The Haptañhâiti constitutes one seventh of the Gathas, the Gathas one third of the Yasna, and the Yasna one third of the Avesta. Therefore, in quantity, it is but 1/63 of the text. But in quality, the Zoroastrian Lore has given it the second highest position in the Avesta. It is next to the Five Songs of Zarathushtra, inside which it has been allotted a placid place.
However, in our modern scholastic age, it appears that so far it has been its quantity which has mattered more. It has been too thin to receive any serious attention—just a part of the monotonously animistic liturgy. And if at all, someone has paid some attention, it has not been for expounding its high position, but to describe its present characteristics, or on the contrary, to pin point it as the point of deviation from the course set by Zarathushtra.
My interest in it, casual first, curious later, and consecrated at present, has been rewarding—a sweet song translated into English and Persian. And my ‘Introduction’ fully justifies the position it enjoys. So slim, yet so serene!
Ali A. Jafarey Rawalpindi,
Pakistan 30th September, 1974
Song 1 (Yasna 35)
SALUTORY
Song 1.1 (Yasna 35.1)
We venerate the Wise Lord, (The Righteous, Master of Righteousness). We venerate the immortal progressives, (The good governing, the beneficent). We venerate the entire righteous existence, The mental as well as the corporeal. Glory to what belongs to good righteousness! Glory to the [religion of] Good Conscience (of the worshippers of the Wise One).
The congregation prays: We venerate the Wise Lord Who is Righteous and Master of Righteousness. We venerate the persons who have become immortal because of promoting the Good Religion. They are good in leading and caring. We venerate the entire righteous creation, both mental and material, spiritual and physical. We glorify the good Universal Law of righteousness. We glorify the Good Mazdayasna Religion, the Good Religion which only teaches the worship of Mazda, the Super-Intellect Being.
Venerate Ahura Mazda and the entire Divine Creation, as well as the Religion of Good Conscience which promotes the divine aspects in all creation.
Song 1.2 (Yasna 35.2)
We belong to Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds—done and to be done, Now and henceforth. We are, accordingly, the praisers And invokers of all that is good.
The praying congregation declares that they belong to the triple Zarathushtrian Principles of Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds and that they are responsible for what they have done in the past and what they are going to do in the future. They are, therefore, the people who esteem all that is good in the Divine Creation.
Make your motto Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds and see yourself the praiser of all that is good.
Song 1.3 (Yasna 35.3)
That we have chosen, Lord Wise, through sublime Righteousness, Which we have thought, Spoken and done. Of these deeds, the best Be for both the existences.
The congregation continues to pray a prayerful wish that of all their thoughts, words and deeds be chosen and done by them in accordance with the sublime laws of righteousness and that the best be the merits for them in their mental and material, spiritual and physical lives.
Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds are our richest treasures in life, both in this one and the next.
Song 1.4 (Yasna 35.4)
For the living world, with the reward Of the deeds that are the best, we seek That peace and habitation be given To the learning and the not-learning, To the ruling and the not-ruling.
The congregation prays for a world in which the best of deeds brings peace and a settled living of sufficiency for all, whether learning (in modern usage literate) or still illiterate, enjoying power and wealth or the ruled-over and needy, they pray for a good life for all without discrimination.
We hold that everyone has a right to live a good and peaceful life.
Song 1.5 (Yasna 35.5)
Power be to the good most-powerful. This is what we offer, We announce, we invoke For the Wise Lord, and Best Righteousness
The praying Congregation wishes power to the most powerful being, a good being—The Wise One. They also wish power for the Universal Law of precision (Righteousness).
We invoke the good dominion of The Wise One as it is established in accord with the Best, Righteous Laws which order existence.
Song 1.6 (Yasna 35.6)
The more a man or a woman Knows the truth, the more it is good. He/she should zealously practice it And preach it to others, So that they practice it accordingly.
It is good for every person, man or woman, to know the truth, the more the better. Once he/she knows it, he/she should fully practice it. It is after personal experience that he/she should teach it to others so that they too do the same. This is how the practice of truth spreads.
The more you seek to know the truth, the more good you will find in life.
249th Day
Song 1.7 (Yasna 35.7)
For the Lord Wise, indeed, The best adoration and love, We as well as the inhabited world have borne in mind. This we do for You And preach as much as we can.
The congregation asserts that its members, and the people of the whole inhabited world, bear the best adoration and love for the Lord Wise. They add that they adore and love Ahura Mazda and also teach others to do as much as they can.
Adore and love The Lord of Wisdom and encourage others to do the same.
Song 1.8 (Yasna 35.8)
In the resort of Righteousness, within the fold of Righteousness, for whosoever amongst the people there is the best ambition— (the reward) for both the existences.
If any person, whosoever, remains steadfast in righteousness, they will find it the best way to live a full life in both the existences—mental and material, spiritual and physical.
To enjoy true happiness in our material and spiritual lives, we must adhere to the path of Wisdom.
Song 1.9 (Yasna 35.9)
We have rightly proclaimed with a better mind, Lord Wise, these spoken words. and we consider You as their upholder and guide.
The praying people confirm what they have thoughtfully said about remaining steadfast in righteousness with good thoughts, words, and deeds. They consider God to be the maintainer and director of what they say.
Seek to speak forth true words with The Lord of Wisdom as your guide.
Song 1.10 (Yasna 35.10)
This we do in accordance with Righteousness, and Good Mind, and Good Dominion; with praises that are Yours, (Lord), with words that are Yours, with venerations that are Yours.
The congregation concludes the prayer by praising and venerating Ahura Mazda and by vowing to act according to righteousness, with the good mind and within a good dominion.
The true praise of the Wise Lord is righteous actions done with the Good Mind in order to establish the Good Dominion.
Song 2 (Yasna 36)
LEADING LIGHT
Around You, within this fire enclosure,
First of all, we walk, Wise Lord, again and again,
Through the Most Incremental Mentality.
Reverence to it, which You appoint for reverence.
The congregation is standing around a fire altar within an enclosure, walking around it multiple times; the prayerful only have the Wise Lord in their mind. Fire represents the Divine Faculty of Creation and Promotion—the Progressive Mentality [the maturation of mind], a faculty worthy of reverence.
Fire is the symbol of the ultimate Divine energy at the heart of creation, that deserves our utmost reverence and respect.
Song 2.2 (Yasna 36.2)
The most perfect bliss, through progress, Meet us, Fire of the Wise (Lord). The blissful of the most perfect bliss, Through the respects of the most respecting, Meet us at the greatest of events.
The occasion is the greatest event of life, the Ceremony of the Choice of Religion—the Initiation [effectively, the Zoroastrianism profession of faith]. Standing before the altar, the praying initiates see Fire as the symbol of perfect happiness, the divine blessing. They venerate it and pray for the bliss on that occasion.
By attuning with the energy connecting all existence, one can experience ultimate bliss.
Song 2.3 (Yasna 36.3)
Fire [ENERGY], you belong to the Wise Lord. You are His Most Progressive Mentality. It is the swiftest of your names, O Fire of the Wise Lord. Through it, we encircle [embrace] You.
Fire in the Gathic Doctrine symbolizes the Divine Mentality of Creation. This is the best description of a symbol that represents light, warmth and energy. With the concept that Fire is a divine symbol, the prayerful encircle the altar embracing the concept of Divine Energy.
Out from The Lord of Wisdom emanates the energy which is the animating force for all existence.
Song 2.4 (Yasna 36.4)
We encircle You, Through Good Mind and Good Righteousness, Through deeds and words of good perceptions.
The prayerful encircling the fire-altar pray that they are approaching God through the good mind and righteousness, and they pray that their good deeds and words come from their good perception.
We can become close to Divine Wisdom by understanding the laws which order existence with our Good Minds and enacting these with our thoughts and actions.
Song 2.5 (Yasna 36.5)
We bow, we implore, You, Wise Lord, You, with all good thoughts, all good words, And all good deeds, we encircle.
The prayerful end their prayers with a humble statement. They are encircling The Wise One with all their good thoughts, good words, and good deeds—all they can offer.
We praise The Wise One with our good thoughts, good words and good deeds.
Song 2.6 (Yasna 36.6)
Wise Lord, of these lights, The highest of the high, Called the Sun, We declare The sublimest of Your splendors.
The congregation is facing the sun and praying, only to say that the highest light is the best of lights in their eyes. That the energy of the Divine surpasses energy of the Sun.
Praise The Wise One for the wonders of creation you can observe.
Song 3 (Yasna 37)
VENERATING THE CREATOR AND CREATION
Song 3.1 (Yasna 37.1)
Truly, we venerate The Wise Lord, Who created the living world, And righteousness, the waters, the plants, Created the goodly lights The land and all that is good.
The congregation venerates Ahura Mazda, Lord Wise, as the Creator of the Universal Law of Righteousness; the living world of animals, waters, plants; the stars; the earth; and all the good creation. The prayerful look upon the universe as a good creation of God.
Behold all the good that Ahura Mazda has created and praise the architect of the Righteous Laws of existence.
Song 3.2 (Yasna 37.2)
Through His power, greatness, And skills, Him now We venerate........ With the choice of praises, (We, who live peacefully in company of the living world.)
They venerate God with the best of their praises for the Divine power and skill. They thank God for the peaceful life they enjoy in the living world.
We praise The Wise One for his power and greatness as we can enjoy a peaceful life in the living world.
Song 3.3 (Yasna 37.3)
Him with lordly names, Most intelligent, most progressive we venerate, Him, with our bodies And lives, we venerate. Him [and] the conviction of the righteous, men and women, we venerate.
They praise God with their body and life. They mention the divine names which reflect super intelligence and progress, and they praise faith and conviction held by righteous men and women.
Praise Ahura Mazda with the many names he is known by in this existence.
Song 3.4 (Yasna 37.4)
The Best righteousness We venerate, which is the sublimest, The incremental, the eternal, The luminous, all good.
Next, they praise the best righteousness (Asha), the Universal Law of Precision. It is the sublimest, progressive, eternal, bright, and, in fact, all goodness.
The fundamental laws which order existence were created to be eternal, wholly good, and to iterate towards the best.
Song 3.5 (Yasna 37.5)
We venerate good mind, Good dominion, good Conscience, Good Felicity And good serenity
The congregation venerates, among the Primal Principles of Life, good mind, good sovereignty, good conscience, good joy, good stability, and tranquility.
Venerate eminate divine aspects through which you can live a happier and wiser life.
Song 4 (Yasna 38)
VENERATING NATURE
Song 4.1 (Yasna 38.1)
Together with the womenfolk, Here we venerate this Earth that supports us And them—the women, who Lord Wise, Belong to You on account of their righteousness. Them we venerate also.
Men and women gather to venerate the earth which supports us. Special respects are paid to those women who have dedicated themselves to serve God through righteousness—an appreciation of the women who served in spreading the Good Religion – the practice of Good.
Venerate the Earth as it nourishes the men and women who support it.
Song 4.2 (Yasna 38.2)
Devotion, integrity, renovation, Serenity, and through them good reward, Good aspiration, good invocation, Good guidance, and good abundance we venerate.
Continuing with their veneration, the congregation mentions devotion, integrity, renovation, and tranquility which reward one with good aspiration, invocation, guidance, and plenitude.
The good things in life are promoted by devotion, renovation, and serenity.
Song 4.3 (Yasna 38.3)
Waters we venerate, The dammed [pond], the collected [lake], The running [stream], the well-banked [river], The well-gushing [waterfall] and the well-bathing [sea].
The prayerful venerate various types of water—water in the pond, lake, stream, river, the waterfall and the sea. Water in all these shapes is dear to them.
Venerate the water of Earth in all its forms and seek never to pollute it.
Song 4.4 (Yasna 38.4)
Thus, O good ones, are your names, which The Wise Lord gave; which the Good-giver gave you. Through them, we venerate, we please; Through them, we bow; through them, we implore you.
The names of various shapes of water are divine names. The composer highly venerates them and wishes to have their favor.
The best veneration of nature is in understand its true value and protecting it.
Song 4.5 (Yasna 38.5)
Waters, you clouds, you mothers, you cows, supporters of the righteous poor, ladies of all, we have declared the best, the sublimest. O good ones, through your powerful favor in distress; pelters, envelopes, lively mothers.
The veneration of water as a later addition continues. Here in this stanza, it is addressed to clouds laden with water. Clouds are called mothers and cows because, like the two who give milk, clouds give water. Rains bring relief to poor farmers and are therefore called generous ladies. Clouds are powerful enough to help people in drought and distress. They dispel drought by pelting it with rain drops and envelop it with pouring water. They are lively mothers, indeed. A nice piece of praise of clouds by a poet/poetess who awaits the rains hovering in clouds to come down and water their thirsty land.
Water must be cherished and protected as it is the nurturer of all life on Earth.
Song 5 (Yasna 39)
VENERATING RIGHTEOUS MEN AND WOMEN
Song 5.1 (Yasna 39.1)
Thus we venerate the soul and fashioner of the living world; also our souls and those of the domestic animals which make us live; and of those who are Yours; and those who belong to these.
The prayerful venerate the Creator and the soul of the living world of ours. They express their regards for their own souls and those of their domestic animals, the animals which provide them with livelihood; they also venerate all that belongs to the Creator and creation.
Appreciating all the creation helps us understand Ahura Mazda and have confidence in ourselves.
Song 5.2 (Yasna 39.2)
Also we venerate the souls of the helpful law-abiding. And we venerate the souls of the righteous, born in whatever land, both men and women, whose good consciences are growing, have grown or shall grow.
The veneration continues. The souls of those who abide by law and are helpful to others are venerated, as well as all righteous people, men and women, born in whatever land, and whose good conscience and vision are progressing.
In every country, culture, and religion there are good, righteous people who have a truthful way of looking at the world.
Song 5.3 (Yasna 39.3)
Thus we venerate good men and women, incremental, eternal, ever-gaining, ever-growing, those men and women, who live a life of good mind.
The congregation holds in high regard men and women who are progressive in every walk of their life based on wisdom and the good mind. Such people are eternal and always gaining and growing in mind and body.
Both women and men are capable of actualizing the divine nature within themselves.
Song 5.4 (Yasna 39.4)
Just as You, Lord Wise,
thought, spoke, performed and practiced good, so we offer You, so we announce; so we, through these, venerate You, so we bow, so we implore, You, Wise Lord!
The prayerful humbly worship The Wise Lord because they know well that what The Wise Lord thinks, speaks, acts, and practices is all good. It is a loving veneration and not a fearing feeling or an appeasing appeal.
Praise Ahura Mazda whole-heartedly with love, without fear or expectations.
Song 5.5 (Yasna 39.5)
Through the relationship of the good family, [through the possession] of good Righteousness, we encircle You, in good felicity, with good serenity.
Feeling bound together and adhering to righteousness, members of a good family approach Lord Wisdom with great happiness in good tranquility.
A healthy, happy family allows you to offer much more to The Wise One and the world.
Song 6 (Yasna 40)
INTELLECT TO SERVE
Song 6.1 (Yasna 40.1)
Among these rewards, Wise Lord,
there is "higher intellect" also.
Make it stronger by Your favor,
so that it becomes adequate.
That reward You gave us people for the conscience, Wise Lord.
Of all the good things granted by The Wise One “higher intellect” is outstanding. The congregation prays that this reward be strengthened so that it becomes a part of human promotion. It is a gift that polishes one’s conscience.
The highest reward which The Wise One grants is the strengthening of wisdom and intellect, so that people may more properly understand existence.
Song 6.2 (Yasna 40.2)
Grant us of this ("higher intellect") for this and the mental existence; so that we draw near Your Fellowship and that of Righteousness forever.
The congregation prays for higher intellect for both their mental and material, spiritual and physical lives so that people draw closer to the Divine Fellowship of Humanity and the Universal Law of Righteousness and enjoy it forever. It is a prayer for serving the living world through sound wisdom.
Our intellects lead us to a better understanding of Righteousness, which guides us closer to Ahura Mazda.
Song 6.3 (Yasna 40.3)
Grant it to persons, Lord, [who are] righteous, right-seeking, helpful, long-settled to promote the zealous Fellowship of ours and our supporters.
The prayer continues asking The Wise Lord to grant higher intellect to those who are righteous people, those who continue to seek more righteousness, and those who are well settled and help others to be rehabilitated—all this to promote the Universal Fellowship of like-minded goodness.
Wisdom and a well-deveolped intellect will help you to live a more righteous life.
Song 6.4 (Yasna 40.4)
Thus we serve the families, thus the communities, thus the fellowships. Thus for You, Wise Lord, we may be also righteous by the truly desired favor.
It is with higher intellect and wisdom, the desired favor they are asking for, that they will serve families, communities, fellowships, and, in fact, all of humanity. The favor will turn them all into truly righteous people.
Serving humanity is aligned with the universal law of righteousness and brings us closer to the Wise One.
Song 7 (Yasna 41)
PRAISE OF LOVE
Song 7.1 (Yasna 41.1)
Praises, songs and loves to the Wise Lord and the Best Righteousness, we offer, we announce and we address.
The praying people sing their praises of love to The Wise One and the Divine Law of Righteousness.
Pray with love to the Wise One of the Heavens and live in accord with the Divine Law of Righteousness.
Song 7.2 (Yasna 41.2)
Your Good Dominion, O Wise Lord finally for ever! May a good governor, man or women, govern us in both the existences, O Most Beneficent of the living!
The prayerful express their joy over the establishment of the good chosen dominion. They pray to God, the Most Beneficent, that the person to govern them, man or woman, will be a good, beneficent person who would guide them in mind and body, spiritually and physically.
Whether they be man or woman, our rulers should be righteous and seek to make everyone prosper both physically and mentally.
Song 7.3 (Yasna 41.3)
You we consider super-wise, lovable, adorable, and an associate for Righteousness. Thus You may be our life and body in both the existences, O Most Beneficent of the living!
The congregation considers God, the Most Beneficent, to be super-wise, worthy of devotion, worthy of veneration, and an associate of humans in righteousness. It also considers God to be the very life and body of humankind in this life and beyond, the mental existence.
Seek to realize the divine in yourself in the mental and physical realms.
Song 7.4 (Yasna 41.4)
May we earn, may we gain, Wise Lord,
a long life by Your grace!
May we be active and strong through You!
Support us long and clearly,
O Most Beneficent of the living!
The only boons asked and rewards requested are to have a long, active life of service. The prayerful want to feel more confident in the divine beneficent support in order to continue their mission.
A long and happy life enables you to better serve existence and enjoy it.
Song 7.5 (Yasna 41.5)
Your praisers and thought-provokers, Lord Wise,
we consider ourselves and we yearn;
and we approach [You], for You gave us people,
the reward for the consciences, Wise Lord.
Enjoying the divine support and strengthened by their conscience, the members of the Zarathushtrian Fellowship consider themselves as the praisers of God and thought-provokers of mankind. They are well on their way to spread the Message.
Spread the Message of The Wise One, which provides its adherents the fulfillment of a fully satisfied intellect and conscience, enabling them to properly understand and renovate existence.
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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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