Ebook: The Divine Songs of Zarathustra

The only documents of proved authenticity on the teachings of Zarathustra-the prophet of Ancient Iran-are the Gathas, which embody his beliefs and basic religious experiences and his Message to humanity.

The romanized text of this work follows the standard text of Geldner. For each verse is given first the Text, with a word for word translation, in which each word is numbered to correspond with the Text. After this literal translation is given a "Free English Rendering", in blank verse, which strives to reach the thought and spirit underlying each verse. The variant readings different from Geldner's text are fully discussed in the notes. The author has also dealt with the grammar and derivations of words, and has quoted parallel passages conveying the same or similar ideas from other scriptures.

Scholars will be interested in the Appendix on Gatha meter. There also a special metrical index giving the scansion of every line. Another useful feature is the glossary which is not only very complete, but which is in fact a Gathic dictionary giving the grammar and derivation of all the words. This will prove very valuable to students of the Gathas.

This fine work is the result of over twenty years' labour. In the past, the Gathas have often been translated by foreign scholars, but as the author says elsewhere, "I have always felt that these renderings have somehow lacked the inspiration that should form their chief characteristic." He cells that only a Zoroastrian can supply that inspiration, based upon that deep reverence for the sublimity of the teachings of the Gathas. And there could not have been a better person to have undertaken this difficult task than Dr. Tarapoto wala, a noted student, Oriental scholar, and linguist. "So far Parsi scholars have been content to be led by our western gurus and to accept all that they have taught us. How of us have been privileged to sit at their feet and to learn their methods of painstaking and accurate scholarship and research. And we possess what our gurus never had a living ardent faith in the Message of Zarathustra. To us the Gathas are not mere Interesting documents of Ancient Iran, but the eternal foundations of Spiritual Life."

This is a work for every true student of this ancient religion. Here is the perfect union of meticulous scholarship has the author given the literal meaning of the words, but has tried to catch the spirit of the Gathas, giving to the world a masterpiece worthy of a the power and the sublimity of the original. Not only and deep faith. true devotee. Here we can feel the beauty.



"Read the things of the flesh with the eyes of the Spirit, not the things of the Spirit with the eyes of the flash." How well these few words express the spirit in which the author has carried out his task, filled with the sublimity of the Message that Zarathustra preached far above all earthly knowledge, a Message for all humanity and for all time.