When the Persian prophet Zarathustra lived is
still debated among historians. Some say he was a contemporary of the later
Hebrew prophets, while others suggest a date perhaps as early as 1000 B.C.E. A
solitary prophet living in southwest Eurasia, in what is now Iran,
Zarathustra's religious beliefs came to influence the development of Judaism.
The Avesta, sacred canon of
Zoroastrianism, is divided into many, now fragmentary Yasna (or hymns), and the "Gathas" comprise
the most ancient part of the holy texts. Devoid of the elaborate ritualism
characteristic of the traditional religion practiced by the Magi, the ancient
order of Iranian priests versed in astrology and magic, the texts emphasize the
ethical nature of Zarathustra's thought and the spiritual revelations he
experienced. His teachings elaborate an ethical code based on Good Thoughts,
Good Works, and Good Deeds, and also constitute thereby a form of protest
against the perceived crudities of the religion of the Magi. In its developed
form, Zoroastrianism postulates a dualistic world, which serves as a
battleground for the forces of light and darkness wherein Ahura Mazda, the Wise
Spirit, struggles against Angra Mainyu, the Lie Demon. Only human beings are
free to choose sides in this cosmic confrontation. According to legend,
Zarathustra was persecuted by the Magi, but converted his king. Some traditions
record he was eventually killed by Iranian nomads. In the late sixth century
B.C.E. the Persian Darius I, the "King of Kings," had become one of
many staunch devotees of the martyred prophet's teachings.
(J.
H. Moulton, Early Zoroastrianism,
Allen and Unwin [London: 1913], pp. 349-55, 382-84, passim.)
THE TEXT:
Hear
with your ears the best things.
Look upon them with clear-seeing thought, for a decision between the two
Beliefs, each man for himself [must make] before the Great Consummation, . . .
Now
the two primal Spirits [of asha and druj], who revealed themselves in a vision
as Twins, are the Better and the Bad [respectively] in thought and word and
action. And between these two the wise once chose aright, the foolish not so.
And
when these two Spirits came together in the beginning, they established Life
and Death, and that at the last the Worst Existence shall be [given] to the
followers of the Lie, but the Best Thought [or dwelling] to him that follows
Right.
Of
these two Spirits he that followed the Lie chose doing the worst things. The holiest Spirit chose Right, he that
clothes him with the garment of the heavens. So likewise they that are glad to
please Ahura Mazda by dutiful actions.
Between
these two, the old nature gods also chose not aright, for infatuation came upon
them as they took counsel together, so that they chose the Worst Thought. Then
they rushed together to Violence, that they might enfeeble the world of man.
And
to mankind came Dominion, Good Thought, and Right; and Piety gave continued
life of their bodies and indestructibility, so that by thy retributions through
the [molten] metal he may gain the prize over those others.
So
when there comes the punishment of this evil one, then Oh Mazda, at thy command
shall Good Thought establish the Dominion in the Consummation, for those who
deliver the Lie, Oh Ahura, into the hands of the Right. . . .
If
you mortals, you mark those commandments that Mazda has ordained--of happiness
and pain, the long punishment for the liars, and blessings for the
righteous--then hereafter shall you have bliss.
Mindful
of your commands, we proclaim words hard for them to hear that after the
commands of the Lie destroy the creatures of Right, but most welcome to those
that give their heart to Mazda.
If
by reason of these things the better part is not in sight for the soul, then
will I come to you all as the judge of the two parties [Ahura Mazda and the
nature demons], whom Ahura Mazda knows, that we may live according to the
Right.
What
award you give by your Spirit and your Fire, and have taught by Right, to the
believers and unbelievers, and what decision unto the wise--this do you tell
us, Mazda, that we may know, even with the tongue of your own mouth, that I may
convert all living men. . . .
I
conceived of you, Oh Mazda, in my thought that you, the First, are also the
Last--that you are Father of Good Thought, for thus I apprehended you with my
eye--that you did truly create Right, and are the Lord to judge the actions of
life. . . .
When
you, Mazda, in the beginning did create beings and [men's] selves by your
Thought, and intelligences--when you did make life clothed with body, when [you
made] actions and teachings, whereby one may exercise choice according to one's
free will; then liftest up his voice the false speaker or the true speaker, he
that knows or he that does not know, each according to his own heart and
thought. . . .
These
things I ask you, Ahura, how they shall come and issue--the requitals that in
accord with the records are appointed for the righteous, and those, Mazda, that
belong to the liars, how these shall be when they come to the reckoning.
This
I ask, what penalty is for him who seeks to achieve kingship for a liar
[priest], for the man of ill deeds, Oh Ahura, who finds not his living without
injury to the husbandman's cattle and men, though he does him no harm.
This
I ask, whether the understanding man that strives to advance the Dominion over
house or district or land by the Right, will be one like you, Oh Mazda
Ahura--when he will be and how he will act.
Whether
is greater, the belief of the righteous or of the liar? Let him that knows tell him that knows;
let not him that knows nothing deceive any more. Be to us, Oh Mazda Ahura, the teacher of Good Thought.
Let
none of you listen to the liar's words and commands: he brings house and clan
and district and land into misery and destruction. Resist them then with
weapons! . . .
Whoso
comes to the righteous one, far from him shall be the future long age of
misery, of darkness, ill food, and crying of woe! To such an existence, you
liars, shall your own Self bring you by your actions.
Mazda
Ahura by virtue of his absolute lordship will give a perpetuity of communion
with Welfare and Immortality and Right, with Dominion, with Good Thought, to
him that in spirit and in actions is his friend.
Clear
is it to the man of understanding, as one who has realized it with his
thought. He upholds Right together
with the good Dominion by his word and deed. He shall be the most helpful companion for you, Oh Mazda
Ahura.
Zarathustra
asked: Can my soul count on any one for help? Who is there found for my herd,
who for myself a protector indeed, at my call other than Right and yourself, Oh
Mazda Ahura, and the Best Thought?
How,
Oh Mazda, should one desire the luck-bringing cattle, one who would fain it
should come to him together with the pasture?
Mazda
spoke: "They that live uprightly according to the Right among the many
that look upon the sun, these when they stand in the judgement I will settle in
the dwelling of the wise."
Zarathustra
spoke: "So this reward shall come to him through the Right, Oh Mazda, the
reward which by the Dominion and Good thought he promised, whosoever by the
power of his Destiny prospers the neighboring possession that now the Liar
[Angra Mainyu, the Lie Demon] holds.
"I
will worship you with praise, Oh Mazda Ahura, joined with Right and Best
Thought and Dominion, that they, desired of pious men, may stand as Judges on
the path of the obedient unto the House of Song.
"Assured
by you, Oh Mazda Ahura and Right, are the pointings of the hand--since you are
well disposed to your prophet--which shall bring us to bliss, together with
visible manifest help.
"The
prophet Zarathustra, who as your friend, Oh Mazda and the Right, lifts up his
voice with worship--may the Creator of Wisdom teach me his ordinances through
Good Thought, that my tongue may have a pathway.
"For
you I will harness the swiftest steeds, stout and strong, by the prompting of
your praise, that you may come hither, Oh Mazda, Right and Good Thought. May you be ready for my help!
"With
verses that are recognized as those of pious zeal I will come before you with
outstretched hands, Oh Mazda, before you, Oh you Right, with the worship of the
faithful man, before you with all the capacity of Good Thought.
"With
these prayers I would come and praise you, Oh Mazda and you Right, with actions
of Good Thought. If I be master of
my own destiny as I will, then will I take thought for the portion of the wise
in the same.
"Those
actions that I shall achieve, and those done before, and those, Oh Good
Thought, that are precious in the sight, the rays of the sun, the bright
uprisings of the days, all is for your praise, Oh you Right and Mazda Ahura.
"Your praiser, Mazda, will I declare myself and be, so long, Oh Right, as I have strength and power. May the Creator of the World accomplish through Good Thoughts its fulfillment of all that most perfectly answers to his will!"