Each stanza of this song contains the translation in italics, a brief commentary, and a closing thought to ponder.
Try reading on stanza each day and pondering upon its meaning.
HUMBLY I PRAY
Ideal are the thoughts, ideal the words, ideal the deeds
of the Righteous Zarathushtra.
Let the ever-living promulgators present the Gathas.
Homage to the righteous Gathas!
This introductory salutation was, most probably, composed by an early reciter of the Gathas who was, himself/herself, a devout promulgator of the Sublime Songs and a preacher of the Divine Doctrine.
There is only one path in life, and that is the path of Righteousness.
Song 1.1 (Yasna 28.1)
Ahura Mazda, [literally meaning] Wise Lord,
with a bow and uplifted arms, I pray.
First, I ask for support through progressing mentality.
Then I pray that I may perform all my actions,
based as they are on the wisdom of good mind,
precisely according to the laws of righteousness
so that I please You and the soul of the Living World.
This is how Zarathushtra begins his “thought-provoking Message” – the Gathas – with a simple posture of a humble bow with hands outstretched. In the totality of his person, he is praying for help through a mentality of growth and progress, the divine creative faculty, so that he may base every action on wisdom and righteousness in order to please the Creator and the soul of creation. He is asking only that he can offer serene service with love and devotion.
All prayers and requests for help should be done in desire of improving all existence.
Song 1.2 (Yasna 28.2)
Wise Lord, I approach You
through good mind.
Grant me through righteousness
the blessings of both existences,
the material and the mental,
so that I lead my companions to happiness.
A prayer to meditate through good mind to acquire a balanced proportion of a spiritual and material life, only to bring happiness to companions.
The translators note that Zarathushtra recognizes two fundamental existences – that of the mind and that of matter. This is the first time such an understanding has been put forth, and it wouldn’t be until the Ancient Greeks over a thousand years later that this level of philosophical thought would be reached by another tradition.
Zarathushtra emphasizes the ethical nature of existence and the reciprocal relationship with divine wisdom. When one seeks something of Wisdom/The Wise One by their efforts of the Good Mind, they are rewarded through the fundamental laws governing existence. In other words an honest attempt at understanding the world or improving it is rewarded through the very laws which dictate existence. Good actions are their own reward as the benefit gained is shared by all creation, including one's self; the greater of an effect one person or a community can have, the greater the benefit becomes.
Seek wisdom in all your actions, it will be its own reward with happiness for you and your friends.
Song 1.3 (Yasna 28.3)
O Righteousness and Good Mind,
I shall sing you praises none has sung before.
I shall likewise praise the Wise Lord
and those for whom Serenity promotes
the unconquerable dominion.
Respond to my calls for help.
God and gods have been praised from times immemorial. Zarathushtra is the foremost person to pay serious attention to good mind and righteousness, the two divine faculties that “wisely” regulate and “precisely” maintain every movement in the universe. He praises the only Creator and then every person who enjoys serene peace and increasing prosperity. He prays to The Wise One for good thinking, precise actions, and lasting stability.
True dedication to Serenity, righteousness, and the good mind leads to a peaceful existence.
Song 1.4 (Yasna 28.4)
I, who am attuning my soul
to Good Mind,
know that the actions
done for the Wise Lord have their rewards.
As long as I continue to have the will and the power,
I shall teach others to strive after Righteousness.
Working with good mind, Zarathushtra realizes that good action has a good consequence—a reward. He determines to work to the best of his ability to teach and preach Truth to others.
Attune yourself with the good mind, show others righteous behavior, and know that you will be rewarded.
Song 1.5 (Yasna 28.5)
Having realized Good Mind,
when shall I see you, O Righteousness?
When shall I find the path to the Most Powerful Lord,
and listen to the voice of the Wise One.
With these greatest thought-provoking words,
we shall convince the barbarians to choose the right [useness].
In tune with good mind, Zarathushtra wants to perceive and comprehend righteousness, the universal law of precise operation; the law that leads to God. He desires to listen to God to convey the divine words to all, even to those who need to be raised, enlightened, and civilized.
Think positively, act precisely, listen to the divine voice within, and convey the Message to all without discrimination.
Song 1.6 (Yasna 28.6)
Come through good mind,
and grant a long life through righteousness.
O Wise Lord, through Your sublime words,
give me, Zarathushtra,
and my men strong support
so that we may overcome the spite of the hateful.
Zarathushtra prays for divine inspiration through the good mind and a long life based on righteousness so that he and his companions may become strong enough to dispel the malice of the antagonists of Truth.
Meditate to hear the divine voice within, live a long precise life, and see hatred vanish for good.
Song 1.7 (Yasna 28.7)
Grant, O Righteousness, those rewards
which are the gifts of Good Mind.
And you, Serenity, grant
Vishtaspa [the righteous king who Zrathushtra serves] his wish and mine too.
O Wise One, grant the power through which
we shall successfully proclaim
Your thought-provoking message.
Zarathushtra prays for gifts of good mind obtained through righteous deeds and tranquil peace, to allow it to be the power that enables one to spread the thought-provoking message to all who wish to listen.
Desire the intellectual rewards which come from the mind and seek to spread those to others.
Song 1.8 (Yasna 28.8)
With love, I pray to You, the Best Lord,
Who are in harmony with the best righteousness.
Grant the best of good mind for ever
to noble Ferashaoshtra [one of Zarathushtra's students], to me,
and all those who are worthy of it.
Zarathushtra loves Divinity, the Best Lord who is in harmony with the universal law of precision he himself created. Zarathushtra prays for the best from good thinking for himself, his companion, and all those who deserve it.
Love God, be in harmony with Nature [including humanity], and pray for the best through good mind.
Song 1.9 (Yasna 28.9)
Lord, may we not anger You,
And also Righteousness and the Best Mind
by abusing [exercising] these gifts.
We are united in offering You our praises,
for we consider You, the mighty master of promotion,
to be most worthy of invocation.
Zarathushtra pauses. His pleas may not prove pleasing, but his pleas are praises by a group united in prayer; their praises are for the Divine One and the divine principles which stand for promotion and progress. They are worth praising.
Ask for what you can utilize well, be united, pray for promotion, and praise and practice the divine principles of good life.
Song 1.10 (Y 28.10)
Wise Lord, fulfill the desire of those
whom you know to be just and earnest
in righteousness and good mind to attain rewards.
For I know, loving songs for a worthy purpose
never go unanswered by You.
The earnest desire of a loving person is to honor the beloved by promoting what the beloved wants. The desire, a prayer to serve, is always answered.
Love sincerely to receive true love in return.
Song 1.11 (Yasna 28.11)
I have always observed
the principles of righteousness and good mind.
Wise Lord, teach me to speak the thoughts of Your mind,
and the words of Your mouth:
the teachings by which
the pristine life shall be [re]established.
Thinking clearly and working accordingly, Zarathushtra wants to be like the Lord to know more about the divine message that would help him to restore human behavior to its pristine purity and nature, so life can progress in the right direction.
Turn to Nature, hear Divinity, and enjoy a good life of growth and progress.
We invite your comments on these Gathas so that our insights might teach one another.
Next Installment (WHEN PUBLISHED): The Gathas - Song 2
Previous Installment: The Gathas - Ashem Vohu (Truth, Righteousness, Cosmic Order)
Source: The Gathas - Zarathushtrian Assembly See the index on the left of the page for the Song labeled in the title of this article.
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