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 the good Waters, made by Mazda; unto the holy water-spring ARDVI ANÂHITA; unto all waters, made by Mazda; unto all plants, made by Mazda,
Be propitiation, with sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification.
Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness. . .
I.
Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathustra, saying: ‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, the wide-expanding and health-giving, who hates the Daêvas and obeys the laws of Ahura, who is worthy of sacrifice in the material world, worthy of prayer in the material world; the life-increasing and holy, the herd-increasing and holy, the fold-increasing and holy, the wealth-increasing and holy, the country-increasing and holy;
‘Who makes the seed of all males pure , who makes the womb of all females pure for bringing forth , who makes all females bring forth in safety, who puts milk into the breasts of all females in the right measure and the right duality;
‘The large river, known afar, that is as large as the whole of the waters that run along the earth; that runs powerfully from the height Hukairya 5 down to the sea Vouru-Kasha .
‘All the shores of the sea Vouru-Kasha are boiling over, all the middle of it is boiling over, when she runs down there, when she streams down there, she, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, who has a thousand cells and a thousand channels : the extent of each of those cells, of each of those channels is as much as a man can ride in forty days, riding on a good horse.
‘From this river of mine alone flow all the waters that spread all over the seven Karshvares; this river of mine alone goes on bringing waters, both in summer and in winter. This river of mine purifies the seed in males, the womb in females, the milk in females’ breasts.
‘I, Ahura Mazda, brought it down with mighty vigour, for the increase of the house, of the borough, of the town, of the country, to keep them, to maintain them, to look over them, to keep and maintain them close.
‘Then Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, O Spitama Zarathustra! proceeded forth from the Maker Mazda. Beautiful were her white arms, thick as a horse’s shoulder or still thicker; beautiful was her . . ., and thus came she, strong, with thick arms, thinking thus in her heart:
‘ “Who will praise me? Who will offer me a sacrifice, with libations cleanly prepared and well-strained, together with the Haoma and meat? To whom shall I cleave, who cleaves unto me, and thinks with me, and bestows gifts upon me, and is of good will unto me? ”
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice worth being heard; I will offer up unto the holy Ardvi Sûra Anâhita a good sacrifice with an offering of libations; —thus mayest thou advise us when thou art appealed to! Mayest thou be most fully worshipped, O Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! with the Haoma and meat, with the baresma, with the wisdom of the tongue, with the holy spells, with the words, with the deeds, with the libations, and with the rightly-spoken words.
‘Yênhê hâtãm : All those beings of whom Ahura Mazda . . .
II
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, the wide-expanding and health-giving, who hates the Daêvas and obeys the laws of Ahura, who is worthy of sacrifice in the material world, worthy of prayer in the material world; the life-increasing and holy, the herd-increasing and holy, the fold-increasing and holy, the wealth-increasing and holy, the country-increasing and holy ;
‘Who drives forwards on her chariot, holding the reins of the chariot. She goes driving, on this chariot, longing for men and thinking thus in her heart: “Who will praise me? Who will offer me a sacrifice, with libations cleanly prepared and well-strained, together with the Haoma and meat? To whom shall I cleave, who cleaves unto me, and thinks with me, and bestows gifts upon me, and is of good will unto me?”
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice, worth being heard . . .
III.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Whom four horses carry, all white, of one and the same colour, of the same blood, tall, crushing down the hates of all haters, of the Daêvas and men, of the Yâtus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, of the blind and of the deaf
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
IV.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Strong and bright, tall and beautiful of form, who sends down by day and by night a flow of motherly waters as large as the whole of the waters that run along the earth, and who runs powerfully
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
V.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did the Maker Ahura Mazda offer up a sacrifice 5 in the Airyana Vaêgah, by the good river Dâitya ; with the Haoma and meat, with the baresma, with the wisdom of the tongue, with the holy spells, with the words, with the deeds, with the libations, and with the rightly-spoken words
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may bring the son of Pourushaspa, the holy Zarathustra, to think after my law, to speak after my law, to do after my law!”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and begging that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . . .
VI.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did Haoshyangha, the Paradhâta , offer up a sacrifice on the enclosure of the Hara, with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, and ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may become the sovereign lord of all countries, of the Daêvas and men, of the
Yâtus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind and the deaf; and that I may smite down two thirds of the Daêvas of Mâzana and of the fiends of Varena.”
Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
VII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . . .
‘To her did Yima Khshaêta , the good shepherd, offer up a sacrifice from the height Hukairya 5, with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may become the sovereign lord of all countries, of the Daêvas and men, of the Yâtus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind and the deaf; and that I may take from the Daêvas both riches and welfare, both fatness and flocks, both weal and Glory. ”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
VIII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did Azi Dahâka , the three-mouthed, offer up a sacrifice in the land of Bawri , with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, and ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this boon, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may make all the seven Karshvares of the earth empty of men.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita did not grant him that boon, although he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating her that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
IX.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did Thraêtaona , the heir of the valiant Âthwya clan, offer up a sacrifice in the four-cornered Varena , with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may overcome Azi Dahâka, the three-mouthed, the three-headed, the six-eyed, who has a thousand senses , that most powerful, fiendish Drug, that demon, baleful to the world, the strongest Drug that Angra Mainyu created against the material world, to destroy the world of the good principle ; and that I may deliver his two wives, Savanghavâk and Erenavâk , who are the fairest of body amongst women, and the most wonderful creatures in the world. ”
Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
X.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did Keresâspa , the manly-hearted, offer up a sacrifice behind the Vairi Pisanah, with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may overcome the golden-heeled Gandarewa , though all the shores of the sea Vouru-Kasha are boiling over; and that I may run up to the stronghold of the fiend on the wide, round earth, whose ends lie afar.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XI.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did the Turanian murderer, Frangrasyan , offer up a sacrifice in his cave under the earth, with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may seize hold of that Glory , that is waving in the middle of the sea Vouru-Kasha and that belongs to the Aryan people, to those born and to those not yet born, and to the holy Zarathustra.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita did not grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did the great, most wise Kavi Usa offer up a sacrifice from Mount Erezifya , with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may become the sovereign lord of all countries, of the Daêvas and men, of the Yâtus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind and the deaf.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XIII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did the gallant Husravah , he who united the Aryan nations into one kingdom , offer up a sacrifice behind the Kaêkasta lake , the deep lake, of salt waters , with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may become the sovereign lord of all countries, of Daêvas and men, of the Yâtus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind and the deaf; and that I may have the lead in front of all the teams and that he may not pass through 5 the forest , he, the murderer , who now is fiercely striving against me on horseback.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XIV.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sara Anâhita . . .
‘To her did the valiant warrior Tusa offerworship on the back of his horse, begging swiftness for his teams, health for his own body, and that he might, watch with full success those who hated him, smite down his foes, and destroy at one stroke his adversaries, his enemies, and those who hated him
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may overcome the gallant sons of Vaêsaka, by the castle Khshathrô-saoka, that stands high up on the lofty, holy Kangha 5; that I may smite of the Turanian people their fifties and their hundreds, their hundreds and their thousands, their thousands and their tens of thousands, their tens of thousands and their myriads of myriads.”
5 ‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XV.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did the gallant sons of Vaêsaka offer up a sacrifice in the castle Khshathrô-saoka, that stands high up on the lofty, holy Kangha, with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘They begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant us this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that we may overcome the valiant warrior Tusa, and that we may smite of the Aryan people their fifties and their hundreds, their hundreds and their thousands, their thousands and their tens of thousands, their tens of thousands and their myriads of myriads ”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita did not grant them that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XVI.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘The old Vafra Navâza worshipped her, when the strong fiend-smiter, Thraêtaona, flung him up in the air in the shape of a bird, of a vulture
‘He went on flying, for three days and three nights, towards his own house; but he could not, he could not turn down. At the end of the third night, when the beneficent dawn came dawning up, then he prayed unto Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, saying:
‘ “Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! do thou quickly hasten helpfully and bring me assistance at once. I will offer thee a thousand libations, cleanly prepared and well strained, along with Haomas and meat, by the brink of the river Rangha, if I reach alive the earth made by Ahura and my own house.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita hastened unto him in the shape of a maid, fair of body, most strong, tall-formed, high-girded, pure, nobly born of a glorious race, wearing shoes up to the ankle, wearing a golden . . . . , and radiant
‘She seized him by the arm: quickly was it done, nor was it long till, speeding, he arrived at the earth made by Mazda and at his own house, safe, unhurt, unwounded, just as he was before.
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, entreating that she would grant him that boon]
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XVII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . .
‘To her did Gâmâspa offer up a sacrifice, with a hundred horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs, when he saw the army of the wicked, of the worshippers of the Daêvas, coming from afar in battle array.
‘He asked of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may be as constantly victorious as any one of all the Aryans ”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XVIII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘To her did Ashavazdah, the son of Pourudhâkhsti , and Ashavazdah and Thrita, the sons of Sâyuzdri , offer up a sacrifice, with a hundred horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs, by Apãm Napât, the tall lord, the lord of the females, the bright and swift-horsed
‘They begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant us this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that we may overcome the assemblers of the Turanian Dânus , Kara Asabana,, and Vara Asabana, and the most mighty Dûraêkaêta, in the battles of this world.
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted them that boon, as they were offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant them that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XIX.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Vistauru, the son of Naotara , worshipped her by the brink of the river Vîtanghuhaiti, with well-spoken words, speaking thus:
‘ “This is true, this is truly spoken, that I have smitten as many of the worshippers of the Daêvas as the hairs I bear on my head. Do thou then, O Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! leave me a dry passage, to pass over the good Vîtanghuhaiti.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita hastened unto him in the shape of a maid, fair of body, most strong, tall-formed, high-girded, pure, nobly born of a glorious race, wearing shoes up to the ankle, with all sorts of ornaments and radiant A part of the waters she made stand still, a part of the waters she made flow forward, and she left him a dry passage to pass over the good Vîtanghuhaiti
[ ‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.]
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XX.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .’
‘To her did Yôista, one of the Fryanas offer up a sacrifice with a hundred horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs on the Pedvaêpa of the Rangha.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may overcome the evil-doing Akhtya, the offspring of darkness, and that I may answer the ninety-nine hard riddles that he asks me maliciously, the evil-doing Akhtya, the offspring of darkness.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XXI.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Whom Ahura Mazda the merciful ordered thus, saying: “Come, O Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, come from those stars down to the earth made by Ahura, that the great lords may worship thee, the masters of the countries, and their sons.
‘ “The men of strength will beg of thee swift horses and supremacy of Glory.
‘ “The Âthravans who read and the pupils of the Âthravans will beg of thee knowledge and prosperity, the Victory made by Ahura, and the crushing Ascendant.
‘ “The maids of barren womb, longing for a lord, will beg of thee a strong husband;
‘ “Women, on the point of bringing forth, will beg of thee a good delivery.
‘ “All this wilt thou grant unto them, as it lies in thy power, O Ardvi Sûra Anâhita!”
‘Then Ardvi Sûra Anâhita came forth, O Zarathustra! down from those stars to the earth made by Mazda; and Ardvi Sûra Anâhita spake thus:
“O pure, holy Zarathustra! Ahura Mazda has established thee as the master of the material world: Ahura Mazda has established me to keep the whole of the holy creation.
‘ “Through my brightness and glory flocks and herds and two-legged men go on, upon the earth: I, forsooth, keep all good things, made by Mazda, the offspring of the holy principle, just as a shepherd keeps his flock.”
‘Zarathustra asked Ardvi Sûra Anâhita: “O Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! With what manner of sacrifice shall I worship thee? With what manner of sacrifice shall I worship and forward thee? So that Mazda may make thee run down (to the earth), that he may not make thee run up into the heavens, above the sun ; and that the Serpent may not injure thee with . . . . , with . . . . , with . . ., and . . . . poisons .”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita answered: “O pure, holy Spitama! this is the sacrifice wherewith thou shalt worship me, this is the sacrifice wherewith thou shalt worship and forward me, from the time when the sun is rising to the time when the sun is setting.
‘ “Of this libation of mine thou shalt drink, thou who art an Âthravan, who hast asked and learnt the revealed law, who art wise, clever, and the Word incarnate.
‘ “Of this libation of mine let no foe drink, no man fever-sick, no liar, no coward, no jealous one, no woman, no faithful one who does not sing the Gâthas, no leper to be confined ‘ “I do not accept those libations that are drunk in my honour by the blind, by the deaf, by the wicked, by the destroyers, by the niggards, by the . . . . , nor any of those stamped with those characters which have no strength for the holy Word
‘ “Let no one drink of these my libations who is hump-backed or bulged forward; no fiend with decayed teeth ”
‘Then Zarathustra asked Ardvi Sûra Anâhita “O Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! What becomes of those libations which the wicked worshippers of the Daêvas bring unto thee after the sun has set?”
9 ‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita answered: “O pure, holy Spitama Zarathustra! howling, clapping, hopping, and shouting, six hundred and a thousand Daêvas, who ought not to receive that sacrifice, receive those libations 5 that men bring unto me after [the sun has set].”
‘I will worship the height Hukairya, of the deep precipices , made of gold, wherefrom this mine Ardvi Sûra Anâhita leaps, from a hundred times the height of a man , while she is possessed of as much Glory as the whole of the waters that run along the earth, and she runs powerfully
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XXII.
Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sara Anâhita . . .
‘Before whom the worshippers of Mazda stand with baresma in their hands: the Hvôvas did worship her, the Naotaras did worship her; the Hvôvas asked for riches, the Naotaras asked for swift horses. Quickly was Hvôva blessed with riches and full prosperity; quickly became Vîstâspa, the Naotaride, the lord of the swiftest horses in these countries
9 [‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted them that boon, as they were offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant them that boon.]
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XXIII.
Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Who has a thousand cells and a thousand channels: the extent of each of those cells, of each of those channels, is as much as a man can ride in forty days, riding on a good horse In each channel there stands a palace, well-founded, shining with a hundred windows, with a thousand columns, well-built, with ten thousand balconies, and mighty.
‘In each of those palaces there lies a well-laid, well-scented bed, covered with pillows, and Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, O Zarathustra! runs down there from a thousand times the height of a man, and she is possessed of as much Glory as the whole of the waters that run along the earth, and she runs powerfully
XXIV.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Unto her did the holy Zarathustra offer up a sacrifice in the Airyana Vaêgah, by the good river Dâitya; with the Haoma and meat, with the baresma, with the wisdom of the tongue, with the holy spells, with the speech, with the deeds, with the libations, and with the rightly-spoken words
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may bring the son of Aurvat-aspa , the valiant Kavi Vîstâspa, to think according to the law, to speak according to the law, to do according to the law ”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XXV.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Unto her did the tall Kavi Vîstâspa offer up a sacrifice behind Lake Frazdânava , with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may overcome Tãthravant, of the bad law, and Peshana, the worshipper of the Daêvas, and the wicked Aregat-aspa , in the battles of this world!”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XXVI.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Unto her did Zairi-vairi , who fought on horseback, offer up a sacrifice behind the river Dâitya , with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘He begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant me this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that I may overcome Peshô-Kangha the corpse-burier, Humâyaka the worshipper of the Daêvas, and the wicked Aregat-aspa 5, in the battles of this world.
Ardvi Sûra Anâhita granted him that boon, as he was offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she would grant him that boon.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . . .
XXVII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . . .
‘Unto her did Aregat-aspa and Vandaremaini offer up a sacrifice by the sea Vouru-Kasha, with a hundred male horses, a thousand oxen, ten thousand lambs.
‘They begged of her a boon, saying: “Grant us this, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! that we may conquer the valiant Kavi Vîstâspa and Zairivairi who fights on horseback, and that we may smite of the Aryan people their fifties and their hundreds, their hundreds and their thousands, their thousands and their tens of thousands, their tens of thousands and their myriads of myriads.”
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita did not grant them that favour, though they were offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that she should grant them that favour.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . . .
XXVIII.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . . .
‘For whom Ahura Mazda has made four horses—the wind, the rain, the cloud, and the sleet—and thus ever upon the earth it is raining, snowing, hailing, and sleeting; and whose armies are so many and numbered by nine-hundreds and thousands.
‘I will worship the height Hukairya, of the deep precipices, made of gold, wherefrom this mine Ardvi Sûra Anâhita leaps, from a hundred times the height of a man, while she is possessed of as much Glory as the whole of the waters that run along the earth, and she runs powerfully
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XXIX.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘She stands, the good Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, wearing a golden mantle, waiting for a man who shall offer her libations and prayers, and thinking thus in her heart:
‘ “Who will praise me? Who will offer me a sacrifice, with libations cleanly prepared and well-strained, together with the Haoma and meat? To whom shall I cleave, who cleaves unto me, and thinks with me, and bestows gifts upon me, and is of good will unto me?”
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
XXX.
‘Offer up a sacrifice, O Spitama Zarathustra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sûra Anâhita . . .
‘Ardvi Sûra Anâhita, who stands carried forth in the shape of a maid, fair of body, most strong, tall-formed, high-girded, pure, nobly born of a glorious race , wearing along her . . . . a mantle fully embroidered with gold;
‘Ever holding the baresma in her hand, according to the rules, she wears square golden earrings on her ears bored , and a golden necklace around her beautiful neck, she, the nobly born Ardvi Sûra Anâhita; and she girded her waist tightly, so that her breasts may be well-shaped, that they may be tightly pressed
‘Upon her head Ardvi Sûra Anâhita bound a golden crown, with a hundred stars 5, with eight rays, a fine . . , a well-made crown, in the shape of a . . . , with fillets streaming down.
‘She is clothed with garments of beaver , Ardvi Sûra Anâhita; with the skin of thirty beavers of those that bear four young ones, that are the finest kind of beavers; for the skin of the beaver that lives in water is the finest-coloured of all skins, and when worked at the right time it shines to the eye with full sheen of silver and gold.
‘Here, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! I beg of thee this favour: that I, fully blessed, may conquer large kingdoms, rich in horses 9, with high tributes, with snorting horses, sounding chariots, flashing swords, rich in aliments, with stores of food, with well-scented beds 0; that I may have at my wish the fulness of the good things of life and whatever makes a kingdom thrive
‘Here, O good, most beneficent Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! I beg of thee two gallant companions, one two-legged and one four-legged : one two-legged, who is swift, quickly rushing, and clever in turning a chariot round in battle; and one four-legged, who can quickly turn towards either wing of the host with a wide front, towards the right wing or the left, towards the left wing or the right.
‘Through the strength of this sacrifice, of this invocation, O Ardvi Sûra Anâhita! come down from those stars , towards the earth made by Ahura, towards the sacrificing priest, towards the full boiling [milk ]; come to help him who is offering up libations, giving gifts, sacrificing, and entreating that thou wouldst grant him thy favours; that all those gallant warriors may be strong, like king Vîstâspa.
‘For her brightness and glory, I will offer her a sacrifice . . .
‘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 the holy water-spring Anâhita.
‘Ashem Vohû: 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!’
“The Zend Avesta, Part II (SBE23), V. Âbân Yast.” Sacred Texts, 1882. https://sacred-texts.com/zor/sbe23/sbe2310.htm.
