Ushtavaiti
Gatha
Song 8
THE SONGS LEADING TO RADIANT
HAPPINESS
104th Day
NOTE: The second
collection of four songs is called Ushtavaiti,
possessing Ushtâ, the first
word of the first song. Ushtâ,
mentioned eight times in the Gathas and many more times in the Later
Avesta, carries a subtle meaning. Derived
from “ush” to shine, it carries a notion of “health and happiness”
that is radiated around to
make others healthy and happy. It
is used as “hailing” salute also -- Ushtâ!, Hail!, Ushtâ tê, ushtâ
to thee, Ushta nô, ushtâ to us!
Realization--Self,
Nature, God
Transliterated Text:
ushtâ
ahmâi ýahmâi ushtâ kahmâicît
vasê-xshayãs mazdå dâyât ahurô
utayûitî tevîshîm gat tôi vasemî
ashem deredyâi tat môi då ârmaitî
râyô ashîsh vanghêush gaêm mananghô
Translated Text:
May the Wise,
Ruling-at-will God
grant radiant happiness to the person
who radiates happiness to any other person at large.
I pray for steadfast strength and courage
in order to uphold righteousness.
Grant me through serenity
the blessings of a rich life of good mind.
(Gathas:
Song 8.1)
Substance Summary:
The Wise God rules at his will, a will that grants radiant
happiness to whosoever gives radiating happiness to others without
discrimination. All joining
to create a healthy healthy and happy happy world.
Zarathushtra wants steadfast strength and courage not for physical
power but to serve righteousness. And he wants stability that produces a
rich life based on good mind -- a blessing to live, a life to spread
happiness, a happiness that is shared by all.
Pondering
Points: True happiness radiates happiness, enriches
life.
105th Day
Transliterated Text:
atcâ
ahmâi vîspanãm vahishtem
xvâthrôyâ nâ hvâthrem daidîtâ
thwâ cîcîthwâ spênishtâ mainyû mazdâ
ýâ då ashâ vanghêush mâyå mananghô
vîspâ ayârê daregôjyâtôish urvâdanghâ.
Translated Text:
Moreover, may
the best of blessings
come to the person who gives blessings to others.
Wise One, may his knowledge grow
throughout the days of his long life of joy,
through Your most progressive mentality,
the wondrous wisdom of good mind
which You created by means of righteousness.
(Gathas:
Song 8.2)
Summary Substance:
Zarathushtra's guiding benediction continues: The best blessings go to the
very person who blesses others. The
blessings are the knowledge one imparts to others.
Teaching increases knowledge and one enjoys the long days of life.
This increasing knowledge is a divine gift through the progressive
mentality which is but the super-wisdom of good mind, a faculty created by
Mazda through the Universal Law of Precision.
Pondering
Points: Teaching increases knowledge, prolongs joyful
life.
106th Day
Transliterated Text:
at hvô
vanghêush vahyô nâ aibî- jamyât
ýê nå erezûsh savanghô pathô sîshôit
ahyâ anghêush astvatô mananghascâ
haithyêñg âstîsh ýêñg â-shaêtî ahurô
aredrô thwâvãs huzêñtushe speñtô mazdâ.
Translated Text:
And may that
person get much good
who teaches us the straight paths of progress.
May he, in his physical and mental life,
truly attain the existence where God dwells,
for, Wise One, he is like You;
sincere, noble, and progressive.
(Gathas:
Song 8.3)
Summary Substance:
Continuing his guiding benediction, Zarathushtra goes further:
The person who teaches straight paths of progress gets more than
good in reward. He/she
mentally and physically experiences the very presence of Ahura.
In fact, he/she becomes like Mazda -- sincere, noble and above all,
progressive.
Pondering
Points: Teach others to truly progress, feel
progressively godlike.
107th Day
Transliterated Text:
at thwâ
mêñghâi taxmemcâ speñtem mazdâ
hyat tâ zastâ ýâ tû hafshî avå
ýå då ashîsh dregvâitê ashâunaêcâ
thwahyâ garemâ âthrô ashâ-aojanghô
hyat môi vanghêush hazê jimat mananghô.
Translated Text:
Wise One, I
realize You to be powerful and progressive
because You help with Your own hand.
You give rewards to both the wrongful and the righteous
by means of the warmth of Your fire
which is mighty through righteousness,
and through which strength of good mind comes to me.
(Gathas:
Song 8.4)
Substance Summary:
Zarathushtra realizes Mazda, Super-Intellect, to be powerful and
progressive when he finds God directly helping both the wrongful and the
righteous. He realizes that
the divine help comes through loving enlightenment, firmly based on the
Universal Law of Precision -- the very enlightenment that gives strength
to Zarathushtra through his good mind, good thinking.
Pondering
Points: Warm enlightenment helps and strengthens all who
think for themselves.
108th Day
Transliterated Text:
speñtem at
thwâ mazdâ mêñghî ahurâ
hyat thwâ anghêush zãthôi daresem paourvîm
hyat då shyaothanâ mîzhdavãn ýâcâ uxdhâ
akêm akâi vanguhîm ashîm vanghaovê
thwâ hunarâ dâmôish urvaêsê apêmê.
Translated Text:
I realized
You, God Wise, to be progressive
when I saw You
at the birth of life,
and found that You have ordained
that actions and words should have consequences:
bad for the bad, and good for the good.
It shall be so through You excellence
until the final turn of the creation.
(Gathas:
Song 8.5)
Substance Summary:
Zarathushtra now relates his enlightenment experiences in the
following stanzas of the song: He
realizes Mazda to be progressive because he sees full justice in the
divine action. It begins with
the birth of life. Thoughts
when turned into words and deeds have their consequences.
Bad brings bad and good brings good consequences.
This law shall last through divine excellence until the final turn
of creation for the ultimate goal.
Pondering
Points: Consequences
-- bad for bad and good for good -- begin when life begins.
109th Day
Transliterated Text:
ýahmî
speñtâ thwâ mainyû urvaêsê jasômazdâ xshathrâ ahmî vohû
mananghâ
ýehyâ
shyaothanâish gaêthå ashâ frâdeñtê
aêibyô
ratûsh sêñghaitî ârmaitish
thwahyâ
xratêush ýêm naêcish dâbayeitî.
Translated Text:
At that turn,
in which I exist,
You, Wise One, come with Your progressive mentality,
dominion, and good mind, through the actions
of which the living worlds are promoted by righteousness.
Serenity explains to them the proper laws of Your intelligence
which none can deceive.
(Gathas:
Song 8.6)
Substance Summary:
The final turn towards the goal begins with Zarathushtra explaining the
Principles of divine progressive mentality, the good dominion chosen and
established by the people, and good mind which help to promote the living
worlds through righteousness, and the worlds enjoying serenity and
stability get the opportunity to understand the Divine Intelligence which
watches every move and nothing ever escapes its attention.
Pondering
Points: The
final turn to goal begins the day when good mind, righteousness, divine
dominion, stability, and creative mentality begin to work and progress
together.
110th Day
Transliterated Text:
speñtem at
thwâ mazdâ mêñghî ahurâ
hyat mâ vohû pairî-jasat mananghâ
peresatcâ mâ, cish ahî kahyâ ahî
kathâ ayârê daxshârâ ferasayâi dîshâ
aibî thwâhû gaêthâhû tanushicâ.
Translated Text:
I realized
You, God Wise, to be progressive
when I was encircled by it (enlightenment) through good mind,
and it asked: "Who are you? To whom do you belong?
How would you, in these days of questioning,
explain the directives to the living and to yourself?"
(Gathas:
Song 8.7)
Substance Summary:
The enlightenment experience now turns to self.
Zarathushtra realizes Mazda to be progressive when enlightenment
encircles him through his own good mind.
It asks: Who are you? Whom
do you belong to? You stand questioning and do not have all the answers
yet. How would you explain
what the directives are, what the entire message is -- to yourself and to
others? It makes him reflect more.
Pondering
Points: Understand your self first to fully realize God
and the divine purpose.
111th Day
Transliterated Text:
at hôi
aojî zarathushtrô paourvîm
haithyô dvaêshå hyat isôyâ dregvâitê
at ashâunê rafenô xyêm aojôñghvat
hyat âbûshtîsh vasase xshathrahyâ dyâ
ýavat â thwâ mazdâ stâumî ufyâcâ!
Translated Text:
Then I said to
it first: "I am Zarathushtra.
I am, as far as I can be, a
true opponent of the wrongful,
and a strong supporter of the righteous.
In order to establish the adorations of the Ruler-at-will,
I shall continue to praise and glorify You, Wise One.
(Gathas:
Song 8.8)
Substance Summary:
In reply to the enlightenment, Zarathushtra dedicates himself to,
as far as he can, oppose the wrongful people and strongly support the
righteous persons. In
addition, he dedicates himself to continue to weave songs of praise to
Mazda who rules at will, songs which are simultaneously guidance for
mankind.
Pondering
Points: Self-realization means self-dedication to oppose
wrong and help right.
112th Day
Transliterated Text:
speñtem at
thwâ mazdâ mêñghî ahurâ
hyat mâ vohû pairî-jasat mananghâ
ahyâ ferasêm kahmâi vîvîduyê vashî
at â thwahmâi âthrê râtãm nemanghô
ashahyâ mâ ýavat isâi manyâi.
Translated Text:
I realized
You, God Wise, to be progressive
when I was encircled by it through good mind.
To its question:
"For what purpose do you want to acquire knowledge;"
I said: "With the gift of homage to Your fire,
I shall meditate, as long as I can, in quest of righteousness."
(Gathas:
Song 8.9)
Substance Summary:
Zarathushtra realizes Mazda to be progressive when enlightenment encircles
him through his own good mind. It asks him: Why do you want to acquire
knowledge? He says that with
the guidance of the divine FIRE -- light, warmth and strength -- he will
continue to concentrate how to gain knowledge to better proceed on the
path of righteousness.
Pondering
Points: Knowledge enlightens the way to Truth.
113th Day
Transliterated Text:
at tû môi
dâish ashem hyat mâ zaozaomî
âramaitî hacimnô ît ârem
peresâcâ nå ýâ tôi êhmâ parshtâ
parshtêm zî thwâ ýathanâ tat êmavatãm
hyat thwâ xshayãsh aêshem dyât êmavañtem.
Translated Text:
So, show me
righteousness which I continue to invoke.
I am well accompanied by serenity.
Ask us what we want to ask you.
An inquiry by you amounts to an inquiry by the strong,
because the Ruler makes one
strong and powerful through you (the enlightenment).
(Gathas:
Song 8.10)
Substance Summary: Praising
and adhering to righteousness, Zarathushtra wants to see more about it.
His adherence to righteousness has given him serenity and stability. In
his search and research, he wants to know what is the divine will, the
will of the Ruler-at-will (see stanza 8.8).
The knowledge of the divine will, gained through enlightenment to
which Zarathushtra is directing his searching questions, certainly makes
him feel more strong and enlightened.
Pondering
Points: Adhering to righteousness and enjoying stability
gives strength to search more for divine will.
114th Day
Transliterated Text:
speñtem at
thwâ mazdâ mêñghî ahurâ
hyat mâ vohû pairî-jasat mananghâ
hyat xshmâ uxdhâish dîdainghê paourvîm
sâdrâ-môi sãs mashyaêshû zarazdâitish
tat verezyeidyâi hyat môi mraotâ vahishtem.
Translated Text:
I realized
You, God Wise, to be progressive
when I was encircled by it through good mind,
and when I first learned from Your words
that it would be difficult for me to teach people
the devotion to practice what You told me is the best.
(Gathas:
Song 8.11)
Substance Summary:
Zarathushtra realizes Mazda to be progressive
when enlightenment encircles him through his own good mind. He
comprehends the divine message and also realizes that it would be
difficult to teach people, so used to their old-age cultic beliefs, to
accept and practice what Zarathushtra has learned to be the best
religion.
Pondering
Points: Blind
faith bars one from seeing light. Enlighten
them to help them see.
115th Day
Transliterated Text:
hyatcâ
môi mraosh ashem jasô frâxshnenê
at tû-môi nôit asrushtâ pairyaoghzhâ
uzeredyâi parâ hyat môi â-jimat
seraoshô ashî mãzâ-rayâ hacimnô
ýâ vî ashîsh rânôibyô savôi vîdâyât.
Translated Text:
And You said:
"You have come to understand righteousness,
and have not paid attention to disobedience."
I would, therefore, set myself so that revelation comes to me
in company of a splendid reward,
and rewards both the factions (good and bad) with gain.
(Gathas:
Song 8.12)
Substance Summary: With
enlightenment, Zarathushtra realizes that he has understood righteousness
and ignored things worthy of not listening to.
He prepares himself to be in constant communion so that he obtains
what he wants -- a wonderful reward of guiding both the righteous and the
wrongful to gain the final goal.
Pondering
Points: Full attention to the divine voice guides one to
guide others.
116th Day
Transliterated Text:
speñtem at
thwâ mazdâ mêñghî ahurâ
hyat mâ vohû pairî-jasat mananghâ
arethâ vôizdyâi kâmahyâ têm môi dâtâ
daregahyâ ýâush ýêm vå naêcîsh dâresht itê
vairyå stôish ýâ thwahmî xshathrôi vâcî.
Translated Text:
I realized
You, God Wise, to be progressive
when I was encircled by it through good mind,
so that I attain my desired goals.
Grant me a long life which no one has dared to ask for,
the chosen existence, said to exist only in Your dominion.
(Gathas:
Song 8.13)
Substance Summary:
Zarathushtra realizes Mazda to be progressive when enlightenment encircles
him through his own good mind. The
reason: He wants to reach his desired goals.
Not an easy task to accomplish in a short time. So he prays for a
long life, a life he has chosen to serve in the divine dominion of Mazda
Ahura -- the Super-Intellect Being.
To that day, when polytheism and superstitions ruled
minds and bodies, no one had dared to ask for a long life to be dedicated
to serve an entirely new cause. And we know Zarathushtra lived 47 years
after his enlightenment to reach his goals.
Pondering
Points: Live long to serve in the divine dominion chosen
by and for mankind.
117th Day
Transliterated Text:
hyat nâ
fryâi vaêdamnô isvâ daidît
maibyô mazdâ tavâ rafenô frâxshnenem
hyat thwâ xshathrâ ashât hacâ frãshtâ
uzereidyâi azêm saredanå sêñghahyâ
mat tâish vîspâish ýôi-tôi mãthrå mareñtî.
Translated Text:
Just as a wise
and powerful man helps his friend,
Wise One, give me Your enlightening support,
ensuing from righteousness through Your dominion.
I shall, then, motivate and lead those loyal to the teachings
and all those who remember Your thought-provoking message.
(Gathas:
Song 8.14)
Substance Summary:
Zarathushtra knows Mazda as his wise and powerful friend, and asks for
enlightening support -- a support that comes from righteousness, the
universal law of precision and the divine dominion of order and peace.
Enjoying the blessings, Zarathushtra wants to lead his companions
and every person who comprehends the Divine Message to the ultimate
goal.
Pondering
Points: Our support, Mazda, our friend.
Our guide, Zarathushtra, our companion.
118th Day
Transliterated Text:
speñtem
at thwâ mazdâ mêñghî ahurâ
hyat mâ vohû pairî-jasat mananghâ
daxshat ushyâi tushnâ maitish vahishtâ
nôit nâ pourûsh dregvatô h'yât cixshnushô
at tôi vîspêñg añgrêñg ashâunô âdarê.
Translated Text:
I realized
You, God Wise, to be progressive
when I was encircled by it through good mind,
and it showed that silent meditation is the best.
One should never try to please wrongful people
because they hold the righteous as being totally bad.
(Gathas:
Song 8.15)
Substance Summary:
Zarathushtra realizes Mazda to be progressive
when enlightenment encircles him through his own good mind.
It showed that the best way to meditate and concentrate thoughts
was to do in silence. It also
cleared another point. One
must not appease and please wrongdoers.
It does not change them. They continue to consider the righteous as
totally bad people.
Pondering
Points: (1)
Want to get the best, think deep in silence. (2) Appease and change the
hating wrongful? Impossible.
119th Day
Transliterated Text:
at ahurâ
hvô mainyûm zarathushtrô
vereñtê mazdâ ýastê cishcâ spênishtô
astvat ashem xyât ushtânâ aojôñghvat
xvêñg daresôi xshathrôi xyât âramaitish
ashîm shyaothanâish vohû daidît mananghâ.
Translated Text:
Therefore,
Wise God, I, Zarathushtra choose for myself
the very mentality of Yours, which is the most progressive.
May righteousness breath a strong life in body.
May serenity prevail in the sun-bathed dominion.
May the reward for actions be given through good mind.
(Gathas:
Song 8.16)
Substance Summary: Enlightened
by the divine progressive mentality --
the creative faculty, Zarathushtra chooses it for his self.
He prays: May
righteousness infuse his body with strong life. May serenity and stability
prevail in the bright dominion chosen and established by the righteous.
And may people be rewarded by their good mind with radiant
happiness for good actions done through the very good mind.
Pondering
Points: Choose the
progressive mentality, see the reward in body and mind -- health,
happiness, satisfaction, and serenity.
