Visparad XXIII

The Zend Avesta, Part III (SBE31), L.H. Mills, tr. [1886], at sacred-texts.com

VISPARAD XXIII (SP. XXVI) ³.

1. We worship Ahura Mazda as the best ⁴ (worship to be offered in our gifts). We worship the Amesha Spenta (once more, and as) the best. We worship Asha Vahista (who is Righteousness the Best). And we sacrifice to those (prayers) which are evident as the best; that is, the Praises of the Yasnas.

Also we sacrifice to that best wish, which is that of Asha Vahista, and we worship Heaven, which is the best world of the saints, bright and all-glorious; and we sacrifice likewise to that best approach which leads to ⁵ it. 2. And we sacrifice to that reward,

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health, healing, furtherance, and increase, and to that victory which is within ¹ the two, the Ahuna-vairya and the Airyemâ-ishyô, through the memorised recital of the good thoughts, words, and deeds. (which they enjoin).

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Footnotes

363:3 This piece from the later Avesta follows Y. LIII, in the Vendîdâd Sâdah, and has reference to its expressions.

363:4 It is an important suggestion which holds vahistem as equal to 'saying vahistem,' in allusion to the Vahista îstis; but as the word is inflected further on (see vahistahê), and as it moreover once applies to Asha, as Asha Vahista, it is better to render it as having adjective application throughout, being none the less, of course, an intentional echo of the first word of Y. LIII, 1.

363:5 Or, 'of it.'

364:1 Possibly 'between them,' meaning the Gâthas which are so placed.