Yasna 51 — Vohukhshathra Gatha

Reverence to you, O Gathas, followers of Asha.::

51.1. Good Dominion, worthy of choosing—the most prize-bearing portion—comes with vitality to the one who moves within Asha through discerning deeds. Mazda, let us now perform this best thing.:: (..) Good Dominion, worthy of choosing—the most prize-bearing portion—comes with vitality to the one who moves within Asha through discerning deeds. Mazda, let us now perform this best thing.::

51.2. These things first, Mazda Ahura, reveal to me through Asha, both for you and for Armaiti. Through Vohu Manah grant me your Dominion with power, for praise and saving strength.

51.3. Let those who serve you through deeds draw near to you with hearing, Ahura, through Asha—with words of the tongue born of Vohu Manah. Of these you are the first promoter, Mazda.

51.4. Where is the one who finds gain? Where does mercy dwell? Where is protection? Where shall renown be? Where is Asha? Where is bounteous Armaiti? Where is Best Mind? Where, Mazda, is your Dominion?

51.5. I ask all these things: how, following Asha, the herdsman shall care for the Cow—upright in deeds, endowed with good wisdom and reverence; how, ruling with insight, he shall recognize the true judgment for the two parties.

51.6. Whoever sets what is better than good for the one who fulfills his choice—to him Ahura Mazda comes through Dominion. But what is worse than evil comes to the one who does not discern for him, at the final turning of existence.

51.7. Grant me, you who fashioned the Cow, the waters, and the plants, Wholeness and Immortality through the most bounteous Spirit, Mazda—vigor and endurance through Vohu Manah, for the proclamation.

51.8. For I shall declare to you, Mazda—let a man tell it to one who knows: ill fortune for the follower of the Lie, radiance for the one who has upheld Asha. For happy is the inspired speaker who speaks to one who knows.

51.9. The satisfaction you assigned to the two parties through your red Fire, Mazda, through molten metal—you will establish it among living beings as a sign: ruin for the follower of the Lie, saving power for the follower of Asha.

51.10. But the man who seeks to destroy me otherwise than by this, Mazda—he is an offspring of the Lie’s creation, one of those who are evil. For myself I invoke Asha, coming with good Reward.

51.11. What man is a covenant-partner to Spitama Zarathushtra, Mazda? Who has consulted with Asha? With whom is bounteous Armaiti? What upright one, through Vohu Manah, is known for the fellowship?

51.12. The Kavi’s disciple did not satisfy him—Spitama Zarathushtra—at Winter’s Gate, when he was halted there: though both his team and his draft animals shivered, he did not grant him passage.

51.13. Thus the Daena of the deceitful destroys the straight one’s reality; his soul openly laments at the Chinvat Bridge—aware that by his own deeds and tongue he has lost the paths of Asha.

51.14. Neither through covenants nor through ordinances do the Karapans rightly care for the cattle and pasture. By their own deeds and teachings, their doctrine at last has lodged them in the House of the Lie.

51.15. The reward Zarathushtra promised to the companions of the Maga in the House Beyond—Ahura Mazda came first to it. That reward I now promise you through Vohu Manah and through the life-giving powers of Asha.

51.16. King Vishtaspa attained that insight through the Dominion of the Maga, along the paths of Vohu Manah—the insight Spenta Mazda Ahura conceived through Asha. So may it be established for us according to our desire.

51.17. Frashaoshtra of the Hvogvas has shown me the precious form belonging to the good Daena. May sovereign Ahura Mazda grant him the object of his desire, that I may proclaim the abundance of Asha.

51.18. Wise Jamaspa of the Hvogvas chooses that insight, through splendor and Asha, for attainment: that Dominion of Vohu Manah. Grant me this, Ahura Mazda, as a support from you.

51.19. That man, Maidhyoi-Mangha the Spitaman, devotes himself to him, knowing through the Daena. Seeking life, he declares Mazda the creator; through the deeds of life, he declares what is better.

51.20. May all of you, of one will with us, grant this life-giving Asha through Vohu Manah—with words by which, worshiping Armaiti in reverence, Mazda is made a ready support.

51.21. The man of Armaiti is beneficent. Through insight, through words, through deeds, through the Daena, he makes Asha flourish. Ahura Mazda grants good Dominion through Vohu Manah. For that good reward I pray.

51.22. Whoever—from Asha—I know to be best in worship, Ahura Mazda knows them: those who have been and those who are. I shall worship them by their own names, and I shall approach them with honor.

51.23. Vohu Xshathra—the Desirable Dominion—the portion most choice-bearing for those who discern, even amid invigorating offering: through Asha it moves among deeds, Mazda, as the best. That, even now, may we bring about.

(..)

Vohu Xshathra—the Desirable Dominion—the portion most choice-bearing for those who discern, even amid invigorating offering: through Asha it moves among deeds, Mazda, as the best. That, even now, may we bring about.

Asha is good, is best.Radiance is; radiance for the onewho, for best Asha, is of Asha.

(..)

Asha is good, is best.Radiance is; radiance for the onewho, for best Asha, is of Asha.

Asha is good, is best.Radiance is; radiance for the onewho, for best Asha, is of Asha.

We worship the Vohu Xshathra chapter.We worship the Vohu Xshathra Gāthā, possessing Asha, as the measure of Asha.We worship the verses set together in the Vohu Xshathra Gāthā.

Whosever beings Ahura Mazda knows as good in worship, according to Asha—those men and those women we worship.

Homage to you, truthful Gathas.

51.1. Good, desirable Dominion is the most choice portion. It moves among those who distribute it, even through vitality, by deeds in Asha. Mazda, let us now perform what is best for us. (Repeat:) Good, desirable Dominion is the most choice portion. It moves among those who distribute it, even through vitality, by deeds in Asha. Mazda, let us now perform what is best for us.

51.2. Mazda Ahura, reveal these things to me first through Asha, and also through you, Armaiti. Through Vohu Manah, grant your Dominion to my desire; grant saving power for praise.

51.3. Let those who serve you through their deeds draw near to hear you, Ahura, with the tongue’s words of Asha and Vohu Manah—those for whom you, Mazda, are the first promoter.

51.4. Where is the one who comes for protection? Where is mercy? Where will reconciliation arise? Where is sought renown? Where is Asha? Where is Spenta Armaiti? Where is Best Mind? Where is your Dominion, Mazda?

51.5. I ask all these things: how the herdsman, upright in his deeds and wise through reverence, can find the cow in accordance with Asha; and how he, ruling and perceptive, may recognize the correct judgment for the two parties.

51.6. Whoever gives what is better than good, and whoever advances it for his choice—Ahura Mazda grants it through Dominion. But he gives what is worse than evil to the one who does not distinguish it, at the final turning point of existence.

51.7. Give me, you who fashioned the cow, the waters, and the plants, Wholeness and Immortality through the most beneficent Mainyu, Mazda—strength and endurance through Vohu Manah for the proclamation.

51.8. I will indeed declare to you, Mazda—for one should speak to the knowing—what misery awaits the deceitful and what happiness the one who has upheld Asha. For the reciter of the sacred formula who speaks to the knowing will be joyful.

51.9. Through your red fire, Mazda, give the two parties the satisfaction you established through molten metal, as a sign among living beings: ruin for the deceitful and saving power for the truthful.

51.10. But the person who seeks to destroy me otherwise than this, Mazda, is an offspring of the Lie’s creation. I call Asha to myself, together with good reward, against all those who are malicious.

51.11. Who is the allied man for Spitama Zarathushtra, Mazda? Who has consulted with Asha? Who has Spenta Armaiti? Who, upright, has been recognized through Vohu Manah as fit for the Maga?

51.12. The Kavi’s Vaepya did not satisfy him at the winter crossing of the earth—Spitama Zarathushtra—when he stopped him there, though his two draft animals were trembling from travel and cold.

51.13. Thus the Daena of the deceitful person destroys his true being. His soul will wail openly at the Chinvat Bridge, revealed by his own deeds and by his tongue, having lost the paths of Asha.

51.14. The Karapans are not allies of the established order, nor do they properly care for the cow through herding. By their own deeds and teachings, that teaching will finally place them in the House of the Lie.

51.15. When Zarathushtra announced the reward for the members of the Maga, Ahura Mazda was the first to come to the House of Song beyond. With Good Mind and Asha, I intend to win those saving benefits for you.

51.16. Kavi Vishtaspa attained this through the Dominion of the Maga and along the paths of Good Mind: the insight that Spenta Mazda Ahura conceived through Asha. Thus may it be taught to us for happiness.

51.17. Frashaoštra Huogva showed me the precious form belonging to the good Daena. May sovereign Ahura Mazda grant him the possession he desires, so that he may attain the glory of Asha.

51.18. Wise Jamaspa Huogva chooses that insight, together with the splendor of his possessions, through Asha. He knows the Dominion of Good Mind. Give me that, Ahura Mazda, as support from you.

51.19. That man, Maidyoimaha Spitama, devotes himself to him, knowing through the Daena. Seeking existence, he declares Mazda to be the judge; through the deeds of life, he seeks what is better.

51.20. May all of you, united in purpose with us, give us that saving power through Asha and Good Mind, with words by which those worshiping Armaiti show reverence. Mazda, remain awake and ready to support us.

51.21. The person made beneficent through Armaiti, through insight, words, deeds, and Daena, causes Asha to prosper. Ahura Mazda gives Good Dominion through Good Mind. I ask him for that good reward.

51.22. Whoever Ahura Mazda knows to be best for worship because of Asha—I will worship all such people by their own names, those who have existed and those who now exist, and I will approach them with honor.

51.23. Desirable Good Dominion is the most fully allotted share. Even with an offering, it comes among those who discern through deeds in Asha. Mazda, may we now perform that best thing.

(..)

Desirable Good Dominion is the most fully allotted share. Even with an offering, it comes among those who discern through deeds in Asha. Mazda, may we now perform that best thing.

Asha is good; it is best. Happiness exists; happiness belongs to the one for whom Asha is for the best Asha.

(..)

Asha is good; it is best. Happiness exists; happiness belongs to the one for whom Asha is for the best Asha.

Asha is good; it is best. Happiness exists; happiness belongs to the one for whom Asha is for the best Asha.

We worship the Vohu Xshathra section.

We worship the Vohu Xshathra Gatha, aligned with Asha, as the model of Asha.

We worship the sections belonging to the Vohu Xshathra Gatha.

Ahura Mazda knows, according to Asha, whose beings are good in worship. We worship all such women and all such men.