Chapter 24
Epilogue and Immortality
Like every other Dadar Hormozd day the fire temple of Azarnoush was exceedingly crowded. The fire gently burned in the fire altar and the people raised their voices in song to praise Mazda through their hymns. Thus, did they once more awaken their bodies and souls to their pledge of truth and purity in thoughts, words and deeds.
Zarathustra too stood in their midst to join his voice to the glorious Mazda worshiping anthem in the fire temple. However, unlike the other days there was a certain anxiety in the eyes and within the hearts of people. They had heard that Arjasb sought to commence another fearful battle and that this time he intended to ride onto Bactria itself. The aged Lohrasb was indeed duly anxious for he found that the city was ill-prepared to suffer another such blow from Arjasb and his mercenaries.
As always, Zarathustra felt the anxiety of the people and thus ascended his pulpit to address them in his hymns:
Now will I speak of that which the omniscient Mazda
Ahura taught me of the creed of life: those who will
Not abide by these wise instructions as set forth by
myself will come to regret the end of their lives.
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 3)
Hearken for I will speak!
O ye who long to hear,
O ye who gather from all about,
Remember well that which I uphold!
Let not a false instructor lead your lives unto destruction.
Let not the dorvand lead ye unto an evil path through
His words.
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 1)
Now will I speak of the two unrelated beings who in the
beginning said:
we are not in harmony with one another neither in
thought nor in instruction, neither in wisdom nor in
belief, neither in words nor in deeds, neither in
understanding nor in mind.
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 2)
Now will I speak of that which is finest in life for I have
grasped it in the light of truth!
Mazda is the creator of Truth.
Mazda is the fount of divine thoughts!
Divine thoughts are for he who strives.
Mazda is the God of righteousness!
Righteousness is the basis of benevolence.
Mazda is the omniscient power which cannot be deceived.
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 4)
Now will I speak of that which the immaculate Ahura
Mazda has told me:
This is that which is best for men to hear.
Those who hear, value and abide by my instructions
will come to fulfillment and to immortality.
For they will attain Ahura Mazda through their divine
thoughts.
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 5)
Now will I speak of that which is finest and most perfect!
In Truth do I praise Him who is the Lord of wisdom and
of immaculate immortality!
May Mazda Ahura hear our prayers in His pure wisdom!
May we come to Him through the radiance of divine
thoughts and love!
May he teach us that which is most perfect in His
Wisdom!
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 6)
He is the One of whom all the wise, in the past, the
present and the future have sought their salvation.
I say unto ye that the soul of the good will remain
Eternally strong and victorious.
Yet the dorvand will ever suffer.
This is the creed which Mazda Ahura hath founded in
His Kingdom!
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 7)
Through mine prayers and adoration do I turn unto
Mazda Ahura.
I perceive Him through my heart!
I know Him to be the great, wise Creator through mine
thoughts, words and deeds!
I offer mine adoration unto Him and unto the realm of
the hymns!
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 8)
I praise Him through righteousness and I know Him
As omnipotent.
He who is the eternally wise Creator does through
the radiance of Truth and divine thoughts herald
fulfillment and immortality in Men and in His divine
Kingdom!
He will endow Man with health and strength!
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 10)
Mazda Ahura will be friend, brother and father unto
those who look upon the devas and their followers
as enemies and therefore separate their paths in
life from that of those who disvalue Him.
He will cherish those who think of Him through divine
speculations and those who know the true, wise
Saviors and the harbingers of creed!
(Gathas, chapter 45, verse 11)
Zarathustra sang his hymns and then addressed the people:
“I call unto all you gathered here and unto all those who will come to this place in the future. Behold the sky on this wondrous spring dawn and look at the life-giving radiance of the sun, the blossom, the mountains, the valleys, the chanting streams and all the other miracles of this world. I ask you to strive to be as budding as the spring and to keep your hearts and souls free of the dark and of the cold of falsehoods. Keep your minds free of depression, vengeance and ignorance. Keep your souls free of pain and sorrow!
Work! For it is only through work that the world will be created. All that is good and joyful is within this world! Oppose weakness, ignorance, anger and enmity but create instead a world built upon justice. Turn to the benevolent creed and use it to illuminate your thoughts. Cleanse your mind and adorn your souls! Toil to advance the lives of men and to develop the world! Beware of using the creed to…”
Suddenly pandemonium broke loose as the wicked soldiers of Arjasb tore into the temple and that vile Tourbrat Orish lifted his evil sword and thrust its poisonous blade into the head of the Mighty Leader. Life sprang from that divine form and Zarathustra’s blessed body crumpled onto the floor of the temple to paint it with his blood. Only moments after he fell did the great Teacher breathe his last breath and he closed his eyes as he gazed at the fire burning it the altar. He still held his book of hymns grasped firmly in his hands when his heart beat the final beat and his name wed immortality.
His body was laid to rest in the Great Cemetery as his voice still echoed the song of his hymns:
The almighty Mazda Ahura hath declared that happiness
will come unto he who brings happiness unto others.
I ask for strength and succor to advance the creed of
truth.
O righteousness, grant me that radiance which is the gift
of a good life!
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 1)
O Mazda,
When in the beginning Thou didst through Thy thoughts
Create for us body, wisdom and understanding and
when Thou did gift us with speech and action Thou
wanted us to choose our beliefs!
(Gathas, chapter 31, verse 11)