The Mazdayasnian4 religion3 (and) the law5 (proclaimed) by the Prophet Zarathushtra (has been received from Ahura Mazda), the Creator1 of the world2. Homage (be) unto thee, O righteous8 most profitable9 and undefiled “Ardevi Sura10! Homage12 (be) (unto thee) O good14, righteous16, Tree13 created by the (Creator) Ahura Mazda15!

Hvare-khshaētem1 ameshem2 raēm3 aurvat-aspem4 yazamaide5. Ashem Vohū 1. Khorshed amarg rayōmand aurvad-asp be-rasād. Ashem Vohū 1.

We praise21 the immortal18, radiant19 (and) swift-footed-horse20, Sun17. May the immortal23, radiant24 and swift-footed horse22, Khorshed (yazata) come (to my help).

MEHER NYĀYESH

cx(It is enjoined in the Persian Rivayet to recite this Nyāyesh everyday during the day-time in the three Gahs: Havan, Rapithwan, and Uzirin).

Pa nāme1 yazdān2 Hormazd3 Khodāe4 awazūnī5 gorje6 khoreh7 awazāyād;8 Meher9 farāgayaod10 dāvare rāst11 be-rasād.12 Az hamā gunāh patet pashemānum; az harvastīn dushmata duzhukta duzhvarshta. Mem pa getī manīd; oem goft, oem kard, oem jast. oem būn būd ested ; az ān gunāh manashnī gavashnī kunashnī, tanī ravānī getī mīnōānī, okhe awākhsh pashemān pa sē gavashnī pa patet hom.

(I begin to recite this) with1 (the help of) the name1 of the Almighty2

Hormazd,3 Lord4 (of the entire world) and the Increaser.5 May His grandeur6

and glory7 increase!8 May Meher yazata,9 the Lord of wide pastures,10 the cyjust Judge11 come12 (to my help)!

(1) (To recite with a bow) Nemase-te Ahura Mazda, nemase-te Ahura Mazda, nemase-te Ahura Mazda, thrishchit parō anyāish dāmān. Nemō vē Ameshā Spentā vīspe hvare-hazaoshāo. Aētat jahāt Ahurem Mazdām, aētat Ameshe Spente, aētat ashaonām fravashīsh, aētat vayām dareghōkhvadhātem.

cx There are various meanings of the word Meher, who is called in Avesta “Mithra” light, origin of light, the harbinger of the Sun, twilight; a contract, promise, an agreement, truth, justice, friendship, love; the yazata presiding over light and truthfulness; the yazata helping the just and virtuous persons and punishing the liar and wicked persons; the judge at the Chinvat Bridge of the souls of the dead. We have the full details about the functions of Meher Yazata and his praise from the Meher Yasht. In former times the worship of Meher yazata was spread more than that of the other yazatas. Some hint about it is seen from the later portion of Meher Nyāyesh and Meher Yasht. For further details, see a booklet in English on “A Lecture on Mithraic Worship”, by Sheth Kharshedji Rustomji Kama.

cy Meher yazata is called the just Judge. Its reason is that after the passing away of a person he proceeds towards the Chinvat Bridge on the fourth day at dawn, where Meher Yazata, Srosh Yazata and Rashne Yazata, after weighing all the actions committed by him in this world, assign him the proper place (Heaven, purgatory or hell).

MEHER NYĀYESH

(2) Khshnaothra Ahurahe Mazdāo, tarōidīte anghrahe mainyēush. Haithyāvarshtām hyat vasnā ferashōtemem. Staomi ashem czAshem Vohū 1.

(3) Ferastuye humatōibyaschā hūkhtōibyaschā hvarshtōibyascha, mānthwōibyaschā vakhedhwoibyaschā varshtvōibyaschā. Aibigairyā daithe vīspā humatāchā hūkhtāchā hvarshtāchā. Paitirichyā daithe vīspā dushmatācha duzhūkhtācha duzhvarshtāchā.

(4) Ferā ve rāhī, Ameshā Spentā, yasnemchā vahmemchā, ferā mananghā, ferā vachanghā, ferā shyaothanā, ferā anghuyā ferā tanvaschit khvakhyāo ushtanem. Staomi Ashem. Ashem Vohū 1.

(5) (To recite bowing the head) Nemō Ahurāi Mazdāi, nemō Ahurāi mazdāi, nemō Ahurāi Mazdāi; nemō Ameshaēibyō Spentaēibyō, Nemō mithrāi vouru-gaoyaotēe, nemō hvare-khshaētāi aurvat-aspāi, nemō ābyō dōithrābyō, yāo Ahurahe Mazdāo, nemō gēush, nemō gayehe, nemō Zarathushtrahe Spitāmahe ashaonō fravashēe nemem vīspayāo ashaonō stōish, haithyāicha, bavānithyāicha būshyānithyāicha.

(If the Gāh is Havan, recite three times as under):

Vohū ukhshyā mananghā khshathra ashāchā ushtā tanūm (to be recited three times). Ashem Vohū 3.

(If the Gāh is Rapithwan or Second Havan, recite three times as under):

Imā raochāo barezishtem Barezemanām. Ashem Vohū 3.

(If the Gāh is Uzirin, recite three times as under):

Yahmī Spentā thwā mainyū urvaēse jasō (to be recited). Ashem Vohū

3.

(6) daMithrem vouru-gaoyaoitīm yazamaide, arshvachanghem, vyākhanem hazanghragaoshem, hutāshtem, baēvare-chashmanem, berezantem,

perethu-vaēdhayanem

sūrem,

akhvafnem, jaghāurvāoghem. (7) Mithrem vīspanām dakhyunām danghu-paitīm yazamaide, yim fradathat Ahurō Mazdāo khvarenanguhastemem mainyavanām yazatanām. Tat nō jamyāt avanghe Mithra Ahura berezanta. Hvare-khshaētem ameshem raēm aurvat aspem yazamaide. (8) Tishtrīm drvō-chashmanem yazamaide, Trishtrīm drvōchashmanem yazamaide, Tishtrīm drvō-chashmanem yazamaide, Tishtrīm yazamaide, Tishtryenyō yazamaide, Trishtryō raē vāo khvarenanghuhāo yazamaide, vanantem stārem mazdadhātem yazamaide, tishtrīm stārem raēvantem khvarenanghuhantem yazamaide, thwāshem khvadhātem yazamaide, zrvānem akaranem

cz For its translations, see Khorshed Nyāyesh above.

da For its translation, see Khorshed Nyāyesh, above.

yazamaide, zrvānem dareghō-khvadhātem yazamaide, vātem spentem hudhāonghem yazamaide, razishtām chistām mazdadhātam ashaonīm yazamaide, daēnām vanghuhīm māzdayasnīm yazamaide, pathām khvāstāitim yazamaide, zarenumantem sūrem yazamaide, saokantem gairīm mazdadhātem yazamaide.

(9) Vīspemcha ashavanem mainyaom yazatem yazamaide, vīspemcha ashavanem gaēthīm yazatem yazamaide, haom urvānem yazamaide havām fravashīm yazamaide. Jasa me avanghe Mazda. Ashāunām vanghuhīsh sūrāo spentāo fravashayō yazamaidedb. Mithrem vourugaoyaoitīm yazamaide. Ashem Vohū 3.

(10) Fravarāne mazdayasnō Zarathushtrish vīdaēvō Ahura-tkaēshō (Gāh according to the period of the day) frasastayaēcha. Mithrahe vourugaoyaoitōish hazanghra-gaoshahe baēvare-chashmanō, aokhtō-nāmanō yazatahe, rāmnascha khvāstrahe dckhshnaothra yasnāicha vahmāicha khshnaothrāicha frasastayaēcha, yathā Ahū vairyō zaotā frā me mrūte, athā ratush ashāt-chit hacha frā ashava vīdhvāo mraotū.

(11) Mithrem vouru-gaoyaoitīm yazamaide, arsh-vachanghem, vyākhnem, hazanghra-gaoshem, hutāshtem, baēvare-chashmanem, berezantem,

perethu-vaēdhayanem,

sūrem,

akhvafnem, ddjaghāurvāonghem.

Mithrem14 aiwi-dakhyūm15 yazamaide,16 mithrem17 antaredakhyūm18 yazamaide;19 mithrem20 ā-dakhyūm21 yazamaide,22 mithrem23 upairi-dakhyūm24 yazamaide,25 mithrem26 adhairi-dakhyūm27 yazamaide28 mithrem29 pairi-dakhyūm30 yazamaide;31 mithrem32 aipidakhyūm33 yazamaide.34 (12) Mithra35 Ahura36 berezanta37 aithyejangha38 ashavana39 yazamaide40, strēushcha41 māonghemcha42 hvarecha,43 urvarāhu44 paiti45 baresman yāhu,46 mithrem47 vīspanām48 dakhyunām49 danghu paitīm50 deyazamaide.51

(13) Ahe52 raya53 khvaranenghacha54 tem55 yazāi56 surunvata57 yasna58 mithrem59 vouru-gaoyaotīm.60 zaothrābyo61 mithrem62 vourugaoyaoitīm63 yazamaide,64 rāma-shayanem65 hushayanem66 airyābyō67 danghubyō.68

(11) We worship16 Meher yazata14 of advanced countries;15 we worship19

Meher yazata17 of countries in the interior,18 pertaining to the neighbouring country21 (or pertaining to this country21); we worship25 Meher yazata23 per-

db For the translation of paragraphs 6-9, see Khorshed Nyāyesh, above.

dc i.e. for the worship, etc. of Meher Yazata of wide pastures, thousand ears, and ten thousand eyes, of the spoken name and of Rām Khvāstar (see Khorshed Nyāyesh, above).

dd For its translation, see Khorshed Nyāyesh, page 30.

de The portion from “Mithremaiwi-dakhyum yazamaide” up to here occurs in Meher yasht, paras 144-145.

MEHER NYĀYESH

taining to upper country,24 and the lower or nether country.27 We worship31

Meher yazata29 pertaining to the country round about,30 and also the country in the rear.33 (12) We praise40 Meher yazata35 (and) Ahura36 (i.e. Ahura Mazda) (who are) the exalted,37 imperishable38 and righteous.39 We praise51

the stars,41 the Moon42 and the Sun43 and the lord50 of all48 countries,49 Meher yazata.47 This we worship in front45 dfof the trees44 pertaining to the Baresma.46 (13) On account of his52 splendour53 and glory54 I worship56 that55

Meher Yazata59 of wide pastures60 with the audible57 (or famous) yasna.58 We worship64 Meher yazata62 of wide pastures,63 dghappy65 and good dwelling66

for the Iranian67 countries,68 with libations.61

(14) Ācha nō1 jamyāt2 avanghe,3 ācha nō4 jamyāt5 ravanghe,6 ācha nō7 jamyāt8 rafnanghe,9 ācha nō10 jamyāt11 marzdikāi,12 ācha nō13 jamyāt14 baēshazāi,15 ācha nō16 jamyāt17 verethraghnāi18 ācha nō19 jamyāt20 havanghāi,21 ācha nō22 jamyāt23 dhashavastāi,24 ughrō,25 aiwithūrō,26 yasnyō27 vahmyō,28 an-aiwi-drukhtō29 vīspemāi30 anguhe31 astvaite,32 mithrō33 yō34 vouru35-gaoyaoitish;36

(15) Tem37 amavantem38 yazatem39 sūrem40 dāmōhu41 sevishtem42 mithrem43 yazāi44 zaothrābyō;45 tem46 pairi-jasāi47 vantacha48 nemanghacha;49 tem50 yazāi51 surunvata52 yasna53 mithrem54 vourugaoyaoitīm;55 zaothrābyō56 mithrem57 vouru-gaoyaoitīm58 yazamaide.59

(14) And may2 Meher yazata33 who34 (is) the lord of wide pastures,36 the mighty,25 triumphant,26 worthy of worship,27 adoration,28 the undeceived one29

in the entire30 material32 world,31 come2 to our1 help!3 May he dicome5 for our4

affluence!6 And may he come8 for our7 joy!9 May he come11 for our10 mercy12

and health!15 May he come17 for our16 victory!18 And may he come20 for the prosperity21 of our19 djfamily!21 It would be better if he comes22 for our22

dksanctification!24 (15) I worship44 with oblations45 that37 powerful38 (and) strong40 Meher43 yazata39 (who is) most beneficent42 amongst (all the) creatures.41 Him46 will I approach47 with love48 and homage.49 I worship51

Meher yazata54 of wide pastures55 with the celebrated52 (or famous52) yasna.53

We worship59 Meher yazata of wide pastures58 with libations.59

df i.e. where the trees of Baresma grow. Its significance is that we revere Meher yazata whose authority and chieftainship is predominant in this, (i.e. Iran) and other surrounding countries. If the meaning of Meher as stated in the beginning of this Nyāyesh be taken as “light”, the significance of this para would be: “We praise the light of the Sun which is pervading in all the countries”.

dg Or of a happy dwelling or a good dwelling to the Iranian countries.

dh Dr. Geldner takes from the beginning of para 14 up to the world, “Ashavastāi” as a poem of eight lines; each line begins with “Ācha nō”.

di May he come for wiping out (our sins) (Prof. Harlez).

dj For the peace of our conscience (Professor Darmesteter).

dk i.e. for rendering us pure.