| | |||||||||
| (It is enjoined to chant this prayer with full comprehension | |||||||||
| Righteousness1 | |||||||||
Vashistem3 | is4 the best3 good2 | ||||||||
| | (and it) is6 happiness.5 | ||||||||
| Happiness7 | |||||||||
| (is) to him,8 | |||||||||
| who9 (is) | |||||||||
| righteous10 | |||||||||
| Vahishtãi11 | for the sake of the best11 | ||||||||
| ashem.12 | righteousness.12 | ||||||||
| Ashem Vohu should be recited in proper meter with proper comprehension. Ref : --first Frakart-chapter of the Hãdhokht Nask= | |||||||||
| English Translaion
| |||||||||
| Benefits of reciting One ashem vohu | |||||||||
| At time of death REF : first Frakart-chapter of the Hãdhokht Nask=. | 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,with proper comprehension One recital of Ashem Vohu is worth the entire region Khvaniratha, which is the greatest and most excellent amongst the Seven Regions of the Earth. He forsakes all wicked thoughts from his mind. Ref : -- | |||||||||
| When a person waking up and rising up from sleep recites Ashem Vohu , | One recital of Ashem Vohu recited should be truly regarded as worth ten thousand recitals on other occasions, Ref : --first Frakart-chapter of the Hãdhokht Nask=. | ||||||||
| gain share of meritorious deeds | Those Zoroastrians who do not know any other prayer are enjoined to recite "Yathã" and "Ashem" with a view to gaining a share of meritorious deeds. | ||||||||
| He who recites the .... Prayer of the Avesta attains to meritorious deeds (ref : Yasna Hã XIX) | with full comprehension | ||||||||
| in the proper metre | |||||||||
| with proper intonation, | |||||||||
| intoned without interruption | |||||||||
| and without omission | |||||||||
| "Asha = Righteousness' is to be understood as truth | * These two prayers Ashem Vohu and Yathã Ahu Vairyo are pre-Zarathushtra in age. They are the sacred Verses (mantra's) of the Creator Hormazd Himself. Yasna Hã XX gives the Commentary on Ashem Vohu | ||||||||
| Discussion and commentary | |||||||||
| (It is enjoined to chant this prayer with full comprehension for this verb employed is Srãvaya(Sanskrit:. Srãvaya), i.e. to chant.) (ref: Yasna Hã XIX) | |||||||||
| Ashem Vohu should be recited with proper comprehension. One must act according to it. One must recite it.after relinquishing all wicked thoughts from the mind. It is futile to recite Ashem Vohu on one hand and to utter falsehood and deceive on the other hand. Ref : --first Frakart-chapter of the Hãdhokht Nask= | |||||||||
| 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 Hã 48, stanza 5). | |||||||||
| * These two prayers Ashem Vohu and Yathã Ahu Vairyo are pre-Zara-thushtra in age. They are the sacred Verses of the Creator Hormazd Himself. (See Yasna Ha XIX, paras 1-4 and 14; Yasna Hã XX.3). Yasna Hã XIX is an Avestan Commentary on the Yathã Ahu Vairyo ; Yasna Hã XX gives the Commentary on Ashem Vohu Yenghe Hãtãm is the sacred Verse of the Prophet Zarathushtra (See Yasna Hã XXI, para 1). These three well-known prayers are adored with their specific names. ; . These three prayers, specially "Yathã" and "Ashem" are frequently recited in our holy Avestan Scriptures. Those Zoroastrians who do not know any other prayer are enjoined to recite "Yathã" and "Ashem" with a view to gaining a share of meritorious deeds.
| |||||||||
Translated by James Darmesteter (From Sacred Books of the East,American Edition, 1898., Vol 3, p 216.)
http://www.avesta.org/ka/ashems.htm
Happy the man who is holy with perfect holiness!
