Yashts 23

Âfrîn Paighambar Zartûst

'I am a pious man, who speaks words of blessing.' -Thou appearest unto me full of Glory.' And Zarathustra spake unto king Vistâspa, saying: 'I bless thee, O man! O lord of the country! with the living of a good life, of an exalted life, of a long life. May thy men live long! May thy women live long! May sons be born unto thee of thy own body!

Mayest thou have a son like Gâmâspa, and may he bless thee as (Gâmâspa blessed) Vistâspa (the lord) of the country! 'Mayest thou be most beneficent, like Mazda! 'Mayest thou be fiend-smiting, like Thraêtaona! 'Mayest thou be strong, like Gâmâspa! 'Mayest thou be well-armed, like Takhma-Urupa!

'Mayest thou be glorious, like Yima Khshaêta, the good shepherd! 'Mayest thou be instructed with a thousand senses, like Azi Dahâka, of the evil law! 'Mayest thou be awful and most strong, like Keresâspa! 'Mayest thou be a wise chief of assemblies, like Urvâkhshaya! 'Mayest thou be beautiful of body and without fault, like Syâvarshâna "!

Mayest thou be rich in cattle, like an Åthwyanide! 'Mayest thou be rich in horses, like Pourus-aspa! ‘Mayest thou be holy, like Zarathustra Spitama! 'Mayest thou be able to reach the Rangha, whose shores lie afar, as Vafra Navâza was! 'Mayest thou be beloved by the gods and reverenced by men!

May ten sons be born of you! In three of them mayest thou be an Âthravan! In three of them mayest thou be a warrior! In three of them mayest thou be a tiller of the ground! And may one be like thyself, O Vistâspa!

'Mayest thou be swift-horsed, like the Sun! 'Mayest thou be resplendent, like the moon! Mayest thou be hot-burning, like fire! 'Mayest thou have piercing rays, like Mithra! 'Mayest thou be tall-formed and victorious, like the devout Sraosha!

Mayest thou follow a law of truth, like Rashnu! Mayest thou be a conqueror of thy foes, like Verethraghna, made by Ahura! 'Mayest thou have fulness of welfare, like Râma Hvâstra! Mayest thou be freed from sickness and death, like king Husravah!

Then the blessing goes for the bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones. May it happen unto thee according to my blessing! 10 Let us embrace and propagate the good thoughts, good words, and good deeds that have been done and that will be done here and elsewhere, that we may be in the number of the good. 'Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness.... 'Ashem Vohu: Holiness is the best of all good.... [Give] unto that man brightness and glory, bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones.' give him the