Avesta: Yasna 28-34 - Ahunavaiti Gatha (English)Avesta -- Zoroastrian 
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AVESTA: YASNA - Ahunavaiti Gatha
Translation by C. Bartholomae, from I.J.S. Taraporewala, The Divine Songs of 
Zarathushtra. Notes in square brackets [] were added by JHP. 



YASNA 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. 
YASNA 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." 
YASNA 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. 
YASNA 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. 
    [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. To such an 
  existence, ye followers of the Lie, shall your own Self bring you through your 
  (own) action. 
  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. 
YASNA 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. These 
  words of my spirit I wail unto you, O Mazda, and to the Right. 
  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. 
  Thereby hath come to ruin the Karapan and the Kavi community, through those 
  whom they will not have to rule over their life. 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. 
YASNA 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. 
  Consider ye my matters whereon I am active, O Good Thought, my worship, O 
  Mazda, towards one like you, and O Right, the words of my praise. 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 [ādā, 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. 
YASNA 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 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. 
  If ye are truly thus, O Mazda, Right and Good Thought, then give me this 
  token, even a total reversal of this life, that I may come before you again 
  more joyfully with worship and praise. 
  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