XVI. Dîn Ya<I>s</I>t
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The Zend Avesta, Part II (SBE23), James Darmesteter, tr. [1882], at sacred-texts.com
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XVI. DÎN YAST.
Dîn (Daêna) presides over the 24th day of the month (Sîrôzah 24) and gives it her name; she is invoked in company with Kista, and in fact this Yast, though it bears the name of Daêna, is consecrated to Kista (§§ 2, 7). These two Genii are, however, very closely connected in their nature, as Daêna is the impersonation of the Zoroastrian Law or Religion, and Kista is religious knowledge, the knowledge of what leads to bliss (fargânak, nirvânagñâna; the same as Kisti).
The description of Kista is rather pallid, and does not rise above abstractions (see, however, Mihir Yast, § 126). She was not worshipped by the old epic heroes as Anâhita was, but by Zarathustra and his wife, because she must have been, from her very name and nature, a goddess of Zoroastrian origin and growth.
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0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! . . . .
Ashem Vohû: Holiness is the best of all good . . . .
I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathustra, one who hates the Daêvas and obeys the laws of Ahura;
For sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto [Hâvani], the holy and master of holiness . . . .
To the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy, and to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda,
Be propitiation from me, for sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification.
Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness . . . .
I.
1. We sacrifice to the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy: we sacrifice to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda, the supplier of good
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stores, who runs quickly to the goal and frees one best from dangers 1, who brings libations, who is holy, clever, and renowned, speedy to work and quick of work; who goes quickly and cleanses well; the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda;
2. To whom Zarathustra did sacrifice, saying: 'Rise up from thy seat, come forward from the Abode 2, thou most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy. If thou art before me, stay for me; if thou art behind me, overtake me.
3. 'Let everything be as friendly to us as anything can be: may we go smoothly along the roads, find good pathways in the mountains, run easily through the forests, and cross happily the rivers!'
4. For her brightness and glory, I will offer unto her a sacrifice worth being heard, namely, unto the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy. I will offer up a sacrifice unto the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy, with the libations, with the Haoma and meat, with the baresma, with the wisdom of the tongue, with the holy spells, with the words and deeds, with the libations, with the well-spoken words.
Yênhê hâtãm: All those beings of whom Ahura Mazda . . . .
II.
5. We sacrifice to the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy: we sacrifice to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda . . . . 3
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6. To whom Zarathustra did sacrifice for righteousness of thought, for righteousness of speech, for righteousness of deed, and for this boon,
7. That the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy, would give him the swiftness of the feet, the quick hearing of the ears, the strength of the arms, the health of the whole body, the sturdiness of the whole body, and the eye-sight of the Kara fish, that lives beneath the waters, and can measure a rippling of the waters not thicker than a hair, in the Rangha, whose ends lie afar and whose depth is a thousand times the height of a man 1.
For her brightness and glory, I will offer unto her a sacrifice worth being heard . . . .
III.
8. We sacrifice to the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy: we sacrifice to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda . . . .
9. To whom Zarathustra did sacrifice for righteousness of thought, for righteousness of speech, for righteousness of deed, and for this boon,
10. That the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy, would give him the swiftness of the feet, the quick hearing of the ears, the strength of the arms, the health of the whole body, the sturdiness of the whole body, and the eye-sight of the male horse, that, in the dark of the night, through the rain, the snow, the hail, or the sleet, from as far as nine districts, can perceive a horse's hair, mingled with the earth, and knows whether it is from the head or from the tail 2.
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For her brightness and glory, I will offer unto her a sacrifice worth being heard . . . .
IV.
11. We sacrifice to the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy: we sacrifice to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda . . . .
12. To whom Zarathustra did sacrifice for righteousness of thought, for righteousness of speech, for righteousness of deed, and for this boon,
13. That the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy, would give him the swiftness of the feet, the quick hearing of the ears, the strength of the arms, the health of the whole body, the sturdiness of the whole body, and the eye-sight of the vulture with a golden collar, that, from as far as nine districts, can perceive a piece of flesh, not thicker than a fist, giving just as much light as a needle gives, as the point of a needle gives 1.
For her brightness and glory, I will offer unto her a sacrifice worth being heard . . . .
V.
14. We sacrifice to the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy: we sacrifice to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda . . . .
15. To whom the holy Hvôvi 2 did sacrifice with full knowledge, wishing that the holy Zarathustra would give her his good narcotic 3, that she might
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think according to the law, speak according to the law, and do according to the law.
For her brightness and glory, I will offer unto her a sacrifice, worth being heard . . . .
VI.
16. We sacrifice to the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy: we sacrifice to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda . . . .
17. To whom the Âthravans, sent afar 1, did sacrifice 2, wishing a good memory to preach the law, and wishing strength for their own body.
For her brightness and glory, I will offer unto her a sacrifice worth being heard . . . .
VII.
18. We sacrifice to the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy: we sacrifice to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda . . . .
19. To whom the king of the country, the lord of the country does sacrifice, wishing peace for his country, wishing strength for his own body.
For her brightness and glory, I will offer unto her a sacrifice worth being heard . . . .
20. Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness . . . .
I bless the sacrifice and prayer, and the strength
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and vigour of the most right Kista, made by Mazda and holy, and of the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda.
Ashem Vohû: Holiness is the best of all good . . . .
[Give] unto that man brightness and glory, . . . . give him long, long life, give him the bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones.
Footnotes
265:1 Reading nimarezista; cf. vîmarezistem, Yt. I, 2.
265:2 The heavenly abode, the Garôthmân.
267:3 Bangha; the so-called Bang of Zoroaster (Vend. XV, 14 [44]; Phl. tr.). What must have been its virtue may be gathered from the legends of Gûstâsp and Ardâ Vîrâf, who are said to have been transported in soul to the heavens, and to have had the higher p. 268 mysteries revealed to them, on drinking from a cup prepared by the prophet (Zardust Nâmah), or from a cup of Gûstâsp-bang (Ardâ Vîrâf, II, 29).
268:1 The itinerant priests, the ancestors of the modern dervishes.
268:2 Or better, do sacrifice; cf. Yt. XIV, 39.
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