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24
THE GÂTHAS.
Thine instructions to be never void of their effect (in the struggles) for our (daily) food, and therefore worthy objects of desire 8.
12. (Yea, I approach Thee with my prayers, I) who by these (great gifts of grace) will * protect (Thy) Divine Righteousness, and (Thy) Good Mind (within us) for ever. And do Thou therefore, O Ahura Mazda! teach me from Thyself, yea, from Thine own mouth of spirit, that I may declare it forth to (these Thy waiting people) by what (powers and according to what laws') the primeval world arose !
· Ner. has analaso(-ah) for asûnâ more correctly than the Pahlavi asûdak.
. Or, 'well reaching their aim;' but the Pahlavi translator gives his evidence for the meaning 'food'=khûrisno. Recall the constant prayers for nourishment in the Riks. And as favouring the ancient translation, see XXIX, 7, where food for the eaters' is declared to be the gift of God, who is at the same time 'bounteous with his doctrine.'
9 Neryosangh : Evam ye dharmasya vettârah * uttamasyaka dåter manasah [ ] ekahelayâ * Mahagñânin Svâmin! tebhyah* půrnam parikinohi* kamam; skila, 7 subham tebhyah kurul. Evamka igisneh* analaso labhatâm khâdyâni vastrânika vadanena.
• One is tempted to read nipaunghê as an infinitive, but the Pahlavi translation anticipates us all with its more critical barâ netrūnam.
* This question is answered in Y. XXX.
• Ner. improving upon the Pahlavi has as follows: Yadi sunirikshanataya dharmam pâlayâmi manaska * uttamam sadâpravrittaye; [kila, ket satyasya sadvyâpârasyaka rakshâm karomi). Tvam tat* Mahâgñânin Svâminl prakrishtam me sikshâpaya* [ ] vâki. Adrisya Tvatto mukhena (sphulaya) antar bhuvane pûrvam babhůva (tâm srishtim me brûhi).
A translation truly remarkable considering the circumstances under which it was made.
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