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Avesta (Gathas) · 2 of 3 · tr. L.H. Mills

Ushtavaiti Gatha, Yasna XLIV, Section 1b

This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright, how to myself shall I hallow 7 the Faith of Thy people, p. 116 which the beneficent kingdom's lord hath taught me, even the admonitions which He called Thine equal, hath taught me through His lofty (and most righteous Sovereignty and) Power, as He dwells in like abode 1 with Thine Order and Thy Good Mind? 10. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright that holy Faith which is of all things best, and which, going on hand in hand with Thy people, shall further my lands in Asha, Thine order, and, through the words of Âramaiti (our piety), shall render actions just. The prayers of mine understanding will seek 2 for Thee, O Ahura! 11. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright; how to these your (worshippers) may (that Piety once again and evermore) approach, to them to whom O Lord, Thy Faith is uttered? Yea, I beseech of Thee to tell me this, I who am known to Thee as Thy foremost 3 of (servants); all other (Gods, with their p. 117 polluted worshippers), I look upon with (my) spirit's 1 hate 2 . 12. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright; who is the righteous one in that regard in which 3 I ask Thee my question? And who is evil? For which is the wicked? Or which is himself the (foremost) wicked one? And the vile man who stands against me (in this gain of) Thy blessing, wherefore 4 is he not held and believed to be the sinner that he is? 13. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright, how shall I banish this Demon-of-the-Lie from us hence to those beneath who are filled 5 with rebellion? The friends of Righteousness (as it lives in Thy saints) gain no light (from their teachings), nor have they loved the questions which Thy Good Mind (asks in the soul 6 )! p. 118 14. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright; how shall I deliver that Demon-of-the-Lie into the two hands of Thine Order 1 (as he lives in our hosts) to cast her down to death through Thy Mãthras of doctrine, and to send mighty destruction 2 among her evil believers, to keep those deceitful and harsh oppressors from reaching their (fell) aims 3 ? 15. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright. If through Thy Righteousness (within our souls) Thou hast the power over this for my 4 protection, when the two hosts shall meet in hate (as they strive) for those vows which Thou dost desire to maintain, how, O Mazda! and to which of both wilt Thou give 5 the day 6 ? 16. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright, p. 119 who smites with victory 1 in the protection (of all) who exist, and for the sake of, and by means of Thy doctrine? Yea, clearly reveal a lord having power 2 (to save us) for both lives. Then let (our) Obedience 3 with Thy Good Mind draw near to that (leader), O Mazda! yea, to him to whomsoever 4 Thou (shalt) wish that he should come. 17. This I ask Thee, O Ahura! tell me aright; how, O Mazda!
Themes
Ahura Mazda Principlecosmology

The divine ordering principle of truth and light.

The passage is a direct address to Ahura Mazda, inquiring about His Order, Power, and Righteousness as the central divine authority.

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Angra Mainyu Principlecosmology

The principle of cosmic disorder and falsity.

The 'Demon-of-the-Lie' and 'wicked one' represent the principle of cosmic disorder and falsity opposing Ahura Mazda.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

Divine attributes are described with human-like features such as 'hands of Thine Order' and 'dwells in like abode'.

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Asha Cosmic Ordercosmology

Truth as the fundamental structure of reality.

Asha (Thine Order) is repeatedly invoked as the fundamental truth and structure that governs the lands and actions.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

The text explicitly contrasts Righteousness with the Demon-of-the-Lie and describes two hosts meeting in hate.

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Good Thought Word Deedethics

The Zoroastrian triad of right thought, right speech, and right action as the foundation of ethical life; truth-in-living.

The text references Good Mind (thought), words of Âramaiti (speech), and rendering actions just (deed), aligning with the Zoroastrian triad.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

Ahura Mazda is depicted as an active, responsive deity who possesses power, dwells, and grants victory.

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Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

The entire passage is structured as a series of petitions and questions addressed directly to the divine ('This I ask Thee').

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Word Power Incantationpraxis

The doctrine and practice that spoken or sung word carries causal-magical force — that uttering names, formulas, songs, or incantations alters reality directly rather than merely communicating about it. Vainamoinen's runo-songs that move mountains and command iron, Norse galdr, Vedic mantra, Shinto kotodama, the magician's barbarous names in the Greek Magical Papyri, Iamblichean arcane signatures and inexplicable symbols, biblical creation-by-word. Distinct from sacred_names (the ontological power of names themselves) and prayer (address to the divine); word_power_incantation is the magical-causal efficacy of the spoken word as such.

The 'words of Âramaiti' and 'Mãthras of doctrine' are described as having the power to render actions just or destroy evil.

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