YASNA 12 - The Zoroastrian Creed - MDavidsonsclass

YASNA 12 - The Zoroastrian Creed
I curse the Daevas. [1]
I declare myself a Mazda-worshipper, a supporter of Zarathustra, hostile
to the Daevas, fond of Ahura's teaching, a praiser of the Amesha Spentas
[2], a worshipper of the Amesha Spentas. I ascribe all good to
Ahuramazda, 'and all the best,' Asha-endowed, splendid, xwarenaendowed,
whose is the cow, whose is Asha, whose is the light, 'may
whose blissful areas be filled with light'.
I choose the good Spenta Armaiti [3] for myself; let her be mine. I
renounce the theft and robbery of the cow [4], and the damaging and
plundering of the Mazdayasnian settlements. I want freedom of
movement and freedom of dwelling for those with homesteads, to those
who dwell upon this earth with their cattle. With reverence for Asha [5],
and (offerings) offered up, I vow this: I shall nevermore damage or
plunder the Mazdayasnian settlements, even if I have to risk life and
limb.
I reject the authority of the Daevas, the wicked, no-good, lawless, evilknowing,
the most druj-like [6] of beings, the foulest of beings, the most
damaging of beings. I reject the Daevas and their comrades, I reject the
yatu [7] and their comrades; I reject any who harm beings. I reject them
with my thoughts, words, and deeds. I reject them publicly. Even as I
reject the [evil authorities], so too do I reject the hostile followers of the
druj.
As Ahuramazda taught Zarathustra at all discussions, at all meetings, at
which Mazda and Zarathustra conversed; - even as Zarathustra rejected
the authority of the Daevas, so I also reject, as Mazda-worshipper and
supporter of Zarathustra, the authority of the Daevas, even as he, the
Asha-endowed Zarathustra, has rejected them.
As the belief of the waters, the belief of the plants, the belief of the wellmade
[Original] Cow; as the belief of Ahuramazda who created the cow
and the Asha-endowed Man; as the belief of Zarathustra, the belief of
Kavi Vishtaspa [8], the belief of both Frashaostra and Jamaspa; as the
belief of each of the Saoshyants [9] -fulfilling destiny and Ashaendowed-
so I am a Mazda-worshipper of this belief and teaching.
I profess myself a Mazda-worshipper, a Zoroastrian, having vowed it
and professed it. I pledge myself to the well-thought thought, I pledge
myself to the well-spoken word, I pledge myself to the well-done action.
I pledge myself to the Mazdayasnian religion, which causes the attack to

e put off and weapons put down; Asha-endowed; which of all religions
that exist or shall be, is the greatest, the best, and the most beautiful:
Ahuric, Zoroastrian. I ascribe all good to Ahuramazda.
This is the creed of the Mazdayasnian religion.
Note 1:
The demons, the creatures Angra Mainyu, 'the hostile spirit'.
Note 2:
The seven good spirits, created by Ahuramazda.
Note 3:
The Spenta Armaiti is the spirit of Piety and Devotion.
Note 4:
The raiding of cattle, one of the most important causes of conflict in the ancient
Iranian society.
Note 5:
Asha is the personification of Justice. In older Persian, the word is Arta, cf.
names like Artaxerxes.
Note 6:
The druj is the 'lie': a name for everything that is wrong.
Note 7:
The yatu are demons.
Note 8:
Kavi Vishtaspa is Hystaspes, Zarathustra's protector. The names that follow
are heroes of early Zoroastrianism.
Note 9:
Saoshyants means 'saviors'. They are the root of Zoroastrian messianism.