Yasna 49 — Spentamainyush Gatha

49.1. All my life Bendva, the greatest obstructer, has blocked me—he who seeks to satisfy the crooked through resistance to Asha. Come to me, Mazda, with good reward; come to my aid. Through Vohu Manah, find protection for me from his hostility.

49.2. Bendva’s false doctrine dismays me—the follower of the Lie who, deceitful, turns away from Asha. He has not fostered bounteous Armaiti for his own being, nor, Mazda, has he consulted Vohu Manah.

49.3. Yet for this choosing, Mazda, it has been established: Asha for the one who advances it, the Lie for the false teacher. Therefore I choose fellowship with Vohu Manah, and renounce all fellowship with the follower of the Lie.

49.4. Those of evil understanding who, with their tongues, increase Wrath and violence; who are non-herders among herders; whose evil deeds prevail, not their good deeds—they establish the daēvas: such is the conscience of the follower of the Lie.

49.5. But whoever, Mazda, has joined his conscience with Vohu Manah shall receive both vitality and abundance. Through Armaiti he is of good lineage in Asha, and through all these, Ahura, he is in your Dominion.

49.6. I ask you both, Mazda and Asha, to proclaim what is in your purpose, that we may discern it truly through your Mind, and so make heard that vision of faith which belongs to one like you, Ahura.

49.7. Let Vohu Manah hear this, Mazda; let Asha hear it. Hear it yourself, Ahura. Who, by the ordinances, shall be a member of the community? Who a clansman? Who shall give good renown to the fellowship?

49.8. For Frashaoshtra grant the most joyful union with Asha. This I ask of you, Mazda Ahura—and for me the same in your good Dominion. Through every age may we be your foremost messengers.

49.9. Let the fashioned herdsman hear the teachings for well-being. Let no one of crooked speech, gazing upon the follower of the Lie, destroy their aim. Let the consciences be yoked to the best reward, yoked with Asha—O Jamaspa, in your appeal.

49.10. And this, Mazda, I entrust to your house for safekeeping: Vohu Manah, the souls of the followers of Asha, reverence and Armaiti, vitality and abundance—through Dominion, enduring strength.

49.11. But the souls of evil rulers, evil doers, evil speakers, those of evil conscience and evil mind—the followers of the Lie—return to meet them with foul nourishment. Truly, they shall be guests in the House of the Lie.

49.12. What help have you through Asha for Zarathushtra when he invokes you? What have you through Vohu Manah—you whom I would delight with praises, Mazda Ahura, asking for what you desire as best?

49.13. Through Bounteous Spirit and Best Mind, through Asha, through deed and through word, may Ahura Mazda grant that one Wholeness and Immortality, through Dominion and Armaiti.:: Through Bounteous Spirit and Best Mind, through Asha, through deed and through word, may Ahura Mazda grant that one Wholeness and Immortality, through Dominion and Armaiti.:: Asha is good; it is best.:: Radiance is; radiance is for the one for whom Asha is for the best.:: (..) Asha is good; it is best.:: Radiance is; radiance is for the one for whom Asha is for the best. Asha is good; it is best.:: Radiance is; radiance is for the one for whom Asha is for the best. We worship the chapter “All my life.”:: Whichever beings Ahura Mazda knows to be good for worship according to Asha—those, both male and female, we worship.

49.1. Bentva, the greatest obstacle, has long obstructed me—the one who, desiring to satisfy the crooked, opposes Asha. Come to me with good help, Mazda; come to me. Through Vohu Manah, find a powerful blow against him.

49.2. This Bentva makes me angry—the deceitful teacher who, through deceit, turns people away from Asha. He does not consider beneficent Armaiti worthy of being his, nor does he consult Vohu Manah, Mazda.

49.3. For this choice, Mazda, it has been established that Asha is to flourish and that the Lie is to be destroyed for the deceitful teacher. Therefore I long to unite with Vohu Manah and to separate myself from all the deceitful.

49.4. Those of bad understanding increase wrath and violence with their tongues. Though not themselves cattle-breeders, they stand among cattle-breeders. Their preference is not for good deeds but for bad deeds. They establish the gods, which is the conception of the deceitful.

49.5. But that person, Mazda, receives both vitality and fulfillment who, through Vohu Manah, has joined his conception with Asha: anyone well-born through Asha and Armaiti. With all these he will be in your Dominion, Ahura.

49.6. I ask you, Mazda, and Asha to declare what is in your wisdom, so that through that Mind it may be correctly distinguished and so that we may proclaim the conception belonging to one like you, Ahura.

49.7. Let Mazda hear this through Vohu Manah; let Asha hear it. You listen, Ahura. Who is the community? Who is the family? Who, through the ordinances, will give good renown to the fellowship?

49.8. For Frashaoshtra, grant the most joyful union with Asha. I ask you for that, Mazda Ahura, and for myself I ask lasting companionship in your good Dominion. May we be your foremost ones forever.

49.9. Let the one fashioned for prosperity hear these teachings. Let no one who speaks crooked words see the outcome together with the deceitful. When the conceptions are yoked to the best reward, yoked through Asha, you will win, Dejamaspa.

49.10. And this, Mazda, I entrust to your protection: Vohu Manah, the souls of the truthful, the reverence that is Armaiti, vitality, and worship. Through Dominion I invoke these with enduring strength.

49.11. The deceitful—bad rulers, bad actors, bad speakers, those of bad conception and bad mind—their souls return because of their evil nourishment. They will truly be lasting guests in the House of the Lie.

49.12. What help through Asha do you have for the one who invokes you—for Zarathushtra? What do you have through Vohu Manah for the one who seeks to please you with praises, Mazda Ahura, asking for what you desire as best?

49.13. Through Spenta Mainyu and Best Mind, through Asha, and through action and word, they grant him Wholeness and Immortality: Ahura Mazda through Dominion and Armaiti. Through Spenta Mainyu and Best Mind, through Asha, and through action and word, they grant him Wholeness and Immortality: Ahura Mazda through Dominion and Armaiti. Asha is good; it is best. Happiness is; happiness belongs to the one for whom Asha is for the best. (Repeat:) Asha is good; it is best. Happiness is; happiness belongs to the one for whom Asha is for the best. Asha is good; it is best. Happiness is; happiness belongs to the one for whom Asha is for the best. We worship the chapter called “Then, for me, for a lifetime.” We worship those male and female beings whose goodness in worship Ahura Mazda knows in accordance with Asha.