[ p. 88 ]
This Yast to the Moon is recited on the day of the Moon, and on those of Bahman, Gôs, and Râm [^430] (Anquetil, II, 185). Bah-man and Gôs are so far connected with the Moon that all three are gaokithra: ‘Bahman [^431], the Moon, and Gôs [^432], all three, are having in them the seed of the bull; Bahman can neither be seen nor seized with the hand; the Moon proceeded from Bahman [^433] and can be seen, but cannot be seized with the hand; Gôs proceeded from the Moon [^434] and can both be seen and seized with the hand [^435].’ Râm is referred to here as being hvâstra, ‘lord of good pastures [^436].’
Of this Yast we have translations in Pahlavi, Persian, and Sanskrit (edited in Études Iraniennes, II).
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 . . . .
Unto the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the [ p. 89 ] Bull; unto the only-created Bull and unto the Bull [^437] of many species;
Be propitiation, with sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification.
Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness . . . .
1. Hail to Ahura Mazda! Hail to the Amesha-Spentas! Hail to the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the Bull [^438]! Hail to thee when we look at thee! Hail to thee when thou lookest at us [^439]!
2. How does the moon wax? How does the moon wane?
For fifteen days does the moon wax [^440]; for fifteen days does the moon wane. As long as her waxing, so long is the waning [^441]; as long as her waning, so long is the waxing.
‘Who is there but thee [^442] who makes the moon wax and wane [^443]?’ [ p. 90 ] 3. We sacrifice unto the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the Bull, the holy and master of holiness.
Here I look at the moon, here I perceive the moon; here I look at the light of the moon, here I perceive the light of the moon. The Amesha-Spentas stand up [^444], holding its glory; the Amesha-Spentas stand up, pouring its glory upon the earth, made by Mazda [^445].
4. And when the light of the moon waxes warmer, golden-hued plants grow on [^446] from the earth during the spring [^447].
We sacrifice unto the new moons, the full moons, and the Vîshaptathas [^448].
We sacrifice unto the new moon, the holy and master of holiness;
We sacrifice unto the full moon, the holy and master of holiness;
We sacrifice unto the Vîshaptatha, the holy and master of holiness.
; it has the same meaning in Vend. XVIII, 9 [23]; cf. Yt. XXII, 18.} [ p. 91 ] 5. I will sacrifice unto the Moon, that keeps in it the seed of the Bull, the liberal, bright, glorious, water-giving [^449], warmth-giving, wisdom-giving [^450], wealth-giving [1], riches-giving, thoughtfulness-giving [2], weal-giving, freshness-giving [3], prosperity-giving [4], the liberal, the healing.
6. For its brightness and glory, I will offer unto it a sacrifice worth being heard, namely, unto the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the Bull.
Unto the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the Bull, we offer up the libations, the Haoma and meat, the baresma, the wisdom of the tongue, the holy spells, the speech, the deeds, the libations, and the rightly-spoken words.
Yênhê Ham: All those beings of whom Ahura Mazda . . . .
7. Yathâ ahû vairyô: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness . . . .
I bless the sacrifice and prayer, and the strength and vigour of the Moon, that keeps in it the seed of the Bull, and of the only-created Bull, and of the Bull of many species.
Ashem Vohû: Holiness is the best of all good.
Give unto that man brightness and glory, give him health of body, . . . . give him the bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones.
88:1 The 12th, 2nd, 14th, and 21st days of the month. ↩︎
88:2 The Amshaspand Bahman is entrusted with the care of cattle (Vend. XIX, 20, note 8). ↩︎
88:3 The Genius of Cattle; see Yt. IX. ↩︎
88:4 Bahman is ‘good thought, good mind,’ Vohu-Manô; in the Vedas the moon is said to have been made out of the mind (manas) of Purusa. For an explanation of that old mystical myth, see Ormazd et Ahriman, p. 74, note 3. ↩︎