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.
RENOVATION
Song 7.1 (Yasna 34.1)
The deed, the word, and the veneration
by which I give immortality, righteousness,
and the motive for wholeness to the people,
are very much offered by us,
Wise Lord, to You.
The message of Zarathushtra leads to mental veneration of the Divine. Words and deeds that give righteousness, and power to move towards wholeness, and immortality. This mental veneration, words and deeds are what Zarathushtra and his companions offer to Mazda Ahura.
No sacrifice, intoxicating substance, or other material offering is needed to please the Divine One. Only our good thoughts, words, and deeds should be offered to promote a good life.
Song 7.2 (Yasna 34.2)
Moreover, all these offerings are made to You alone
through thoughts of good mind
and actions of a progressive man,
whose soul is in accord with righteousness.
Wise One, he goes singing everywhere
songs of glory and praise for You.
The offerings of all the achievements of Zarathushtra are made to the Wise One alone. No one else. They are made through good thoughts and actions by a person who is progressing in their spiritual growth. Not one who is unchagingly traditional, but a person whose soul, and self, is in harmony with truth. He sings his songs—the Gathas— his praises for Ahura and guidance for mankind.
Praise and celebration of the Wise One
should stem from good thoughts and good actions.
Song 7.3 (Yasna 34.3)
Therefore, we make a humble offering
to You and to Righteousness.
The living beings in Your dominion
are those who promote good mind.
Indeed, it is in the rise of a beneficent person,
Wise One, that there lies gain for all those belonging to You.
The offering of veneration, words and deeds—a solemn dedication to serve the Creator and the creation—are made by Zarathushtra and companions. Truely-living persons in the divine dominion are those who promote good mind to acquire useful knowledge. Feeling a rise, a surge because of the dedication, Zarathushtra foresees the gain awaiting those dedicated to the Wise One.
Dedication to serve has its own clear rewards.
Song 7.4 (Yasna 34.4)
Therefore, Lord, we yearn for Your fire,
which is strong through righteousness.
It is very swift and forceful,
and clearly and strongly helps the supporters.
But, Wise One, for an enemy daring to harm,
it has the power of arms to stop him.
The divine fire is the zeal that derives its strength from righteousness. It is forceful and swift in clearing and opening the way for the righteous mission to proceed. It is also strong enough for stopping those who want to harm the cause of righteousness.
Fire is a symbol of the energy pervading all of existence, it provides our growth and defense, progressing reality to it’s ideal state.
Song 7.5 (Yasna 34.5)
What is Your dominion, what is Your power,
Wise One, for us to follow in action
through righteousness and good mind
in order to protect the oppressed person of Yours?
For You, we have renounced
all the false gods and the barbarian people.
Zarathushtra is seeking to know the divine dominion and power so that one acts according to the universal law of righteousness and good mind and provide a social order in which those oppressed and deprived of their rights are protected and rehabilitated. Zarathushtra and his companions have renounced false gods and the cruel people whose superstitious cult is the cause of exploitation and oppression.
Renounce flawed beliefs and malicious people in favor of the way of thinking which comes from understanding the order of existence.
Song 7.6 (Yasna 34.6)
If indeed, You are so, Wise One,
through righteousness and good mind,
then grant me guidance through all the goals of this life,
so that I happily return to You
with veneration and praise.
Through good thinking and righteousness, Zarathushtra ignores all false gods and their worshipers. They are completely out of his consciousness. The Wise One is the only Guide. Zarathustra prays to achieve all the goals of his present life—his mission to spread this message so that he successfully returns to the Divine One with more praises of love and adoration.
Seek guidance by understanding how reality works through the use of your good mind.
Song 7.7 (Yasna 34.7)
Wise One, where are Your devotees
who comprehend good mind,
and despite retrogression and failure,
attend to inherited doctrines with wisdom?
I have none besides You.
Therefore, protect me and my people through righteousness.
Once dedicated to the cause and comprehending the circumstances with good mind, one is not deterred by initial failures. One continues to wisely work for the mission one feels is their inheritance. Zarathushtra knows no one else except the Wise Lord. He prays for support for himself and his companions as they work on progressing in rightousness.
Failures should not deter one from staying on course.
Song 7.8 (Yasna 34.8)
Indeed, they are afraid of our actions
just as a weakling is afraid of a stalwart,
because these actions constitute a danger to many.
Wise One, those who are antagonistic to Your principle,
do not think of righteousness,
and are at a distance from good mind.
The days when ritualistic priests and exploiting princes were in power appear to be disappearing. They are now as afraid of the Zarathushtrian mission as a weakling fears a strong person. The reason is simple. They do not think of righteousness and and do not use their good mind, and therefore remain antagonists to the Divine Doctrine.
The deceitful fear the actions of the truthful and righteous and will spread lies and destruction to stop them.
Song 7.9 (Yasna 34.9)
Wise One, he forsakes progressive serenity,
esteemed by your wise one,
with his evil deeds solely
because of his lack of good mind.
He avoids them much on account of their righteousness,
just as the disheveled barbarians keep far from us.
Progressive serenity and stability is valued by the one who is devoted to the Wise One, but the person lacking good mind forsakes serenity because of his evil actions. Just as uncivilized people shun our company, such a person would avoid good people because of their righteousness.
The wrongful flee from the good mind and right-mindedness and, as such, they will be kept far away from the Laws of Existence.
Song 7.10 (Yasna 34.10)
The person of good intellect says
that the deeds of good mind must be maintained.
He knows that progressive serenity
is the true product of righteousness.
All these, Lord Wise,
are means of promotion in Your dominion.
A wise person holds that one should maintain deeds done with the good mind, because he knows that progressive serenity and growing stability is the right result of proper procedure. These deeds promote the divine dominion chosen and established by righteous people.
Good deeds increase stability and promote good order.
Song 7.11 (Yasna 34.11)
Both wholeness and immortality
lead to Your splendor.
The sovereignty of good mind
and serenity with righteousness
promote steadfast strength and courage.
These, Wise One, constitute our strength against antagonists.
Wholeness and immortality lead to divine splendor. For that goal, a self-reliant good mind, enjoying stability and rightness, gives one the lasting strength and courage to overcome antagonism.
Good mind, stability, and righteousness, when combined, give one the courage to overcome.
Song 7.12 (Yasna 34.12)
What is Your guidance and what is Your wish?
Is it for praise, or is it for veneration?
Wise One, declare it while we listen,
and the reward for following Your guidance.
Show us, through righteousness,
the paths to self-reliance of good mind.
Zarathushtra asks for guidance from the Wise One, and then supplies the subtle answer himself – the paths lead through righteousness to the goal of self-reliance that enjoys good mind. This is what the Wise One wishes, not praise and veneration. All that is desired is that we are guided to our goal. It is us who praise and venerate out of love.
Diety desires for us to be self-reliant and empowered by our good minds.
Song 7.13 (Yasna 34.13)
Lord, this is the same road of good mind
You have shown me.
It is the religion of the benefactors
by which good deeds lead only through righteousness to happiness,
the promised reward for the beneficent,
a reward, Wise One, solely given by You.
Proceeding towards the goal, Zarathushtra sees that it is very path he has divinely realized. It is the religion of benefactors, a religion in which good deeds, done precisely according to the universal law, lead to happiness, eternal bliss. It is the reward promised and granted by the Divine One to those who promote goodness.
Deeds done to benefit ALL have divine bliss as reward.
Song 7.14 (Yasna 34.14)
Indeed, Wise One, this reward is given to those,
who, in their choice of physical life,
truly serve the community of the fruitful world
with their deeds of good mind,
and Lord, promote Your plan of wisdom
through communal righteousness.
The reward of eternal bliss is for those who choose, through their free will, to serve humanity on this earth of ours as best as they can. This world is very productive and rewarding. Serving it with good mind and close cooperation is promoting the divine plan so wisely prepared.
Joining others in wise service makes life more fruitful and blissful.
Song 7.15 (Yasna 34.15)
And in response to my request in praises,
Wise One, tell me now the best words and deeds
through good mind.
Make life truly renovated
with Your sovereignty as You wish.
Zarathushtra concludes with this stanza praying for best words and deeds that issue from good mind and clear thinking. It is these words and deeds that continue to renovate—update—our life with divine support because that is what The Wise One wishes us to accomplish.
Continuous renovation of life, maturation, is the Divine wish.
We invite your comments on these Gathas so that our insights might teach one another.
Next Installment (WHEN PUBLISHED): The Gathas – Song 8
Previous Installment: The Gathas – Song 6
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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