We worship the Fravashi of the holy Yaetui"- gau, the son of Vyatana.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Gari^ta, the son of Kavi.
124. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Pouru-bangha, the son of Zaosha.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vohudata, the son of Kata.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Bc^ungha, the son of S^ungha.
We worship the Fravashis ^ of the holy Hvareza and A/^kasa.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Aravaoi'tra, the son of Erezva^danghu.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Fra/§ithra, the son of Berezva;^/.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vohuperesa, the son of Ainyu.
125. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Parodasma, the son of Dai'taghni, a Mka man of the Mi^'a land.
We worship the Fravashis of the holy Fratira and Baeshatastira.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy and pure Avare-g^u, the son of Aoighimatastira.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Gaoma;//, the son of Zavan, a Rao^^dya man of the Rao^'dya land.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Thri/, the son of Aevo-saredha-fyaei"ta, a Tanya man of the Tanya land.
^ The text has 'the Fravashi;' cf. §§ 113, 127.
farvard!n vast. 219 126. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Tironakathwa, of the Uspae^ta-Saena housed We worship the Fravashi of the holy Utayuti Vi/-kavi, the son of Zighri, of the Saena house ^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Frohakafra, the son of Merezishmya, of the Saena house ^ We worship the Fravashi of the holy Varesmorao/C-ah, the son of Perethu-afzem.
127. We worship the Fravashis ^ of the holy Asha-nemah and VidaZ-g^u, of this country.
We worship the Fravashis ^ of the holy Parsha/-g^u and Dazgara-g^u, of the Apakhshira country.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Hufravakhi-, of the Kahrkana house \ We worship the Fravashi of the holy Akayadha, of the Pidha house ^ We worship the Fravashi of the holy Camaspa, the younger ^ We worship the Fravashi of the holy Maidhy6m^ungha, the younger*.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Urvata/- nara, the younger ^ 128. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Rao>^as-/^ae^man; We worship the Fravashi of the holy HvsLve- /^ae^man; We worship the Fravashi of the holy FradaA ^z^arenah; ^ See ]Studes Iraniennes, II, 142.
^ The text has ' the Fravashi;' cf. § 113.
8 Different from Gamaspa, the son of Hvova (§ 103).
* Different from Maidhyo-m^zungha, the son of Arasti (§ 95).
^ Different from Urvata/-nara, the son of Zarathujtra (§98).
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vareda/- ^z^arenah; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vourunemah; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vourusavah ^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Ukhshya/- ereta ^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Ukhshya/- nemah 2; We worship the Fravashi of the holy AsTVAr- ERETA*; 129. Whose name will be the victorious Sao- SHYAivr and whose name will be AstvaZ-ereta. He will be SAOSHYAivr (the Beneficent One), because he will benefit the whole bodily world; he will be AsTVAr-ERETA (he who makes the bodily creatures ^ The six foremost helpers of Saoshya«/, each in one of the six Karshvares: ' It is said that in the fifty-seven years, which are the period of the raising of the dead, R6shan6-/^ashm in Arzah, Khury^ashm inSavah,Frada(f-gadman(Frada/-^z;aren6, Increaser of Glory) in Frada^afsh, Varedarf-gadman (VaredaZ-Az'areno, Multiplier of Glory) in Vidad'afsh, Kamak-vakhshijn (Vouru-nemo, Prayer- loving) in Voriibarj-t, and Kamak-su«/ (Vouru-savo, Weal-loving) in Voru-^arjt, while Soshans in the illustrious and pure Khvaniras is connected with them, are immortal. The completely good sense, perfect hearing, and full glory of those seven producers of the renovation are so miraculous that they converse from region unto region, every one together with the six others ' (Dadistan XXXVI, ^ The first brother and forerunner to Saoshyaw/, the Oshedar mah of later tradition (see above, p. 196, note 2; cf. § 141, note).
' The second brother and forerunner to Saoshya«/, the Oshedar bami of later tradition (ibid.; cf. § 142, note).
* Saoshyaw/; cf. following paragraph and §§ no, 117.
rise up), because as a bodily creature and as a living creature he will stand against the destruction of the bodily creatures, to withstand the Dru^ of the twofooted brood, to withstand the evil done by the faithful ^ 130. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Yima^ the son of Vivangha/z/; the valiant Yima, who had flocks at his wish 2; to stand against the oppression caused by the Da^vas, against the drought that destroys pastures, and against death that creeps unseen *.
131. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Thraetaona, of the Athwya house ^; to stand against itch, hot fever, humours, cold fever, and incontinency^ to stand against the evil done by the Serpent''.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Aoshnara, the son of Pouru-^ira^ We worship the Fravashi of the holy Uzava, the son of Tiimaspa ^.
^ He will suppress both the destructive power of the men of the Dru^ (idolaters and the like) and the errors of INIazdayasnians (?).
^ Vouru-vathwa; cf. fitudes Iraniennes, II, 182.
* As he made waters and trees undrying, cattle and men undying. ^ See above, p. 61, note i.
* As the inventor of medicine; see Vend. XX, Introd.
'' Disease, being a poison, comes from the Serpent; see ibid.
« Or ' Aoshnara, full of wisdom;' cf. Yt. XXIII, 2, and West, Pahlavi Texts, II, 171, note 3.
^ Called in the Shah Namah Zab, son of Tahmasp, who appears to have been a son of Nodar (Bund. XXXI, 23).
YA5TS AND SIRdZAHS.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Aghraeratha, the demi-man ^ We worship the Fravashi of the holy Manu5- ^ithra, the son of Airyu^.
132. We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Kavata^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Aipivanghu ^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Usadhan^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Arshan^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Pisanah^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Byarshan^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Syavarshan^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy king Husravah^; OO' For the well-shapened Strength ^ for the Victory made by Ahura, for the crushing Ascendant; for the righteousness of the law, for the innocence of * See above, p. 114, note 7 (Yt. IX, 18).
' Airyu, the youngest of the three sons of Thraetaona (see p. 61, note i), was killed by his brothers and avenged by his son Manuj->^iihra, who succeeded Thraetaona.
» Kavata, Kai Qobad in the Shah Namah, an adoptive son to Uzava, according to Bund. XXXI, 24.
* Kai-Apiveh in the Bundahii'; he was the son of Kai Qobad.
^ Usadhan, Arshan, Pisanah, and Byarshan were the four sons of Aipivanghu; they are called in Firdausi Kai Kaus, Kai Arish, Kai Pashin, and Kai Armin. Kai Kaus alone came to the throne.
« Syavakhsh and Khosrav; see above, p. 64, note i.
^ To become possessed of Strength, Victory, &c., as Husravah did.
the law, for the unconquerable power of the law; for the extermination of the enemies at one stroke; 134. And for the vigour of health, for the Glory made by Mazda, for the health of the body, and for a good, virtuous offspring, wise, chief in assemblies, bright, and clear-eyed, that frees [their father] from the pangs [of hell], of good intellect; and for that part in the blessed world that falls to wisdom and to those who do not follow impiety; 135. For a dominion full of splendour, for a long, long life, and for all boons and remedies; to withstand the Yatus and Pairikas, the oppressors, the blind, and the deaf; to withstand the evil done by oppressors \ 136. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Keresaspa 2, the Sama ^, the club-bearer with plaited hair; to withstand the dreadful arm and the hordes with the wide battle array, with the many spears, with the straight spears, with the spears uplifted, bearing the spears of havoc; to withstand the dreadful brigand who works destruction*, the man-slayer who has no mercy; to withstand the evil done by the brigand.
137. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Akhrura"', the son of Husravah; To withstand the wicked one that deceives his friend and the niggard that causes the destruction of the world *'.
^ Like Frangrasyan; cf. p. 64, note i.
^ Belonging to the Sama family (Yasna IX, 10).
* Like the nine highwaymen killed by Keresaspa, Yt. XIX, 41.
■* Not mentioned in the Shah Namah; Khosrav was succeeded by a distant relation, Lohrasp.
" An allusion to the lost legend of Akhriira; see, however, West, Pahlavi Texts, II, 375.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy and gallant Haoshyangha; To withstand the Mazainya Daevas and the Varenya fiends; to withstand the evil done by the Daevas ^.
138. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Fradhakh^ti, the son of the jar^, To withstand Aeshma, the fiend of the wounding spear, and the Daevas that grow through Aeshma; to withstand the evil done by Aeshma.
XXX.
139. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Hvovi^ We worship the Fravashi of the holy Fr^ni; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Thriti; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Pouru- /§ista *.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Hutaosa^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Humal We worship the Fravashi of the holy Zairi/^i.
^ Khumbya, one of the immortals in ZTivaniratha; he resides in the Pe^yansai plain: * he is Z^z^embya for this reason, because they brought him up in a /ivemh (jar) for fear of Khashm' (Bund. XXIX, 5). He answers pretty well to the Agastya and Vasish//5a of the Vedic legend (see Ormazd et Ahriman, § 177).
^ One of the three wives of Zarathui'tra, the daughter of Frasha-OJtra; she is the supposed mother of Saoshya;;/ and his brothers * The three daughters of Zarathu^-tra and sisters to Isa^vastar ^ Vutaspa's wife; see Yt. IX, 26, and XVII, 46, * Vi^taspa's daughter, Humai, in the Shah Namah.
A We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vispataurvashi.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Ui"tavaiti.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Tuiriamaiti.
140. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Frt'ni, the wife of Usenemah ^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Fr^^ni, the wife of the son of Frayaza?zta ^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Fr^ni, the wife of the son of Khshoiwraspa ^; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Fr^ni, the wife of Gayadhasti *.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Asabani, the wife of Pourudhakh^ti ^.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Ukhshyei;«ti, the wife of Staotar-Vahi^tahe-Ashyehe ^.
141. We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid Vadh{i^.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid 6^aghrudh.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid Franghadh.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid UriidhayawA We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid Pa6sanghanu.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy //z^aredhi.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Hu/^ithra.
We worship the Fravashi of the holy Kanuka.
"^ See§in. « Ibid.
226 YA5TS AND SIROZAHS We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid SrutaZ-fedhri \ 142. We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid Vanghu-fedhri "; We worship the Fravashi of the holy maid Ereda^fedhrl^, who is called Vispa-taurvairi. She is Vispa-taurvairi (the all-destroying) because she will bring him forth, who will destroy the malice of Daevas and men, to withstand the evil done by the 6*ahi*.
143. We worship the Fravashis of the holy men in the Aryan countries; We worship the Fravashis of the holy women in the Aryan countries.
We worship the Fravashis of the holy men in the Turanian countries^; We worship the Fravashis of the holy women in the Turanian countries.
We worship the Fravashis of the holy men in the Sairimyan countries*'; ^ UkhshyaZ-ereta's mother (see above, § 126); the Saddar Bundahij (Etudes Iraniennes, II, 209) calls her Bad, from the last part of her name (fedhri for padhri), and states that, bathing in Lake Kasava, she will become pregnant from the seed of Zarathuj-tra, that is preserved there (see above, p. 195, note 2), and she will bring forth a son, Oshedar bamt.
^ UkhshyaZ-nemah's mother, called Vah Bad in the Saddar; she will conceive in the same way as SrutaZ-fedhri.
* Cf. Vend. XIX, 5, and Introd. IV, 39-40.
^ Gogojasp (a commentator to the Avesta) says, ' There are holy men in all religions, as appears from the words tuiryanam d^/ivyunam [We worship the Fravashis of the holy men in the Turanian countries],' (Pahl. Comm. ad Vend. Ill, end; and Vend. V, 38 [122]); cf. above, §§ 113, 123.
* The countries inherited by Sairima (Selm), the third son of A FARVARDIN YA5T. 22; We worship the Fravashis of the holy women in the Sairimyan countries.
144. We worship the Fravashis of the holy men in the Saini countries^; We worship the Fravashis of the holy women in the Saini countries.
We worship the Fravashis of the holy men in the Dahi countries^; We worship the Fravashis of the holy women in the Dahi countries.
We worship the Fravashis of the holy men in all countries; We worship the Fravashis of the holy women in all countries.
145. We worship all the good, awful, beneficent Fravashis of the faithful, from Gaya Maretan down to the victorious Saoshyaw/^ May the Fravashis of the faithful come quickly to us! May they come to our help!
146. They protect us when in distress with manifest assistance, with the assistance of Ahura Mazda and of the holy, powerful Sraosha, and with the Mathra-Spe;^ta, the all-knowing, who hates the Daevas with a mighty hate, a friend of Ahura Mazda, whom Zarathui-tra worshipped so greatly in the material world.
147. May the good waters and the plants and ThraStaona, as Turan and Iran were inherited by Tfira and Airyu. Selm's heritage was RCim, that is to say, Europa and Western Asia.
1 China (Bund. XV, 29).
2 Perhaps the Dahae (Pliny VI, 17; Aeneis VIII, 728) or Aam (Slrabo), called Ta-hia by Chinese geographers, on the south of the Oxus.
^ From the first man to the last.
the Fravashis of the faithful abide down here! May you be rejoiced and well received in this house! Here are the Athravans of the countries \ thinking of good holiness. Our hands are lifted up for asking help, and for offering a sacrifice unto you, O most beneficent Fravashis!
148. We worship the Fravashis of all the holy men and holy women whose souls are worthy of sacrifice ^, whose Fravashis are worthy of invocation.
We worship the Fravashis of all the holy men and holy women, our sacrificing to whom makes us good in the eyes of Ahura Mazda: of all of those we have heard that Zarathu^tra is the first and best, as a follower of Ahura and as a performer of the law.
149. We worship the spirit, conscience, perception, soul, and Fravashi ^ of men of the primitive law ^ of the first who listened to the teaching (of Ahura), holy men and holy women, who struggled for holiness^; we worship the spirit, conscience, perception, soul, and Fravashi of our next-of-kin, holy men and holy women, who struggled for holiness^.
150. We worship the men of the primitive law who will be in these houses, boroughs, towns, and countries; We worship the men of the primitive law who have been in these houses, boroughs, towns, and countries; We worship the men of the primitive law who are in these houses, boroughs, towns, and countries.
151. We worship the men of the primitive law * Itinerant priests are received here.
* For the triumph of the Zoroastrian law.
in all houses, boroughs, towns, and countries, who obtained these houses, who obtained these boroughs, who obtained these towns, who obtained these countries, who obtained holiness, who obtained the Mathra, who obtained the [blessedness of the] soul, who obtained all the perfections of goodness.
152. We worship Zarathu^tra, the lord and master of all the material world, the man of the primitive law; the wisest of all beings, the bestruling of all beings, the brightest of all beings, the most glorious of all beings, the most worthy of sacrifice amongst all beings, the most worthy of prayer amongst all beings, the most worthy of propitiation amongst all beings, the most worthy of glorification amongst all beings, whom we call well-desired and worthy of sacrifice and prayer as much as any being can be, in the perfection of his holiness, 153. We worship this earth; We worship those heavens; We worship those good things that stand between (the earth and the heavens) and that are worthy of sacrifice and prayer and are to be worshipped by the faithful man.
154. We worship the souls of the wild beasts and of the tame \ We worship the souls of the holy men and women, born at any time, whose consciences struggle, or will struggle, or have struggled, for the good.
' Daitika, Persian j^; Neriosengh has 'that go by herds,' pahkti^arin. Aidyu; the Pahlavi translation has ayyar, 'that are of help' (domesticated?); Neriosengh has misread it as suvar and translated a9vacarin. The expression daitika aidyu answers to the Persian ^bj i^, meaning all sorts of animals (see ^fitudes Iraniennes, II, 150).
2^0 YA^TS AND siROZAHS.
155. We worship the spirit, conscience, perception, soul, and Fravashi of the holy men and holy women who struggle, will struggle, or have struggled, and teach the Law, and who have struggled for holiness.
Y^nhe hatam: All those beings to whom Ahura Mazda...Yatha ahii vairyo: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness...156. The Fravashls of the faithful, awful and overpowering, awful and victorious; the Fravashls of the men of the primitive law; the Fravashls of the next-of-kin; may these Fravashls come satisfied into this house; may they walk satisfied through this house!
157. May they, being satisfied, bless this house with the presence of the kind AshI Vanguhl! May they leave this house satisfied! May they carry back from here hymns and worship to the Maker, Ahura Mazda, and the Amesha-Spe;nas! May they not leave this house of us, the worshippers of Mazda, complaining!
158. Yatha ahii vairyo: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness...I bless the sacrifice and prayer, and the strength and vigour of the awful, overpowering Fravashls of the faithful; of the Fravashls of the men of the primitive law; of the Fravashls of the next-of-kin.
Ashem Vohu: Holiness is the best of all good...[Give] unto that man^ brightness and glory,...give him the bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones.
^ Who shall worship the Fravashis.
BAH RAM YA^T. 23 I XIV. BAHRAM YA^'T.
Regarding Bahram (Verethraghna), the Genius of Victory, see Vend. Introd. V, 8.
This Yast can be divided into four parts: — I (§§ 1-28). An enumeration of the ten incarnations in which Verethraghna appeared to Zarathui'tra (as a wind, § 2; as a bull, § 7; as a horse, § 9; as a camel, §11; as a boar, §15; as a youth, § 17; as a raven, § 19; as a ram, § 23; as a buck, § 25; II (§§ 30-33). The powers given by Verethraghna to his worshipper, Zarathujtra.
III (§§ 34-46). The magical powers, ascribed to the raven's feather, of striking terror into an army and dispersing it (the raven being the seventh incarnation of Verethraghna).
IV (§§ 47-64). The glorification of Verethraghna.
o. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced!...Ashem Vohu: Holiness is the best of all good...I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathujtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto [Havani], the holy and master of holiness...Unto Verethraghna, made by Mazda, and unto the crushing Ascendant^; Be propitiation, with sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification.
Yatha ahft vairyo: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness...I.
I. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathu.ytra asked Ahura Mazda: 'Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
^ Sirozah I, 20.
'Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: 'It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathui"tra!'
2. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him first, running in the shape of a strong, beautiful wind, made by Mazda; he bore the good Glory, made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda, that is both health and strength.
3. Then he, who is the strongest \ said unto him^: ' I am the strongest in strength; I am the most victorious in victory; I am the most glorious in Glory; I am the most favouring in favour; I am the best giver of welfare; I am the best- healing in healthgiving.
4. ' And I shall destroy the malice of all the malicious, the malice of Daevas and men, of the Yatus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind, and the deaf.
5. 'For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard; namely, unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura. We worship Verethraghna, made by Ahura, with an offering of libations, according to the primitive ordinances of Ahura; with the Haoma and meat, the baresma, the wisdom of the tongue, the holy spells, the speech, the deeds, the libations, and the rightlyspoken words.
'Ye«he hatam: All those beings of whom Ahura Mazda...II.
6. 'We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.'
^ Verethraghna. ^ Zarathujtra.
BAHRAM YA5T. 233 Zarathu5tra asked Ahiira Mazda: * Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: ' It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathu^tra!'
7. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the second time, running in the shape of a beautiful bull, with yellow ears and golden horns; upon whose horns floated the well-shapen Strength, and Victory, beautiful of form, made by Ahura: thus did he come, bearing the good Glory, made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda, that is both health and strength.
Then he, who is the strongest, said unto him: ' I am the strongest in strength...^ 'And I shall destroy the malice of all malicious 2' For his brightness and glory, I will ofifer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard...^ III.
8. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
ZarathuJtra asked Ahura Mazda: 'Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: 'It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathu^tra!'
9. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the third time, running in the shape of a white, beautiful horse, with yellow ears and a golden caparison; upon whose forehead floated the well-shapen Strength, and Victory, beautiful of form, made by Ahura: thus did he come, bearing the good Glory, made by Mazda, that is both health and strength.
Then he, who is the strongest, said unto him: ' I am the strongest in strength...'And I shall destroy the malice of all malicious ' For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard...IV.
10. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathu^tra asked Ahura Mazda: 'Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: 'It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathunra!'
11. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the fourth time, running in the shape of a burdenbearing ^ camel, sharp-toothed '\ swift...•\ stamping forwards, long-haired, and living in the abodes of men ^; 1 2. Who of all males in rut shows greatest strength and greatest fire, when he goes to his females. Of all females those are best kept whom a burdenbearing camel keeps, who has thick forelegs and large humps,...^ quick-eyed, long-headed, bright, tall, and strong; 1 3. Whose piercing look goes afar...^ even in the dark of the night; who throws white foam 1 Doubtful (vadharoi^ ^ Doubtful (dadasoij).
^? Urvato; cf. § 19. * Tame, domesticated.
^? Smarjno. ^? Haitahe.
BAHRAM YA5T. 235 alone his mouth: well-kneed, well-footed, standing with the countenance of an all-powerful master: Thus did Verethraghna come, bearing the good Glory made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda...V.
14. We sacrifice uhto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathu^tra asked Ahura Mazda: 'Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: 'It Is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spltama Zarathu^tra!'
15. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the fifth time, running In the shape of a boar, opposing the foes, a sharp-toothed he-boar, a sharp-jawed boar, that kills at one stroke, pursuing, wrathful, with a dripping face\ strong, and swift to run, and rushlnof all around ^.
Thus did Verethraghna come, bearing the good Glory made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda...VI.
16. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathui-tra asked Ahura Mazda: ' Ahura Mazda.
most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who Is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: ' It Is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spltama Zarathu^tra!'
1 Cf. Yt. X, 70. " Or better, rushing before. Cf. Yt. X, 1 27.
17. Verethraghna,' made by Ahura, came to him the sixth time, running in the shape of a beautiful youth of fifteen, shining, clear-eyed, thin-heeled.
Thus did Verethraghna come, bearing the good Glory made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda...VIL- 18. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathui-tra asked Ahura Mazda: 'Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: 'It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathu^tra! ' 19. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the seventh time, running in the shape of a raven that...^ below and...^ above, and that is the swiftest of all birds, the lightest of the fiying creatures.
20. He alone of living things, — he or none, — overtakes the flight of an arrow, however well it has been shot. He flies up joyfully at the first break of dawn, wishing the night to be no more, wishing the dawn, that has not yet come, to come ^ 21. He grazes the hidden ways^ of the mountains, he grazes the tops of the mountains, he grazes the depths of the vales, he grazes the summits ^ of the trees, listeningr to the voices of the birds.
^? Urvato, pishato.
^ The raven was sacred to Apollo. The priests of the sun in Persia are said to have been named ravens (Porphyrins). Cf. Georgica I, 45.
=* Reading vi^atavo. "Doubtful.
BAHRAM YA5T. 237 Thus did Verethraghna come, bearing the good Glory made by Mazda \ the Glory made by Mazda...22. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathui'tra asked Ahura Mazda: ' Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: ' It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathu^tra!'
23. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the eighth time, running in the shape of a wild, beautiful ram, with horns bent rounds Thus did Verethraghna come, bearing the good Glory made by Mazda ^ the Glory made by Mazda...IX.
24. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathui-tra asked Ahura Mazda: 'Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
* Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: 'It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathui^tra!'
^ The royal Glory is described flying in the shape of a raven, 2 Doubtful.
^ While Ardashir, the founder of the Sasanian dynasty, was flying from Ardavan, a beautiful wild ram ran after him and overtook him, and Ardavan understood from this that the kingly Glory had left him and had passed over to his rival (Shah Namah, Ardashir; Kar Namaki Artachshir, tr. Noeldeke, p. 45}.
2^8 YASTS AND SIROZAHS.
•vD' 25. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the ninth time, running in the shape of a beautiful, fighting buck, with sharp horns.
Thus did Verethraghna come, bearing the good Glory made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda...X.
26. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathujftra asked Ahura Mazda: 'Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
' Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods?' Ahura Mazda answered: 'It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathu^tra!'
27. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him the tenth time, running in the shape of a man, bright and beautiful, made by Mazda: he held a sword with a golden blade, inlaid with all sorts of ornaments.
Thus did Verethraghna come, bearing the good Glory made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda...XI.
28. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura, who makes virility, who makes death, who makes resurrection, who possesses peace, who has a free way.
Unto him did the holy Zarathu^-tra offer up a sacrifice, [asking] for victorious thinking, victorious speaking, victorious doing, victorious addressing, and victorious answering.
29. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, gave him the BAH RAM YAS-T. 239 fountains of manliness ^ the strength of the arms, the health of the whole body, the sturdiness of the whole body, and the eye-sight of the Kara fish ^ that lives beneath the waters and can measure =^ a rippling of the water, not thicker than a hair, in the Rangha whose ends lie afar, whose depth is a thousand times the height of a man ^.
For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard...XII.
30. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura, who makes virility, who makes death, who makes resurrection, who possesses peace, who has a free way.
Unto him did the holy Zarathu^tra offer up a sacrifice, [asking] for victorious thinking, victorious speaking, victorious doing, victorious addressing, and victorious answering.
31. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, gave him the fountains of manliness, the strength of the arms, the health of the whole body, the sturdiness of the whole body, and the eye-sight of the male horse, that, in the dark of the night, in its first half ^ and through the rain, can perceive a horse's hair lying on the ground and knows whether it is from the head or from the tail *'.
1 Erezi, Pahl. gond (Old Zand-Pahlavi Dictionary, p. 11).
2 See Vendidad XIX, 42. ' Possibly, perceive.
* Cf. Yt. XVI, 7, and Bundahij XVIII, 6: 'those fish...know the scratch of a needle's point (or better hole) by which the water shall increase, or by which it is diminishing ' (tr. West).
"^ Avakhshaityau, the night before hu-vakhsha (before the time when the light begins to grow; midnight).
« Cf Yt. XVI, 10, and Bundahi^ XIX, 32: ' Regarding the Arab For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard...'O 32. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahiira, who makes virility, who makes death, who makes resurrection, who possesses peace, who has a free way.
Unto him did the holy Zarathu5tra sacrifice, [asking] for victorious thinking, victorious speaking, victorious doing, victorious addressing, and victorious answermg.
33. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, gave him the fountains of virility, the strength of the arms, the health of the whole body, the sturdiness of the whole body, and the eye-sight of the vulture with a golden collar ^ that, from as far as nine districts, can perceive a piece of flesh not thicker than the fist, giving just as much light as a needle gives, as the point of a needle gives 2.
For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard...XIV.
34. We sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura.
Zarathu^tra asked Ahura Mazda: * Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!
horse, they say that if, in a dark night, a single hair occurs on the ground, he sees it ' (tr. West).
1 Possibly the Gypaetus, the vautour dore, 2 ' Even from his highest flight, he (the vulture) sees when flesh the size of a fist is on the ground' (Bund. XIX, 31; tr.West). Cf. Horapollo (I, ii).
BAH RAM VAST. 24 1 * If I have a curse thrown upon me, a spell told upon me by the many men who hate me, what is the remedy for it? ' 35. Ahura Mazda answered: ' Take thou a feather of that bird with...^ feathers, the Vare;^fana, O Spitama Zarathu^-tra! With that feather thou shalt rub thy own body^ with that feather thou shalt curse back thy enemies.
36. ' If a man holds a bone of that strong bird, or a feather of that strong bird, no one can smite or turn to flight that fortunate man. The feather of that bird of birds brings him help; it brings unto him the homage of men, it maintains in him his glory.
7,y. 'Then the sovereign, the lord of countries, will no longer kill his^ hundreds, though he is a killer of men; the..."* will not kill at one stroke; he alone smites and goes forwards.
38. ' All tremble before him who holds the feather, they tremble therefore before me; all my enemies tremble before me and fear my strength and victorious force and the fierceness established in my body.
39. 'He^ carries the chariot of the lords; he carries the chariots of the lordly ones, the chariots of the sovereigns. He carried the chariot of Kavi ^ Pesho-parena. The Varew^ana is the same bird as the Varaghna, the raven.
2 The feather of the Varew^ana plays here the same part as the Simurgh's feather in the Shah Namah. When Riadabah's flank was opened to bring forth Rustem, her wound was healed by rubbing it with a Simurgh's feather; Rustem, wounded to death by Isfendyar, was cured in the same manner.
^ Of him who holds that feather.
*? Vaesaepa. ' That bird.
242 YAS-TS AND SIROZAHS Usa^; upon his wings runs the male horse ^ runs the burden-bearing camel, runs the water of the river.
40. ' Him rode the gallant Thraetaona, who smote Az'i Dahaka, the three-mouthed, the three-headed, the six-eyed, who had a thousand senses; that most powerful, fiendish Dru^, that demon, baleful to the world, the strongest Dru^ that Angra Mainyu created against the material world, to destroy the world of the good principled