ASHEM VOHŪ

bAshem1 Vohū2 Vahishtem3 astī4

Ushtā5 astī,6 Ushtā7 ahmāi,8 Hyat9 ashāi10 Vahishtāi11 ashem.12

Translation: Righteousness1 is4 the best3 good2 (and it) is6 happiness.5 Happiness7 (is) to him8 who9 (is) righteous12 for the sake of the best11 righteousness.10

Explanation:- The significance of the term “Righteousness” is to be understood as truth, holiness and pristine purity. In our Holy Avesta “Righteousness” is highly praised. For this the words “Staomi ashem”: (i.e., I praise Righteousness) are introduced. Purity of the mind and the body is the most excellent wealth and happiness of this world. That happiness which is highest in the matter of truth is attained to that person. The foremost thing which mankind ought to acquire after having born in this world is Truth, (see Yazishn Hā 48, stanza 5). Some references written in Avesta itself about the amount of meritorious deeds acquired by that reciter of Ashem Vohu Prayer on various occasions sincerely and with proper understanding is found in the first fargard-chapter of the Hādhokht Nask.c It is mentioned in it that one recital of Ashem Vohu recited with proper comprehension should be truly regarded as worth ten thousand recitals on other occasions, when a person waking up and rising up from sleep recites Ashem Vohū by relinquishing all wicked thoughts from the mind. Its significance is this that in the early morning while getting up from sleep one should acquire truth-Righteousness, and holding fast to it should carry on his daily affairs and business. It is futile to recite Ashem Vohu on one hand and to utter falsehood and deceive on the other hand. One must act according to it after reciting it. Moreover in the very same Nask another fact is mentioned that one recital of Ashem Vohū is worth the entire region Khvaniratha, which is the greatest and most excellent amongst the Seven Regions of the Earth. When a person at the end of life recites one Ashem Vohu prayer sincerely, he forsakes all wicked thoughts from his mind.

b These two prayers Ashem Vohu and Yathā Ahū Vairyō are pre-Zarathushtra in age and are the sacred Verses of the Creator Hormazd Himself. (See Yasna Hā XIX, paras 1-4 and 14; Yasna Hā XX.3). Yenghe Hātām is the sacred Verse of the Prophet Zarathushtra (See Yasna Hā XXI, para 1). These three well-known prayers are adored with their specific names. Yasna Hā XIX is an Avestan commentary on the Yathā Ahu Vairyō; Yasna Hā XX gives the commentary on Ashem Vohu and Yasna Hā XXI gives the commentary of the Yenghe Hātām. These three Hās chapters are known as Baghān Yasht. These three prayers, specially “Yathā” and “Ashem” are frequently recited in our holy Avestan Scriptures. Those Zoroastrians who do not know any other prayer are enjoined to recite “Yathā” and “Ashem” with a view to gaining a share of meritorious deeds.

c See my Yasht Bā Maeni. Yasht XXI, pp. 386-393.

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