Yasna 51

Vohu-xšaθrā Gāthā · Instructions and Appeals to an Assembly of the Faithful

The good Government (of Ahura) is to be chosen (among all wished-for things) as that lot which most of all brings on (our happiness). Actions that oppress us it opposes, through the holy Order (which pervades it), and with the pious zeal (of its true servants). Therefore, O Great Creator! let me produce, and help bring on (that Sovereign Power) which is the best for us at every present hour.

And first I will ask for these two blessings of Your own, O Thou Great Creator, and thou His Righteous Order! and I also ask of thee, Our Piety (personified, as well); and grant me this Your Sovereign Rule over our desired wealth (to give and to preserve it; and likewise) those spiritual blessings which are advantageous for our worship (of Ahura) through (the inspiration of His) Good Mind (within the soul).

(And it is not I alone who thus appeal to You; I speak for all) who are guarded in the (ceremonial and moral) actions of Your (law), and by those (inspired) words (which proceed) from the tongue of Thy Good Mind (as he speaks within Thy Mãthra). Yea, these are all assembling (each) to hear You, of whom Thou, O Ahura Mazda! art the foremost guide and light.

(And they cry aloud to Thee, O Mazda! I speaking with them, and in their name): Where is the (promised) lord of our thrift (the embodied law, saving us from the most dreaded dangers that we fear, the thrift-lord) of (our) ready zeal? Where does he stand to (show us) mercy? Whither are (Thy) Righteousness and the Bountiful Âramaiti (our Piety) approaching? From what direction comes Thy Best Mind (to inspire and to guide)? And whence (again), O Great Creator! Thy Sovereign Power (to be our ruler and defence)?

And it is the tiller of the earth who asks this of Thee, O Ahura! (Thy chosen saint himself); he has asked this all of Thee, striving to discover how he may gain to himself the sacred Kine (and with all wealth in herds beside. And he would seek this) moved by the motives which flow from Thy Righteous Order (and Thy cause), upright as he is in actions, and wise in his self-humbling worship (of that 2 One) who, as a righteous ruler, has appointed a just controlling guide for those whom He has made.

(And in partial answer to his question, and to solve his doubt, I now declare the truth): He who gives to this (good citizen) that which is better than the good; yea, He who bestows on him in accordance with his religious choice is (our) Ahura Mazda (and not a false god of the Daêvas). And this will He bestow through His divine Authority (established in preparation here), while on the withholder of the sacrifice, who offers nothing to His (cause), He will send worse than the evil (and that not here alone, but) in the last turning of the creation in its course!

(And as Thou wilt bestow thus graciously on him), so grant me also, O Thou most bountiful Spirit Mazda, Thou who hast made both the Kine and the waters and the plants 2 (for her support)! both Immortality and Welfare, those two eternal powers, and through Thy Good Mind in the doctrine (which is revealed through his inspired words).

(Yea, grant me these two inseparable gifts, for having them in store) I will speak for Thee, O Mazda! because to the man of understanding one should declare for Thee that which is woe to the wicked, but salvation to him who has maintained the holy Order (in Thy folk and in his soul). For he is (repaid in his deed, and) rejoiced by the Mãthra who declares it to the wise.

(And when I shall speak, I will declare for You that mental) keenness (which reaches the decision), and which Thou hast bestowed upon the two striving sides, (in Thy satisfying word). And this I will announce by means of Thy flaming Fire; yea, I will declare it for the bestowal of that sword of justice which is forged from steel, and wrought for both the worlds. And for the wounding of the wicked (with its blade) may'st Thou, O Ahura Mazda! bless and prosper Thine (avenging) saint!

(Yea, let Thy believer wound the wicked to the quick), for he, who totally estranged from this (our holy rule), O Mazda! seeks to destroy my life, is a son of the Lie's creation, and belongs to the miscreants; (but as for me), I call on Asha (Thy Righteous Order to be my help); and may he come with Thy good blessing.

(And ye who throng the great assembly?, it is of you I speak while, with my lips, I now address the Lord): Who, O Ahura! is a loyal friend to the Spitâma, to Zarathustra? Who has asked his question of the divine Righteousness, (as he approached')? By whom is the bounteous Piety (received and cherished)? Or who has been regarded as upright and fitted for the great cause of Thy Good Mind?

(Who is worthy?' would I ask, for Zarathustra was ever such, and from earliest days. He was no polluted wretch.) Paederast never gained his ear, nor Kavi-follower on this (temptation-)bridge of earth, when his body was (maturely) grown, when they both hasten(ed) to him with the bosom's' impure power.

(And he will be likewise victorious on the veritable Judgment Bridge, for) the righteous man's conscience will truly crush the wicked man's (spirit) while his soul rages fiercely on the open Kinvat Bridge, as he strives by his actions, and his tongue's (cursing speech) to reach 1 (and to pollute) Asha's paths (where the faithful souls come).

(And as are those lost spirits, so are our foes.) No friends to the creatures are the Karpans, (not granting) complete (harvests) from the fields with complete (pasture) for the Kine (chief objects for our prayer), bringing woe by their deeds and their teachings. And they will deliver these (beings whom they lead) at the last (?) by their doctrine(s) in the Home of the Lie.

But this is the reward which Zarathustra declared before (to his friends who counsel with Asha), and are fitted for the cause; Ahura Mazda will come the first into His Song Home, Garôdman, and then these gifts will be given you by the Good Mind (within you), and with blessings for the cause of the Righteous Order (in His hosts).

(And one of you, the greatest, has indeed attained to that wisdom which is thus blessed with a promise), Kavi Vistâspa has reached it in the Realm of our great cause (of devotion), and moved in his toil by the chants of the Good Mind (who speaks in the Mathra); yea, he hath attained to that wisdom which the bountiful Ahura conceived in accordance with Asha, thus to teach us salvation.

(And not alone amidst our princes hath sanctity been marked), Frashaostra, the Hvôgva, hath presented a blest and an endeared form (his child); and may Ahura Mazda, who has the Sovereign Power, grant her (to us), who is so much to be beloved. And for the (progress of the) good Religion do ye, O ye people! receive her with desire, and for the gaining of Asha; (she will help the great cause).

Yea, that (holy) wisdom, O Gâmâspa the Hvôgva! these (pious throngs) are choosing through their Righteousness as the (true) splendours of riches (these pious men who are) gaining the kingdom where the Good Mind (doth govern). And grant me also, O Mazda! that which these with glad wishes receive from Thy grace.

(And this prayer is already and beforehand heard.) This established Sovereign Power the heroic (Kavi Vistâspa has given), O Maidhyô-mâh the Spitâma. He who is wise through the Religion, and who seeks (the true) life, he is granting it to us; yea, he has pronounced the laws of Ahura our Maker, and declared that which is for (our) life's actions (beyond all other things) best.

And, that gift of blessedness for you, all (the Bountiful Immortals) with one consent in sympathy to help us (are disposed) to grant; (and may they likewise make) the Holy Order (firm) for us through the Good Mind (in our folk); and may they reveal to us the words with which Piety likewise (speaks her truths). And receiving sacrifice with homage (from our praises), may they seek for us Ahura Mazda's grace.

(Yea, this Kavi Vistâspa) the man of Âramaiti is bounteous, and with understanding in his words and his actions. (And as a reward) may Ahura give him that Righteousness which is blest, (but) with the Religion (alone), and that Sovereign Power which is established through the Good Mind (in His folk). And this same blessing would I pray from His grace'.

For Ahura Mazda knoweth the man whose best gift for the sacrifice is given unto me, and from the motive of Righteousness; (and in thankfulness for all, and in prayer for yet still further grace), I will worship (the eternal ones); yea, I will worship those who have ever lived, and who still live, and by their own (holy) names, and to their (thrones) will I draw near with my praise!