|
HISTORY OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE |
AVESTA: YASNA
(Sacred Liturgy and
Gathas/Hymns of Zarathushtra)
Translated by L. H. Mills (from Sacred Books of the East, American Edition, 1898) except as noted.
YASNA 0 - INTRODUCTION
----------------------
[Translation of y0.4-6 is from Dhalla, pp. 9 ff. They are in the Old Avesta
dialect. = Y11.17 = Ny1.3 = Ny2.3.]
(In the name of God)
1. Ashem Vohu (1 & 3).
I profess myself a Mazda-worshipper and a Zoroastrian, opposing the Daevas, accepting the
Ahuric doctrine. For Hawan....
2. To Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda. To you, O Fire, son of Ahura Mazda. With propitiation,
for worship, adoration, propitiation, and praise.
3. 'Yatha Ahu Vairyo', the zaotar should say to me
'Atha ratush ashatchit hacha', the knowing Ashavan should say.
Ashem Vohu ...(3).
Yatha Ahu Vairyo ...(2).
4. I praise good thoughts, good words, and good deeds and those that are to be thought, spoken,
and done. I do accept all good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. I do renounce all evil
thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds.
5. I proffer to you, O Amesha Spentas, sacrifice and prayer, with thought, with word, with deed,
with [my] being, with the very life of my body.
6. I praise Asha.
Ashem Vohu ...(3).
7. [=y1.23 = y3.24 = y14.4 = y27.12 = y62.12.]
8. ....
9. [=y22.24 = y24.29.]
10. [=y22.25 = y24.30.]
11. [=y22.26 = y24.31.]
12. [=y24.32.]
13. ....
15. [=y27.13.]
YASNA 1.
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1. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the creator Ahura Mazda, the radiant and
glorious, the greatest and the best, the most beautiful (?) (to our conceptions), the most firm,
the wisest, and the one of all whose body is the most perfect, who attains His ends the most
infallibly, because of his Asha, to him who disposes our minds aright, who sends His joy-
creating grace afar; who made us, and has fashioned us, and who has nourished and protected
us, who is the most bounteous Spirit!
2. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) to Vohu Mano, and to the Highest Asha, and to
Khshathra Vairya, and to Spenta Armaiti, and to the two, the Haurvatat and Ameretat, to the
body of the Kine, and to the Kine's Soul, and to the Fire of Ahura Mazda, that one who more
than (all) the Amesha Spentas has made most effort (for our succor)!
3. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for Asnya, the masters of Asha, to Hawan, Asha-
sanctified, master of Asha; and I celebrate, and I carry out (this Yasna) for Savanghi and for
Visya, Asha-sanctified, master(s) of Asha.
I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for Mithra of wide pastures, of the thousand ears, and
of the myriad eyes, the Yazad of the spoken name, and for Raman Khwastra.
4. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for Rapithwin, the Asha-sanctified master of Asha,
and for Fradat-fshu, and for Zangtuma, the holy master(s) of Asha; and I celebrate and carry
out (this Yasna) to Asha the Best, and to the Fire of Ahura Mazda.
5. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for Uzerin the Asha-sanctified master of Asha, and
for Fradat-vira and Dakhyuma, the Asha-sanctified master(s) of Asha, and for that lofty
Ahura Napat-apam (the son of waters), and for the waters which Ahura Mazda made.
6. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for Aiwisruthrem (and) Aibigaya, the Asha-sanctified
master(s) of Asha, and for the Zarathushtrotema, and for him who possesses and who gives
that prosperity in life which furthers all. And I celebrate and carry out (this Yasna) for the
fravashis of the saints, and for those of the women who have many sons[FNOTE]'Men and
herds?'[/FNOTE], and for a prosperous home life which continues without reverse throughout
the year, and for that Might which is well-shaped and stately[FNOTE]'Well-
grown'[/FNOTE], which strikes victoriously, Ahura-made, and for that Victorious
Ascendency (which it secures).
7. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for Ushahin, the Asha-sanctified master of Asha, and
for Berejya (and) Nmanya, the Asha-sanctified master(s) of Asha, and for Sraosha,
companion of Ashi, possessing rewards, victorious, who furthers the world, and the very
straight Rashnu and Arshtad, who further the world, who augment the world.
8. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the Mahya, the monthly festivals, masters of
Asha, for the new and the later[FNOTE]Literally, 'the moon within,' showing little
light.[/FNOTE] moon, the Asha-sanctified master of Asha, and for the full moon which
scatters night.
9. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the Yairya, yearly feasts, the Asha-sanctified
masters of Asha. I celebrate and carry out (this Yasna) for Maidyozarem, the Asha-sanctified
master of Asha, and for Maidyoshahem, the Asha-sanctified master of Asha, and for
Paitishahem, and for Ayathrem the advancer, and the spender of the strength of males, the
Asha-sanctified master of Asha, and for Maidyarem, the Asha-sanctified master of Asha, and
for Hamaspathmaidyem, the Asha-sanctified master of Asha; yea, I celebrate and carry out
this Yasna for the seasons, masters of Asha.
10. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for all those who are the thirty three masters of
Asha, which, coming the nearest, are around about Hawan, and which (as in their festivals)
were instituted by Ahura Mazda, and were promulgated by Zarathushtra, as the masters of
Asha Vahishta.
11. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the two, for Ahura and Mithra, the lofty, and the
everlasting, and the Asha-sanctified, and for all the stars which are Spenta Mainyu's creatures,
and for the star Tishtrya, the resplendent and glorious, and for the Moon which contains the
seed of the Kine, and for the resplendent Sun, the swift-horsed, the eye of Ahura Mazda, and
for Mithra the province ruler. And I celebrate and carry out this Yasna for Ahura Mazda
(once again, and as to him who rules the month), the radiant, the glorious, and for the
Fravashis of the saints.
12. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for you, o Fire, son of Ahura Mazda, together with
all the fires, and for the good waters, even for all the waters made by Mazda, and for all the
plants which Mazda made.
13. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the Bounteous Manthra, the Asha-sanctified and
effective, the revelation given against the Daevas; the Zoroastrian revelation, and for the
long descent[FNOTE]'The long tradition;' so Spiegel.[/FNOTE] of the good Mazdayasnian
Faith.
14. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the mountain Ushi-darena, the Mazda-made, with
its sacred brilliance, and for all the mountains glorious with sanctity[FNOTE]Observe the
impossibility of the meaning 'comfort,' or mere 'well-being' here.[/FNOTE], with their
abundant Glory Mazda-made, and for that majestic Glory Mazda-made, the
unconsumed[FNOTE]Or possibly 'the unseized,' the Pahlavi agrift(?); Ner. agrihitam; hvar, to
eat, may have meant 'seize' originally.[/FNOTE] Glory which Mazda made. And I announce
and carry out (this Yasna) for Ashi the good, the blessedness (of the reward), and for Chisti,
the good religious Knowledge, for the good Erethe (Rectitude?), and for the good Rasastat
(persisting zeal?), and to the Glory and the Benefit which are Mazda-made.
15. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the pious and good Blessing of the religious man,
the Asha-sanctified, and for the curse of wisdom, the swift and redoubted Yazad of potency
(to blight).
16. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for these places and these lands, and for these
pastures, and these abodes with their springs of water(?)[FNOTE]The Pahlavi with its
afkhvar points here perhaps to a better text. Recall awzhdatemja, awzhdaungho,
awrem.[/FNOTE], and for the waters, land, and plants, and for this earth and for yon heaven,
and for the Asha-sanctified wind, and for the stars, moon, and sun, and for the eternal stars
without beginning, and self-disposing, and for all the Asha-sanctified creatures of Spenta
Mainyu, male and female, the regulators of Asha.[COMMENT]Bailey, xxxviii (avO-
xvarena): "hay-rack, manger"[/COMMENT]
17. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for that lofty lord who is the Asha (itself), and for
the masters of the days in their duration, and of the days during daylight, for the moons, the
years, and the seasons which are masters of Asha at the time of Hawan.
18. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for the fravashis of the saints, the redoubted, which
overwhelm (the evil), for those of the saints of the ancient lore, for those of the next of kin,
and for the fravashi of (my) own soul!
19. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) for all the masters of Asha, and for all the yazads,
the beneficent, who dispose (of all) aright, for those both heavenly and earthly, who are
(meet) for our sacrifice and homage because of Asha Vahishta.
20. O Hawan, Asha-sanctified master of Asha, and Savanghi, Rapithwin, and Uzerin, and
Aiwisruthrem, (and) Aibigaya, (you who aids life!) if I have offended you, and you, o
Ushahin, Asha-sanctified master of Asha!
21. If I have offended you, whether by thought, or word, or deed, whether by act of will, or
without intent or wish, I earnestly make up the deficiency of this in praise to you. If I have
caused decrease in that which is your Yasna, and your homage, I announce (and carry out) to
you (the more for this)!
22. Yea, all ye masters, the greatest ones, Asha-sanctified masters of Asha, if I have offended
you by thought, or word, or deed, whether with my will, or without intending error, I praise
you (now the more) for this. I announce to you (the more) if I have caused decrease in this
which is your Yasna, and your praise.
23. I would confess myself a Mazda-worshipper, of Zarathushtra's order, a foe to the Daevas,
devoted to the lore of Ahura, for Hawan, the Asha-sanctified master of Asha, for (his)
sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and praise, for Savanghi and for Visya, the Asha-sanctified
master of Asha, for (his) sacrifice, homage, propitiation and praise, and for the sacrifice,
homage, propitiation and praise of the masters of the days in their duration, and of the days
during daylight, for those of the monthly festivals, and for those of the yearly ones, and for
those of the seasons!
YASNA 2.
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1. I desire the libations for this Yasna; I desire the Baresman for this Yasna. I desire the
Baresman for this Yasna; I desire the libations for this Yasna. I desire the libations together
with Baresman for this Yasna; I desire the Baresman together with the libations for this
Yasna. With this libation I desire this Baresman for this Yasna. With this Baresman I desire
this libation for this Yasna. This Baresman with the libation I desire for this Yasna. I desire
for this Yasna this Baresman with this libation and with its kusti, and spread with Asha.
2. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Ashawan Ahura Mazdah, the
master of Asha. I desire for this Yasna the well-ruling, judicious Amesha Spentas.
3. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Asnya, the master
of Asha. I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Hawan, the master of Asha. I desire for
this Yasna the Savanghi and the Asha-sanctified Visya, the master of Asha. With this libation
and Baresman I desire for this Yasna Mithra of the wide pastures, of the thousand ears, of the
ten-thousand eyes, the Yazad of the spoken name. I desire for this Yasna Raman Khwastra.
4. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Rapithwin, the
master of Asha. I desire for this Yasna the Fradat-fshav and the Asha-sanctified Zantuma, the
master of Asha. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna Asha Vahishta and
Atar, the Son of Ahura Mazda.
5. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Uzerin, the
master of Asha. I desire for this Yasna the Fradat-vira and the Asha-sanctified Dahyuma, the
master of Asha. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the high Lord, the
kingly and brilliant Apam-Napat, of swift-horses, and likewise the water, Mazda-made and
holy.
6. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Aiwisruthrem
Aibigaya the master of Asha. I desire for this Yasna the Fradat-vispam-hujyatay and the
Asha-sanctified Zarathushtro-tema, the master of Asha.
With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the good, mighty, bountiful Fravashis
of the Asha-sanctified.
I desire for this Yasna the women who have many sons. And I desire for this Yasna the
Yairya Hushitay; and I desire for this Yasna the well-formed, stately Ama; and I desire for
this Yasna the Ahura-given Verethraghna; and I desire for this Yasna the triumphing
Uparatat.
7. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Ushahina, the
master of Asha. I desire for this Yasna the Berejya and the Asha-sanctified Nmanya, the
master of Asha.
With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna Sraosha, companion of Ashi, fair of
form, victorious, furthering the world, Asha-sanctified, the master of Asha.
I desire for this Yasna the straightest Rashnu, and I desire for this Yasna Arshtat, who
furthers the settlements, and causes them to increase.
8. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Mahya (Monthly
festivals), the master of Asha. I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Antaremah, the
master of Asha.
I desire for this Yasna the Pereno-mah and the Asha-sanctified Vishaptatha, the master of
Asha.
9. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Yairya (Yearly
festivals), the master of Asha.
I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Maidyozarem, the master of Asha. With this
libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Maidyoshahem, the master
of Asha. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified
Paitishahem, the master of Asha.
With this libation and Barasman I desire for this Yasna Ayathrem, the promoter, who spends
the strength of males, Asha-sanctified, the master of Asha.
With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified Maidyarem, the
master of Asha. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the Asha-sanctified
Hamaspathmaidyem, the master of Asha. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this
Yasna the Asha-sanctified Yairya (Yearly festivals), the masters of Asha.
10. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna all of the masters of Asha, the thirty-
three who come the nearest round about our Hawans, who are masters of Asha Vahishta,
which were inculcated by Mazda, and spoken forth by Zarathushtra.
11. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna Ahura (and) Mithra, the lofty,
eternal, and Asha-sanctified two.
I desire for this Yasna the Stars and Moon and Sun (and) - with the Baresman-Plants - and
Mithra, the governor of all the provinces. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this
Yasna the radiant and glorious Ahura Mazda. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this
Yasna the good, heroic, bountiful Fravashis of the Asha-sanctified.
12. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna you, the Asha-sanctified Atar, the
Son of Ahura Mazda, the master of Asha, with all Fires. With this libation and Baresman I
desire for this Yasna the good, best, Mazda-made, Asha-sanctified Water. I desire for this
Yasna all the Mazda-made Asha-sanctified Waters. I desire for this Yasna all the Mazda-
made, Asha-sanctified Plants.
13. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the bounteous Manthra, the most
glorious. I desire for this Yasna the law instituted against the Daevas. I desire for this Yasna
the Zoroastrian law. I desire for this Yasna the long tradition. I desire for this Yasna the good
Mazdayasnian Religion.
14. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna Mount Ushi-darena, Mazda-made, the
Yazad possessing the ease of Asha. I desire for this Yasna all mountains possessed of ease of
Asha, full of ease, Mazda-made, Asha-sanctified, the masters of Asha.
I desire for this Yasna the strong, Mazda-made khwarrah of the Kavis. I desire for this Yasna
the strong, Mazda-made ungraspable khwarrah.
With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the good Ashi, the brilliant, tall,
vigorous, fair of form, self-sufficient.
I desire for this Yasna the Mazda-made khwarrah; I desire for this Yasna the Mazda-made
prosperity.
15. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna the pious and good Blessing. I desire
for this Yasna the pious, Asha-sanctified Man, and I desire for this Yasna the strong, brave
Yazad Damoish Upamana.
16. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna these Waters and Lands and Plants; I
desire for this Yasna these places, districts, and pastures, and these dwellings with their springs
of water, and this land-ruler, who is Ahura Mazda.
17. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna all the greatest masters: the day-lords,
the month-lords, those of the years, and of the seasons, and the good, mighty, beneficent
Fravashis of the Asha-sanctified.
18. With this libation and Baresman I desire for this Yasna all the Asha-sanctified Yazatas. I
desire for this Yasna all the masters of Asha: Hawan at his time, and Savanghi and Visya at
their times, and all the greatest masters at their times.
YASNA 3 - THE YASNA ADVANCES TO THE NAMING OF THE OBJECTS OF PROPITIATION.
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1. With a Baresman brought to its appointed place accompanied with the Zaothra at the time of
Havani, I desire to approach the Myazda-offering with my praise, as it is consumed, and
likewise Ameretat (as the guardian of plants and wood) and Haurvatat (who guards the water),
with the (fresh) meat, for the propitiation of Ahura Mazda, and of the Bountiful Immortals,
and for the propitiation of Sraosha (who is Obedience) the blessed, who is endowed with
sanctity, and who smites with the blow of victory, and causes the settlements to advance.
2. And I desire to approach Haoma and Para-haoma with my praise for the propitiation of the
Fravashi of Spitama Zarathushtra, the saint. And I desire to approach the (sacred) wood with
my praise, with the perfume, for the propitiation of thee, the Fire, O Ahura Mazda's son!
3. And I desire to approach the Haomas with my praise for the propitiation of the good waters
which Mazda created; and I desire to approach the Haoma-water, and the fresh milk with my
praise, and the plant Hadhanaepata, offered with sanctity for the propitiation of the waters
which are Mazda-made.
4. And I desire to approach this Baresman with the Zaothra with my praise, with its binding and
spread with sanctity for the propitiation of the Bountiful Immortals. And I desire with (?) my
voice the thoughts well thought, and the words well spoken, and the deeds well done, and the
recital of the Gathas as they are heard. And I desire to approach the well-said Mathras with
my praise, and this (higher) lordship with this sanctity, and this exact regulation (of the
Ratu), and the reverential prayer for blessings (spoken at the fitting hour); and I desire to
approach them for the contentment and propitiation of the holy Yazads, heavenly and
earthly, and for the contentment of each man's soul.
5. And I desire to approach the Asnya with my praise, the lords of the ritual order, and the
Havani and Savanghi and Visya, the holy lords of the ritual order. And I desire to approach
with the Yasht of Mithra of the wide pastures, of the thousand ears, of the myriad eyes, the
Yazad of the spoken name, and with him Raman Hvastra.
6. And I desire to approach Rapithwina with my praise, the holy lord of the ritual order, and
Fradat-fshu and Zantuma, and Righteousness the Best, and Ahura Mazda's Fire.
7. And I desire to approach Uzayeirina, and Fradat-vira and Dahvyuma* with my praise, with
that lofty Ahura Napt-apam, and the waters Mazda-made,
8. And Aiwisruthrima, and Aibigaya, and Fradat-vispam-hujaiti, and Zarathushtrotema with the
Yasht of the Fravashis of the saints, and of the women who have many sons, and the year
long unchanged prosperity, and of Might, the well-shaped and stately, smiting victoriously,
Ahura-made and of the Victorious Ascendency (which it secures).
9. And I desire to approach Ushahina, Berejya, and Nmanya with the Yasht of Sraosha
(Obedience) the sacred, the holy, who smites with the blow of victory, and makes the
settlements advance, and with that of Rashnu, the most just, and Arshtat who furthers the
settlements, and causes them to increase.
10. And I desire to approach the monthly festivals, the lords of the ritual order, and the new
moon and the waning moon, and the full moon which scatters night,
11. And the yearly festivals, Maidhyo-zaremaya, Maidhyo-shema, Paitishahya, and Ayathrima
the breeder who spends the strength of males, and Maidhyairya, and Hamaspathmaedhaya,
and the seasons, lords of the ritual order, (12) and all those lords who are the three and thirty,
who approach the nearest at the time of Havani, who are the Lords of Asha called Vahishta
(and whose services were) inculcated by Mazda, and pronounced by Zarathushtra, as the feasts
of Righteousness, the Best.
13. And I desire to approach Ahura and Mithra, the lofty and imperishable two, the holy, and
with the Yasht of those stars which are the creatures of Spenta Mainyu, and with the Yasht
of the star Tistrya, the radiant, the glorious, and with that of the moon which contains the
seed of cattle, and with that of the resplendent sun, the eye of Ahura Mazda, and of Mithra,
province-lord of the provinces, and with that of Ahura Mazda (as He rules this day) the
radiant, the glorious, and with that of the Fravashis of the saints, (who rule this month),
14. And with thy Yasht, the Fire's, O Ahura Mazda's son! with all the fires, and to the good
waters with the Yasht of all the waters which are Mazda-made, and with that of all the plants
which Mazda made.
15. And I desire to approach with the Yasht of the Mathra Spenta, the holy, the effective, the
law composed against the Daevas, the Zarathushtrian, and with that of the long descent of
the Religion which Mazda gave.
16. And I desire to approach with the Yasht of Mount Ushi-darena, Mazda-made, and of all,
glorious with sanctity, and abundant in brilliance, and with that of the Kingly Glory, Mazda-
made; yea, with that of the unconsumed glory which Mazda made, and with that of Ashi
Vanguhi, and Chishti Vanguhi, and with that of the good Erethe, and the good Rasastat, and
the good Glory, and of the Benefit which Mazda gave.
17. And I desire to approach with the Yasht of the good and pious Blessing of the pious man and
of the saint, and with that of the awful and swift Curse of the wise, the Yazad-curse, (18) and
to these places, regions, pastures, and abodes, with their water-springs, and with that of the
waters, and the lands, and the plants, and with that of this earth and yon heaven, and with
that of the holy wind and of the stars, moon, and sun, and with that of the stars without
beginning, self-determined and self-moved, and with that of all the holy creatures which are
those of Spenta Mainyu, male and female, regulators of the ritual order, (19) and with that of
the lofty lord who is Righteousness (himself, the essence of the ritual), and with that of the
days in their duration, and of the days during daylight, and with that of the monthly festivals,
and the yearly festivals, and with those of the several seasons which are lords of the ritual at
the time of Havani.
20. And I desire to approach the meat-offering with a Yasht, and Haurvatat (who guards the
water), and Ameretatat (who guards the plants and wood), with the Yasht of the sacred flesh
for the propitiation of Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed and the mighty, whose body is the
Mathra, of him of the daring spear, the lordly, the Yazad of the spoken name.
21. And I desire to approach both Haoma and the Haoma-juice with a Yasht for the propitiation
of the Fravashi of Zarathushtra Spitama, the saint, the Yazad of the spoken name. And I
desire to approach the wood-billets with a Yasht, with the perfume for the propitiation of
thee, the Fire, O Ahura Mazda's son! the Yazad of the spoken name.
22. And I desire to approach with a Yasht for the mighty Fravashis of the saints, the
overwhelming, the Fravashis of those who held to the ancient lore, and of those of the next
of kin.
23. And I desire to approach toward all the lords of the ritual order with a Yasht, toward all the
good Yazads, heavenly and earthly, who are (set) for worship and for praise because of Asha
Vahishta (of Righteousness the Best).
24. I will confess myself a Mazdayasnian, of Zarathushtra's order, a foe to the Daevas, devoted to
the lore of the Lord for Havani, the holy lord of the ritual order, for sacrifice, homage,
propitiation, and for praise, and for Savanghi and Visya, the holy lord(s) of the ritual order,
and for the sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and praise of the day-lords of the days in their
duration, and of the days during daylight, and for the month-regulators, and the year-
regulators, and for those of the (several) seasons, for their sacrifice, and homage, their
propitiation, and their praise.
(The Zaotar speaks): As the Ahu to be (revered and) chosen, let the priest speak forth to me.
(The Ratu responds): As the Ahu to be (revered and) chosen, let him who is the Zaotar speak
forth to me.
(The Zaotar again): So let the Ratu from his Righteousness, holy and learned, speak forth!
YASNA 4 - THE OFFERING TAKES PLACE.
-----------------------------------
1. These good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, these Haomas, meat-offerings, and
Zaothras, this Baresman spread with sanctity, this flesh, and the two, Haurvatat (who guards
the water) and Ameretatat (who guards the plants and wood), even the flesh, the Haoma and
Haoma-juice, the wood-billets, and their perfume, this sacred lordship and chieftainship, and
the timely prayer with blessing, and the heard recital of the Gathas, and the well-said
Mathras, these all we offer, and make known with celebrations (here).
2. Yea, these do we announce with celebrations, and we present them to Ahura Mazda, and to
Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed, and to the Bountiful Immortals, and to the Fravashis of the
saints, and to their souls, and to the Fire of Ahura Mazda, the lofty lord of the entire creation
of the holy, for sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and praise.
3. Yea, further, we present (them to the Bountiful Immortals with an especial gift) these
thoughts well thought, these words well spoken, these deeds well done, these Haomas,
Myazdas, Zaothras, and this Baresman spread with sanctity, the flesh, and Haurvatat (who
guards the water), and Ameretatat (who guards the plants and wood), even the flesh, Haoma
and Parahaoma, the wood-billets, the perfume, and this their lordship and their sanctity, and
this chieftainship, this prayer for blessing, the heard recital of the Gathas, and the well-said
Mathras.
4. We offer with our celebrations, and we announce them (of a verity) to the Bountiful
Immortals, those who exercise their rule aright, and who dispose (of all) aright, the ever-
living, ever-helpful, the male divinities among their number who dwell with the Good Mind,
[and the female ones as well].
5. And we announce them in our celebrations as more propitious for this house, and for the
furtherance of this house, of its herds, and of its men, of those now born, and of those yet to
be born, the holy, yea, for the furtherance of that house of which these (men) are thus.
6. And we present these offerings to the good Fravashis of the saints who are mighty and
overwhelming for the succor of the saints.
7. Yea, we present these hereby to the Creator Ahura Mazda, the radiant, the glorious, and the
heavenly spirit, for the sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and praise of the Bountiful Immortals
(all).
8. And we present these hereby to the Day-lords of the ritual order, to Havani, to Savanghi, and
to Visya, the holy lords of the ritual order, for sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and for praise,
and to Mithra of the wide pastures, and the thousand ears, and the myriad eyes, the Yazad of
the spoken name,
9. And to Rapithwina, Fradat-fshu, and Zantuma, the holy lords of the ritual order, and to
Righteousness the Best, and to Ahura Mazda's Fire,
10. And to Uzayeirina, Fradat-vira, and Dahvyuma, the holy lords of the ritual order, and to that
lofty lord Napat-apam, and to the water Mazda-made,
11. And to Aiwisruthrima, the life-furtherer, and to Fradat-vispam-hujyaiti and
Zarathushtrotema, the holy lords of the ritual order, and to the Fravashis of the saints, and to
the women who bring forth many sons, and to the Prosperous home-life which endures
without reverse throughout the year, and to Force, well-shaped and stately, and to the Blow
of victory which Mazda gives, and to the Victorious Ascendency which it secures, for their
sacrifice, homage, their propitiation, and their praise,
12. And to Ushahina, with Berejya and Nmanya, and Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed, smiting
with the blow of victory and furthering the settlements, and to Rashnu, the most just, and to
Arstat, furthering the settlements, and causing them to increase.
13. And these we announce and we present hereby to the Month-lords of the ritual order, to the
new moon and the waning moon (the moon within), and to the full moon which scatters
night, the holy lord of the ritual order, for (their) sacrifice, homage, their propitiation, and
their praise.
14. And these we announce hereby and we present to the Yearly festivals, to Maidhyo-zaremaya,
Maidhyo-shema, Patishahya, and to Ayathrima, to Maidhyairya, Hamaspathmaedhaya, and
to the Seasons as holy lords of the ritual order, for sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and for
praise.
15. And these we announce and we present hereby to all those lords who are the three and thirty
lords of the ritual order, who approach the nearest around about our Havani, and which are
the festivals of Righteousness the Best, inculcated by Mazda, and uttered forth by
Zarathushtra for their sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and praise.
16. And these we announce and we present to Ahura and to Mithra, the lofty, and imperishable,
and holy two, to the stars, the creatures of Spenta Mainyu, and to the star Tistrya, the
radiant, the glorious, and to the Moon which contains the seed of cattle, and to the
resplendent Sun, of the swift horses, Ahura Mazda's eye, and to Mithra, the lord of provinces,
for their sacrifice, homage, their propitiation and their praise; yea, these we present hereby
to Ahura Mazda (as he rules this day) and to the Fravashis of the saints (as they rule this
month), for their sacrifice, homage, their propitiation and their praise.
17. And these we announce hereby to thee, the Fire, O Ahura Mazda's son! with all the fires for
thy sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and praise, and to the good waters for the sacrifice,
homage, propitiation, and praise of all the waters Mazda-made, and to all the plants which
Mazda made,
18. And to the Mathra Spenta, the holy, the effective, the law against the Daevas, the
Zarathushtrian statute, and to the long descent of the good Mazdayasnian religion.
19. And these we announce and we present hereby to Mount Ushi-darena, Mazda-made, brilliant
with sanctity, and to all the mountains shining with their holiness, abundantly luminous, and
Mazda-made, and to the Kingly glory, the unconsumed glory Mazda-made, and to the good
Blessedness, and the good Religious-knowledge, and the good Rectitude, and to the good
Rasastat, and to the Glory and the Benefit which Mazda created.
20. And these we offer and present to the pious and good Blessing of the pious, and to the swift
and dreadful Yazad, the Curse of wisdom.
21. And to these places, pastures, and dwellings with their springs of water, their rivers, to the
lands and to the plants, to this earth and yon heaven, to the holy wind, to the stars, moon,
and sun, to the stars without beginning, self-disposed, and to all the holy creatures of the
Spenta Mainyu, male and female (the rulers as they are of the ritual order).
22. And these we announce and we present hereby to that lofty lord who is Asha, the ritual
righteousness itself, to the Day-lords, and the Month-lords, the Year-lords, and the Seasons
who are the lords of the ritual at the time of Havani, and for their sacrifice, homage, their
propitiation and their praise.
23. Yea, these we announce and we present to Sraosha, the blessed and mighty, whose body is the
Mathra, him of the daring spear, the lordly one, and to the holy Fravashi of Zarathushtra
Spitama, the saint.
And these we announce and we present to thee, the Fire, O Ahura Mazda's son! for thy
sacrifice, homage, thy propitiation, and thy praise.
24. And these we announce and we present to the Fravashis of the saints, the mighty and
overwhelming, of the saints of the ancient lore, and of the next of kin.
25. And these we announce and we present hereby to all the good Yazads, earthly and heavenly,
who are (meet) for sacrifice, homage, propitiation, and for praise, because of Asha Vahishta
(who is Righteousness the Best).
We worship the Bountiful Immortals who rule aright, and who dispose of all aright.
26. And that one of beings (do we worship) whose superior (service) in the sacrifice Ahura Mazda
knows, and from his righteousness (which he maintains, and those of all female beings do we
worship) whose (higher service is thus likewise known; yea, all) male and female beings do we
worship (who are such)!
YASNA 5.
--------
(This chapter is identical with Yasna 37. )
YASNA 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!
YASNA 7 - PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS BY THE PRIEST WITH THE OBJECT OF PROPITIATION NAMED.
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1. With a complete and sacred offering 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 gift, 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.
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. And I offer with a complete and sacred blessing to these places, districts, pastures, and abodes
with their springs of water, and to the waters and the lands, and the plants, and to this earth
and yon heaven, and to the holy wind, and to the stars, and the moon, even to the stars
without beginning (to their course), the self-appointed, and to all the holy creatures of Spenta
Mainyu, be they male or female, regulators (as they are) of the ritual order.
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!
YASNA 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.) Eat, O ye men, of this Myazda, the meat-offering, ye who have deserved
it by your righteousness and correctness.
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) taught, (ye), who are
the waters, the plants, and the Zaothras!
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!
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.
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. 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!
THE HOM YASHT
=============
YASNA 9.
--------
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 man! who art of all the incarnate world the
most beautiful in Thine own body of those whom I have, seen, (thou) glorious [immortal]?
2. Thereupon gave Haoma answer, the holy one who driveth death afar: I am, O Zarathushtra
Haoma, the holy and driving death afar; pray to me, O Spitama, prepare me for the taste.
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 blessedness was offered him? what gain did he
acquire?
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 blessedness 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 imperishable food.
5. In the reign of Yima swift of motion was there neither cold nor heat, there was neither age
nor death, nor envy demon-made. Like fifteen-yearlings 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!
6. Who was the second man, O Haoma! who prepared thee for the corporeal world? What
sanctity was offered him? what gain did he acquire?
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 blessedness was given him, this gain
did he acquire, that to him a son was born, Thraetaona of the heroic tribe,
8. Who smote the dragon Dahaka, three-jawed and triple-headed, six-eyed, with thousand
powers, and of mighty strength, a lie-demon 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!
9. Who was the third man, O Haoma! who prepared thee for the corporeal world? What
blessedness was given him? what gain did he acquire?
10. Thereupon gave Haoma answer, the holy one, and driving death afar: Thrita, [the most
helpful of the Samas], was the third man who prepared me for the corporeal world. This
blessedness 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, ringlet-headed, bludgeon-bearing.
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!
YASNA 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. All other toxicants go hand in hand with Rapine of the bloody spear, but Haoma's stirring
power goes hand in hand with friendship. [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.
YASNA 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.
YASNA 12 - The Zoroastrian Creed
--------------------------------
[Translation by J. H. Peterson, 1996.
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, p. 84 and 104 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. I ascribe
all good to Ahura Mazda, 'and all the best,' the Asha-owning one,
splendid, xwarena-owning, whose is the cow, whose is Asha, whose
is the light, 'may whose blissful areas be filled with light'.
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-owning 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-owning 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-owning -- 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
(kin-marriage), which possesses Asha; 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.
YASNA 13.
---------
[Translated by L. H. Mills (From Sacred Books of the East, American
Edition, 1898.) 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, 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!
YASNA 14 - 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 Zar