GATHA SUPPLEMENTS
Yasna
Haptanghâiti
(Days 243rd to
283rd)
NOTE:
Yasna Haptanghâiti, the Yasna of Seven Chapters, Yasna
35-41. Also in the Gathic
dialect, it was perhaps composed by one or more of Zarathushtra's close
companions. They are short
subtle songs of prayers.
I give below the Preface to my "Yasna
Haptanhâiti, an attempt at restoration of meter and translation of
re-versified text [in English and Persian]," Tehran, 1975:
PREFACE
The Haptańhâiti (Haptanghaiti) constitutes
one seventh of the Gathas, the Gathas one third of the Yasna and the
Yasna one third of the Avesta. Therefore,
in quantity, it is but 1/63 of the text. But in quality, the Zoroastrian
Lore has given it the second highest position in the Avesta. It is next
to the Five Songs of Zarathushtra, inside which it has been allotted a
placid place.
However, in our modern scholastic age, it appears
that so far it has been its quantity which has mattered more. It has
been too thin to receive any serious attention - just a part of the
monotonously animistic liturgy. And if at all, someone has paid some
attention, it has not been for expounding its high position, but to
describe its present characteristics, or on the contrary, to pin point
it as the point of deviation from the course set by Zarathushtra.
My interest in it, casual first, curious later and
consecrated at present, has been rewarding - a sweet song translated
into English and Persian. And my 'Introduction' fully justifies the
position it enjoys. So slim, yet so serene!
Ali A. Jafarey
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
30th September 1974
50th Birthday of
Amy, my wife, my mentor.
Yasna
Haptanghaiti
Song 1 = Yasna Section 35.
243rd Day
Salutary
Transliterated Text:
ahurem
mazdăm ashavanem ashahe ratűm ýazamaide,
ameshâ speńtâ huxshathrâ hudhĺnghô ýazamaide,
vîspăm ashaonô stîm ýazamaide
mainyevîmcâ gaęthyămcâ
berejâ vanghęush ashahe
berejâ daęnayĺ vanghuyĺ mâzdayasnôish.
Translated Text:
We venerate
the Lord Wise,
(The Righteous, Master of Righteousness).
We venerate the immortal progressives,
(The good governing, the beneficent).
We venerate the entire righteous existence,
The mental as well as the corporeal.
Glory to what belongs to good righteousness!
Glory to the [religion of] Good Conscience
(of the worshippers of the Wise One).
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.1)
Summary Substance:
The congregation prays: We
venerate the Wise Lord Who is Righteous and Master of Righteousness.
We venerate the persons who have become immortal because of
promoting the Good Religion. They
are good in leading and caring. We
venerate the entire righteous creation, both mental and material,
spiritual and physical. We
glorify the good Universal Law of righteousness.
We glorify the Good Mazdayasna Religion, the Good Religion which
only teaches the worship of Mazda, the Super-Intellect Being.
Pondering Points:
Pray together to venerate God and the entire Divine Creation.
Glorify the Good Religion by promoting it.
244th Day
Transliterated:
humatanăm
hűxtanăm hvarshtanăm
yadacâ anyadacâ
verezyamnanămcâ vâverezananămcâ mahî
aibî-jaretârô naęnaęstârô ýathanâ vohunăm mahî.
Translated Text
We belong to
Good Thoughts, Good Words,
Good Deeds -- done and to be done,
Now and henceforth.
We are, accordingly, the praisers
And invokers of all that is good.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.2 = Yasna 35-2)
Summary Substance:
The praying congregation declares that they belong to the triple
Zarathushtrian Principles of Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds and
that they are responsible for what they have done in the past and what
they are going to do in the future.
They are, therefore, the people who esteem all that is good in
the Divine Creation.
Pondering Points:
The Motto: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.
Responsibility for every act. one does.
Uphold all good.
245th Day
Transliterated Text:
tat at
vairîmaidî ahura
mazdâ ashâ srîrâ
hyat î mainimadicâ
vaocôimâcâ verezimâcâ
ýâ hâtăm shyaothananăm vahishtâ
xyât ubôibyâ ahubyâ.
Translated Text:
That we have
chosen, Lord
Wise, through sublime Righteousness,
Which we have thought,
Spoken and done.
Of these deeds, the best
Be for both the existences.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.3 = Yasna 35.3)
Summary Substance:
The congregation continues to pray.
The prayerful wish that of all their thoughts, words and deeds
chosen and done by them in accordance with the sublime laws of
righteousness, the best be the merits for them in their mental and
material, their spiritual and physical lives.
Pondering Points:
Good Thoughts, Words and Deeds are treasures for life here and
beyond.
246th Day
Transliterated Text:
gavôi
adâish tâish shyaothanâish
ýâish vahishtâish fraęshyâmahî
râmâcâ vâstremcâ dazdyâi
surunvatascâ asurunvatascâ
xshayańtascâ axshayańtascâ.
Translated Text:
For the
living world, with the reward
Of the deeds that are the best, we seek
That peace and habitation be given
To the learning and the not-learning,
To the ruling and the not-ruling.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.4 = Yasna 35.4)
Summary Substance:
The congregation prays for a world in which the best of deeds
bring peace and settled living of sufficiency for all, whether learning
(in modern usage literate) or still illiterate, enjoying power and
wealth or the ruled and needy. They
pray for a good life for all without discrimination.
Pondering Points:
Good living and life should be for all.
A human habitation should enjoy peace and prosperity.
247th Day
Transliterated Text
huxshathrôtemâi
bât xshathrem
ahmat hyat aibî dademahicâ
cîshmahicâ hvămahicâ
hyat mazdâi ahurâi ashâicâ vahishtâi.
Translated Text:
Power be to
the good most-powerful.
This is what we offer,
We announce, we invoke
For the Wise Lord, and Best Righteousness.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.5 = Yasna 35.5)
Summary Substance:
The praying Congregation wishes power to the most powerful being, a good
being -- Mazda Ahura. They
also wish power for the Universal
Law of precision.
Pondering Points:
A selfless prayer: wishing power to God and the Divine Law
instead of self.
248th Day
Transliterated Text:
ýathâ
ât utâ nâ-vâ nâirî-vâ
vaędâ haithîm athâ hat vohű
tat ęeâdű verezyôtűcâ
ît ahmâi fracâ vâtôyôtű ît
aęibyô ýôi ît
athâ verezyăn ýathâ ît astî.
Translated Text:
The more a
man or a woman
Knows the truth, the more it is good.
He/she should zealously practice it
And preach it to others,
So that they practice it accordingly.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.6 = Yasna 35.6)
Summary Substance:
It is good for every person, man or woman, to know the truth.
The more the better. Once
he/she knows it, he/she should fully get into practicing it.
It is after personal experience that he/she should teach it to
others so that they too do the same.
This is how the practice of truth spreads.
Pondering Points:
To be a good missionary, learn, practice, and teach the truth and
watch it grow.
249th Day
Transliterated Text:
ahurahyâ-zî
at vę mazdĺ
ýasnemcâ vahmemcâ vahishtem
amęhmaidî gęushcâ vâstrem,
tat at vę verezyâmahî
fracâ vâtęyâmahî ýâ-tę isâmaidę.
Translated Text:
For the Lord
Wise, indeed,
The best adoration and love,
We as well as the inhabited world have borne in mind.
This we do for You
And preach as much as we can.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.7 = Yasna 35.7)
Summary Substance:
The congregation asserts that its members and the people of the
whole inhabited world bear the best adoration and love for the Lord
Wise. They add that they,
as much as they can, adore and love Ahura Mazda and also teach others to
do as much as they can.
Pondering Points:
Adore and love God and preach others to do the same.
250th Day
Transliterated Text:
ashahyâ
âat sairî
ashahyâ verezęnę
kahmâicît hâtăm
jîjishăm vahishtăm
âdâ ubôibyâ ahubyâ.
Translated Text:
In the
resort of Righteousness,
within the fold of Righteousness,
for whosoever amongst the people
there is the best ambition --
(the reward) for both the existences.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.8 = Yasna 35.8)
Summary Substance:
If one, any person whosoever, remains steadfast in righteousness,
he/she will find it the best way to live a full life in both the
existences -- mental and material, spiritual and physical lives.
Pondering Points:
Want to enjoy a full life here and beyond, adhere fast to
righteousness.
251st Day
Transliterated Text:
imâ ât
uxdhâ vacĺ ahurâ mazdâ
ashem manyâ vahehyâ fravaocâmâ
thwăm at aęshăm paityâstâremcâ
fradaxshtâremcâ dademaidę.
Translated Text:
We have
rightly proclaimed with a better mind,
Lord Wise, these spoken words.
and we consider You as their
upholder and guide.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.9 = Yasna 35.9)
Summary Substance:
The praying people confirm what they have thoughtfully said about
remaining steadfast in righteousness with good thoughts, words and
deeds, and that they consider God to be the maintainer and director of
what they say.
Pondering Points:
God guides those who do what they say.
252nd Day
Transliterated Text:
ashâatcâ
hacâ
vanghęushcâ mananghô
vanghęushcâ xshathrât
staotâish thwât ahurâ staotôibyô
aibî uxdhâ thwât uxdhôibyô
ýasnâ thwât ýasnôibyô.
Translated Text:
This we do
in accordance with Righteousness,
and Good Mind,
and Good Dominion;
with praises that are Yours, (Lord),
with words that are Yours,
with venerations that are Yours.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 1.10 = Yasna 35.10)
Summary Substance:
The congregation concludes the prayer by praising and venerating
God and by vowing to act according to righteousness, with good mind and
within a good dominion.
Pondering Points:
Praise God, be righteous, use good mind, enjoy good dominion.
Song 2 = Yasna Section
36.
Leading Light
253rd Day
Transliterated Text:
ahyâ
thwâ âthrô verezęnâ
paouruyę pairî-jasâmaidę
mazdâ ahurâ thwâ thwâ
mainyű spęnishtâ ýę â
axtish ahmâi ýęm axtôyôi dĺnghę.
Translated Text:
Around You,
within this fire enclosure,
First of all, we walk,
Wise Lord, again and again,
Through the Most Incremental Mentality.
Reverence to it, which You appoint for reverence.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 2.1 = Yasna 36.1)
Summary Substance:
The congregation is standing around a fire altar within an enclosure.
Walking around it for several times, the prayerful have the Wise
Lord only in their mind. Fire
represents the Divine Faculty of Creation and Promotion -- the
Progressive Mentality, a faculty worthy of reverence while standing in
front of its symbol.
Pondering Points:
Fire, symbol of light, warmth and energy, reminds of the divine
creativity.
254th Day
Transliterated Text:
urvâzishtô
hvô nĺ ýâtâyâ
paitî-jamyĺ âtare mazdĺ ahurahyâ
urvâzishtahyâ urvâzyâ nămishtahyâ nemanghâ nĺ
mazishtâi ýĺnghăm paitî-jamyĺ.
Translated Text:
The most
perfect bliss, through progress,
Meet us, Fire of the Wise (Lord).
The blissful of the most perfect bliss,
Through the respects of the most respecting,
Meet us at the greatest of events.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 2.2 = Yasna 36.2)
Summary Substance:
The occasion is the greatest event of life, the Ceremony of the Choice
of Religion -- the Initiation. Standing
before the altar, the praying initiates see Fire as the symbol of
perfect happiness, the divine blessing.
They venerate it and pray for the bliss on that occasion.
Pondering Points:
Choice of Religion is the greatest turn in one's life.
Be fully enlightened to make it.
255th Day
Transliterated Text:
âtarsh
vôi mazdĺ ahurahyâ ahî
mainyush vôi ahyâ spęnishtô ahî
hyat vâ tôi nâmanăm vâzishtem
âtare mazdĺ ahurahyâ
tâ thwâ pairi-jasâmaidę.
Translated Text:
Fire, you
belong to the Wise Lord.
You are His Most Progressive Mentality.
It is the swiftest of your names,
O Fire of the Wise Lord.
Through it, we encircle You.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 2.3 = Yasna 36.3)
Summary Substance:
Fire in the Gathic Doctrine symbolizes the Divine Mentality of Creation.
This is the best description of a symbol that represents light,
warmth and energy. With the
concept that Fire is a divine symbol, the prayerful encircle the
altar.
Pondering Points:
Fire as light represents enlightenment, as warmth love, and as energy
animation - factors that create life.
256th Day
Transliterated Text:
vohű
thwâ mananghâ vohű thwâ ashâ
vanghuyĺ thwâ cistôish shyaothanâishcâ
vacębîshcâ pairijasâmaidę.
Translated
Text:
We encircle
You,
Through Good Mind and Good Righteousness,
Through deeds and words of good perceptions
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 2.4 = Yasna 36.4)
Summary Substance:
The prayerful encircling the fire-altar pray that they are approaching
God through good mind, righteousness and their good deeds and words
translated from their good perception.
Pondering Points:
The way to approach God is through good and precise thoughts, words and
deeds.
257th Day
Transliterated Text:
nemaxyâmahî
ishűidyâmahî
thwâ mazdâ ahurâ
vîspâish thwâ humatâish vîspâish hűxtâish
vîspâish hvarshtâish pairi-jasâmaidę.
Translated Text:
We bow, we
implore,
You, Lord Wise,
You, with all good thoughts, all good words,
And all good deeds, we encircle.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 2.5 = Yasna 36.5)
Summary Substance:
The prayerful end their prayers with a humble statement.
They are encircling Mazda Ahura with all their good thoughts,
good words and deeds -- all they can offer.
Pondering Points:
Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deed - what else one has to offer?
258th Day
Transliterated Text:
sraęshtăm
at tôi kehrpęm kehrpăm
âvaędayamahî mazdâ
ahurâ imâ raocĺ
barezishtem barezimanăm
avat ýât hvarę avâcî.
Translated Text:
Wise Lord,
of these lights,
The highest of the high,
Called the Sun,
We declare
The sublimest of Your splendors.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 2.6 = Yasna 36.6)
Summary Substance:
The congregation is facing the sun and praying, only to say that the
highest light is the best of lights in their eyes.
Pondering Points:
Praising God for the wonders of creation we observe.
Song 3 =
Yasna Section 37
Venerating
the Creator
and the Creation
259th Day
Transliterated Text:
ithâ ât
ýazamaidę
ahurem mazdăm ýę gămcâ
ashemcâ dât apascâ dât urvarĺscâ
vanguhîsh raocĺscâ dât
bűmîmcâ vîspâcâ vohű.
Translated Text:
Truly, we
venerate
The Lord Wise, Who created the living world,
And righteousness, the waters, the plants,
Created the goodly lights
The land and all that is good.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 3.1 = Yasna 37.1)
Summary Substance:
The congregation venerates Ahura Mazda, Lord Wise, as the Creator of
Universal Law of Righteousness, the living world of animals, waters,
plants, luminaries, the earth and all the good creation.
The prayerful look upon the universe as a good creation of
God.
Pondering Points:
The Good Creator with a Good Creation.
See nothing wrong with the universe.
See no evil at all.
260th Day
Transliterated Text:
ahyâ
xshathrâcâ mazęnâcâ
havapanghâishcâ tęm at
ýasnanăm paurvatâtâ ýazamaidę
ýôi gęush hacâ shyeińtî.
Translated Text:
Through His
power, greatness,
And skills, Him now
We venerate........
With the choice of praises;
(We, who live peacefully
in company of the living world.)
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 3.2 = Yasna 37.2)
Summary Substance:
They venerate God with the best of their praises for the Divine power
and skill. They thank God for the peaceful life they enjoy in the living
world.
Pondering Points:
Look at Divine power and skill for your peaceful life.
261st Day
Transliterated Text:
tęm at
âhűiryâ nâmęnî
mazdâ-varâ speńtôtęmâ ýazamaidę
tęm ahmâkâish azdibîshcâ
ushtânâishcâ ýazamaidę
tęm ashâunăm fravashîsh
narămcâ nâirinămcâ ýazamaidę.
Translated Text:
Him with
lordly names,
Most intelligent, most progressive we venerate,
Him, with our bodies
And lives, we venerate.
Him [and] the conviction of the righteous,
-- men and women, we venerate.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 3.3 = Yasna 37.3)
Summary Substance:
They, with body and life, praise God.
They mention the divine names which reflect super intelligence
and progress. And they
praise faith and conviction held by righteous men and women.
Pondering Points:
Praise God that remind divine intelligence and progress.
262nd Day
Transliterated Text:
ashem at
vahishtem
ýazamaidę hyat sraęshtem
hyat speńtem [hyat] ameshem
hyat raocôńnghvat hyat vîspâ vohű.
Translated Text:
The Best
righteousness
We venerate, which is the sublimest,
The incremental, the eternal,
The luminous, all good.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 3.4 = Yasna 37.4)
Summary Substance:
Next they praise best righteousness, the Universal Law of
Precision. It is the
sublimest, progressive, eternal, bright, in fact all goodness.
Pondering Points:
Precision is the best good.
263rd Day
Transliterated Text:
vohucâ
manô ýazamaidę
vohucâ xshathrem vanguhîmcâ
daęnăm vanguhîmcâ fseratűm
vanguhîmcâ âramaitîm.
Translated Text:
We venerate
good mind,
Good dominion, good
Conscience, Good Felicity
And good serenity
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 3.5 = Yasna 37.5)
Summary Substance:
The congregation venerates, among the Primal Principles of Life,
good mind, good sovereignty, good conscience, good joy and happiness,
and good stability and tranquility.
Pondering Points:
Venerating principles of life is living with them.
Song 4 =
Yasna Section 38.
Venerating
Nature
264th Day
Transliterated Text:
imăm
âat zăm genâbîsh
hathrâ ýazamaidę ýâ-nĺ baraitî
ýĺscâ tôi genĺ ahurâ mazdâ
ashât hacâ vairyĺ tĺ ýazamaidę.
Translated Text:
Together
with the womenfolk,
Here we venerate this Earth that supports us
And them -- the women, who Lord Wise,
Belong to You on account of their righteousness.
Them we venerate also.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 4.1 = Yasna 38.1)
Summary Substance:
Men and women gather to venerate the earth which supports us.
Special respects are paid to those women who have dedicated
themselves to serve God through righteousness - an appreciation of the
women who served in spreading the Good Religion and are remembered by
name in the Farvardin Yasht.
Pondering Points:
Earth as our mother symbolizes dedicated womanhood.
265th
Day
Transliterated Text:
îzhĺ
ýaoshtayô ferashtayô
âramatayô vanguhîm âbîsh ashîm
vanguhîm îshem vanguhîm âzűitîm
vanguhîm frasastîm
vanguhîm paręńdîm ýazamaidę.
Translated Text:
Devotion,
integrity, renovation,
Serenity, and through them good reward,
Good aspiration, good invocation,
Good guidance,
and good abundance we venerate.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 4.2 = Yasna 38.2)
Summary Substance:
Continuing with their veneration, the congregation mentions devotion,
integrity, renovation, and tranquility which reward one with good
aspiration, invocation, guidance, and plenitude.
Pondering Points:
Pursuing good brings good.
266th Day
Transliterated Text:
apô at
ýazamaidę
maękaińtîshcâ hębvaińtîshcâ
fravazanghô huperethwĺscâ
vĺ hvôkhzhathĺscâ hűshnâthrĺscâ
Translated Text:
Waters we
venerate,
The dammed [pond], the collected [lake],
The running [stream], the well-banked [river],
The well-gushing [waterfall] and the well-bathing [sea].
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 4.3 = Yasna 38.3)
Summary Substance:
The prayerful venerate various types of water -- water in the
pond, lake, stream, river, the waterfall and the sea.
Water in all these shapes is dear to them.
Pondering Points:
Venerate water to vow not to pollute or waste it.
267th Day
Transliterated Text:
űitî
ýâ vę vanguhîsh ahurô mazdĺ
nâmă dadât vanghudĺ hyat vĺ dadât
tâish vĺ ýazamaidę tâish fryănmahî
tâish nemaxyâmahî tâish ishűidyâmahî.
Translated Text:
Thus, O good
ones, are your names, which
The Lord Wise gave; which the Good-giver gave you.
Through them, we venerate, we please;
Through them, we bow; through them, we implore you.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 4.4 = Yasna 38.4)
NOTE:
While the first three stanzas of Song 4 are in eight-syllable
line meter, this stanza is in eleven-syllable meter.
The difference in the meter and the change in the context show
that this stanza and the following one are later addition.
They are not in tune with the Gathic care for Nature.
The names of different shapes of water are taken by the composer
as if they were named by God.
Summary Substance:
The names of various shapes of water are divine names.
The composer highly venerates them and wishes to have their
favor.
Pondering Points:
Veneration of Nature is to understand its true value, and not to worship
it.
268th Day
Transliterated Text:
apascâ
vĺ azîshcâ vĺ mâterăshcâ vĺ agenyĺ
drigudâyanghô vîspô-paitîsh
avaocâmâ vahishtĺ sraęshtĺ
avâ vę vanguhîsh râtôish
daregô-bâzâush nâshű
paitî-vyâdĺ paitî-sęńdĺ
mâtarô jîtayô.
Translated Text:
Waters, you
clouds,
you mothers, you cows,
supporters of the righteous poor, ladies of all,
we have declared the best, the sublimest.
O good ones, through your powerful favor
in distress;
pelters, envelopes,
lively mothers.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 4.5 = Yasna 38.5)
Commentary:
The veneration of water as a later addition continues.
Here in this stanza, it is addressed to clouds laden with water.
Clouds are called mothers and cows because like the two who give
milk, the clouds give water. Rains
bring relief to poor farmers and are therefore called generous ladies.
Clouds are powerful enough to help people in drought and
distress. They dispel
drought by pelting it with rain drops and envelop it with pouring water.
They are lively mothers, indeed.
A nice piece of praise of clouds by a poet/poetess who awaits the
rains hovering in clouds to come down and water his/her thirsty
land.
Pondering Points:
Hovering help heightens hope.
Song 5 =
Yasna Section 39
Venerating
Righteous Men and Women
269th Day
Transliterated Text:
ithâ ât
ýazamaidę
gęush urvânemcâ tashânemcâ
ahmâkęńg âat urunô pasukanămcâ
ýôi nĺ jîjisheńtî
ýaęibyascâ tôi â ýaęcâ aęibyô â anghen.
Translated Text:
Thus we
venerate
the soul and fashioner of the living world;
also our souls and those of the domestic animals
which make us live;
and of those who are Yours;
and those who belong to these.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 5.1 = Yasna 39.1)
Summary Substance:
The prayerful venerate the Creator and the soul of living world
of ours. They express their
regards for their own souls and those of their domestic animals, the
animals which provide them with livelihood.
They also venerate all that belongs to the Creator and the
creation.
Pondering Points:
Appreciating the creation helps to understand God and have confidence in
self.
270th Day
Transliterated Text:
daitikanămcâ
aidyűnăm
hyat urunô ýazamaidę
ashâunăm âat urunô ýazamaidę
kudô-zâtanămcît
narămcâ nâirinămcâ
ýaęshăm vahehîsh daęnĺ
vanaińtî vâ vęńghen vâ vaonarę vâ.
Translated Text:
Also we
venerate the souls of
the helpful law-abiding.
And we venerate the souls of the righteous,
born in whatever land,
both men and women,
whose good consciences
are growing, have grown or shall grow.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 5.2 = Yasna 39.2)
Summary Substance:
The veneration continues. The
souls of those who abide by law and are helpful to others are venerated.
Also venerated are all righteous people, men and women, born in
whatever land, and whose good conscience and vision are
progressing.
Pondering Points:
Men and women with progressing conscience and helping hands abound in
every land.
271st Day
Transliterated Text:
ât ithâ
ýazamaidę
vanghűshcâ ît vanguhîshcâ ît
speńtęńg ameshęńg ýavaęjyô ýavaęsvô
ýôi vanghęush â-mananghô
shyeińtî ýĺscâ űitî.
Translated Text:
Thus we
venerate
good men and women,
incremental, eternal, ever-gaining, ever-growing,
those men and women,
who live a life of good mind.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 5.3 = Yasna 39.3)
Summary Substance:
The congregation holds in high regard men and women who are
progressive in every walk of their life based on wisdom and good mind.
Such people are eternal and always gaining and growing in mind
and body.
Pondering Points: Wisdom makes one ever-progressing
in good life.
272nd Day
Transliterated Text:
ýathâ
tű î ahurâ
mazdâ męńghâcâ vaocascâ
dĺscâ vareshcâ ýâ vohű
athâ tôi dademahî athâ cîshmahî
athâ thwâ âish ýazamaidę
athâ nemaxyâmahî
athâ ishűidyâmahî
thwâ mazdâ ahurâ.
Translated Text:
Just as You,
Lord
Wise, thought, spoke,
performed and practiced good,
so we offer You, so we announce;
so we, through these, venerate You,
so we bow,
so we implore,
You, Wise Lord!
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 5.4 = Yasna 39.4)
Summary Substance:
The prayerful humbly worship God because they know well that what God
thinks, speaks, acts and practices is all good. It is a loving
veneration and not a fearing feeling or an appeasing appeal.
Pondering Points:
Praising God for goodness.
273rd Day
Transliterated Text
:
vanghęush
xvaętęush xvaętâtâ
vanghęush ashahyâ
thwâ pairijasâmaidę
vanghuyĺ feseratvô
vanghuyĺ âramatôish.
Translated Text:
Through the
relationship of the good family,
[through the possession] of good Righteousness,
we encircle You,
in good felicity,
with good serenity.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 5.5 = Yasna 39.5)
Summary Substance:
Feeling bound together and adhering to righteousness, members of
a good family approach Mazda with great happiness and in good
tranquility.
Pondering Points:
Righteousness begins with good family ties.
Song 6 =
Yasna Section 40
Intellect To
Serve
274th Day
Transliterated Text:
âhű at
paitî adâhű
mazdâ ahurâ mazdămcâ
bűiricâ kereshvâ râitî tôi
xrapaitî ahmat hyat aibî,
hyat mîzhdem mavaęthem fradadâthâ
daęnâbyô mazdâ ahurâ.
Translated Text:
Among these
rewards,
Wise Lord, there is "higher intellect" also.
Make it stronger by Your favor,
so that it becomes adequate.
That reward You gave us people
for the consciences, Wise Lord.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 6.1 = Yasna 40.1)
Summary Substance:
Of all the good things granted by God, "higher intellect"
(note the word used is "mazdâ") is outstanding.
The congregation prays that this reward be strengthened so that
it becomes a part of human promotion.
It is a gift that polishes one's conscience.
Pondering Points:
Intellect is the best prize.
275th Day
Transliterated Text:
ahyâ
hvô nę dâidî ahmâicâ
ahuyę manaxyâicâ tat
ahyâ ýâ tat upâ-jamyâmâ
tavacâ huxemâ ashaxyâcâ vîspâi ýavę.
Translated Text:
Grant us of
this ("higher intellect") for this
and the mental existence;
so that we draw near
Your Fellowship and that of Righteousness
for ever
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 6.2 = Yasna 40.2)
Summary Substance:
The congregation prays for higher intellect for both their mental and
material, spiritual and
physical lives so that people draw closer to the Divine Fellowship of
Humanity and the Universal Law of Righteousness, and enjoy it for ever.
It is a prayer for serving the living world through sound
wisdom.
Pondering Points:
Intellect leads to righteous service and guides closer to God.
276th Day
Transliterated Text:
dâidî
at nerăsh mazdâ ahurâ
ashâunô ashacinanghô
aidyűsh vâstryęńg daregâi
îzhyâi bezvaitę haxmainę
ahmaibyâ ahmâ-rafenanghô.
Translated Text:
Grant it to
persons, Lord,
[who are] righteous, right-seeking,
helpful, long-settled
to promote the zealous Fellowship
of ours and our supporters.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 6.3 = Yasna 40.3)
Summary Substance:
The prayer continues asking God to grant higher intellect to
those who are righteous people, those who continue to seek more
righteousness, and those who are well settled and help others to be
rehabilitated -- all this to promote the Universal Fellowship of
Zarathushtrians and their supporters.
Pondering Points:
Intellect helps rehabilitate people to live righteous life.
277th Day
Transliterated Text:
athâ
xvaętűsh athâ verezęnâ
athâ haxęmă xyât ýâish hishcamaidę
athâ vę utâ xyâmâ mazdâ ahurâ
ashavanô ereshyâ ishtęm râitî.
Translated Text:
Thus we
serve the families, thus the communities,
thus the fellowships.
Thus for You, Wise Lord, we may be also
righteous by the truly desired favor.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 6.4 = Yasna 40.4)
Summary Substance:
It is with higher intellect and wisdom, the very desired favor
the praying people are asking for that they will serve families,
communities and fellowships, in fact the entire humanity.
The favor will turn them all into truly righteous people.
Pondering Points:
Supreme wisdom helps to serve humanity.
Song 7 =
Yasna Section 41
Praises of
Love
278th Day
Transliterated Text:
stűtô
garô vahmęńg ahurâi mazdâi
ashâicâ vahishtâi dademahicâ
cîshmahicâ âcâ âvaędyâmahî.
Translated Text:
Praises,
songs and loves to the Lord Wise
and the Best Righteousness, we offer,
we announce and we address.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 7.1 = Yasna 41.1)
Summary Substance:
The praying people sing their praises of love to God and the
Divine Law of Righteousness.
Pondering Points:
Praying with love to live with righteousness.
279th Day
Transliterated Text:
vohű
xshathrem tôi mazdâ
ahurâ apaęmâ vîspâ ýavę
huxshathrastű nę nâ vâ nâirî vâ xshaętâ
ubôyô anghvô hâtăm hudâstemâ.
Translated Text:
Your Good
Dominion, O Wise Lord finally for ever!
May a good governor, man or women, govern us
in both the existences, 0 Most Beneficent of the living!
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 7.2 = Yasna 41.2)
Summary Substance:
The prayerful express their joy over the establishment of the
good chosen dominion. They
pray to God, the Most Beneficent that the person to govern them, man or
woman, be a good person, one who too would be beneficent and would guide
them in mind and body, spiritually and physically.
Pondering Points:
Only the best in service should be elected to govern.
280th Day
Transliterated Text:
humâîm
thwâ îzhîm ýazatem
ashanghâcim dademaidę
athâ tű nę gayascâ asteńtĺscâ xyĺ
ubôyô anghvô hâtăm hudâstemâ.
Translated Text:
You we
consider super-wise, lovable, adorable,
and an associate for Righteousness.
Thus You may be our life and body
in both the existences, 0 Most Beneficent of the living!
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 7.3 = Yasna 41.3)
Summary Substance:
The congregation considers God, the Most Beneficent to be
super-wise, worthy of devotion, worthy of veneration and an associate of
humans in righteousness. It
considers God to be the very life and body of humankind in this life and
beyond, the mental existence.
Pondering Points:
To love God is to live good.
281st Day
Transliterated Text:
hanaęmâcâ
zaęmâcâ mazdâ ahurâ
thwahmî rafenahî daregâyâu
aęshâcâ thwâ ęmavańtascâ buyamâ
rapôishcâ tű nę daregemcâ ushtâcâ hâtăm hudâstemâ.
Translated Text:
May we earn,
may we gain, Wise Lord,
a long life by Your grace!
May we be active and strong through You!
Support us long and clearly ,
0 Most Beneficent of the living!
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 7.4 = Yasna 41.4)
Summary Substance:
The boons asked and the rewards requested are only to have a
long, active life of
service. The prayerful want
to feel stronger and more confident of the divine beneficent support to
continue their mission.
Pondering Points:
Longevity and activity for better service.
282nd Day
Transliterated Text:
thwôi
staotarascâ măthranascâ ahurâ
mazdâ aogemadaęcâ usmahicâ
vîsâmadaęcâ hyat mîzhdem mavaęthem
fradadâthâ daęnâbyô mazdâ ahurâ.
Translated Text:
Your
praisers and thought-provokers, Lord
Wise, we consider ourselves and we yearn;
and we approach [You], for You gave us people,
the reward for the consciences, Wise Lord.
(Haptanghaiti:
Song 7.5 = Yasna 41.5)
Summary Substance:
Enjoying the divine support and strengthened by their conscience,
members of the Zarathushtrian Fellowship consider themselves as the
praisers of God and thought-provokers of mankind.
They are well on their way to spread the Message.
Pondering Points:
Praise God and provoke thoughts -- the Mission to spread the Message.
YASNA -
Chapter 42.
(Appendix to Yasna Haptanghaiti)
283rd Day
NOTE: Chapter 42
is in verse also, mostly four lines of eleven syllables in a stanza. It
has, in my opinion, hardly any interpolations. But it is not a single
hymn. It is a collection,
rather a haphazard one, of lines and stanzas, most probably added in an
effort to complement what was thought wanting in the Haptanghaiti.
In style, it falls far behind the Gathas and the
Haptanghaiti. It lacks the richness of language. It is monotonous with
its repeated "yazamaides". Although in the Gathic dialect, it
matches well with the non-Gathic Part of the Yasna and should,
therefore, be classified with it. I am of
the opinion that its Gathic phonetics are artificial
It does not have any teachings to impart, no message
to give. It is just a simple veneration of Nature.
Nevertheless, it is interesting -- interesting
because it has a few points
of interest. We shall divide it into
nine parts to assemble the lines subjectwise so as to understand
it better:
1. The
first two lines, which, looking to the customary salutations of the Five
Gathas, should belong to
41-8. These two also prove beyond doubt the end
of the Haptanghaiti. Contrary to the Gathic salutations,
this one is in two poetic lines of ten syllables each.
Perhaps this very poetry let the ball rolling for other verses of
Chapter 42.
2. The
waters have been venerated in the Haptanghaiti, but not their sources,
courses and destinations. Here we have the glacier, the mountain lake,
the spring, the banks and the ocean. We have also the monsoon clouds
arising from the sea and thundering down floods to complete the cycle.
3. The
roads that converge on and diverge out of settlements -- sign of
communication and trade with the outside world.
4. Sky,
earth, mountains, lands and winds complete the physical geography.
5· 'Barley fields' for 'aspen yevin' is of doubtful
meaning. The phrase occurs twice in Yasht 11-3 and 8 and the same forms
are repeated in Siroza 1-7 and II-7.
There, it is preceded by 'flourishing flocks' and therefore one
may accept that the context warrants such a meaning. But the derivation
-- a + span = â + span by Bartholomae is doubtful too. I cannot but
take "a" as negative and translate it as unincreasing and
therefore limited fields as against unlimited grasslands -- a
far-fetched meaning. The variant reading of "aspin yavan"
makes one see 'The two dawn-breaking young Aspins' of the Vedas,
particularly because the lines precede that of 'The two Protector
Fashioner'. The mention in the Yasht and the repetition in the Sirozas
are of the later period and cannot vouchsafe the assumed meaning.
6. The two Protector-Fashioner, in which some
scholars see the old Indo-Iranian pair of Mitra-Varuna.
7. Mazda
(not Ahura) and Zarathushtra follow the above mentioned pair.
8. The 'haoma' verse has been borrowed from Yasna
I0-21 and misplaced here. It does not have the
usual 'ca' and looks more prosaic.
9. The
fire-priests who have come from far to stay for good. Their homelands
are called 'strong in Righteousness'. It shows that they hailed from
places where 'mazdayasnism' prevailed and since this is the first
instance of the word Atharvan, I believe that here we have the Gathic
'mânthrans - thought-provoker preachers and teachers" being
superseded by the learned new converts, who as we know, played the main
part in introducing a changed tone in the pristine pure teachings of
Zarathushtra. Their name at the end of the 'complimentary chapter' to
the Haptanghaiti shows the end of the Gathic period.
The atharvans are the heralders of a new era -- the
era of the 'later' Avesta, of monotonous Yasna prayers, of simple
Vispered ceremonies, of sophisticated Yasht sacrifices and of
complicating Vendidad ritualism. Like Hilmand waters in Khurasan, my
home of the Avestan people, the Message of Zarathushtra would travel
long -- from the singing springs of the Gathic sublimity down to the
zero Zireh of the Vendidad salinity.
Chapter 42, unknowingly of course, depicted the near
past, passing present and far future of the religious trends when it was
composed.
Transliterated Text:
1-
yazamaidę vę ameshâ speńtâ ýasnahę haptanghâtôish hańdâtâ,
apămcâ xĺ ýazamaidę apămcâ peretűsh ýazamaidę, pathămcâ
vîcaranĺ ýazamaidę pathămcâ hańjamanĺ ýazamaidę.
2 -
gairîshcâ afshtacinô yazamaidę vairîshcâ awezhdânĺnghô
yazamaidę, aspenâcâ yevînô yazamaidę pâyűshcâ thwôreshtârâ
yazamaidę, mazdămcâ zarathushtremcâ yazamaidę.
3 - zămcâ
asmanemcâ yazamaidę, vâtemcâ darshîm mazdadâtem yazamaidę
taęremcâ haraithyĺ berezô yazamaidę, dŕ bűmîmcâ vîspâcâ
vohű yazamaidę.
4 - manô
vohű urunascâ ashâunăm yazamaidę, vâsîmcâ yăm pańcâ-sadvarăm
yazamaidę, xaremcâ yim ashavanem yazamaidę yô hishtaitę maidim
zrayanghô vourukashahę, zarayô vourukashem yazamaidę.
5 -
haomemcâ zâirîm berezańtem yazamaidę, haomem frâshmîm
frâdat-gaęthem yazamaidę, haomem dűraoshem yazamaidę.
6 -
apămcâ feraxshaostrem yazamaidę vayămcâ ferafraothrem yazamaidę,
athaurunămcâ paitî-ajăthrem yazamaidę yôi yeyă dűrât
ashô-îshô dah'yunăm, vîspăscâ ameshă speńtă yazamaidę.
Translated Text:
We venerate, 0
incremental immortals,
Your collection of the Seven-Chapter Adoration.
We venerate water sources;
and we venerate water courses.
We venerate road divergences;
and we venerate road convergences.
(Haptanghaiti:
Supplementary Song.1 = Yasna 42.1)
We venerate
water-shedding mountains;
and we venerate water-holding lakes.
We venerate barley fields.
We venerate the two Protector-Fashioners.
We venerate the Wise Lord and Zarathushtra.
(Haptanghaiti:
Supplementary Song.2 = Yasna 42.2)
We venerate
the earth and the sky.
We venerate the strong Mazda-created wind.
We venerate the peak of the High Harati.
We venerate the land and all that is good.
(Haptanghaiti:
Supplementary Song.3 = Yasna 42.3)
We venerate
the good souls of the righteous
We venerate the thundering fifty-fountain clouds.
We venerate the dense seasonal [clouds],
which arise from the middle of the Longshore Sea.
We venerate the Longshore Sea.
(Haptanghaiti:
Supplementary Song.4 = Yasna 42.4)
We venerate
the refreshing body-building Haoma.
We venerate the golden lofty Haoma.
We venerate the death-averter Haoma.
(Haptanghaiti:
Supplementary Song.5 = Yasna 42.5)
We venerate
agitating waters;
We venerate showering winds.
We venerate the never-returning fire-priests
who have come from far 'Right-active' lands.
We venerate all the immortal progressives.
(Haptanghaiti:
Supplementary Song.6 = Yasna 42.6)
Pondering Point:
Venerating
Nature encourages preserving and promoting our natural environment --
the Good Earth.
