Song 13.1 (Yasna 48.1)
If, after this, one conquers wrong through righteousness, because one reaches what is always said to be delusions by the false gods and their men, one shall, by these gains, increase in Your glorification, O Lord.
If one, by the guidance of the progressive mentality, were to understand the true nature of delusions of fanciful gods fed to him by exploiters and, therefore, replace this wrong with righteousness, they would then get to the core of Truth. They would truly comprehend the Being and turn to Lord of Wisdom to glorify Him.
Those facts and truths which would improve the world, or save it from harm, are proclaimed to be delusions by those who benefit from the ignorance of humanity.
Song 13.2 (Yasna 48.2)
Lord, tell me since You know well. What shall henceforth my struggle bring for me and my men? Shall the righteous, Wise One, conquer the wrongful? Because this, indeed, is known to be the good form of life.
Zarathushtra again poetically puts forth questions which are but their own answers. God knows best; therefore, he wants to know the result of efforts put by him and his companions to eradicate wrong. Will they be successful? Of course, because the struggle will bring good life to mankind.
In the end, the righteous will overcome the deceitful, the wise know this as the good shaping of existence.
Song 13.3 (Yasna 48.3)
The teachings, which the Beneficent Lord teaches through righteousness, are the best for the knowing. Such a knowing person, like You, Wise One, is progressive and wise, even in what is profound teachings through the wisdom of good mind.
Divinity teaches through the Universal Law of Righteousness. When learned, they are the best; they make a person learned. Such a person becomes wise and moves foward—using their good mind, they can explore profound knowledge—yet to be discovered.
The teachings which Ahura Mazda proclaims through the Primal Laws of Existence are the best for mortals, granting wisdom and progress.
Song 13.4 (Yasna 48.4)
Whoever, Wise One, has set his mind on the better or the worse, sets his conscience accordingly with actions and words. His desire follows his cherished choice. But in Your wisdom, the end of the two will be different.
It is up to how one sets their own mind. Whether someone thinks good and improves it, or, on the other hand, thinks bad and worsens in thoughts, they mold their conscience with the words and deeds that ensue. They follow what they have chosen, and it becomes their desire. Whatever the case, the consequences of two opposite choices would also be different. This is what wisdom, endowed by the Lord of Wisdom, advises.
Our thoughts whether constructive or destructive, will affect our subsequent words and deeds to be beneficial or harmful.
Song 13.5 (Yasna 48.5)
May good rulers, and not evil rulers, rule over us with actions of good understanding and serenity. Giving health and happiness in life is the best for a man who works for the living world in order to increase its splendor.
Zarathushtra wishes a good government and prays that an evil government may not rule over us. Let us note that the root word for “to rule” literally means to ‘to settle in peace’. A good government should provide peace and stability based on wisdom. It should provide health and happiness, and it should promote the living world of ours. Such a government of good settlement on the good earth is the best in life; All should work toward it.
Wise and stable government ensures health, happiness, and progress for all.
Song 13.6 (Yasna 48.6)
Indeed the living world is our good dwelling, rather our endurance and strength: two precious gifts of good mind. Now, the Wise Lord has increased its prosperity through righteousness since the beginning of life.
Continuing his subject of “a good government of good settlement on the good earth is the best in life”, Zarathushtra reminds us: The living world is our good dwelling. It gives us, through our good thinking, two gifts—endurance and strength—in order to promote it further. One of the Divine Principles of Life stands for increasing prosperity through righteousness. Let us work for it.
As the Earth is our home, let us make it ever-more prosperous, with hard work and conscious effort.
Song 13.7 (Yasna 48.7)
Put down fury, check violence, you who wish to strengthen the promotion of good mind through righteousness, because a progressive man is associated with this. Lord, his associates are in Your abode.
Zarathushtra addresses his companions, wanting them to curb anger and check violence, the two main causes of harm and injury, war and bloodshed in the living world. It is through the elimination of these two basic wrongs that people can strengthen the good mind through adhering to the Universal Law of Righteousness. They ought to do this because they are being led by a progressive person—Zarathushtra—to where one feels the divine presence and dwells in the divine abode.
Bind down your fury and violence if you wish to enjoy the presence of the Good Mind and Ahura Mazda.
Song 13.8 (Yasna 48.8)
Wise One, what is the strength of Your sovereignty? What is Your reward for my people? What is Your desired manifestations for the devotees who are promoters of good mentality's actions?
Zarathushtra begins, from this stanza, asking questions that highlight his promoting program. He looks at the Divine Power governing the world and the reward his people will get by serving the world. He envisions the rightful results of the creative and promoting actions of the dedicated who are led by the progressive mentality.
By the empowering strength of Divine sovereignty, humanity can envision and enact a new world, an ideal existence for all the living.
Song 13.9 (Yasna 48.9)
When shall I know, Wise One, that You have power through righteousness over anyone whose threats are harmful to me? Let the plan of good mind be truly told to me so that the beneficent knows how his reward shall be.
Zarathushtra is measuring his power through his righteous plan to face the dangerous threats made to his mission. He wants his good mind to clearly reveal the plan so that he precisely knows how to act so as to emerge successful.
When distressed by the threat of harm, look to the solutions which the good mind provides.
Song 13.10 (Yasna 48.10)
When shall, Wise One, humanity settle down in dwellings? When shall they throw out the filthy intoxicant? It is through it that the priests and the wicked rulers of the lands form their evil intellects.
The ‘answering questions’ show that Zarathushtra wants humanity to peacefully settle down and create good settlements. He wants a total ban on the “haoma” drug-drink which is responsible for violence. It is this intoxicant, very possibly “marijuana” or “hashish” (Cannabis sativa), which infuriated addicted priests and princes to lose their wisdom and be cruel to people. He wants a clean society, free from drugs and violence.
Deceitful rulers wish to burden humanity with systems that only serve to benefit themselves.
Song 13.11 (Yasna 48.11)
When shall, Wise One, serenity with righteousness bring peaceful dwelling and settlement through sovereignty? Who shall establish peace against violence by the wrongful? To whom shall the wisdom of good mind come?
The plan for an ideal world continues with these ‘answering questions’. Serenity, stability, righteousness, and precision create peaceful habitats which enjoy sovereignty; peace must replace the violence caused by the wrongful. All these can be achieved through using good mind and the wisdom it imparts.
Righteousness, wisdom, compassion and sovereignty help us fight against cruelty and harms of the deceitful.
Song 13.12 (Yasna 48.12)
Now, they shall be the benefactors of the lands who follow the satisfaction of good mind, and base their actions through righteousness on Your teachings, Wise One. They indeed have been made to fight fury.
The wise who consult the good mind and base their actions on righteousness, in accordance with Divine teaching, benefit and promote their societies. It is they who stop violence and introduce peace.
Wise actions based on Divine teachings bring peace and prosperity.
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We invite your comments on these Gathas so that our insights might teach one another.
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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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