Yasna 45 — Ushtavaiti Gatha

45.1. Now I shall proclaim—now listen, now hear, you who come from near and you who seek from far. Now mark all this clearly in your minds. Let not the teacher of evil destroy existence a second time, the lie-bound man, chosen by his evil preference and his tongue.

45.2. Now I shall proclaim the two primal Mainyus of existence. Of these two, the more beneficent spoke thus to the hostile one: “Neither our thoughts, nor teachings, nor understandings; neither our choices, nor words, nor deeds; neither our Daenas, nor our souls agree.”

45.3. Now I shall proclaim the first teaching of this existence, which Ahura Mazda, knowing, declared to me. Those of you who will not enact this formula as I shall conceive and proclaim it—to them the end of existence will be ruin.

45.4. Now I shall proclaim what is best in this existence. Through Asha I know Mazda, who created it, to be the father of active Vohu Manah. His daughter is Armaiti, rich in good deeds. Ahura, who beholds all, is not to be deceived.

45.5. Now I shall proclaim what the Most Beneficent told me—the word best for mortals to hear: “Those who grant me Sraosha and reverence shall come to Haurvatat and Ameretat through the deeds of Vohu Manah”—so spoke Ahura Mazda.

45.6. Now I shall proclaim the greatest of all, praising through Asha the beneficent one whom those who exist call Spenta Mainyu. Let Ahura Mazda hear. In his praise I questioned him through Vohu Manah. Through his insight may he teach me what is best.

45.7. Those who live, those who have lived, and those who shall live seek the saving powers of his abundance. In Ameretat the soul of the one aligned with Asha shall flourish, but lasting anguish shall be the lie-bound man’s. By his Khshathra Ahura Mazda established these things.

45.8. With praises and reverence I shall turn toward him, for now I have seen him with my own eyes: Ahura Mazda, knowing through Asha, through the deed and the word of Vohu Manah. We shall establish his praises in the House of Song.

45.9. We seek to satisfy him together with Vohu Manah—he who, by his will, made prosperity and adversity for us. May Ahura Mazda, through Khshathra, grant vigor to our communities, so that our herds and people may thrive through the good discernment of Asha and Vohu Manah.

45.10. We seek to magnify him with the worship of Armaiti—him who is renowned in the community as Ahura Mazda, since through Asha and Vohu Manah he assigned Haurvatat and Ameretat to his Khshathra, and strength and enduring life-force to his dwelling.

45.11. Whoever hereafter scorns the Daevas and the mortals who scorn him—all others except the one who thinks of him as rightful—that one, through his beneficent Daena, is ally, brother, or father to the future savior of the house, Ahura Mazda.

45.12. Radiance for the one through whom radiance comes to anyone at all. Ruling at will, may Ahura Mazda grant it. Enduring strength, together with life-force, I desire from you; I desire to uphold Asha. Give me this, Armaiti: the rewards of splendor, a life in Vohu Manah. (repeat) Radiance for the one through whom radiance comes to anyone at all. Ruling at will, may Ahura Mazda grant it. Enduring strength, together with life-force, I desire from you; I desire to uphold Asha. Give me this, Armaiti: the rewards of splendor, a life in Vohu Manah. Asha is good; it is best. Radiance is; radiance for the one whose Asha is for the Best Asha. (repeat) Asha is good; it is best. Radiance is; radiance for the one whose Asha is for the Best Asha. Asha is good; it is best. Radiance is; radiance for the one whose Asha is for the Best Asha. We worship the “Now I Shall Proclaim” chapter. We worship those beings, male and female, whom Ahura Mazda knows to be better for worship in accordance with Asha.

45.1. Now I will proclaim; now listen, now hear, you who come from near and you who come from far seeking instruction. Now take all this clearly to heart. Let no evil teacher, choosing badly and speaking with the tongue of the follower of the Lie, destroy existence a second time.

45.2. Now I will proclaim the two spirits at the beginning of existence. The more bountiful of the two spoke to the hostile one: “Neither our thoughts, nor teachings, nor understandings, nor choices, nor words, nor actions, nor Daenas, nor souls agree.”

45.3. Now I will proclaim the foremost teaching about this existence, which Ahura Mazda, the knowing one, told me. Those among you who do not perform this formula as I shall think and declare it—for them the end of existence will be disastrous.

45.4. Now I will proclaim what is best in this existence. From Asha, Mazda knows him who created it: the father of active Vohu Manah. His daughter is Armaiti, rich in good action. Ahura, who sees all, cannot be deceived.

45.5. Now I will proclaim what the most bountiful one told me as the best word for mortals to hear: “Those who give me Sraosha and obedience will reach Wholeness and Immortality through the actions of Vohu Manah”—so says Ahura Mazda.

45.6. Now I will proclaim the greatest of all, praising through Asha the one who is beneficent. Let Ahura Mazda hear through Spenta Mainyu. I questioned him in praise through Vohu Manah. By his understanding, may he instruct me in what is best.

45.7. Those who seek his benefits will receive his gifts—those who have lived, those who live now, and those who will live. In Immortality, the soul of the Ashavan will be strong, but the man who follows the Lie will suffer lasting torments. Ahura Mazda established these things through his Dominion.

45.8. Let us honor him with praises and reverence. Now I have indeed seen him with my own eyes, recognizing Ahura Mazda through Asha in the action and word of Vohu Manah. Let us set down our praises for him in the House of Song.

45.9. Let us satisfy him together with Vohu Manah—the one who, according to his will, made both prosperity and adversity for us. May Ahura Mazda, through Dominion, enable our communities to prosper, along with our livestock and people, through the good dwelling of Asha and Vohu Manah.

45.10. Let us glorify him with the worship of Armaiti—the one renowned as Ahura Mazda in the community, because through Asha and Vohu Manah he assigned Wholeness and Immortality to his Dominion, and strength and lasting power to his dwelling.

45.11. Whoever henceforth scorns the Daevas and the mortals who scorn him—everyone other than the one who regards him properly—is a benefactor of the land through the saving, Spenta Daena. Such a person is your ally, brother, or father, Mazda Ahura.

45.12. Happiness to the one through whom happiness comes. May Ahura Mazda, ruling as he wills, grant it to anyone. I seek lasting strength from you. Through Asha, may I uphold that strength. Give me this, Armaiti: the rewards of wealth and a life of Vohu Manah. (..) Happiness to the one through whom happiness comes. May Ahura Mazda, ruling as he wills, grant it to anyone. I seek lasting strength from you. Through Asha, may I uphold that strength. Give me this, Armaiti: the rewards of wealth and a life of Vohu Manah. Asha is good; it is best. Happiness is; happiness comes to the one whose Asha is for the best Asha. (..) Asha is good; it is best. Happiness is; happiness comes to the one whose Asha is for the best Asha. Asha is good; it is best. Happiness is; happiness comes to the one whose Asha is for the best Asha. We worship the section “Now I will proclaim.” Among existing beings, Ahura Mazda knows whom it is good to worship, according to Asha. We worship all such men and women.