Yasna 29 — Ahunavaiti Gatha

29.1. To you the soul of the Cow cried her lament: “For whom did you fashion me? Who shaped me? Fury and violence, bondage, oppression, and brute force hold me fast. I have no pastor other than you; therefore reveal to me good pasturage.”

29.2. Then the Fashioner of the Cow asked Asha: “What Ratu have you for the Cow, that you, ruling together, may give her care and a cattle-tending pastor? Whom do you will as Ahura for her, one who may drive back Fury together with the deceitful?”

29.3. Asha answered him: “There is no unhostile lord known to the Cow. Among these, no one is known who understands what moves the lowly by right. Of beings, that one is strongest to whom I may come when called.”

29.4. Mazda is the best rememberer of the judgments already enacted by daēvas and mortals, and of those that shall be enacted hereafter. He, Ahura, is the discerner; so let it be for us as he wills.

29.5. Then with our souls and with outstretched hands we two prayed to Ahura—my soul and the Cow’s—when we urged Mazda with questions: “No passage forward is found for the truthful, nor for the cattle-tender among the deceitful.”

29.6. Then Ahura Mazda, knowing the designs in his discernment, spoke: “No Ahū has been found by the world, nor any Ratu according to Asha. For the Fashioner fashioned you for the cattle-tender and the herdsman.”

29.7. In accord with Asha, Ahura Mazda fashioned for the Cow this mantra of milk and fat, he, the Bounteous One, for the needy through his teaching: “Who is there for you through Vohu Manah, who may give these things to mortals?”

29.8. “This one alone has been found here for me, who has listened to our teachings: Zarathustra Spitāma. He wills, Mazda, to make our message and Asha heard abroad. May I give him sweetness of speech.”

29.9. Then the soul of the Cow lamented: “Must I accept the powerless word of a feeble man as my support, when I want one who commands with strength? When will there be one who gives him strong-handed aid?”

29.10. You, Ahura, give them strength through Asha and Dominion through Vohu Manah, by which one may establish good dwelling and peace. I, too, Mazda, recognize you as the first to possess these.

29.11. Where are Asha and Vohu Manah, where Dominion? Now acknowledge me, Mazda—you—with insight, for the great fellowship. Ahura, now come down to us with the gift of those who are like you.

29.12. With outstretched hands, in homage, I first ask this of you, Mazda, through the Bounteous Spirit, for help: all deeds through Asha, and the wisdom of Vohu Manah, by which you may satisfy the soul of the Cow as well. (..) With outstretched hands, in homage, I first ask this of you, Mazda, through the Bounteous Spirit, for help: all deeds through Asha, and the wisdom of Vohu Manah, by which you may satisfy the soul of the Cow as well. As the Ahū is to be chosen, so is the Ratu, by virtue of Asha itself. The deeds of Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion over existence to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the poor. As the Ahū is to be chosen, so is the Ratu, by virtue of Asha itself. The deeds of Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion over existence to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the poor. As the Ahū is to be chosen, so is the Ratu, by virtue of Asha itself. The deeds of Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion over existence to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the poor. As the Ahū is to be chosen, so is the Ratu, by virtue of Asha itself. The deeds of Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion over existence to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the poor. Asha is good; it is best. Radiant happiness is, radiant happiness belongs to the one who embodies Asha for Best Asha. (..) Asha is good; it is best. Radiant happiness is, radiant happiness belongs to the one who embodies Asha for Best Asha. Asha is good; it is best. Radiant happiness is, radiant happiness belongs to the one who embodies Asha for Best Asha. We worship the living soul of your Cow. Whose beings Mazda Ahura knows, according to Asha, to be better in worship—those, both male and female, we worship.

29.1. The soul of the Cow complained to you: “For whom did you shape me? Who fashioned me? Fury and violence, cruelty, captivity, and brutal force have bound me. I have no pastor other than you. Therefore reveal to me a good herdsman.”

29.2. Then the Fashioner of the Cow asked Asha: “What judge do you have for the Cow, so that, together with a herdsman, you may give her care and thriving pasture? Whom do you wish as an ahura for her, one who may drive away the fury of the deceitful?”

29.3. Asha answered him: “There is no unhateful lord for the Cow. Among those people, none is known who understands how the lowly are treated by the powerful. Of existing beings, the strongest is the one to whose calls I may come with help.”

29.4. Mazda is the best one to remember the declarations made before by daevas and mortals, and those that will be made afterward. He is Ahura, the discerner. Let it be for us as he wills.

29.5. Then, with our souls and our hands stretched out, we two—the soul of the Cow and I—prayed to Ahura: “Mazda, there is no prospect of justice for the one who lives rightly, nor for the herdsman among the deceitful.”

29.6. Then Ahura Mazda, knowing the designs through his discernment, said: “No lord has been found, nor any judge in accordance with Asha. For the Fashioner fashioned you for both the stockbreeder and the herdsman.”

29.7. In agreement with Asha, Ahura Mazda fashioned for the Cow this sacred utterance of nourishment, and milk for those desiring it—he, the Spenta one, with his teaching. “Whom do you have through Vohu Manah who may give these things to mortals?”

29.8. “This one alone has been found here for me, one who has listened to our teachings: Zarathustra Spitāma. He is willing, Mazda, to make our acts celebrated for Asha. Therefore may I grant him sweetness of speech.”

29.9. Then the soul of the Cow lamented: “Am I to accept the powerless word of a feeble man as protection, though I wish for one who commands with power? When will there ever be one who will give him strong-handed help?”

29.10. You, Ahura, give them strength through Asha, and through Vohu Manah that Dominion by which they may establish good dwelling and peace. Mazda, I have recognized you as the first to provide these.

29.11. Where are Asha, Vohu Manah, and Dominion? You, Mazda, now acknowledge me for understanding, for the great offering. Ahura, now come down to us here with the gift of people like you.

29.12. With this reverence, my hands outstretched, I first ask you, Mazda, for the support of Spenta Mainyu: through Asha, all the deeds and the wisdom of Vohu Manah by which you may satisfy the soul of the Cow. (..) With this reverence, my hands outstretched, I first ask you, Mazda, for the support of Spenta Mainyu: through Asha, all the deeds and the wisdom of Vohu Manah by which you may satisfy the soul of the Cow. As the lord is to be chosen, so is the judge, in accordance with Asha. The deeds of existence belonging to Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the needy. As the lord is to be chosen, so is the judge, in accordance with Asha. The deeds of existence belonging to Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the needy. As the lord is to be chosen, so is the judge, in accordance with Asha. The deeds of existence belonging to Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the needy. As the lord is to be chosen, so is the judge, in accordance with Asha. The deeds of existence belonging to Vohu Manah are assigned to Mazda, and Dominion to Ahura, whom they appoint as pastor for the needy. Asha is good; it is best. It is happiness; happiness is for the one whose Asha is for best Asha. (..) Asha is good; it is best. It is happiness; happiness is for the one whose Asha is for best Asha. Asha is good; it is best. It is happiness; happiness is for the one whose Asha is for best Asha. We worship this Hāiti of your soul of the Cow. We worship those male and female beings whom Ahura Mazda knows, through Asha, to be better in worship.