The Zend Avesta, Part II (SBE23), James Darmesteter, tr. [1882], at sacred-texts.com
Rashnu Razista, 'the truest True,' is the Genius of Truth: he is one of the three judges of the departed, with Mithra and Sraosha: he holds the balance in which the deeds of men are weighed after their death: 'he makes no unjust balance . . . ., neither for the pious nor yet the wicked, neither for lords nor yet rulers; as much as a hair's breadth he will not vary, and he shows no favour 1.' He is an offshoot either of Mithra, the God of Truth and the avenger of lies, or of Ahura Mazda himself, the all-knowing lord (§ 2 seq.).
This Yast seems to be an appeal made to Rashnu to come and attend the performance of the var nîrang or ordeal (see p. 170, note 3), of which Rashnu, as the Genius of Truth, was the natural witness and arbiter (cf. Vend. IV, 54-55 [154-156]). As a god of Truth must know everything and be present everywhere, he is called from whatever part of the world he may actually be in. This brings about an enumeration of all the parts of the world, from this earth (§§ 9-22) to the highest heaven (§ 37), passing through the Albôrz (§§ 23-26), the star region (§§ 26-32), the moon region (§ 33), and the sun region (§ 34; cf. p. 73, note 2).
This Yast is recited on the days of Rashn, Murdâd, Âshtâd, and Zemyâd (the 18th, 7th, 26th, and 28th of the month).
_____________________________
0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced
Ashem Vohû: Holiness is the best of all good . . . .
I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathustra, one who hates the Daêvas and obeys the laws of Ahura;
For sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto [Hâvani], the holy and master of holiness.
Unto Rashnu Razista; unto Arstât, who makes the world grow, who makes the world increase; unto the true-spoken speech, that makes the world grow 2;
Be propitiation, with sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification.
Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness . . . .
1. The holy (Zarathustra) asked him 1: 'O holy Ahura Mazda! I ask thee; answer me with words of truth, thou who knowest the truth. Thou art undeceivable, thou hast an undeceivable understanding; thou art undeceivable, as thou knowest everything.
'What of the Holy Word is created true? what is created progress-making? what is fit to discern? what is healthful? what is wise? what is happy and more powerful to destroy than all other creatures 2?
2. Ahura Mazda answered: 'I will declare that unto thee, O pure, holy Spitama!
'The most glorious Holy Word (itself), this is what in the Holy Word is created true, what is created progress making, what is fit to discern, what is healthful, wise, and happy, what is more powerful to destroy than all other creatures.'
3. Ahura Mazda said: 'Bind up a three-twigged baresma against the way of the sun. [Address] unto me, Ahura Mazda, these words: "We invoke, we bless [Ahura] 3; I invoke the friendship [of Ahura] towards this var 4 prepared, towards the fire and the baresma, towards the full boiling [milk 5], towards the var 4 of oil and the sap 6 of the plants."
4. 'Then I, Ahura Mazda, shall come for help unto thee, towards this var prepared, towards the fire and the baresma, towards the full boiling [milk], towards the var of oil and the sap of the plants;
'Along with the fiend-smiting Wind, along with the cursing thought of the wise 1, along with the kingly Glory, along with Saoka 2, made by Mazda.
5. 'We invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong; I invoke his friendship towards this var 3 prepared, towards the fire and the baresma, towards the full boiling [milk], towards the var of oil and the sap of the plants.
6. 'Then Rashnu the tall, the strong, will come for help unto thee, towards this var prepared, towards the fire and the baresma, towards the full boiling [milk], towards the var of oil and the sap of the plants:
'Along with the fiend-smiting Wind, along with the cursing thought of the wise, along with the kingly Glory, along with Saoka, made by Mazda.
7. 'O thou, holy Rashnu! O most true Rashnu! most beneficent Rashnu! most knowing Rashnu! most discerning Rashnu! most fore-knowing Rashnu! most far-seeing Rashnu! Rashnu, the
best doer of justice 1! Rashnu, the best smiter of thieves;
8. 'The uninjured, the best killer, smiter, destroyer of thieves and bandits! in whatever part of the world thou art watching the doings 2 of men and making the account . . . . 3.
9. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the Karshvare Arezahi 4, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared 5 . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
10. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the Karshvare Savahi 4, we invoke, we bless Rashnu. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
11. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the Karshvare Fradadhafshu 4, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
12. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the
[paragraph continues] Karshvare Vîdadhafshu 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
13. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashn! art in the Karshvare Vouru-baresti 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
14. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the Karshvare Vouru-baresti 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
15. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in this Karshvare, the bright Hvaniratha 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
16. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the sea Vouru-Kasha 2, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . . in whatever part of the world thou art.
17. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art on the tree of the eagle 1, that stands in the middle of the sea Vouru-Kasha, that is called the tree of good remedies, the tree of powerful remedies, the tree of all remedies, and on which rest the seeds of all plants; we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
18. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art on the Aodhas 2 of the Rangha, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
19. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art on the Sanaka 3 of the Rangha, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
20. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art at one of the angles of this earth, we invoke, we bless Rashnu. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
21 . 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art at the boundary of this earth, we invoke, we bless Rashnu. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
22. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in any place of this earth, we invoke, we bless Rashnu. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
23. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art on the Hara Berezaiti, the bright mountain around which the many (stars) revolve, where come neither night nor darkness, no cold wind and no hot wind, no deathful sickness, no uncleanness made by the Daêvas, and the clouds cannot reach up unto the Haraiti Bareza 1; we invoke, we bless Rashnu. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
24. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art upon the highest Hukairya, of the deep precipices 2, made of gold, wherefrom this river of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, leaps from a thousand times the height of a man, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
25. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art upon the Taêra of the height Haraiti, around which the stars, the moon, and the sun revolve 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
26. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the star Vanant 2, made by Mazda, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
27. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the bright and glorious star Tistrya 3, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards the var prepared . . . .
28. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the group of the Haptôiringa stars 3, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
29. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in those stars that have the seed of the waters in them 4, we
invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
30. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in those stars that have the seed of the earth in them 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
31. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in those stars that have the seed of the plants in them 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
32. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the stars that belong to the Good Spirit 2, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
33. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the moon which has the seed of the Bull in it 3, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
34. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the swift-horsed sun, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
35. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the sovereign endless Light, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
36. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
37. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art in the shining Garô-demâna 1, we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
38. 'Whether thou, O holy Rashnu! art . . . . 2 we invoke, we bless Rashnu, the strong. I invoke his friendship towards this var prepared . . . .
39. 'For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard . . . .
'Yênhê hâtãm: All those beings of whom Ahura Mazda. . . .
40. 'Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness . . . .
'I bless the sacrifice and prayer, and the strength and vigour of Rashnu Razista; of Arstât, who makes the world grow, who makes the world increase; and of the true-spoken speech that makes the world grow.
'Ashem Vohû: Holiness is the best of all good . . . .
'[Give] unto that man 1 brightness and glory, give him health of body, . . . . give him the bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones.'
168:1 Minokhirad II, 120-121 (tr. West).
168:2 Sîrôzah I, 18.
169:1 Ahura Mazda.
169:2 Cf. Yt. I, 1 seq.
169:3 The text is apparently corrupt and has literally, 'We invoke, we bless me, Ahura Mazda.'
169:4 See following page, note 3.
169:5 Possibly, waters; cf. Yt. V, 132 and Vend. IV, 46 [128], 54 [154] seq.
169:6 Literally, the fat.
170:2 See Vend. XXII, 3.
170:3 Varô; this seems to be the Var nîrang or ordeal which is alluded to in several passages of the Avesta; cf. Afrîgân I, 9; Yasna XXXI, 3 b (see Pahl. Comm.; cf. Comm. ad XXXI V, 4 a); cf. Vend. IV, 46, 55. According to the Dînkart, there were thirty-three kinds of var ordeals (Haug, Ardâ Vîrâf, p. 245); the most common was to pour melted copper upon the breast of the man whose truth was to be tested: if he went off uninjured, he was considered to have spoken the truth. Cf. Vend. Introd. III, 9.
171:1 Arethamat-bairishta: aretha is dînâ, dâdistân (law, justice).
171:2 Kesa = kartârî (Pahl. Comm. ad Vend. XXI, 3 [14]).
171:3 I cannot make anything of the rest of the sentence hadhanâ tanasus; cf. § 38.
171:4 See Yt. X, 15, note 5.
171:5 The rest as in §§ 5-8.
172:1 See Yt. X, 15, note 5.
173:1 The Saêna, in later mythology the Sînamrû or Sîmûrgh; his 'resting-place is on the tree which is Jad-bêsh (opposed to harm) of all seeds; and always when he rises aloft, a thousand twigs will shoot forth from that tree; and when he alights, he will break off the thousand twigs, and he sheds their seed therefrom. And the bird Chañmrôsh for ever sits in that vicinity; and his work is this, that he collects that seed which sheds from the tree of all seeds, which is Jad-bêsh, and conveys it there where Tishtar seizes the water, so that Tishtar may seize the water with that seed of all kinds, and may rain it on the world with the rain' (Minokhirad LXII, 37; tr. West).
173:2 By the floods (? Vend. I, 26); it has probably a geographical meaning; cf. the following paragraph; perhaps the marshy country at the mouth of the Tigris.
173:3 Cf. Yt. X, 104; aodhas and sanaka may refer to the southern and northern basin of the Tigris.
174:1 Cf. Yt. X, 50.
174:2 Reading vîspô-vaêmem; cf. Yt. V, 96, note 7.
175:1 See Bund. V, 3 seq.; cf. Yt. X, 13, 50.
175:2 Cf. Yt. XX and Yt. VIII, 12.
175:3 Cf. Yt. VIII, 12.
175:4 'The star of water essence is for the increase of water; and the star of earth essence, for the increase of earth; and the star of tree essence, for the increase of trees; and the star of cattle essence, p. 176 for the increase of cattle; and the essence of water, and earth, and trees, and cattle is created for the increase of man' (Minokhirad XLIX, 7, tr. West).
176:1 See preceding note.
176:2 Excluding the planets which belong to Ahriman (Minokhirad VIII, 19; Bund. III, 25; V, 1).
176:3 See above, p. 8, note 8.
177:1 The highest heaven, the abode of Ormazd.
177:2 ? Upa hadhana hadhanâ tanasus; cf. § 8, p. 171, note 3.
178:1 Who shall have worshipped Rashnu.