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A stark contrast between good and evil forms the backbone of Zarathustra's teaching, permeating every aspect of existence, both human and divine. The continuous war between Ahuras and Daevas parallels the continuous war between the old religion and the new, the struggle between the followers of the Truth and the followers of the Lie, and every individual's personal dilemma in choosing 'good thoughts, words, and deeds' over bad. Victory turns most poignantly on the last: every right choice on the part of a single individual increases the quantity, strength, and power of good in the entire world; every wrong choice, the magnitude of bad.

Reading and Textual Analysis

Yasna 53, the 'Wedding Hymn', is relatively short but densely packed. It continues the thematic link already seen in Yasna 29 between fertility and prosperity on the one hand, and morality and faith on the other, by likening both the social and physical union of the earthly bride and groom to the 'mythic' union of Wisdom and Truth, an event that lays 'the firm foundation of Good Mind'.

Zarathustra opens the hymn by announcing the conditions that would prove it is his sacrificial practice -- and by extension his doctrine -- that should be taken as the model for all others. Perhaps, too, he is even subtly invoking Ahura Mazda to create these very conditions in exchange for the people's support: "If you make a good existence for me, your sacrificer and voice among men," Zarathustra seems to say, "and for those who follow me as well, many more will adopt the practice you have laid out for humankind." In verse two, the audience is formally introduced to the fathers of the bride and groom, Kavi Vishtaspa and Frahaostra, respectively. In verses three and four, Zarathustra then turns to the matter at hand -- the marriage of Vishtaspa's daughter to Frahaostra's son -- and enunciates the merits thus brought to the community.

Verse five seems to be more generally directed, addressing everyone who is married or soon to be married, or perhaps others who are getting married alongside Spitami and Frahaostra's son. In verse six, Zarathustra waxes didactic, explaining how marriage remains 'the firm foundation of Good Mind' only insomuch as the spousal pair remain faithful to each other and not give in to the superficial pleasures that immoral actions may bring. Prosperity that comes by means of Deceit, by means of the Lie, will ultimately, Zarathustra insists, bring only weakness and death, while in verse seven he promises that fidelity, moral purity, and quite persistent 'exertion' will bear fruit. He clearly puts the brunt of the ethical burden, however, on the wife, for it is only she, he says, whose sexual purity will keep 'the spirit of the Possessor of the Lie' at bay. If all these conditions are maintained, Zarathustra promises in verse eight, the wealth and vitality of the unfaithful will be redirected to Ahura Mazda's flock. The poet closes the hymn with further encouragement to choose right over deceit and a last invocation to Ahura Mazda.

1 - vahishtâ îshtish srâvî       Zarathushtrahê

• vahishtâ -- adjective; nominative singular feminine <vohu-> 'good' + superlative suffix; <-ista-> indicates superlative -- best
• îshtish -- noun; nominative singular feminine <îshti-> 'sacrifice' -- sacrifice
• srâvî -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist indicative passive <sru> 'give' -- is feted
• Zarathushtrahê -- proper name; genitive singular masculine <Zarathushtra-> 'Zarathustra' -- Zarathustra

Spitâmahyâ yezî hôi       dât âyaptâ

• Spitâmahyâ -- proper name; genitive singular masculine <Spitâma-> 'Spitama' (clan name of Zarathustra) -- Spitama
• yezî -- conjunction; <yezî> 'as, because, when' -- when
• hôi -- demonstrative pronoun; dative singular masculine <ha-> '(s)he, this' -- for him
• dât -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist subjunctive active <dâ-> 'give, put' -- would give
• âyaptâ -- noun; accusative plural neuter <âyapta-> 'riches, bounty, boon, spoils' -- rewards

ashât hacâ ahurô       mazdå yavôi vîspâi-â       hvanghevîm

• ashât -- noun; ablative singular neuter <asha-> 'truth' -- truth
• hacâ -- adposition; <hacâ> 'from, out of' -- in accordance with
• ahurô -- noun; nominative singular masculine <ahura-> 'lord' -- Lord
• mazdå -- noun; nominative singular masculine <mazda-> 'wise one' -- Wise One
• yavôi -- noun; dative singular neuter <yav-> 'duration, period, time of life' -- lifetime
• vîspâi-â -- adjective; dative singular neuter <vîspa-> 'all, every' + postposition; <â> '(up) to, toward, etc.' -- thoughout
• hvanghevîm -- noun; accusative singular neuter <hvanghaoya-> 'good existence' -- good existence

yaê-câ hôi daben sashken-câ       daênayå vanghuyå       uxdhâ shyaothanâ-câ

• yaê-câ -- relative pronoun; dative plural masculine <ya-> 'who, what, which' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and so
• hôi -- personal pronoun; dative singular masculine <ha-> '(s)he, this' -- to him
• daben -- verb; 3rd person plural aorist indicative active <dab> 'fit together' (?) -- determine
• sashken-câ -- verb; 3rd person plural aorist indicative active <sac> 'learn, understand' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and understand
• daênayå -- noun; genitive singular feminine <daênâ-> 'attitude, intention, insight' -- of vision
• vanghuyå -- adjective; genitive singular feminine <vohu-> 'good' -- good
• uxdhâ -- noun; accusative plural neuter <uxdha-> 'word, saying' -- words
• shyaothanâ-câ -- noun; accusative plural neuter <shyaothana-> 'act, deed' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and deeds

2 - at-câ hôi scantû mananghâ       uxdhâish shyaothanâish-câ

• at-câ -- particle; <at> 'then, but, and, so, thus' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and so
• hôi -- personal pronoun; dative singular masculine <ha-> '(s)he, this' -- his
• scantû -- verb; 3rd person plural present imperative active <haca-> 'follow, accompany' (?) -- let them pursue
• mananghâ -- noun; instrumental singular neuter <manah-> 'mind' -- with (good) mind
• uxdhâish -- noun; instrumental plural neuter <uxdha-> 'word, saying' -- with words
• shyaothanâish-câ -- noun; instrumental plural neuter <shyaothana-> 'act, deed' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and (with) deeds

xshnêm mazdå vahmâi-â       fraoret yasnãs-câ

• xshnêm -- noun; accusative singular feminine <xshnâ-> 'recognition' (?) -- succor
• mazdå -- noun; genitive singular masculine <mazda-> 'wise one' -- of the Wise One
• vahmâi-â -- noun; dative singular masculine <vahma-> 'glorification, praise' + adverbial postposition; <â> '(up) to, toward, etc.' -- adulation
• fraoret -- adverb; <fraoret> 'readily' -- readily
• yasnãs-câ -- noun; accusative plural masculine <yasna-> 'sacrifice, offering, hymn' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and paeans

kava-câ Vîshtâspô       zarathushtrish Spitâmô       Ferashaoshtras-câ

• kava-câ -- noun; nominative singular masculine <kevi-> 'title: adherent to the daevic religion' (?) + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- Kavi
• Vîshtâspô -- proper name; nominative singular masculine <Vîshtâspa-> 'Vishtaspa' -- Vishtaspa
• zarathushtrish -- adjective; nominative singular masculine <zarathushtri-> 'descendent of Zarathustra' (?) -- son of Zarathustra
• Spitâmô -- proper name; nominative singular masculine <Spitâma-> 'Spitama' (clan name of Zarathustra) -- Spitama
• Ferashaoshtras-câ -- proper name; nominative singular masculine <Ferashaoshtra-> 'Frashaostra' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and Frashaostra

dånghô erezûsh pathô       yãm daênãm ahurô       saoshyantô dadât

• dånghô -- noun; genitive singular neuter <dah-> 'gift' -- of the gift
• erezûsh -- adjective; accusative plural masculine <erezu-> 'straight, just' -- straight
• pathô -- noun; accusative plural masculine <path-> 'path, road' -- paths
• yãm -- relative pronoun; accusative singular masculine <ya-> 'who, what, which' -- whose
• daênãm -- noun; accusative singular feminine <daênâ-> 'attitude, intention, insight' -- inspiration
• ahurô -- noun; nominative singular masculine <ahura-> 'lord' -- Lord
• saoshyantô -- noun; ablative singular masculine <saoshyant-> 'giving power; savior (?)' -- out of (his) power to give
• dadât -- verb; 3rd person singular imperfect indicative active <dâ-> 'give, put' -- gives

3 - têm-câ tû Pourucistâ       Haêcat-aspânâ

• têm-câ -- demonstrative pronoun; accusative singular masculine <ha-> '(s)he, this' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and now
• tû -- emphatic particle; <tû> '...' -- ...
• Pourucistâ -- proper name; vocative singular feminine <Pourucistâ-> 'Pouruchista' (?) -- Pouruchista
• Haêcat-aspânâ -- compound proper name; vocative singular feminine <haêcat-> '...' + <aspâna-> patronymic form of aspa- 'horse' -- descendent of Haecataspa

Spitâmî yezivî dugedrãm       Zarathushtrahê

• Spitâmî -- proper name; vocative singular feminine <Spitâma-> 'Spitama' (clan name of Zarathustra) -- Spitama
• yezivî -- adjective; vocative singular feminine <yazu-> 'youngest' -- youngest
• dugedrãm -- noun; genitive plural feminine <dugedar-> 'daughter' -- of the daughters
• Zarathushtrahê -- proper name; genitive singular masculine <Zarathushtra-> 'Zarathustra' -- of Zarathustra

vanghêush paityâstîm mananghô       ashahyâ mazdås-câ       taibyô dât sarem

• vanghêush -- adjective; genitive singular neuter <vohu-> 'good' -- good
• paityâstîm -- noun; accusative singular feminine <paityâstî-> 'firm foundation' -- firm foundation
• mananghô -- noun; genitive singular neuter <manah-> 'mind' -- of mind
• ashahyâ -- noun; genitive singular neuter <asha-> 'truth' -- of Truth
• mazdås-câ -- noun; genitive singular masculine <mazda-> 'wise one' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and (of) Wisdom
• taibyô -- demonstrative pronoun; dative plural masculine <tvêm-> 'you' -- to you
• dât -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist indicative active <dâ-> 'give, put' -- gives
• sarem -- noun; accusative singular feminine <sar-> 'protection, alliance' -- alliance

athâ hêm ferashvâ thwâ xrathwâ       spênishtâ Ârmatôish       hudânvareshvâ

• athâ -- adverb; <athâ> 'so, thus, likewise' -- therefore
• hêm -- preposition; <hêm> 'together, with' -- with
• ferashvâ -- verb; 2nd person singular s-aorist imperative middle <fras> 'inquire, discuss' -- consult
• thwâ -- possessive pronoun; instrumental singular masculine <thwa> 'you' -- your
• xrathwâ -- noun; instrumental singular neuter <xrathwa-> 'power, will, insight' -- inner strength
• spênishtâ -- adjective; instrumental singular neuter <spenta-> 'beneficent, holy, sacred' + superlative suffix; <-ista-> indicates superlative -- with the most sacred (deeds)
• Ârmatôish -- proper name; genitive singular feminine <Armaiti-> name of a goddess = 'righteousness, devotion, piety' -- of Armaiti
• hudânvareshvâ -- adverb (?); adjective stem <hudânu-> 'blessed' + verb; 2nd person singular aorist imperative middle <varez-> 'work, perform' -- blessedly engage

4 - têm zî vê speredâ nivarânî       yâ fedhrôi vîdât

• têm -- personal pronoun; accusative singular masculine <ha-> '(s)he, this' -- him
• zî -- emphatic particle; <zi> 'for, indeed' -- indeed
• vê -- enclitic personal pronoun; dative plural <yûzhem-> 'you' -- on behalf of (all of) you
• speredâ -- noun; instrumental singular feminine <spered-> 'zeal' -- with zeal
• nivarânî -- preposition; <nî> '...' + verb; 1st person singular present subjunctive active <var> 'choose' -- wed
• yâ -- relative pronoun; nominative singular feminine <ya-> 'who, what, which' -- who
• fedhrôi -- noun; dative singular masculine <pitar-> 'father' -- for (her) father
• vîdât -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist subjunctive active <vid> 'see, know, obtain' -- tends to

paithyaê-câ vâstryaêibyô       at-câ x^vaêtaovê

• paithyaê-câ -- noun; dative singular masculine <paiti-> 'husband, master' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and to (her) husband
• vâstryaêibyô -- noun; dative plural masculine <vâstrya-> 'herdsman; pasture' -- to the herdsman
• at-câ -- particle; <at> 'then, but, and, so, thus' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and also
• x^vaêtaovê -- adjective; dative singular masculine <x^vaêtu-> 'belonging to the family' -- family possessions

ashâunî ashavabyô       mananghô vanghêush x^vênvat hanghush       mêm-bêedush

• ashâunî -- adjective; nominative singular feminine <ashavan-> '(in accordance with) Truth' -- truthful
• ashavabyô -- noun; dative singular masculine <ashavan-> '(in accordance with) Truth' -- to the truthful one
• mananghô -- noun; genitive singular neuter <manah-> 'mind' -- of mind
• vanghêush -- adjective; genitive singular neuter <vohu-> 'good' -- good
• x^vênvat -- noun; stem <hvar-> 'sun' + possessive suffix <-vat-> '...' -- like the sun
• hanghush -- noun; accusative singular neuter <hanghush-> 'profit, harvest' -- fruition
• mêm-bêedush -- compound stem (?); accusative singular neuter <manah-> 'mind' + perfect participle; accusative singular neuter <band-> 'shine' (?) -- illuminating thought

mazdå dadât ahurô       daênayâi vanghuyâi       yavôi vîspâi-â

• mazdå -- noun; nominative singular masculine <mazda-> 'wise one' -- the Wise One
• dadât -- verb; 3rd person singular imperfect indicative active <dâ-> 'give, put' -- gives
• ahurô -- noun; nominative singular masculine <ahura-> 'lord' -- Lord
• daênayâi -- noun; dative singular feminine <daênâ-> 'attitude, intention, insight' -- for (the sake of) vision
• vanghuyâi -- adjective; dative singular neuter <vohu-> 'good' -- good
• yavôi -- noun; dative singular neuter <yav-> 'duration, period, time of life' -- (her) lifetime
• vîspâi-â -- adjective; dative singular neuter <vîspa-> 'all, every' + postposition; <â> '(up) to, toward, etc.' -- throughout

5 - sâx^vênî vazyamnâbyô       kainibyô mraomî

• sâx^vênî -- noun; accusative plural neuter <sâx^van-> 'doctrine, teaching, instruction' -- commandments
• vazyamnâbyô -- present participle middle; dative plural feminine <vaz> 'marry' -- being married
• kainibyô -- noun; dative plural feminine <kainya-> 'maiden, girl' -- to (you) young women
• mraomî -- verb; 1st person singular present indicative active <mrû> 'speak, say' -- I pronounce

xshmaibyâ-câ vademnô       mên-câ î mãz dazdûm

• xshmaibyâ-câ -- personal pronoun; dative plural <yûzhem-> 'you' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and to you (men)
• vademnô -- noun; genitive singular masculine <vadman-> (?) 'possessed of speech' -- of one possessed of (good) speech
• mên-câ -- abbreviated noun (?); accusative singular masculine <manah-> 'mind' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- in mind
• î -- enclitic demonstrative pronoun; accusative plural neuter <ayêm-> 'this, that' -- them
• mãz -- abbreviated noun (?); accusative singular masculine (?) <manah-> 'mind' -- ...
• dazdûm -- verb; 2nd person plural present imperative middle <dâ-> 'give, put' -- bear

vaêdôdûm daênâbîsh       abyas-câ ahûm       yê vanghêush mananghô

• vaêdôdûm -- verb; 2nd person plural present imperative middle <vid> 'see, know, obtain' -- find for yourselves
• daênâbîsh -- noun; instrumental plural feminine <daênâ-> 'attitude, intention, insight' -- by means of good vision
• abyas-câ -- demonstrative pronoun; dative plural feminine <ayêm-> 'this, that' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and for them
• ahûm -- noun; accusative singular masculine <anghu-> 'existence, life' -- a life
• yê -- relative pronoun; nominative singular masculine <ya-> 'who, what, which' -- which
• vanghêush -- adjective; genitive singular neuter <vohu-> 'good' -- good
• mananghô -- noun; genitive singular neuter <manah-> 'mind' -- of mind

ashâ vê anyô ainîm       vîvênghatû tat zî hôi       hushênem anghat

• ashâ -- noun; instrumental singular neuter <asha-> 'truth' -- by means of Truth
• vê -- enclitic personal pronoun; genitive masculine <yûzhem-> 'you' -- of you
• anyô -- noun; nominative singular masculine <anya-> 'other' -- each
• ainîm -- noun; accusative singular masculine <anya-> 'other' -- the other
• vîvênghatû -- verb; 2nd person singular present imperative active desiderative <van> 'surpass, overcome' -- win over
• tat -- demonstrative pronoun; nominative singular neuter <ta-> 'he, that, this' -- that
• zî -- emphatic particle; <zi> 'for, indeed' -- for
• hôi -- demonstrative pronoun; dative singular masculine / feminine <ha-> '(s)he, this' -- each one
• hushênem -- adjective; accusative singular neuter <hushêna-> 'profitable' -- fruitful
• anghat -- verb; 3rd person singular present subjunctive active <ah-> 'be, become' -- would be

6 - ithâ î haithyâ narô       athâ jênayô

• ithâ -- adverb; <ithâ> 'thus' -- in this way
• î -- enclitic demonstrative pronoun; accusative plural neuter <ayêm-> 'this, that' -- these
• haithyâ -- noun; nominative plural masculine <haithya-> 'true, real' -- true
• narô -- noun; vocative plural masculine <nar-> 'man' -- o men
• athâ -- adverb; <athâ> 'so, thus, likewise' -- in that way
• jênayô -- noun; vocative plural feminine <jênaya-> 'woman' -- o wives

drûjô hacâ râthemô yême       spashuthâ frâidîm

• drûjô -- noun; ablative singular feminine <druj-> 'deceit' -- deceit
• hacâ -- adposition; <hacâ> 'from, out of' -- out of
• râthemô -- adjective; nominative singular masculine <râthema-> 'adhering to' -- adherent
• yême -- relative pronoun; accusative singular masculine <ya-> 'who, what, which' -- whom
• spashuthâ -- verb; 2nd person plural present indicative active <spas- spashu-> (?) 'perceive' -- all of you see
• frâidîm -- noun; accusative singular masculine <frâidi-> 'growth, prosperity' -- prosperity

drûjô âyesê hôish pithâ tanvô parâ       vayû-beredubyô dush-x^varethêm       nãsat x^vâthrem

• drûjô -- noun; ablative singular feminine <druj-> 'deceit' -- of deceit
• âyesê -- verbal prefix; <â> (conveys sense of reversal with verbs of motion) + verb; 1st person singular present indicative middle <yam> 'offer' -- I take away
• hôish -- contracted form (?); demonstrative pronoun; dative singular masculine <ha-> '(s)he, this' + demonstrative pronoun; accusative plural neuter (?) <ayêm-> 'this, that' -- his + these
• pithâ -- noun; accusative plural neuter <pitha-> 'defense' -- defenses
• tanvô -- noun; genitive singular feminine <tanu-> 'body' -- of (his) person
• parâ -- adverb; <parâ> 'before, beyond, away' -- away
• vayû-beredubyô -- compound noun; dative plural masculine <vayu-> 'air, wind' (?) + verb; <beret> 'cry' (?) -- (for them,) sighing
• dush-x^varethêm -- compound noun; accusative singular neuter <dush-> 'bad, evil' + <x^varetha-> 'food' -- poor nourishment
• nãsat -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist indicative active <ans> 'attain' + 3rd person singular aorist indicative active <nas> 'be lost, disappear' -- results
• x^vâthrem -- noun; accusative singular neuter <x^vathra-> 'good breathing, ease, comfort' -- breathing easy

dregvôdebyô dêjît-aretaêibyô       anâish â manahîm       ahûm merengeduyê

• dregvôdebyô -- noun; dative plural masculine <dregvant-> 'possessor of the Lie' -- for Advocates of the Lie
• dêjît-aretaêibyô -- compound noun; dative plural masculine <dejit-> 'violation' (?) + noun; <asha-> 'truth' -- for Violators of the Truth
• anâish -- demonstrative pronoun; instrumental singular masculine <ana-> 'him' -- them
• â -- postposition; <â> '(up) to, toward, etc.' -- with
• manahîm -- adjective; accusative singular neuter <manahya-> 'spiritual' -- spiritual
• ahûm -- noun; accusative singular neuter <ahu-> 'existence, life, breath' -- life
• merengeduyê -- verb; 2nd person plural present subjunctive middle <mrc> 'destroy' -- you will destroy

7 - at-câ vê mîzhdem anghat       ahyâ magahyâ

• at-câ -- particle; <at> 'then, but, and, so, thus' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and so
• vê -- enclitic personal pronoun; dative plural masculine <yûzhem-> 'you' -- for all of you
• mîzhdem -- noun; accusative singular neuter <mîzda-> 'wages, prize' -- fruit
• anghat -- verb; 3rd person singular present subjunctive active <ah-> 'be, become' -- will arise
• ahyâ -- demonstrative pronoun; genitive singular masculine <ayêm-> 'this, that' -- from this
• magahyâ -- noun; genitive singular masculine <maga-> 'gift' -- ritual exchange

yavat âzhush zrazdishtô      bûnôi haxtayå

• yavat -- adverb; <yavat> 'how long, as long as' -- as long as
• âzhush -- noun; accusative singular neuter <âzhush-> 'propulsion implement' -- impeller
• zrazdishtô -- adjective; nominative singular masculine <zrazdishta-> 'most believing' -- full of zeal
• bûnôi -- noun; locative singular masculine <bûna-> 'ground, base' -- at the base
• haxtayå -- noun; genitive dual neuter <haxti-> 'thigh' -- of (her) thighs

para-câ mraocãs aorâ-câ       yathrâ mainyush dregvatô       anãsat parâ

• para-câ -- adverbial prefix; <parâ> 'before, beyond, away' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and deep
• mraocãs -- present participle active; nominative singular masculine <mru> 'drive, plunge, beat' -- driving
• aorâ-câ -- adverbial prefix; <aorâ> 'down' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and down
• yathrâ -- adverb; <yathra> 'where, in order to' -- from whence
• mainyush -- noun; nominative singular masculine <mainyu-> 'spirit' -- spirit
• dregvatô -- present participle active; genitive singular masculine <dregvant-> 'possessor of the Lie' -- of the Possessors of the Lie
• anãsat -- verb; 3rd person singular augmented aorist indicative active <nas> 'be lost, disappear' -- has disappeared
• parâ -- adverb; <parâ> 'before, beyond, away' -- already

ivîzayathâ magêm têm       at vê vayôi anghaitî       apêmem vacô

• ivîzayathâ -- verbal prefix; <vi> 'wide, apart' + verb; 2nd person plural present indicative active <zâ> 'abandon, relinquish' -- abandon
• magêm -- noun; accusative singular masculine <maga-> 'gift' -- ritual exchange
• têm -- demonstrative pronoun; accusative singular masculine <ta-> 'he, that, this' -- this
• at -- particle; <at> 'then, but, and, so, thus' -- and
• vê -- enclitic personal pronoun; dative plural masculine <yûzhem-> 'you' -- your
• vayôi -- interjection; <vayoi> 'woe' -- woe
• anghaitî -- verb; 3rd person singular present subjunctive active <ah-> 'be, become' -- will be
• apêmem -- adjective; accusative singular neuter <apêmem> 'last' -- last
• vacô -- noun; accusative singular neuter <vacah-> 'speech, word' -- word

8 - anâish â duzhvareshnanghô       dafshnyâ hêntû

• anâish -- demonstrative pronoun; instrumental singular masculine <ana-> 'him' -- by them
• â -- preposition; <â> '(up) to, toward, etc.' -- ...
• duzhvareshnanghô -- noun; nominative plural masculine <duzhvareshnah-> 'wrong-doers' -- wrong-doers
• dafshnyâ -- adjective; nominative plural masculine <dafshnya-> 'powerless' -- impotent
• hêntû -- verb; 3rd person plural present imperative active <ah-> 'be, become' -- let become

zahyâ-câ vîspånghô       xraosentãm upâ

• zahyâ-câ -- adjective; nominative plural masculine <zahya-> 'weakened' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and weakened
• vîspånghô -- nominative plural masculine <vispa-> 'everyone/thing, all' -- all
• xraosentãm -- verb; 3rd person plural present imperative middle <xrush> 'scream, howl' -- let them cry
• upâ -- adverbial postposition; <upa> 'near, up on/to, etc.' -- out

huxshathrâish jênerãm xrûnerãm-câ       râmãm-câ âish dadâtû       shyeitibyô vîzhibyô

• huxshathrâish -- noun; instrumental singular masculine <huxshathra-> 'good rule' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and by means of a good rule
• jênerãm -- adjective; genitive plural masculine <jênar-> 'man-killing' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- over the man-killing
• xrûnerãm-câ -- adjective; genitive plural masculine <xrûnar-> 'man-defiling' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and over the man-defiling
• râmãm-câ -- noun; accusative plural masculine <râman-> 'peace, tranquility' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- peace
• âish -- demonstrative pronoun; instrumental singular masculine <ayêm-> 'this, that' -- with them
• dadâtû -- verb; 3rd person singular present imperative active <dâ-> 'give, put' -- let him grant
• shyeitibyô -- present participle active; dative plural feminine <shi> 'dwell' -- settled
• vîzhibyô -- noun; dative plural feminine <vizh-> 'clan' -- to the clans

îratû îsh dvafshô hvô       derezâ mereithyaosh mazishtô       moshu-câ astû

• îratû -- verb; 3rd person singular present indicative active <ar> 'rise' -- let arise
• îsh -- enclitic demonstrative pronoun; accusative plural masculine <ayêm-> 'this, that' -- on them
• dvafshô -- noun; nominative singular masculine <dvafsha-> 'distress, ruin, pain, anguish' -- pain
• hvô -- demonstrative pronoun; nominative singular masculine <ha-> '(s)he, this' -- that
• derezâ -- noun; instrumental singular feminine <derez-> 'shackle' -- shackle
• mereithyaosh -- noun; genitive singular masculine <merethyu-> 'death' -- of death
• mazishtô -- adjective; nominative singular masculine <maz-> 'large, great' + superlative suffix; <-ista-> indicates superlative -- greatest
• moshu-câ -- adverb; <moshu> 'soon' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- soon
• astû -- verb; 3rd person singular present imperative active <ah-> 'be, become' -- and let it be

9 - duzhvarenâish vaêshô râstî       tôi narepîsh rajîsh

• duzhvarenâish -- noun; instrumental plural masculine <duzhvarena-> 'choosing badly' -- on account of those making bad choices
• vaêshô -- noun; nominative singular neuter <vaêshah-> 'poison' -- poison
• râstî -- verb; 3rd person singular present indicative active <râth> 'adhere' -- adheres
• tôi -- demonstrative pronoun; dative singular <ta-> 'he, that, this' -- to him
• narepîsh -- noun; nominative singular neuter <narepi-> 'reduction, absence' -- lack
• rajîsh -- noun; nominative singular neuter <rajî-> 'darkness' -- darkness

aêshasâ dêjît-aretâ       peshô-tanvô

• aêshasâ -- adjective; nominative plural masculine <aêshasa-> 'wild' -- wild
• dêjît-aretâ -- compound noun; nominative plural masculine <dejit-> 'violation' (?) + noun; <asha-> 'truth' -- violators of Truth
• peshô-tanvô -- compound noun; nominative plural masculine <pesha-> 'brought to an end' + <tanu-> 'body' -- whose bodies are to be brought to an end

kû ashavâ ahurô       yê îsh jyâtêush hêmithyât       vasê-itôish-câ

• kû -- adverb; <ku> 'where' -- where
• ashavâ -- adjective; nominative singular masculine <ashavan-> '(in accordance with) Truth' -- truthful
• ahurô -- noun; nominative singular masculine <ahura-> 'lord' -- Lord
• yê -- relative pronoun; nominative singular masculine <ya-> 'who, what, which' -- who
• îsh -- enclitic demonstrative pronoun; accusative plural masculine <ayêm-> 'this, that' -- them
• jyâtêush -- noun; genitive singular masculine <jyâtu-> 'life' -- of life
• hêmithyât -- compound verb; 3rd person singular aorist optative active <hem> '...' + <mith> 'rob of' -- would rob
• vasê-itôish-câ -- noun; genitive singular feminine <vaseiti-> 'liberty, prosperity' + conjunction; <ca> 'and' -- and of liberty

tat mazdâ tavâ xshathrem       yâ erezhejyôi dâhî       dregaovê vahyô

• tat -- demonstrative pronoun; accusative singular neuter <ta-> 'he, that, this' -- the
• mazdâ -- noun; vocative singular masculine <mazda-> 'wise one' -- O wise one
• tavâ -- personal pronoun; genitive singular <yûzhem-> 'you' -- yours
• xshathrem -- noun; accusative singular neuter <xshathra-> 'power' -- power
• yâ -- relative pronoun; instrumental singular masculine <ya-> 'who, what, which' -- by which
• erezhejyôi -- adjective; dative singular masculine <erezheji-> 'living justly' -- living rightly
• dâhî -- verb; 2nd person singular aorist subjunctive active <dâ-> 'give, put' -- you would grant
• dregaovê -- noun; dative singular masculine <drigu-> 'needy, poor' -- (to the) poor (man)
• vahyô -- adjective; accusative singular neuter <vahya-> 'better' -- better

Lesson Text

¹ vahishtâ îshtish srâvî       Zarathushtrahê
Spitâmahyâ yezî hôi       dât âyaptâ
ashât hacâ ahurô       mazdå yavôi vîspâi-â       hvanghevîm
yaê-câ hôi daben sashken-câ       daênayå vanghuyå       uxdhâ shyaothanâ-câ
² at-câ hôi scantû mananghâ       uxdhâish shyaothanâish-câ
xshnêm mazdå vahmâi-â       fraoret yasnãs-câ
kava-câ Vîshtâspô       zarathushtrish Spitâmô       Ferashaoshtras-câ
dånghô erezûsh pathô       yãm daênãm ahurô       saoshyantô dadât

³ têm-câ tû Pourucistâ       Haêcat-aspânâ
Spitâmî yezivî dugedrãm       Zarathushtrahê
vanghêush paityâstîm mananghô       ashahyâ mazdås-câ       taibyô dât sarem
athâ hêm ferashvâ thwâ xrathwâ       spênishtâ Ârmatôish       hudânvareshvâ

⁴ têm zî vê speredâ nivarânî       yâ fedhrôi vîdât
paithyaê-câ vâstryaêibyô       at-câ x^vaêtaovê
ashâunî ashavabyô       mananghô vanghêush x^vênvat hanghush       mêm-bêedush
mazdå dadât ahurô       daênayâi vanghuyâi       yavôi vîspâi-â

⁵ sâx^vênî vazyamnâbyô       kainibyô mraomî
xshmaibyâ-câ vademnô       mên-câ î mãz dazdûm
vaêdôdûm daênâbîsh       abyas-câ ahûm       yê vanghêush mananghô
ashâ vê anyô ainîm       vîvênghatû tat zî hôi       hushênem anghat

⁶ ithâ î haithyâ narô       athâ jênayô
drûjô hacâ râthemô yême       spashuthâ frâidîm
drûjô âyesê hôish pithâ tanvô parâ       vayû-beredubyô dush-x^varethêm       nãsat x^vâthrem
dregvôdebyô dêjît-aretaêibyô       anâish â manahîm       ahûm merengeduyê

⁷ at-câ vê mîzhdem anghat       ahyâ magahyâ
yavat âzhush zrazdishtô      bûnôi haxtayå
para-câ mraocãs aorâ-câ       yathrâ mainyush dregvatô       anãsat parâ
ivîzayathâ magêm têm       at vê vayôi anghaitî       apêmem vacô

⁸ anâish â duzhvareshnanghô       dafshnyâ hêntû
zahyâ-câ vîspånghô       xraosentãm upâ
huxshathrâish jênerãm xrûnerãm-câ       râmãm-câ âish dadâtû       shyeitibyô vîzhibyô
îratû îsh dvafshô hvô       derezâ mereithyaosh mazishtô       moshu-câ astû

⁹ duzhvarenâish vaêshô râstî       tôi narepîsh rajîsh
aêshasâ dêjît-aretâ       peshô-tanvô
kû ashavâ ahurô       yê îsh jyâtêush hêmithyât       vasê-itôish-câ
tat mazdâ tavâ xshathrem       yâ erezhejyôi dâhî       dregaovê vahyô

Translation

Grammar

11. ant-, mant-, and vant-stem Nouns

Nominal stems in ant form a simple adjective and the present participle active; mant and vant mark the possessive adjective. The inflections for the simple and possessive masculine adjectives are nearly the same, taking the weakened stem at in the oblique cases. Participles built on thematic verbal stems maintain the full nominal stem in most instances. Those built on athematic stems decline like other adjectives. Masculine and neuter oblique cases are identical. The feminine shows the same ablaut pattern, but adds î to complete the stem and thus declines like long î-stem nouns (cf. Section 6.2).

11.1. nt-Stem Nouns, Masculine

11.2. nt-Stem Nouns, Neuter

12. Demonstrative Pronouns

In Section 7, the demonstrative pronoun ha- 'this', suppletive ta-, was given. Two other demonstrative pronouns, hvo- 'this' and a- 'that', appear frequently in masculine, feminine, and neuter declensions.

13. The Aorist Tense

As already noted in Section 4, a verb's tense is indicated by the formation of its stem. In addition to the present stems encountered there, Avestan also includes a category of aorist stems that, like those of the present system, are constructed in various ways. Seven forms of the aorist stem occur: root, reduplicated, thematic, and four forms of sigmatic. The root aorist adds its termination directly to the root. The reduplicated aorist adds the first vowel of its root, and any consonant immediately preceding that vowel, in front of the zero-grade of that root. E.g., vaoc- < vac, showing the reduplicated syllable va before the zero-grade uc-. Thematic aorists, like thematic presents, add the theme-vowel -a- to the root, which is usually in middle grade. Sigmatic aorists add -h/sh-, -ha/sa-, -ih/ish-, or -hih/shish-, with aspirate and sibilant variation according to environment.

The basic structure of an aorist verb is: augment + stem + termination, with the short vowel a- filling the space of the augment. In practice, however, the augment is rare, and is seen only in the indicative mood. This has led to a further distinction between the aorist 'injunctive', which exhibits no augment, and the aorist 'indicative', which has the full formation. Both have indicative sense, but there is a distinction between them. The aorist indicative denotes a definitely past sense, as in the form anãsat in verse 7 of the passage above:

Here, the Deceitful One's disappearing has transpired: the action is fully past. The injunctive, by contrast, more often denotes a more general sense with respect to time -- i.e., something that is just always generally so, as in verse 6:

Here, given the previously established conditions, the loss of 'easy breathing' necessarily results and therefore the injunctive form is used. It is important to note, however, that though this distinction always holds for the aorist indicative, which only gives a fully past sense, Zarathustra used the injunctive in both ways. For this reason, the distinction has been analyzed in these lessons as one between the 'aorist indicative' and the 'augmented aorist indicative'. Accordingly, the 'aorist indicative' has been translated to convey either a general or a past tense, according to context, while the 'augmented aorist indicative' always indicates only past tense.

Root Aorist Paradigm: dâ 'give'

Since all aorist forms are similar, only the root aorist paradigm will be presented here.

14. The Present Participle

A participle is a verbal noun, a verb stem that takes a nominal ending. It functions syntactically as either an adjective to modify a noun, or as a substantive to replace it. Like verbs, participles display an active, middle, or passive voice and a past, present, or future tense.

An example of the present participle in English can be illustrated by the word 'running'. In each of the sentences, "The water is running" and "The running water is cold," the verb 'run' is an adjective describing 'water'. In Avestan, the word may also be used as the subject of the sentence to describe someone or something that is running, as in "The running (one) is passing by," but this is unusual in English. Keeping in mind that a participle is adjectival, however, the common slang "The big, the bad, and the ugly..." may illustrate the same principle. Though 'big', 'bad', and 'ugly' are not participles, they are adjectives standing in for the nouns they modify (e.g., 'The big men', 'the bad men', etc.), a usage that participles commonly have in Avestan.

The present active participle is formed by adding the ending -ant to a present verbal stem; the paradigm is given above in Section 12. As noted there, those constructed on thematic verbal stems have less ablaut in declension. The middle participle adds the ending -amna to the thematic stem, or -âna to the athematic. Both decline as short-a nouns in the masculine or neuter, and long-â nouns in the feminine.

15. Conjunctions, Clitics, and a Note on Puns

15.1. Conjunctions, Particles, Interjections, and Clitics

Avestan uses many conjunctions and particles, and occassionally employs interjections. The most common conjunctions are ca 'and', uta 'and', ca ca 'both ... and', vâ 'or', and tu 'but' (sometimes with emphatic sense). Like their Sanskrit conterparts, they are enclitic. Of the three, ca is the most variable in meaning: it can sometimes be translated as 'or', as 'but', or even as an emphatic particle.

Three types of particles -- negative, emphatic, and indefinite -- predominate. The negative particles are three: nôit 'no, not', naêdâ 'and not', and mâ, a prohibitive particle employed with a verb in the imperative mood. The emphatic particles include bâ, usually left untranslated, vai 'verily, indeed', and zi 'for, indeed'. The particles cit and cana added to an interrogative pronoun, and cithit added to a preposition, produce an indefinite sense; e.g., kah 'who, what' beside kas-cit 'someone, any one' or pairî 'around, toward, away from' next to pairî-cithit 'sometime/place before.'

Two interjections occur: avai and vayai. Their translations vary, depending on context.

15.2. Puns

The passage selected for this lesson includes an unusual syntactic construction. In verse 6, line 3, Zarathustra employs the verb nasat as two words conveyed by one. The third person singular reduplicated aorist of ans and the third person singular root aorist of nas, both active, are both intended. The objects of the respective verbs flank their 'collapsed' appearance, dushx^varethem 'spoiled food' to be taken with ans 'result', and x^vathrem 'easy breathing' with nas 'be lost'.

With the further alliteration and phonetic play between x^varethem and x^vathrem, the phrase is a prime illustration of Zarathustra's remarkable poetic skill and innovation.

Footnote