatures made by Mazda, and which contain (and are)
the seed of righteousness?
3. Thereupon Ahura Mazda said: It was this piece, the Ahuna-vairya,
O Spitama Zarathushtra! which I pronounced as thine (4) before
the sky, and before the waters, before the land, and before the
cattle and the plants, and before the fire, Ahura Mazda's son,
before the holy man, and before the Daevas, and Khrafstra-men,
and before the entire corporeal world, even before the good creatures
made by Mazda, which contain (and are) the seed of righteousness.
5. It was these part(s) of the Ahuna-vairya, O Spitama Zarathushtra!
which especially belongs to me, and when each is intoned aloud
without the (needless) repetition of verses and of words, and
without their omission, it is worth a hundred of their other stanzas,
even although they are prominent in the ritual, and likewise equally
as well recited without additions or omissions; nay, further,
when it is intoned imperfectly but added to, and with omissions,
it is even then in effect equivalent (not to a hundred indeed,
but) to ten other (stanzas) that are prominent.
6. And whoever in this world of mine which is corporeal shall
mentally recall, O Spitama* Zarathushtra! a portion of the Ahuna-vairya,
and having thus recalled it, shall undertone it, or beginning
to recite it with the undertone, shall then utter it aloud, or
chanting it with intoning voice, shall worship thus, then with
even threefold (safety and with speed) I will bring his soul over
the Bridge of Chinvat, I who am Ahura Mazda (I will help him to
pass over it) to Heaven (the best life), and to Righteousness
the Best, and to the lights of heaven.
7. And whoever, O Spitama Zarathushtra! while undertoning the
part(s) of the Ahuna-vairya (or this piece the Ahuna-vairya),
takes ought therefrom, whether the half, or the third, or the
fourth, or the fifth, I who am Ahura Mazda will draw his soul
off from the better world; yea, so far off will I withdraw it
as the earth is large and wide; [and this earth is as long as
it is broad].
8. And I pronounced this saying which contains its Ahu and its
Ratu before the creation of this heaven, before the making of
the waters, and the plants, and the four-footed kine, before the
birth of the holy biped man, before this sun with its body made
for the acquisition of the creation of the Bountiful Immortals.
9. And the more bountiful of the two Spirits (Ahura) declared
to me (Zarathushtra) the entire creation of the pure, that which
exists at present, that which is in the course of emerging into
existence, and that which shall be, with reference to the performance
and realization 'of the actions of a life devoted to Mazda.'
10. And this word is the most emphatic of the words which have
ever been pronounced, or which are now spoken, or which shall
be spoken in future; for (the eminence of) this utterance is a
thing of such a nature, that if all the corporeal and living world
should learn it, and learning should hold fast by it, they would
be redeemed from their mortality!
11. And this our word I have proclaimed as a symbol to be learned,
and to be recited, as it were, to every one of the beings under
the influence of and for the sake of Righteousness the Best.
12. And 'as' (the worshipper has) here spoken it forth, when he
has thus 'appointed' the 'Lord and regulator,' so (by thus reciting
these authoritative words), he acknowledges Ahura Mazda (as prior
to, and supreme) over, those creatures who have 'the mind' as
their first. 'As' he acknowledges Him as the greatest of them
all, 'so' he assigns the creatures to Him (as to their originator).
13. As he undertones the third sentence, he thereby announces
that 'all the amenities of life appertain to the 'good' Mazda,
(and come) from Him. As he recites 'dazda manangho,' 'the creator
of mind,' he acknowledges Him as superior and prior to mind; and
as he makes Him the one who indicates (the truth) to mind, (saying)
'manangho of mind,' which means that by this much he makes Him
(its director), and then he makes Him 'the lord of actions.'
14. And when he acknowledges Him for the creatures thus, 'O Mazda!'
he acknowledges Him (as their ruler) when he assigns the creatures
to Him thus. He then assigns the Kingdom to Ahura, saying: 'Thine,
O Mazda! is the Kingdom.' And he assigns a nourisher and protector
to the poor, saying: Yim drigubyo dadat vastarem; that is, as
a friend to Spitama. This is the fifth sentence, (and it concludes)
the entire recital and word, (even) the whole of this word of
Ahura Mazda.
15. He who is the best (of all) Ahura Mazda, pronounced the Ahuna-vairya,
and as He pronounced it as the best, so He caused it to have its
effect, (He, ever) the same, (as He is).
The evil one at once arose (to oppose Him), but He (Ahura) repelled
that wicked one with His interdict, and with this repelling renunciation:
Neither our minds are in harmony, nor our precepts, nor our comprehensions,
nor our beliefs, nor our words, nor our actions, nor our consciences,
nor our souls!
+ NOTE: CATECHETICAL ZAND.
16. And this saying, uttered by Mazda, has three stages, or measures,
and belongs to four classes (of men as its supporters), and to
five chiefs (in the political world, without whom its efficiency
is marred), and it has a conclusion ending with a gift. (Question.)
How are its measures (constituted)? (Answer.) The good thought,
the good word, and the good deed. 17. (Question.) With what classes
of men? (Answer.) The priest, the charioteer (as the chief of
warriors), the systematic tiller of the ground, and the artisan.
These classes therefore accompany the religious man throughout
his entire duty with the correct thought, the truthful word, and
the righteous action. These are the classes and states in life
which give attention to the rulers, and fulfill the (laws) of
religion; (yea, they are the guides and companions of that religious
man) through whose actions the settlements are furthered in righteousness.
18. (Question.) How are the chiefs (constituted)? (Answer.) They
are the house-chief, the village-chief, and the tribe-chief, the
chief of the province, and the Zarathushtra as the fifth. That
is, so far as those provinces are concerned which are different
from, and outside of the Zarathushtrian regency, or domain. [Ragha
which has four chiefs (only) is the Zarathushtrian (district)]
(Question.) How are the chiefs of this one constituted? (Answer.)
They (are) the house-chief, the village-chief, the tribe-chief,
and the Zarathushtra as the fourth. 19. (Question.) What is the
thought well thought? (Answer.) (It is that which the holy man
thinks), the one who holds the holy thought to be before all other
things (Question.) What is the word well spoken? (Answer.) It
is the Mathra Spenta, the bounteous word of reason. (Question.)
What is the deed well done? (Answer.) It is that done with praises,
and by the creatures who regard Righteousness as before all other
things. 20. (Question.) Mazda made a proclamation, whom did He
announce? (Answer.) Some one who was holy, and yet both heavenly
and mundane. (Question.) What was His character, He who made this
sacred enunciation? (Answer.) He who is the best (of all), the
ruling one. (Question.) Of what character (did He proclaim him
the coming one)? (Answer.) As holy and the best, a ruler who exercises
no wanton or despotic power.
21. We sacrifice to the (several) part(s) of the Ahuna-vairya.
We sacrifice to the memorized recital of the Ahuna-vairya, and
its regular chanting and its use in the full Yasna.
- CHAPTER 20
+ NOTE: ZAND, OR COMMENTARY, ON THE ASHEM VOHU.
1. A blessing is Righteousness (called) the best; there is weal,
there is weal to this man when the Right (helps) the Righteousness
best, (when the pious man serves it in truth). Ahura Mazda spake
forth: Ashem vohu vahishtem asti. To this Asha, the holy ritual
sanctity, one attributes the qualities of 'good' and 'best,' as
one attributes property to an owner; thus this sentence vohu vahishtem
asti is substantiated (at once).
2. Ushta asti ushta ahmai; by this attribution of blessedness
(the praiser) assigns every person (or thing) of a sacred nature
to every holy person, and as one usually (?) and regularly (?)
assigns every person or thing (?) that is holy to every holy man.
3. Hyat ashai vahishtai; by these words the worshipper ascribes
the entire Mathra (to Asha Vahishta), and ascribes all to the
Mathra, as one ascribes the kingdom to Righteousness, and as one
ascribes righteousness to the invoking saint; yea, as one ascribes
righteousness to us who are the prophets (who shall help and bless
the people). The three maxims of the sentences (are thus fulfilled).
And every word (in its detail), and the entire utterance in its
proclamation, is the word of Ahura Mazda.
+ NOTE:CATECHETICAL ADDITION.
4. Mazda has made a proclamation. (Question.) Whom did He announce?
(Answer.) That holy one who is both heavenly and earthly. (Question.)
Of what character is He who has thus announced Him? (Answer.)
He is the best, and the one who is exercising sovereign power.
(Question.) Of what character is the man whom He announced? (Answer.)
The holy and the best, the one who rules with no capricious tyranny.
We sacrifice to the (several) part(s) of the Asha Vahishta (prayer).
We sacrifice to the heard-recital of the Asha Vahishta, to its
memorizing, its chanting, and its sacrificial use!
- CHAPTER 21
+ NOTE: CATECHETICAL ZAND, OR COMMENTARY UPON THE YENHE HATAM.
(The Yenhe. (To that one) of beings do we offer, whose superior
(fidelity) in the sacrifice Ahura Mazda recognizes by reason of
the sanctity (within him; yea, even to those female saints also
do we sacrifice) whose (superior fidelity is thus likewise known;
thus) we sacrifice to (all, to both) the males and females (of
the saints)!)
1. A word for the Yasna by Zarathushtra, the saint, Yenhe, &c.
Here the worshipper indicates and offers the Yasna (which is the
sacrificial worship) of Mazda as by the command (or as the institution)
of Ahura. Hatam. Here the worshipper offers the sacrificial worship
as if with the beings who are among those who are destined to
live. 2. Yaungham. Here he indicates and offers the sacrificial
worship of those holy females who have Aramaiti at their head,
as homage to the Immortals. These are the three sentences which
comprehend all the Yasnian speech. (Question.) To whom is this
Yasna addressed? (Answer.) To the Bountiful Immortals (in the
course of the Yasna). 3. Thereupon spake Mazda: Salvation to this
one, whosoever he may be! May the absolute ruler Ahura grant it.
(Question.) 4. Whom did He answer with this answer? (Answer.)
He answered: The state of salvation; and with this answer, 'the
state of salvation,' he answered every saint who exists, every
one who is coming into existence, and every one who shall exist
in the future. (Question. Who answered thus? Answer.) The best
One. (Question. What did He answer?) (Answer.) The best thing.
(That is,) the best One, Mazda, answered the best and the holy
(answer) for the better and the holy man. 5. We sacrifice to this
piece, the Yenhe hatam, the prominent and holy Yasht.
- CHAPTER 22
+ NOTE: THE SACRIFICE CONTINUES.
1. With the Baresman brought hither together with the Zaothra,
for the worship of the Creator Ahura Mazda, the resplendent, the
glorious, and for that of the Bountiful Immortals, I desire to
approach this Haoma with my praise, offered (as it is) with punctilious
sanctity (or, for a blessing), and this fresh milk, and this plant
Hadhanaepata. 2. And, as an act of worship to the beneficent waters,
I desire to approach these Zaothras with (my) praise offered (as
they are) with punctilious sanctity, having the Haoma with them,
and the flesh, with the Hadhanaepata. And I desire to approach
the Haoma-water with my praise for the beneficent waters; and
I desire to approach the stone mortar and the iron mortar with
my praise. 3. And I desire to approach this plant for the Baresman
with my praise, and the well-timed prayer for blessings, that
which has approached (to accept our homage), and the memorized
recital and the fulfillment of the good Mazdayasnian Faith, and
the heard recital of the Gathas, and the well-timed and successful
prayer for blessings, that of the holy lord of the ritual order.
And I desire to approach these wood-billets and their perfume
with my praise, - thine, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's son! Yea,
I desire to approach all good things with my praise, those which
Mazda made, and which have the seed of sanctity (within them),
(4) for the propitiation of Ahura Mazda and of the Bountiful Immortals,
and of Sraosha the blessed, and of Ahura Mazda's Fire, the lofty
ritual lord!
5-19.
(=Y3.5-19; 20-23=Y3.1-4)
20. And I desire to approach this Haoma with (my) praise, that
which is thus lifted up with sanctity, and this milk (fresh as
it is, and as if) living and lifted up with sanctity, and this
plant the Hadhanaepata lifted up with sanctity. 21. And I desire
to approach these Zaothras with (my) praise for the beneficial
waters, these Zaothras which have the Haoma with them and the
milk with them, and the Hadhanaepata, and which are lifted up
with sanctity. And I desire to approach the Haoma-water with (my)
praise for the beneficial waters, and the two mortars, the stone
one and the iron one, (22) and I desire to, approach this branch
for the Baresman with my praise, and the memorized recital and
fulfillment of the Mazdayasnian law, and the heard recital of
the Gathas, and the well-timed and persistent prayer for blessings(uttered)
by the holy lords of the ritual order, and this wood and perfume,
even thine, O Fire, Ahura Mazda's son, and all good objects Mazda-made
(23) for the propitiation of Ahura Mazda, the resplendent, the
glorious, and of the Bountiful Immortals, and of Mithra of the
wide pastures, and of Raman Hvastra, (24) and of the resplendent
sun, immortal, radiant, of the fleet horses, and of Vayu, (of
predominant influence and) working on high, set over the other
beings in the creation [(Pazand); that is for thee thus (O Vayu)
when thine influence is that which appertains to Spenta Mainyu],
and for the propitiation of the most just knowledge Mazda-given,
and of the holy and good Religion, the Mazdayasnian Faith; (25)
for the propitiation of the Mathra Spenta, (the bounteous) and
holy, and the effective, instituted against the Daevas, the Zarathushtrian
law, and of the long descent of the good Mazdayasnian Faith [the
holding in mind and devotion to the Mathra Spenta, and knowledge
of the Mazdayasnian Religion] for the propitiation of the understanding
which is innate and Mazda-made, and of that which is heard by
the ear; (26) and for thy propitiation, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's
son! [(Pazand); (yea) thine, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's son]
with all the fires, and for the propitiation of Mount Ushi-darena,
the Mazda-made, radiant with sanctity; (27) and of all the holy
Yazads, spiritual and earthly, and of the holy Fravashis, the
redoubted and overwhelming, those of the ancient lore, and those
of the next of kin and of the Yazad of the spoken name!
- CHAPTER 23
+ NOTE: THE FRAVASHIS OF THE SAINTS; PRAYERS FOR THEIR APPROACH.
1. I desire to approach with my praise those Fravashis which
have existed from of old, the Fravashis of the houses, and of
the villages, of the communities, and of the provinces, which
hold the heaven in its place apart, and the water, land, and cattle,
which hold the children in the wombs safely enclosed apart so
that they do not miscarry.
2. And I desire to approach toward the Fravashi of Ahura Mazda,
and with my praise, and for those of the Bountiful Immortals,
with all the holy Fravashis which are those of the heavenly Yazads.
And I desire to approach the Fravashi of Gaya Maretan
[Gayomard] (the life-man)
in my worship with my praise, and for that of Zarathushtra Spitama,
and for those of Kavi Vishtaspa, and of Isat-vastra, the Zarathushtrian,
with all the holy Fravashis of the other ancient counselors as
well. 3. And I desire in my worship to approach toward every holy
Fravashi whosesoever it may be, and wheresoever dead upon this
earth (its possessor may have lain), the pious woman, or the girl
of tender years, the maiden diligent (among the cattle) in the
field (who) may have dwelt (here; yea, all) which are now worshipped
from this house, which are attentive to, and which attain to (our)
good Yasnas and (our) homage. 4. Yea, I desire to approach the
Fravashis of the saints with my praise redoubted (as they are)
and overwhelming, the Fravashis of those who held to the ancient
lore, and the Fravashis of the next-of-kin; and I desire to approach
toward the Fravashi of mine own soul in my worship with my praise;
and I desire therewith to approach toward all the lords of the
ritual, and with praise; and I desire to approach all the good
Yazads with my praise, the heavenly and the earthly, who are meet
for sacrifice and homage, because of Righteousness the Best!
- CHAPTER 24
+ NOTE: PRESENTATIONS.
1. (And having approached these Haomas with our worship), we
present them to Ahura Mazda; (yea, we present) these Haomas, Myazdas,
Zaothras, and the Baresman spread with punctilious sanctity, and
the flesh, and the milk, fresh as if living, and lifted up with
punctilious sanctity, and this branch the Hadhanaepata likewise
lifted up with-sanctity.
2. (And having approached these Zaothras in our worship), we
present them to the good waters having the Haoma with them, and
the milk, and the Hadhanaepata, and lifted up with scrupulous
sanctity; and (with them) we present the Haoma-water to the good
waters, and both the stone and the iron mortar.
3. And we present this plant of the Baresman! and the timely
prayer for blessings, which has approached in the due course of
the ritual, and the recollection and practice of the good Mazdayasnian
Religion, and the heard recital of the Gathas, and the timely
prayer for blessings which has approached as the prayer of the
holy lord of the ritual order; and these wood-billets, and the
perfume, (even) thine, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's son! and all
good objects Mazda-made, which have the seed of righteousness,
we offer and present. 4. And these we present hereby to Ahura
Mazda, and to Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed (and Righteous),
and to the Bountiful Immortals; and to the Fravashis of the saints,
even to the souls of the saints, and to the Fire of Ahura Mazda,
the lofty lord of entire holy creation, for sacrifice, homage,
propitiation, and for praise.
5. And these we present hereby to the Fravashi of Zarathushtra
Spitama, the saint, for sacrifice, propitiation, and for praise,
and to that of the people who love Righteousness, with all the
holy Fravashis of the saints who are dead and who are living,
and to those of men who are as yet unborn, and to those of the
prophets who will serve us, and will labor to complete the progress
and renovation of the world.
6. And we present these Haomas, Myazdas, Zaothras, and the Baresman
spread with sanctity, and the flesh, and the milk (fresh as if)
living, and lifted up with sanctity, and the Hadhanaepata branch.
7. And we present these Zaothras to the beneficial waters having
the Haoma with them, and the flesh, and the Hadhanaepata lifted
up with sanctity, and the Haoma-water, to the good waters, with
the stone and iron mortars, (8) and this plant of the Baresman,
(and) the tirnely Prayer and the recollection and practice of
the good Mazdayasnian Faith, and these wood-billets, and the perfume,
thine, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's son! and all objects which
are Mazda-made, and which have, and are, the seed of Righteousness,
these we offer and present.
9. (Yea,) we present these hereby to the Bountiful Immortals
who rule aright, and who dispose of all aright, the ever-living,
ever-helpful, who abide with the Good Mind (of the Lord and of
His folk)!
- CHAPTER 25
1. And we worship the Bountiful Immortals with our sacrifice,
who rule aright, and who dispose of all aright; and we worship
this Haoma, this flesh and branch, (2) and these Zaothras for
the good waters, having the Haoma with them, and the flesh with
them, and Hadhanaepata, and lifted up with sanctity, and we worship
the Haoma-water for the beneficial waters; and we worship the
two, the stone mortar and the iron mortar; (3) and we worship
this plant for the Baresman and the well-timed prayer for blessings
which has approached (in its proper place within the ritual course),
and also both the remembrance and the practice of the good Mazdayasnian
Religion, and the heard recital of the Gathas, and the well-timed
prayer for blessings of the holy lord of the ritual order which
has approached, and these wood-billets with the perfume, (even)
thine, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's son! and we worship all good
objects which are Mazda-made, and which contain (and are) the
seed of Righteousness.
4. And we worship Ahura Mazda with our sacrifice, the resplendent,
the glorious, and the Bountiful Immortals who rule aright, and
who dispose (of all) aright, and Mithra of the wide pastures and
Raman Hvastra; and we worship the shining sun, the resplendent,
the immortal, of the fleet horses.
5. And we worship the holy wind which works on high, placed higher
than the other creatures in the creation; and we worship this
which is thine, O Vayu! and which appertains to the Spenta Mainyu
within thee; and we worship the most true religious Knowledge,
Mazda-made and holy, and the good Mazdayasnian law.
6. And we worship the Mathra Spenta verily glorious (as it is),
even the law pronounced against the Daevas, the Zarathushtrian
law, and its long descent; yea, we worship the good Mazdayasnian
Religion, and the Mathra which is heart-devoted and bounteous
(imparting heart's devotion to the saint); yea, we worship the
Mazdayasnian Religion maintained in the understanding of the saint;
and we honor that science which is the Mathra Spenta, and the
innate understanding Mazda-made, and the derived understanding,
heard with ear, and Mazda-made.
7. Yea, we worship thee, the Fire, Ahura Mazda's son I the holy
lord of the ritual order; and we worship all the Fires, and Mount
Ushi-darena (which holds the light) Mazda-made and holy, the Yazad
mount, brilliant with sanctity. 8. And we worship every holy spiritual
Yazad; and every holy earthly Yazad (who exists)!
- CHAPTER 26
+ NOTE: THE FRAVASHIS; SACRIFICE AND PRAISE TO THEM.
1. I praise, invoke, and weave my hymn to the good, heroic, and
bountiful Fravashis of the saints; (and having invoked these,
then) we worship the Nmanyas, and the Visyas, and the Zantumas,
and the Dahvyumas, and the Zarathushtrotemas.
2. And of all these prior Fravashis, we worship here the Fravashi
of Ahura Mazda, which is the greatest and the best, the most beautiful
and the firmest, the most wise and the best in form, and the one
that attains the most its ends because of Righteousness. 3. And
(having invoked them) hither, we worship the good, heroic, bountiful
Fravashis of the holy ones, those of the Bountiful Immortals,
the brilliant, of effective glance, the lofty, the devoted, the
swift ones of the creatures of Ahura who are imperishable and
holy.
4. And (having invoked them) hither, we worship the spirit and
conscience, the intelligence and soul and Fravashi of those holy
men and women who early heard the lore and commands (of God),
and loved and strove after Righteousness, the ritual truth; and
we worship the soul of the Kine of blessed gift. 5. And (having
invoked it) hither, we worship the Fravashi of Gaya Maretan [Gayomard] the
holy, and the sanctity and Fravashi of Zarathushtra Spitama the
saint; and we worship the Fravashi of Kavi Vishtasp the holy,
and that of Isat-vastra the Zarathushtrian, the saint.
6. And (having invoked them) hither, we worship the life, conscience,
intelligence, soul and Fravashi of the next of kin, of the saints
male and female who have striven after the ritual truth, which
are those of the dead and living saints, and which are those also
of men as yet unborn, of the future prophets who will help on
the renovation, and complete the human progress, with them all.
7. And (having invoked them) hither, we worship the souls of
the dead [(Pazand) which are the Fravashis of the saints]; and
of all the next of kin who have passed away in this house, of
the Aethra-paitis (the teachers) and of the disciples; yea, of
all holy men and women; (8) and we worship the Fravashis of all
the holy teachers and disciples; and of all the saints both male
and female.
9. (And having invoked them) hither we worship the Fravashis
of all the holy children who fulfill the deeds of piety; and we
worship the Fravashis of the saints within the province; and those
of the saints without the province. 10. We worship the Fravashis
of (those) holy men and holy women; we worship all the good, heroic,
bountiful Fravashis of the saints from Gaya Maretan [Gayomard] (the first
created) to the Saoshyant, the victorious.
11. Yea, we worship all the Fravashis of the saints, and we worship
the souls of the dead [(Pazand) which are the Fravashis of the
saints]!
- CHAPTER 27
+ NOTE: PRELUDE TO THE CHIEF RECITAL OF THE AHUNA-VAIRYA.
1. This is to render Him who is of all the greatest, our lord
and master (even) Ahura Mazda.
2. And this is to further Ahura Mazda, the resplendent, the glorious,
to further the Bountiful Immortals, and the influences of the
star Tishtrya, the resplendent, the glorious, (and) to the furtherance
of the holy man, and of all the (bountiful and) holy creatures
of the Bounteous Spirit.
3-5.
(The Ahunwar appears here with Y34.5, the Airyema Ishyo, and
the Ashem Vohu.)
6. The Haomas are crushed, O Mazda, Khshathra, and Asha, O ye
Lords! Good is Sraosha who accompanies the sacrifice with the
great glory, and may he be present affording strenuous help.
7. We are offering saving acts of wisdom and of worship with
the sacred gift of the Ahuna-Vairya intoned with sanctity, and
of the two mortars here brought forward with holy act, and with
that of the correctly uttered words likewise; and therefore may
they be to us the more saving in their wise significance.
8-12.
(See Y33.11-14; and Y1.23, and Y12.)
13. As the Ahu is excellent, so is the Ratu (one who rules) from
(his) sanctity, a creator of mental goodness, and of life's actions
done for Mazda; and the Kingdom (is) for Ahura, which to the poor
may offer a nurturer. 14.
Beyond; yea, beyond all we declare You, far from Daevas and Khrafstra-accursed
mortals!)
15. We worship the Ahuna-vairya. We worship Asha Vahishta, the
most beautiful, the Bountiful Immortal.
AHUNAVAITI GATHA (Y28-34).
+ NOTE: Translation by C. Bartholomae, from I.J.S. Taraporewala, The
Divine Songs of Zarathushtra.
Notes in square brackets [] were added by JHP.
- CHAPTER 28
1. With outspread hands in petition for that help, O Mazda, I
will pray for the works of the holy spirit, O thou the Right,
whereby I may please the will of Good Thought and the Ox-Soul.
2. I who would serve you, O Mazda Ahura and Vohu Mano, do ye
give through Asha the blessings of both worlds, the bodily and
that of the Spirit, which set the faithful in felicity.
3. I who would praise ye as never before, Right and Good Thought
and Mazda Ahura, and those for whom Piety makes an imperishable
Dominion to grow; come ye to me help at my call.
4. I who have set my heart on watching over the soul, in union
with Good Thought, and as knowing the rewards of Mazda Ahura for
our works, will, while I have power and strength, teach men to
seek after Right.
5. O Asha, shall I see thee and Good Thought, as one that knows?
(Shall I see) the throne of the mightiest Ahura and the following
of Mazda? Through this word (of promise) on our tongue will we
turn the robber horde unto the Greatest.
6. Come thou with Good Thought, give through Asha, O Mazda, as
the gift to Zarathushtra, according to thy sure words, long enduring
mighty help, and to us, O Ahura, whereby we may overcome the enmity
of our foes.
7. Grant, O thou Asha, the reward, the blessing of Good Thought;
O Piety, give our desire to Vishtaspa and to me; O thou Mazda
and King, grant that your Prophet may command a hearing.
8. The best I ask of Thee, O Best, Ahura (Lord) of one will with
the Best Asha, desiring (it) for the hero Frashaostra and for
those (others) to whom thou wilt give (it), (the best gift) of
Good Mind through all time.
9. With these bounties, O Ahura, may we never provoke your wrath,
O Mazda and Right and Best Thought, we who have been eager in
bringing you songs of praise. Ye are they that are the mightiest
to advance desire and the Dominion of Blessings.
10. The wise whom thou knowest as worthy, for their right (doing)
and their good thought, for them do thou fulfill their longing
for attainment. For I know words of prayer are effective with
Ye, which tend to a good object.
11. I would thereby preserve Right and Good Thought for evermore,
that I may instruct, do thou teach me, O Mazda Ahura, from thy
spirit by thy mouth how it will be with the First Life.
- CHAPTER 29
1. Unto you wailed the Ox-soul, "For whom did ye fashion
me? Who created me? Violence and rapine (and) savagery hath oppressed
me, and outrage and might. I have no other herdsman than you;
prepare for me then the blessings of pasture."
2. Then the Ox-Creator asked of the Right: "Hast thou a
judge for the Ox, that ye may be able to appoint him zealous tendance
as well as fodder? Whom do ye will to be his lord, who may drive
off violence together with the followers of the Lie?"
3. To him the Right replied: "There is for the Ox no helper
that can keep him away. Those yonder have no knowledge how right-doers
act towards the lowly".
(The Ox-Creator): "Strongest of beings is he to whose help
I come at call".
4. (Asha) "Mazda knoweth best the purposes that have been
wrought already by demons and by mortals, and that shall be wrought
hereafter. He, Ahura, is the decider. So shall it be as he shall
will."
5. (The Ox-Creator) "To Ahura with outspread hands we twain
would pray, my soul and that of the pregnant cow, so that we twain
urge Mazda with entreaties. Destruction is not for the right-living,
nor for the cattle-tender at the hands of Liars."
6. Then spake Ahura Mazda himself, who knows the law with wisdom:
"There is found no lord or judge according to the Right Order
for the Creator hath formed thee for the cattle-tender and the
farmer."
7. This ordinance about the fat hath Ahura Mazda, one in will
with Right, created for cattle, and the milk for them that crave
nourishment, by his command, the holy one.
(The Ox and Cow:) "Whom hast thou, O Good Thought, among
men, who may care for us twain?"
8. (Vohu Manah:) He is known to me here who alone hath heard
our commands, even Zarathushtra Spitama; he willeth to make known
our thoughts, O Mazda, and those of the Right. So let us bestow
on him charm of speech.
9. Then the Ox-Soul lamented: "That I must be content with
the ineffectual word of an impotent man for my protector, when
I wish for one that commands mightily! When ever shall there be
one who shall give him (the Ox) effective help?"
10. (Zarathushtra:) Do ye, O Ahura, grant them strength, and O
Asha, and O Good Thought, that dominion, whereby he (the Savior)
could produce good dwellings and peace. I also have realized thee,
Mazda, as the first to accomplish this.
11. "Where are Right and Good Thought and Dominion? So, ye
men, acknowledge me, for instruction, Mazda, for the great society."
(The Ox and Cow:) "O Ahura, now is help ours, we will be
ready to serve those that are of you."
- CHAPTER 30
1. Now I will proclaim to those who will hear the things that
the understanding man should remember, for hymns unto Ahura and
prayers to Good Thought; also the felicity that is with the heavenly
lights, which through Right shall be beheld by him who wisely
thinks.
2. Hear with your ears the best things; look upon them with clear-seeing
thought, for decision between the two Beliefs, each man for himself
before the Great consummation, bethinking you that it be accomplished
to our pleasure.
3. Now the two primal Spirits, who reveal themselves in vision
as Twins, are the Better and the Bad, in thought and word and
action. And between these two the wise ones chose aright, the
foolish not so.
4. And when these twain Spirits came together in the beginning,
they created Life and Not-Life, and that at the last Worst Existence
shall be to the followers of the Lie, but the Best Existence to
him that follows Right.
5. Of these twain Spirits he that followed the Lie chose doing
the worst things; the holiest Spirit chose Right, he that clothes
him with the massy heavens as a garment. So likewise they that
are fain to please Ahura Mazda by dutiful actions.
6. Between these twain the Daevas also chose not aright, for
infatuation came upon them as they took counsel together, so that
they chose the Worst Thought. Then they rushed together to Violence,
that they might enfeeble the world of men.
7. And to him (i.e. mankind) came Dominion, and Good Mind, and
Right and Piety gave continued life to their bodies and indestructibility,
so that by thy retributions through (molten) metal he may gain
the prize over the others.
8. So when there cometh their punishment for their sins, then,
O Mazda, at Thy command shall Good Thought establish the Dominion
in the Consummation, for those who deliver the Lie, O Ahura, into
the hands of Right.
9. So may we be those that make this world advance, O Mazda and
ye other Ahuras, come hither, vouchsafing (to us) admission into
your company and Asha, in order that (our) thought may gather
together while reason is still shaky.
10. Then truly on the (world of) Lie shall come the destruction
of delight; but they who get themselves good name shall be partakers
in the promised reward in the fair abode of Good Thought, of Mazda,
and of Right.
11. If, O ye mortals, ye mark those commandments which Mazda hath
ordained — of happiness and pain, the long punishment for the
follower of the Druj, and blessings for the followers of the Right
-- then hereafter shall it be well.
- CHAPTER 31
1. Mindful of your commands, we proclaim words unpleasant for
them to hear that after the commands of the Lie destroy the creatures
of Right, but most welcome to those that give their heart to Mazda.
2. If by reason of these things the better path is not in sight
for choosing, then will I come to you all as judge of the parties
twain whom Ahura Mazda knoweth, that we may live according to
the Right.
3. What award Thou givest through the (holy) Spirit and through
the Fire and hast taught through Asha, to both the parties, and
what the decision is for the wise, this do Thou tell us, Mazda,
that we may know, even with the tongue of Thine own mouth, that
I may convert all living men.
4. If Asha is to be invoked and Mazda and the other Ahuras and
Ashi and Armaiti, do thou seek for me, O Vohu Manah,1 the mighty
Dominion, by the increase of which we might vanquish the Lie.
+ NOTE: 1. Boyce: "seek by the best purpose (vahishta manah)..."
This is an excellent example of the continuous juxtaposition in the Gathas
of the Amesha Spentas as divinities and things.]
5. Tell me therefore what ye, O thou Right, have appointed me
as the better portion, for me to determine, to know and to keep
in mind, O thou Good Thought — which portion they envy me. Tell
me of all these things. O Mazda Ahura, that shall not or shall
be.
6. To him shall the best befall, who, as one that knows, speaks
to me Right's truthful word of Welfare and of Immortality; even
the Dominion of Mazda which Good Thought shall increase for him.
7. About which he in the beginning thus thought, "let the
blessed realms be filled with Light", he it is that by his
wisdom created Right. (Those realms) that the Best Thought shall
possess those dost Thou exalt, O Mazda, through the Spirit, which,
O Ahura, is ever the same.
8. I recognize Thee, O Mazda, in my thought, that Thou the First
art (also) the Last — that Thou art Father of Vohu Manah; --
when I apprehend Thee with mine eye, that Thou art the true Creator
of Right [Asha], and art the Lord to judge the actions of life.
9. Thine was Armaiti, Thine the Ox-Creator, (namely) the Wisdom
of the Spirit, O Mazda Ahura, because Thou didst give (the cattle)
choice whether to depend on a husbandman or one who is no husbandman.
10. So she chose for herself out of the two the cattle-tending
husbandman as her lord to guard the Right, the man that advances
Good Thought. He that is no-husbandman, O Mazda, however eager
he be, has no part in this good message.
11. When Thou, O Mazda, in the beginning didst create the Individual
and the Individuality, through Thy Spirit, and powers of understanding
- when Thou didst make life clothed with the body, when (Thou
madest) actions and teachings, whereby one may exercise one's
convictions at one's free-will;
12. Then lifts up his voice the false speaker or the true speaker,
he that knows or he that knows not, (each) according to his own
heart and mind. Passing from one to another Armaiti confers with
the spirit in whom there is wavering.
13. Whatever open or whatever secret (acts) may be visited with
punishment, or whether a person for a little sin demands the highest
punishment, — of all this through Asha Thou art aware, observing
it with Thy flashing eye.
14. These things I ask Thee, O Ahura, how will these come and
happen — the dues, that in accord with the records are appointed
for the righteous, and those, O Mazda, for the followers of the
Druj, — how shall these be when they come to the reckoning.
15. This I ask, what penalty is for him who seeks to achieve kingdom
for a liar, for a man of ill deeds, O Ahura, who finds not his
living without injury to the husbandman's cattle and men, though
he does him no injury.
16. This I ask, whether the understanding man, who strives to
advance the Dominion over the house, or district, or land through
Asha, shall become like Thee, O Mazda Ahura, when will he be and
how will he act?
17. Which is the greater — what the follower of Asha or what
the follower of Druj believe? Let him that knows inform the wise;
no longer let him that knows nothing deceive. Be to us, O Mazda
Ahura, the Teacher of Good Thought.
18. Let none of you listen to the words and commands of the follower
of the Druj; for he brings house and clan and district and land
into misery and destruction. Resist them with weapon!
19. To him should we listen who has understood Asha, to the wise
Healer of Life O Ahura, who can or will establish the truth of
the words of his tongue, when through Thy red Fire, O Mazda, the
assignment (of rewards) is made to the two parties.
20. Whosoever cometh over to the Righteous, far from him hereafter
shall be long age of misery (and) darkness, ill-food, and crying
of woe.
21. Mazda Ahura by virtue of His absolute Lordship will grant
a perpetuity of communion with Haurvatat and Ameretat, and with
Asha, with Khshathra, and with Vohu Manah, to him that in spirit
and in action is his friend.
22. Clear it is to the man of understanding, as one who has realized
it with his thought. He upholds Asha together with good Dominion
by his word and deed. He will be, O Mazda Ahura, the most helpful
helper to Thee.
- CHAPTER 32
1. (Zarathushtra) — And his blessedness, even that of Ahura
Mazda, shall the nobles strive to attain, his the community with
the brotherhood, his, ye Daevas, in the manner as I declare it.
(The Representatives of the Classes) — As thy messengers we would
keep them far away that are enemies to you.
2. To them Mazda Ahura, who is united with Good Thought, and
is in goodly fellowship with glorious Right, through Dominion,
made reply: We make choice of your holy good Piety [Armaiti] — may it be
ours.
3. (Zarathushtra) — But ye, ye Daevas all, and he that highly
honors you, are the seed of Bad Thought — yes, and of the Lie
and of Arrogance, likewise your deeds, whereby ye have long been
known in the seventh region of the earth.
4. For ye have brought it to pass that men who do the worst things
shall be called beloved of the Daevas, separating themselves from
Good Thought, departing from the will of Mazda Ahura and from
Right.
5. Thereby ye defrauded mankind of happy life and immortality,
by the deed which he and the Bad Spirit together with Bad Thought
and Bad Word taught you, ye Daevas and the Liars, so as to ruin
(mankind).
6. The many sins by which he has succeeded in being famous whether
by these it shall be thus, this Thou Knowest by the Best Thought,
O Ahura, Thou who art mindful of each person's deserts. In Thy
Dominion, O Mazda, and that of Asha, shall your decision thereon
be observed.
7. None of these sins will the understanding commit, in eagerness
to attain the blessing that shall be proclaimed, we know, through
the glowing metal — sins the issue of which, O Ahura Mazda, Thou
knowest best.
8. Among these sinners, we know, Yima was included, Vivanghen's
son, who desiring to satisfy men gave our people flesh of the
ox to eat. From these shall I be separated by Thee, O Mazda, at
last.
9. The teacher of evil destroys the lore, he by his teaching
destroys the design of life, he prevents the possession of Good
Thought from being prized.
10. He it is that destroys, who declares that the Ox and the Sun
are the worst things to behold with the eyes, and hath made the
pious into liars, and desolates the pastures and lifts his weapon
against the righteous man.
11. It is they, the liars, who destroy life, who are mightily
determined to deprive matron and master of the enjoyment of their
heritage, in that they would prevent the righteous, O Mazda, from
the Best Thought.
12. Since they by their lore would pervert men from the best doing,
Mazda uttered evil against them, who destroy the life of the Ox
with shouts of joy, by whom Grehma and his tribe are preferred
to the Right and the Karapan and the lordship of them that seek
after the Lie.
13. Since Grehma shall attain the realm in the dwelling of the
Worst Thought, he and the destroyers of life, O Mazda, they shall
lament in their longing for the message of Thy prophet, who will
stay them from beholding the Right.
14. To his undoing Grehma, and the Kavis, have long devoted their
purpose and energies, for they set themselves to help the liar,
and that it may be said, "The Ox shall be slain that it may
kindle the Averter of Death to help us."
15.
These shall be born away from them both to the dwelling of Good
Thought.
16. ..., who hast power, O Mazda Ahura, on him who threatens to
be my undoing, that I may fetter the men of the Lie in their violence
against my friends.
- CHAPTER 33
1. According as it is with the laws that belong to the present
life, so shall the Judge act with most just deed towards the man
of the Lie and the man of the Right, and him whose false things
and good things balance (in equal measure).
2. Whoso worketh ill for the liar by word or thought or hands,
or converts his dependent to the good — such men meet the will
of Ahura Mazda to his satisfaction.
3. Whose is most good to the righteous man, be he noble or member
of the community or the brotherhood, Ahura — or with diligence
cares for the cattle, he shall be hereafter in the pasture of
Right and Good Thought [Asha and Vohu Manah].
4. I who by worship would keep far from Thee, O Mazda, disobedience
and Bad Thought, heresy from the nobles, and from the community
the Lie, that is most near, and from the brotherhood the slanderers,
and the worst herdsmen from the pastures of the cattle; --
5. I who would invoke thy Obedience as the greatest of all at
the Consummation, attaining long life, and the Dominion of Good
Thought, and the straight ways into Right, wherein Mazda Ahura
dwells.
6. I, as a priest, who would learn the straight (paths) by the
Right, would learn by the Best Spirit how to practice husbandry
by that thought in which it is thought of; these Twain of Thine,
O Ahura Mazda, I strive to see and take counsel with them.
7. Come hither to me, O ye Best Ones, hither, O Mazda, in Thine
own person and visibly, O Right and Good Thought, that I may be
heard beyond the limits of the people. Let the august duties be
manifest among us and clearly viewed.
8.  Grant, O Welfare and Immortality, your own everlasting
blessing.
9. That Spirit of Thine, Mazda, together with the comfort of
the Comrades Twain, who advance the Right, let the Best Thought
bring through the Reform wrought by me. Sure is the support of
those twain, whose souls are one.
10. All the pleasures of life which thou holdest, those that were,
that are, and that shall be O Mazda, according to thy good will
apportion them. Through Good Thought advance thou the body, through
Dominion and Right at will.
11. The most mighty Ahura Mazda, and Piety, and Right that blesses
our substance, and Good Thought and Dominion, hearken unto me,
be merciful to me, when to each man the recompense comes.
12. Rise up for me, O Ahura, through Armaiti give strength, through
the holiest Spirit give might, O Mazda, through the good Recompense
[âdâ, offering],
through the Right give powerful prowess, through Good Thought
give the reward.
13. To support me, O Thou that seest far onward, do ye assure
me the incomparable things in your Dominion, O Ahura, as the Destiny
of Good Thought. O Holy Armaiti, teach the Daenas about the Right.
14. As an offering Zarathushtra brings the life of his own body,
the choiceness of good thought, action, and speech, unto Mazda,
unto the Right, Obedience, and Dominion.
- CHAPTER 34
1. The action, the word, and the worship for which Thou, O Mazda,
shalt bestow Immortality and Right, and Dominion of Welfare -
through multitudes of these, O Ahura, we would that thou shouldst
give them.
2. And all the actions of the good spirit [Spenta Mainyu -JHP] and the holy man, whose
soul follows the Right, do ye set with the thought (thereof) in
thine outer court, O Mazda, when ye are adored with hymns of praise.
3. To Thee and to Right [Asha] we will offer the sacrifice [myazda,
i.e. offering] with due service [veneration], that in (Thy established)
Dominion ye may bring all creatures to perfection through Good Thought.
For the reward of the wise man is for ever secure, O Mazda, among you.
4. Of Thy Fire, O Ahura, that is mighty through Right, promised
and powerful, we desire that it may be for the faithful man with
manifested delight, but for the enemy with visible torment, according
to the pointings of the hand.
5. Have ye Dominion and power, O Mazda, Right and Good Thought,
to do as I urge upon you, even to protect your poor man? We have
renounced the robber-gangs, both demons and men.
6.
7. Can they be true to thee, O Mazda, who by their doctrines
turn the known inheritances of Good Thought into misery and woe
[usheuru?]. I know none other but you, O Right, so do ye protect
us.
8. For by these actions they put us in fear, in which peril is
for many — in that the stronger (puts in fear) (me) the weaker
one — through hatred of thy commandment, O Mazda. They that will
not have the Right in their thought, from them shall the Good
Abode be far.
9. These men of evil action who spurn the holy Piety, precious
to thy wise one, O Mazda, through their having no part in Good
Thought, from them Right shrinks back far, as from us shrink the
wild beasts of prey.
10. The man of understanding [or good will] has instructed (people) to cling
to action of this Good Thought [Vohu Manah], and to the Holy Piety
[Spenta Armaiti], creator, comrade of Right [Asha] — wise that he is,
and to all hope, O Ahura,
that are in thy Dominion, O Mazda.
11. And both thy (gifts) shall be for sustenance, even nectar
and ambrosia. Piety linked with Right shall advance the Dominion
of Good Thought, its permanence and power. By these, O Mazda,
dost thou bless the foes of thy foes.
12. What is thine ordinance? What willst thou? What of praise
or what of worship? Proclaim it, Mazda, that we may hear what
ordinances Destiny will apportion. Teach us by Right the paths
of Good Thought that are blessed to go in, -
13. Even that way of Good Thought, O Ahura, of which thou didst
speak to me, whereon, a way well made by Right, the Daena of the
future benefactors shall pass to the reward that was prepared
for the wise, of which thou art determinant, O Mazda.
14. The precious reward, then, O Mazda, ye will give by the action
of Good Thought to the bodily life of those who are in the community
that tends the pregnant cow, (the promise of) your good doctrine,
Ahura, that of the wisdom which exalts communities through Right.
15. O Mazda, make known to me the best teachings and actions, these
O Good Thought and O Right the due of praise. Through your Dominion,
O Ahura, assure us that mankind shall be capable according to
(Thy) will.
YASNA HAPTANGHAITI.
- CHAPTER 35
+ NOTE: (Translated by L. H. Mills, from Sacred Books of the East,
American Edition, 1898.)
PRAISE TO AHURA AND THE IMMORTALS; PRAYER FOR THE PRACTICE
AND DIFFUSION OF THE FAITH.
1. We sacrifice to Ahura Mazda, the holy Lord of the ritual order,
and to the Bountiful Immortals, who rule aright, who dispose of
all aright; and we sacrifice to the entire creation of the clean,
the spiritual and the mundane, with the longing blessing of the
beneficent ritual, with the longing blessing of the benignant
Religion, the Mazdayasnian Faith.
2. We are praisers of good thoughts, of good words, and of good
actions, of those now and those hereafter [(Pazand) of those being
done; and of those completed]. We implant (?) them (with our homage,
and we do this) the more, and yet the more since we are (praisers)
of the good (from whom they spring).
3. That, therefore, would we choose, O Ahura Mazda! and thou,
O Righteousness the beauteous! that we should think, and speak,
and do those thoughts, and words, and deeds, among actual good
thoughts, and words, and actions, which are the best for both
the worlds; (4) and together with these gifts (?) and actions
which are thus the best, we would pray for the Kine (which represents
the pure creation), that she may have comfort and have fodder
from the famed! and from the humble, from the potent and the weak.
5. To the best of good rulers (is) verily the Kingdom, because
we render and ascribe it to Him, and make it thoroughly His own
(?), to Mazda Ahura do we ascribe it, and to Righteousness the
Best.
6. As thus both man or woman knows (the duty), both thoroughly
and truly, so let him, or her, declare it and fulfill it, and
inculcate it upon those who may perform it as it is. 7. We would
be deeply mindful of Your sacrifice and homage, Yours, O Ahura
Mazda! and the best, (and we would be mindful) of the nurture
of the Kine. And that let us inculcate, and perform for You according
as we may; and (for) such (praisers as we are).
8. Under the shelter of the ritual Order let us do so in the
active fulfillment of its (precepts) toward every one of the (clean)
and better creatures which are fit to live, with a gift for both
the worlds.
9. Yea, those words and sayings, O Ahura Mazda! we would proclaim
as Righteousness, and as of the better mind (?); and we would
make Thee the one who both supports (us in our proclamation) of
them, and who throws still further light upon them (as they are),
10. And by reason of Thy Righteous Order, Thy Good Mind, and Thy
Sovereign Power, and through the instrumentality of our praises
of Thee, O Ahura Mazda! and for the purpose of (still further)
praises, by Thy spoken words, and for (still further) spoken words,
through Thy Yasna, and for (still further) Yasnas (would we thus
proclaim them, and make Thee the bestower of our light).
- CHAPTER 36
TO AHURA AND THE FIRE.
1. We would approach You two, O (Ye) primeval ones in the house
of this Thy holy Fire, O Ahura Mazda, Thou most bounteous Spirit!
Who brings pollutions to this (Thy flame) him wilt Thou cover
with pollutions (in his turn). 2. But as the most friendly do
Thou give us zeal, O Fire of the Lord! and approach us, and with
the loving blessing of the most friendly, with the praise of the
most adored. Yea, may'st thou approach to aid us in this our greatest
(undertaking) among the efforts of our zeal.
3. The Fire of Ahura Mazda art thou verily; yea, the most bounteous
one of His Spirit, wherefore Thine is the most potent of all names
(for grace), O Fire of the Lord! 4. And therefore we would approach
Thee, (O Ahura!) with the help of Thy Good Mind (which Thou dost
implant within us), with Thy (good) Righteousness, and with the
actions and the words inculcated by Thy good wisdom!
5. We therefore bow before Thee, and we direct our prayers to
Thee with confessions of our guilt, O Ahura Mazda! with all the
good thoughts (which Thou dost inspire), with all the words well
said, and the deeds well done, with these would we approach Thee.
6. And to Thy most beauteous body do we make our deep acknowledgments,
O Ahura Mazda! to those stars (which are Thy body); and to that
one, the highest of the high, [such as the sun was called]!
- CHAPTER 37
TO AHURA, THE HOLY CREATION, THE FRAVASHIS OF THE JUST, AND
THE BOUNTIFUL IMMORTALS.
1. Thus therefore do we worship Ahura Mazda, who made the Kine
(the living creation), and the (embodied) Righteousness (which
is incarnate in the clean), and the waters, and the wholesome
plants, the stars, and the earth, and all (existing) objects that
are good. 2. Yea, we worship Him for His Sovereign Power and His
greatness, beneficent (as they are), and with priority among the
Yazads who abide beside the Kine (and care for her protection
and support).
3. And we worship Him under His name as Lord, to Mazda dear,
the most beneficent (of names). We worship him with our bones,
and with our flesh, (with our bodies and our life). And we worship
the Fravashis of the saints, of holy men, and holy women; (4)
and Righteousness the Best do we worship, the most beauteous,
the Bountiful Immortal and that which is endowed with light in
all things good.
5. And we worship the Good Mind (of the Lord), and His Sovereign
Power, and the Good Faith, the good law of our thrift, and Piety
the ready mind (within Thy folk)!
- CHAPTER 38
TO THE EARTH AND THE SACRED WATERS.
1. And now we worship this earth which bears us, together with
Thy wives, O Ahura Mazda! yea, those Thy wives do we worship which
are so desired from their sanctity. 2. We sacrifice to their zealous
wishes, and their capabilities, their inquiries (as to duty),
and their wise acts of pious reverence, and with these their blessedness,
their full vigor and good portions, their good fame and ample
wealth. 3. O ye waters! now we worship you, you that are showered
down, and you that stand in pools and vats, and you that bear
forth. (our loaded vessels?) ye female Ahuras of Ahura, you that
serve us (all) in helpful ways, well forded and full-flowing,
and effective for the bathings, we will seek you and for both
the worlds! 4. Therefore did Ahura Mazda give you names, O ye
beneficent ones! when He who made the good bestowed you.  O waters, ye
who are productive, and ye maternal ones, ye with heat that suckles
the (frail and) needy (before birth), ye waters (that have once
been) rulers of (us) all, we will now address you as the best,
and the most beautiful; those (are) yours, those good (objects)
of our offerings, ye long of arm to reach our sickness, or misfortune,
ye mothers of our life!
- CHAPTER 39
TO THE SOUL OF THE KINE, &C.
1. And now we sacrifice to the Kine's soul, and to her created
body, and we sacrifice to the souls of cattle who are fit to live
(for us), and whose (we?) are, such as are the same to them.
2. And we worship the souls of those beasts which are tame and
broken in, and of wild herds, and the souls of the saints wherever
they were born, both of men and of women, whose good consciences
are conquering in the strife against the Daevas, or will conquer,
or have conquered.
3. And now we worship the Bountiful Immortals (all) the good,
and both those male, and those female (by their names). The males
among them do we worship, ever living, and ever helpful, who dwell
beside the pious, and the females thus the same. 4. As Thou, O
Ahura Mazda! hast thought and spoken, as thou hast determined,
and hast done these things (effecting) what is good, therefore
do we offer to Thee, therefore do we ascribe to Thee our praises,
and worship Thee, and bow ourselves before Thee; and therefore
would we direct our prayers to Thee, Ahura! with confessions of
our sin.
5. And we thus draw near to Thee together with the good kinship
of our kindred, with that of Righteousness the blessed, and the
good law of thrift and energy and the good Piety, the ready mind
(within Thy folk)!
- CHAPTER 40
PRAYERS FOR HELPERS.
1. And now in these Thy dispensations, O Ahura Mazda! do Thou
wisely act for us, and with abundance with Thy bounty and Thy
tenderness as touching us; and grant that reward which Thou hast
appointed to our souls, O Ahura Mazda! 2. Of this do Thou Thyself
bestow upon us for this world and the spiritual; and now as part
thereof (do Thou grant) that we may attain to fellowship with
Thee, and Thy Righteousness for all duration.
3. And do Thou grant us, O Ahura! men who are righteous, and
both lovers and producers of the Right as well. And give us trained
beasts for the pastures, broken in for riding, and for bearing,
(that they may be) in helpful companionship with us, and as a
source of long enduring vigor, and a means of rejoicing grace
to us for this.
4. So let there be a kinsman lord for us, with the laborers of
the village, and so likewise let there be the clients (or the
peers). And by the help of those may we arise.
So may we be to You, O Mazda Ahura! holy and true, and with free
giving of our gifts.
- CHAPTER 41
A PRAYER TO AHURA AS THE KING, THE LIFE, AND THE REWARDER.
1. Praises, and songs, and adorations do we offer to Ahura Mazda,
and to Righteousness the Best; yea, we offer and we ascribe them,
and proclaim them. 2. And to Thy good Kingdom, O Ahura Mazda!
may we attain for ever, and a good King be Thou over us; and let
each man of us, and so each woman, thus abide, O Thou most beneficent
of beings, and for both the worlds! 3. Thus do we render Thee.
the helpful Yazad, endowed with good devices, the friend of them
(who worship Thee) with (well-adjusted) ritual; so may'st Thou
be to us our life, and our body's vigor, O Thou most beneficent
of beings, and that for both the worlds!
4. Aye, let us win and conquer (?) long life, O Ahura Mazda!
in Thy grace, and through Thy will may we be powerful. May'st
Thou lay hold on us to help, and long, and with salvation, O Thou
most beneficent of beings!
5. Thy praisers and Mathra-speakers may we be called, O Ahura
Mazda! so do we wish, and to this may we attain. What reward most
meet for our deserving Thou hast appointed for the souls, O Ahura
Mazda! (6) of that do Thou bestow on us for this life, and for
that of mind. Of that reward (do Thou Thyself grant this advantage),
that we may come under Thy protecting guardianship, and that of
Righteousness for ever. We sacrifice to that brave Yasna, the
Yasna Haptanghaiti, the holy, the ritual chief!
- CHAPTER 42
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE HAPTANGHAITI.
1.  And we sacrifice
to the fountains of the waters, and to the fordings of the rivers,
to the forkings of the highways, and to the meetings of the roads.
2. And we sacrifice to the hills that run with torrents, and
the lakes that brim with waters! and to the corn that fills the
corn-fields; and we sacrifice to both the protector and the Creator,
to both Zarathushtra and the Lord.
3. And we sacrifice to both earth and heaven, and to the stormy
wind that Mazda made, and to the peak of high Haraiti, and to
the land, and all things good.
4. And we worship the Good Mind (in the living) and the spirits
of the saints. And we sacrifice to the fish of fifty-fins, and
to that sacred beast the Unicorn (?) which stands in Vouru-kasha,
and we sacrifice to that sea of Vouru-kasha where he stands, (5)
and to the Haoma, golden-flowered, growing on the heights; yea,
to the Haoma that restores us, and aids this world's advance.
We sacrifice to Haoma that driveth death afar, (6) and to the
flood-streams of the waters, and to the great flights of the birds,
and to the approaches of the Fire-priests, as they approach us
from afar, and seek to gain the provinces, and spread the ritual
lore. And we sacrifice to the Bountiful Immortals all!
Ushtavaiti Gatha
+ NOTE: Translation by Bartholomae, from I.J.S. Taraporewala, The
Divine Songs of Zarathushtra.
Notes in square brackets [] were added by JHP.
- CHAPTER 43
1. To each several man, to whom Mazda Ahura ruling at his will
grant after the (petitioner's) will, I will after his will that
he attain permanence and power, lay hold of Right - grant this,
O Piety, - the destined gift of wealth, the life of the Good Thought,
2. and it shall be for him the best of all things. After his
longing for bliss may one be given bliss, through the provident
most holy spirit, O Mazda, even the blessings of Good Thought
which thou wilt give through Right all the days with joy of enduring
life.
3. May he attain to that which is better than the good, who would
teach us the straight paths of blessedness in this life here of
the body and in that of thought - true paths that lead to the
world where Ahura Mazda dwells - a faithful man, well-knowing
and holy like thee, O Mazda.
4. Then shall I recognize thee as strong and holy, O Mazda, when
by the hand in which thou thyself dost hold the destinies that
thou wilt assign to the Liar and the Righteous, by the glow of
thy Fire whose power is Right, the might of Good Thought shall
come to me.
5. As the holy one [spenta] I recognize thee, Mazda Ahura, when I saw
thee in the beginning at the birth of Life, when thou madest actions
and words to have their meed — evil for the evil, a good destiny
for the good — through thy wisdom when creation shall reach its
goal.
6. At which goal thou wilt come with thy holy Spirit, O Mazda,
with Dominion, at the same with Good Thought, by whose action
the settlements will prosper through Right. Their judgments shall
Piety proclaim, even those of thy wisdom which none can deceive.
7. As the holy one I recognized thee, Mazda Ahura, when Good
Thought came to me and asked me: "Who art thou? to whom dost
thou belong? By what signs wilt thou appoint the days for questioning
about thy possessions and thyself?"
8. Then I said to him: "To the first (question), Zarathushtra
am I, a true foe to the Liar, to the utmost of my power, but a
powerful support would I be to the Righteous, that I may attain
the future things of the infinite Dominion, according as I praise
and sing thee, O Mazda.
9. As the holy one I recognize thee, Mazda Ahura, when Good Thought
came to me. To his question, "For which wilt thou decide"
(I made reply). "At the gift of adoration to thy Fire, I
will bethink me of Right so long as I have power.
10. Then show me Right, upon whom I call.
(Mazda:) "Associating him with Piety, I have come hither.
Ask us now what things are here for thee to ask. For thy asking
is as that of a mighty one, since he that is able should make
thee as a mighty one possessed of thy desire."
11. As the holy one I recognized thee, Mazda Ahura, when Good
Thought came to me, when first by your words I was instructed.
Shall it bring me sorrow among men, my devotion, in doing that
which ye tell me is the best.
12. And when thou saidest to me, 'To Right shalt thou go for teaching',
then thou didst not command what I did not obey: 'Speed thee,
ere my Obedience come, followed by treasure-laden Destiny, who
shall render to men severally the destiny of the two-fold award.'
13. As the holy one I recognized thee, Mazda Ahura, when Good
Thought came to me to learn the state of my desire. Grant it me,
that which none may compel you to allow, (the wish) for long continuance
of blessed existence that they say is in thy Dominion.
14. If thy provident side, such as an understanding man who has
the power would give to his friends, comes to me by the Dominion
through Right, then I will bestir myself to set myself in opposition
against the foes of thy Law, together with all those who are mindful
of thy words.
15. As the holy one I recognized thee, Mazda Ahura, when Good
Thought came to me, when the best Tushna-Matay taught me to declare:
"Let not men seek again and again to please the Liars, for
they make all the righteous enemies."
16. And Zarathushtra himself, O Ahura, chooses each one of thy
holiest Spirit, O Mazda. May Right be embodied full of life and
strength! May Piety abide in the Dominion bright as the sun! May
Good Thought give destiny to men according to their works!
- CHAPTER 44
1. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - as to prayer, how
it should be to one of you. O Mazda Ahura, might one like thee
teach to a friend such as I am, and through friendly Right give
us support, that Good Thought may come to us.
2. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether at the beginning
of the Best Existence the recompenses shall bring blessedness
to him that meets with them.
3. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. Who is by generation
the Father of Right, at the first? Who determined the path of
sun and stars? Who is it by whom the moon waxes and wanes again?
This, O Mazda, and yet more, I am fain to know.
4. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. Who upholds the earth
beneath and the firmament from falling? Who the waters and the
plants? Who yoked swiftness to winds and clouds? Who is, O Mazda,
creator of Good Thought?
5. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. What artist made light
and darkness? What artist made sleep and waking? Who made morning,
noon, and night, that call the understanding man to his duty?
6. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether what I proclaim
is verily the truth. Will Right with its actions give aid (at
the last)? will Piety? Will Good Thought announce from the Dominion?
For whom hast thou made the pregnant cow that brings good luck?
7. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. Who created together
with Dominion the precious Piety? Who made by wisdom the son obedient
to his father? I strive to recognize by these things thee, O Mazda,
creator of all things through the holy spirit.
8. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. I could keep in mind
thy design, O Mazda, and understand aright the maxims of life
which I ask of Good Thought and Right. How will my soul partake
of the good that gives increase?
9. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether for the Self
that I would bring to perfection, that of the man of insight,
the Lord of Dominion would make promises of the sure Dominion,
one of thy likenesses, O Mazda, who dwells in one abode with (Right)
and Good Thought.
10. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. The Religion which
is best for (all) that are, which in union with Right should prosper
all that is mine, will they duly observe it, the religion of my
creed, with words and action of Piety, in desire for thy (future)
good things, O Mazda?
11. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether Piety will
extend to those to whom thy Religion shall be proclaimed?
12. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. Who among those with
whom I would speak is a righteous man, and who a liar? On which
side is the enemy? (On this), or is he the enemy, the Liar who
opposes thy blessings? How shall it be with him? Is he not to
be thought of as an enemy?
13. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether we shall drive
the Lie away from us to those who being full of disobedience will
not strive after fellowship with Right, nor trouble themselves
with counsel of Good Thought.
14. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether I would put
the Lie into the hands of Right, to cast her down by the words
of thy lore, to work a mighty destruction among the Liars, to
bring torments upon them and enmities, O Mazda.
15. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - if thou hast power
over this to ward off from me through Right, when the two opposing
hosts meet in battle according to those decrees which thou wilt
firmly establish. Whether is it of the twain that thou wilt give
victory.
16. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. Who is victorious to
protect by thy doctrine (all) that are? By vision assure me how
to set up the judge that heals the world. Then let him have Obedience
coming with Good Thought unto every man whom thou desirest, O
Mazda.
17. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether through you
I shall attain my goal, O Mazda, even attachment unto you, and
that my voice may be effectual, that Welfare and Immortality may
be ready to unite according to that promise with him who joins
himself with Right.
18. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura - whether I shall indeed,
O Right, earn the reward, even ten mares with a stallion and a
camel, which was promised to me, O Mazda, as well as through thee,
the future gift of Welfare and Immortality.
19. This I ask Thee, tell me truly, Ahura. He that will not give
the reward to him that earns it, even to the man who fulfilling
his word gives him (what he undertook) - what penalty shall come
to him for the same at the present? I know that which shall come
to him at the last.
20. Have the Daevas ever exercised good dominion? And I ask of
those who see how for the Daevas' sake the Karapan and the Usij
give cattle to violence, and how the Kavi made them continually
to mourn, instead of taking care that they make the pastures prosper
through Right.
- CHAPTER 45
1. I will speak forth: hear now and hearken now, ye from near
and ye from far that desire (instruction).
2. I will speak of the Spirits twain at the first beginning of
the world, of whom the holier spoke thus to the enemy: "Neither
thought, nor teachings, nor wills, nor beliefs, nor words, nor
deeds, nor selfs, nor souls of us twain agree".
3. I will speak of that which Mazda Ahura, the all-knowing, revealed
to me first in this (earthly) life. Those of you that put not
in practice this word as I think and utter it, to them shall be
woe at the end of life.
4. I will speak of what is best for the life. Through Asha I
have come to know, O Mazda, who created it (the life), the father
of active Good Thought: but his daughter is the good-working Armaiti.
The all-observant Ahura is not to be deceived.
5. I will speak of that which (he), the Holiest declared to me
as the word that is best for mortals to obey; while he said: "they
who for my sake render him obedience, shall all attain unto Welfare
and Immortality by the actions of the Good Spirit [Spenta Mainyu -JHP]" - (he)
Mazda Ahura.
6. I will speak of him who is the greatest of all, praising him,
O Right, who is bounteous to all that live. By the holy spirit
let Mazda Ahura hearken, in whose Adoration I have been instructed
by Good Thought. By his wisdom let him teach me what is best,
7. Even he whose two awards, whereof he ordains, men shall attain,
who so are living or have been or shall be. In immortality shall
the soul of the righteous be joyful, in perpetuity shall be the
torment of Liars. All this doth Mazda Ahura appoint by his Dominion.
8. Him thou shouldst seek to win for us by hymns of adoration
(in thy mind): "Now indeed have I seen it with mine eye,
(the Kingdom) of the good spirit [Spenta Mainyu -JHP] and of (good) action and word,
since I have learnt to know Mazda Ahura through Right". Let
us offer him homage in the House of Song [Heaven].
9. Him thou shouldst seek to propitiate for us together with
Good Thought, who at his will maketh us weal or woe. May Mazda
Ahura by his Dominion bring us to work, for prospering our beasts
and our men, so that we may through Right have familiarity with
Good Thought.
10. Him thou shouldst seek to exalt with prayers of piety, him
that is called Mazda Ahura for ever, for that he hath promised
through his own Right and Good Thought that Welfare and Immortality
shall be for us in his Dominion strength and perpetuity in his
house.
11. Whoso therefore in the future lightly esteemeth the Daeva
and those mortals that lightly esteem him - even all others save
that one who highly esteemeth him, - unto his shall the holy Daena
of the future deliverer, as lord of the house, be friend, brother
or father, O Mazda Ahura.
- CHAPTER 46
1. To what land shall I go to flee, whither to flee? From nobles
and from my peers they sever me, nor are the people pleased with
me [......], nor the Liar rulers of the land. How am I to please
thee, Mazda Ahura?
2. I know wherefore, O Mazda, I have been unable (to achieve)
anything. Only a few herds are mine (and therefore it is so) and
because I have got but few people. I cry unto thee, see thou to
it, O Ahura, granting me support a friend gives to friend. Teach
me through the Right what the acquisition of Good Thought is.
3. When, Mazda, shall the sunrisings come forth for the worlds
winning of Right, through the powerful teachings of the wisdom
of the future Deliverers? Who are they to whose help Good Thought
shall come? I have faith that thou wilt thyself fulfill this for
me, O Ahura.
4. The Liar stays the supporter of Right from prospering the
cattle in district and province, infamous that he is, repellent
in his actions. Whoso, Mazda, robs him of dominion or of life,
he shall go before and prepare the ways of the good belief.
5. If an understanding man should be able to hold one who comes
over from his vow and his ties of faith, himself having brought
him thereto, and living according to the ordinance, a righteous
man (converting) a Liar - then shall he, when he is sure of him,
tell it to the nobles, that they may protect him from injury,
O Mazda Ahura.
6. But whoso when thus approached should refuse his aid, he shall
go to the abodes of the company of the Liar.
7. Whom, O Mazda, can one appoint as protector for one like me,
when the Liar sets himself to injure me, other than Thy Fire and
Thy Thought, through actions of which twain the Right will come
to maturity, O Ahura? In this lore do thou instruct my very self.
8. Whoso is minded to injure my possessions, from his actions
may no harm come to me! Back upon himself may they come with hostility,
against his own person, all the hostile (acts), to keep him far
from the Good Life, Mazda, not from the ill!
9. Who is it, the faithful man he, who first taught that we honor
thee as mightiest to help, as the holy righteous Lord over action?
What thy Right made known, what the Ox-Creator made known to Right,
they would fain hear through thy Good Mind.
10. Whoso, man or woman, doeth what thou, Mazda Ahura, knowest
as best in life, as destiny for what is Right (give him) the Dominion
through Good Thought. And those whom I impel to your adoration,
with all these will I cross the Bridge of the Separator.
11.  Their own soul and their
own self shall torment them when they come where the Bridge of
the Separator is, to all time dwellers in the House of the Lie.
12. When among the laudable descendants and posterity of the Turanian
Fryana the Right ariseth, through activity of Piety that blesseth
substance; then shall Good Thought admit them, and Mazda Ahura
give them protection at the Fulfillment.
13. Whoso among mortals has pleased Spitama Zarathushtra by his
willingness, a man deserving of good fame, to him shall Mazda
Ahura give Life, to him shall Good Thought increase substance,
him we account to be a familiar friend with your Right.
14. O Zarathushtra, what righteous man is thy friend for the great
covenant? Who wills to have good fame? It is the Kava Vishtaspa
at the consummation. Those whom thou wilt unite in one house with
thee, these will I call with words of Good Thought.
15. Ye Haechataspa Spitamas, I will declare unto ye so that ye
can discern the wise and the unwise. ... Through these actions
ye shall acquire Right according to the primeval laws of Ahura.
16. Frashaoshtra Hvogva, go thou thither with those faithful whom
we both desire to be in blessedness, where with Right is united
Piety, where the Dominion is in possession of Good Thought, where
Mazda Ahura dwells to give it increase.
17. When, O Jamaspa Hvogva, when I recount your wrongs not your
successes, (and) with your obedience the prayers of your loyalty,
(before him) who shall separate the wise and the unwise through
his prudent counselor the Right, even he, Mazda Ahura.
18. He that holds unto me, to him I promise what is best in my
possession through the Good Thought, but enmities to him that
shall set himself to devise enmity to us, O Mazda and the Right,
desiring to satisfy your will. That is the decision of my understanding
and thought.
19. He who accomplisheth for me, even Zarathushtra, in accordance
with Right that which best agrees with my will, to him as earning
the reward of the Other Life shall be that of two pregnant cows,
with all things whereon his mind is set. These things will thou
bring to pass for me who best knowest how, O Mazda.
Spentamainyush GathaThe
Divine Songs of Zarathushtra.
Notes in square brackets [] were added by JHP.
1. For his holy Spirit and for Best Thought, deed, and word,
in accordance with Right Mazda Ahura with Dominion and Piety shall
give us Welfare and Immortality.
2. The best (work) of this most holy Spirit he fulfills with
the tongue through words of Good Thought, with work of his hands
through the action of Piety, by virtue of this knowledge: he,
even Mazda, is the Father of Right.
3. Thou art the holy Father of this Spirit, which has created
for us the luck-bringing cattle, and for its pasture to give it
peace (has created) Piety, when he had taken counsel, O Mazda,
with Good Thought.
4. From this Spirit have Liars fallen away, O Mazda, but not