The Wedding of the Great Shishlam

The Wedding of the Great Shishlam

Author
Illustrator
Country	Sasanian Empire
Language	Mandaic
Series	Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans
Subject	Mandaeism
Published in English	1950
Pages

Below are the wedding hymns of Parts 2 and 3 of the Wedding of the Great Shishlam.

Elizabethan morphology has been converted into that of modern English. "Jordan" has been changed into yardna, and "(myrtle-)wreath" and "circlet" into klila. Names for Manda ḏ-Hiia have been standardized.

Part 2

Hymn 1

My Lord be praised.

Right-dealing strengthen you!

(In the name of the Great Life etc.)

A. Come, Kushṭa, with bounty,

(You) that bring Light to the house of (Your) friends.

B. You are tested, Pure (Being)

Who establishes your people in innocence.

G. You are a polished, selected Gem without flaw.

D. You are the Road of the Perfect,

A Path that mounts up to the Place of Light.

H. Life you are, from eternity!

You did go and did dwell in my true heart.

W. Woe to him that obeys You not, nor listens to You, my Lord!

They that revel in abodes of arrogance hold him captive.

Z. You are the armour of the perfect,

Truth without deviation.

Ḥ. You are wise and well-pleasing, my Lord,

(One) that teaches wisdom and faith to all that love Your name.

Ṭ. Well is it for him that heeds and hears You, my Lord!

And walks his road following You

Y. You are a Day of Gladness

In which there is no mourning or lamentation.

K. You are a Wreath of Purities

That is set on the heads of the enlightened.

L. You are a Tongue of Praise

That daily praises the Life.

M. You are the first Mana (Primal Mind)

Which the Life constructed and built up.

N. You are the Light of Abundant (Life)

(You are He) that went and came to the world.

S. You are a Medicine, curing pains;

A Healer, that healeth all that love His name.

ʿ. You are the Eye of men of proven righteousness (or “of the righteous elect”)

Which looks daily towards the Life.

P. A Fruit you are, whose taste is pleasant,

(And) in which there is no blemish.

Ṣ. You are the First Voice

A Transplanting that none preceded

For of Their (own) Essence they created You.

Q. The First Cry are You,

That the Life evoked from its very Essence

R. You are Master of head-priests,

For Your glory resteth upon them.

Š. The dead heard You and lived,

The sick heard You and were cured.

T. You turn to God those chosen of Righteousness,

Men who laid hold of and believed in Wisdom,

Good men, tried men and perfect ones:

Kushṭa dwelt in their hearts!

Life is harmonized (and) victorious

And victorious is the man who goes hence.

Hymn 2

In the Name of the Great Life!

Uthras assembled and Dwellings came together

And for Yawar, King of uthras, they set up a throne.

A throne they set up for Yawar, king of uthras

And placed fresh klila on his head

And his light shone forth over uthras and Dwellings.

The uthras and Dwellings that beheld

the light of Yawar, king of uthras,

All flocked towards him,

they all flocked towards him,

And laid their pure right hands on him

and blessed him with a mighty benediction,

whereby King Yawar Ziwa was blessed in his Dwelling.

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 3

In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they clothed Manda ḏ-Hiia in his garments of light,

His brilliance shone forth over the worlds of light,

Over the worlds of light his brilliance shone forth

And the worlds of light that beheld his radiance all gathered to him,

All flocked to him and opened their mouths and blessed Manda ḏ-Hiia,

Saying to him,

“Blessed is your radiance that shines over the waters!

How bright is your light!

Your form shines and becomes not dim!

Give him to drink.

Hymn 4

In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they tied the girdle on Manda ḏ-Hiia,

His radiance shone forth over uthras and Dwellings.

The uthras and Dwellings

that beheld Manda ḏ-Hiia’s radiance

Were all afraid of his radiance,

all were fearful of his radiance.

And all gathered to him,

all flocked towards him

And they blessed Manda ḏ-Hiia

saying to him,

“Blessed are you, Manda ḏ-Hiia,

And blessed is this girdle wherewith they have girded you”.

Give him to drink.

Hymn 5

In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they invested Manda ḏ-Hiia with the ksuia (tunic),

His radiance shone forth over uthras and Dwellings.

The uthras and Dwellings

that beheld the radiance of Manda ḏ-Hiia

All gathered towards him together,

all flocked towards him

And laid their pure right hands on him

and blessed Manda ḏ-Hiia,

Saying to him,

“Blessed are you, our father Manda ḏ-Hiia,

And blessed are those who invested you with these coverings,

For all the worlds that behold you

Are awestruck at your radiance”.

Give him to drink.

Hymn 6

In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they invested Manda ḏ-Hiia

with the stole, Šamašiel,

360 wellsprings of light sprang forth therein;

360 fountains of radiance leapt forth

And the radiance of the wellsprings shone out

And illuminated the worlds of light from end to end.

Give him to drink.

Hymn 7

In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they set the crown on Manda ḏ-Hiia

His radiance shone forth upon the Houses:

Upon the Houses his radiance shone forth.

And He, the king of uthras,

that beheld the radiance of Manda ḏ-Hiia’s crown.

He leapt up from his throne, he rose,

from his throne he leapt up,

And the 360 uthras with the king stood (also),

And laid their pure right hands on him and blessed Manda ḏ-Hiia,

Saying to him,

“Blessed are you, our father, Manda ḏ-Hiia,

And blessed is this crown that they set upon you.

By it all the worlds are illumined from end to end”.

Give him to drink.

Hymn 8

In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they invested Manda ḏ-Hiia

with the šarwala Nṣab,

His radiance shone forth over the Houses,

Over the Houses his radiance shone forth.

And the niṭufiata who beheld the radiancy of Manda ḏ-Hiia

Said to one another,

“Whence comes this light that shines on us?”

And the Youth that stood before them said to them

“This is a light transmitted

by the šarwala of Manda ḏ-Hiia!”

And all the “Drops” stood on the roof

And blessed him and said to him

“Blessed are you, our father, Manda ḏ-Hiia,

And blessed be he who invested you with these vestments

(For) their radiance is surpassing!”

Give him to drink.

Hymn 9

In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they invested Manda ḏ-Hiia

with the margna (staff)

His radiance shone forth on the flowing stream.

It, the yardna, that beheld the radiance of Manda ḏ-Hiia,

Leaped and rejoiced in the radiance of Manda ḏ-Hiia,

Saying to him,

“How abundant is your yardna!

Strengthened shall be the fruits and grapes and trees that (grow) by it.

Great is your glory,

and your Root shall be preserved from beginning to end”.

Give him to drink.

These, the prayers for the staff and crown, read both on a priest who celebrates a masiqta and for his bride (?) and chant these (the following) hymns.

Hymn 10

In the name of the Great Life!

I twined a wreath of myrtle and marjoram

And set it on the head of Yawar, king of uthras

And said to him,

“Rejoice (O) Yawar, rejoice in your living wreath;

Rejoice, Yawar, rejoice in the cloud

Of brightness which has been bestowed on you.

Rejoice, Yawar, rejoice at the kingdom

that has been conferred on you,

Rejoice, Yawar, rejoice, have joy

in the running streams spread forth for you,

Rejoice, Yawar, rejoice, have joy

in Shahrat, the Cloud of brightness bestowed on you

That flows and travels onward

In your yardna from its source to its end.

Hymn 11

In the name of the Great Life!

Who was it, amongst the uthras,

That placed a wreath of Great (Life) on his head?

(Who) placed a wreath on his head?

And the Tannas and Drops embrace one another

In the shade of the wreath,

In the shade of the wreath

they embrace one another,

And lay on him their pure right hands and bless him

With the mighty benediction

wherewith Yawar was blessed

In the place of light.

Hymn 12

Our father! They made you Chief in Tarwan

And gave you authority (lit. “speech”) in the place of light.

Yawar set a crown upon you.

In the radiance thereof uthras become bright

And the planets are in fear of it.

Hymn 13

Our father! They conferred on you pure sovereignty

And a command which the Great (Life) entrusted to you.

They bestowed a banner of radiance upon you,

Whereby all the worlds of light are illumined.

They gave you a staff of living water,

A rod, through which all rebels shall be laid low.

Hymn 14

Who sent you, new king,

cause of all these rites?

You have illumined the world of Ether-Air

And brightened the whole earth from end to end.

Hymn 15

Who sent you, new king, that is sitting

in the (green) booth of the Master?

You have watered it with a great watering

And you have illumined and shed effulgence

On uthras in their dwellings

From end to end.

Hymn 16

Our father Shihlun-Ziwa rejoices in his crown,

And the Mighty (Life) rejoices in Its Word

The Dwellings of the Mighty (Life) rejoice and are glad

With King Yawar Ziwa that brought you (hither).

Our father! Your wreath shall protect you

And the glory of the Great (Life) shall rest on you

May thine eyes be lightened, (O) good one,

Because you come hither for the chief function of life-union

Our father! Your wreath is from the Vine Arwaz

And the Being that twined it is from the Place of Light.

Our father! Your wreath has a perfume

Like (the fragrance of) Anosh Uthra in his Dwelling.

Planter of plants, plant it!

And Twiner of Wreaths, twine it!

You that establishest purities,

form it well,

For the bridegroom N:

And give him prosperity.

I am small amongst uthras

And a babe amongst Rays-of-Light

Yet I grow great and my soul waxes great,

For I drank water from the mouth of the Light-Euphrates.

May pure guardians guard you

May your root be raised up and flourish exceedingly

And your doings be made prosperous,

So that you mayest rise up and behold

the Great Place, The House of Perfection.

And Life is victorious.

These prayers are to be recited over a priest that celebrates (his first) masiqta and over bridegrooms: they are prayers (for) the (sacred) clothing and investiture. I have copied (them) a second time for myself. I am a poor, lowly and striving(man), least amongst my brethren the head-priests and priests. And I kiss the shoes on the feet of the Nasoraeans and am as dust beneath the feet of the godly. I am Rabbi Adam Yuhana, son of Bihram, son of Sa’dan, son of ... (etc.).

Part 3

Prelude

In the name of the Great, Primal, Sublime Life! From the vast worlds of light be theie health, purity, strength, soundness, speech and hearing, joy of heart and forgiving of sins for me, Adam Yuhana son of Mahnush, and for my father, Sam son of Anhar, and for my mother Mahnush daughter of Hawa Simat, and (for my wife, Hawa Simat daughter of Maliha, and for my children, Adam Yuhana and Sharat Mamania, the offspring of Hawa Simat.

And may our thought and mind and intelligence enlighten us about the treasure of the Primal Life by means of these prayers and hymns, that (are called) “When the Proven One, the Pure One, goes”.

Hymn 1

In the name of the Great Life, Sublime Light be magnified!

Lo, the voice of Life from the fruits,

And the voice of Light from afar,

And the voice of uthras from the Land of Light

That speak in their sublime voices and say

“Whence came we into being?

And whence were we produced?

Our power of production,

how was it implanted?

And our image,

what doth it resemble?

Whence springes our strength?

(That) higher strength to which all the worlds cannot attain?

Our voice is a pure voice,

Remote, aerial, luminous and greatly honoured,

And our praise is praise of the Great (Life).

Our image is like to the Place of Light

Whence comes our strength, that lofty strength

To which all the worlds cannot attain?

Our voice is a pure Voice

that calls the bridegroom in his škinta

(It calls to) the sitting ones, the uthras,

and they are edified.

He went, the king of uthras, and he came;

He went, he came, the king of uthras

To the škintas in which uthras sit.

He said to them

“About what are ye instructed, (O) uthras?”

“About the Mana that is within the Occult,

About the Mana that is within the Hidden,

And about the Radiance that glows in a hidden place”.

“O (You) that hangest up light,

Hanging up lamps of light therein,

O Suspender of (worlds of?) light.

Hang up in it candles of radiance”.

“From whom doth this brilliance emanate?

This light, from whom doth it proceed?

This brightness that is great and boundless

Whose is it?”

“This is the radiance of Hibil,

This is the light of Shitel,

This is the brightness of Anosh the great uthra,

That is great and boundless”.

“The radiance of Hibil is lovely,

And the light of Shitel is brilliant,

The brightness of Anosh is great

(Yes) it is abundant and boundless”

“O (You) that hangest up light,

Hanging up lamps of light therein

O Suspender of (worlds of?) light,

Hang up in it candles of radiance”.

“This building, whose is it?

Whose is it, this building?

This building, whose is it,

That has so sweet a perfume,

Whose perfume is so sweet,

And in which fair trees are set?”

“This is Yawar’s building,

This is the building of Yawar,

This is Yawar’s building,

That has so sweet a perfume,

Whose perfume is so sweet,

And in which fair trees are set”,

“Sweet is the perfume of the trees,

For the fragrance of Yawar rested upon them,

Sweet is the perfume of the trees

For the fragrance of Manda ḏ-Hiia rested upon them”.

“O (You) that hangest up light,

Hanging up lamps of light therein,

O Suspender of (worlds of?) light,

Hang up in it candles of radiance”.

They sent Hibil Ziwa to make report

To the uthras that sit there;

And he said to them,

“From Radiance proceeded Light,

And from Light proceeded Ether,

Ether proceeded from Light

And glory was shown forth

To the uthras that sit there”.

“Sweet is your voice,

(O) youth Hibil,

When you speak in the garden of Adam

And chant sublime hymns!

Sweet is your voice,

and its sound went thither”.

Life is victorious.

Hymn 2

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells

— Great is he, the Good (Spirit)! —

Towards his Father was his course set,

His course was set towards his Father,

To say to Him that which was sublime and great

In the Occult Place.

“If if please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

A Home of delight and glory

Shall be founded therein,

Glory shall be made to dwell therein.

And uthras shall seek one another in prayer,

Uthras shall pray to one another,

And each shall glorify his brother,

By counsel which comes from You thence”.

“You are empowered, great spirit!

Go, shed glory there;

go, shed glory there;

With glory that is Ours

and yours let them be glorified,

And they shall receive the blessing We send them.

The blessing We send them they shall receive

And your benefaction they shall receive into their hands

The uthras shall know that you are greater than all uthras,

For you uncover and reveal to them,

And bestowest upon them radiance and praise.

Go thither!”

“Thither went I, and shed blessing upon them.

The blessing that I bestowed upon them they receive

And they bless themselves with the blessing,

With (that) blessing they bless themselves,

They glory in Your praise

And by Your praise are glorified.

And by Your Word they are established,

And depart not from that which is Your”.

Priests shall bless the Great (Life) in secret

And give honour to Him.

And glory rests upon them.

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 3

Let one of Your Radiances come before me,

And one of Your Lights come behind me!

Hymn 4

In the name of the Great Life, sublime Light be magnified!

[Here the alphabetical prayer Come Kushṭa, etc., see page 42 is repeated.]

Hymn 5

A Vehicle am I, a small one.

Light rested on my thought.

I travel, I go on,

And my life’s-passenger that is joined to me.

I spoke to her, saying to the life’s travelling-companion that is joined to me,

“By my own strength do I travel,

but you, by whose strength do you journey on?”

She spoke, the life-companion that is joined to me, saying to me,

“Just as you travel onwards by thine (own) strength,

I (travel on) by faith in Kušṭa beyond my vision;

(For) my eyes are eyes of light,

and my heart tested by Chosen Ones”.

We entered into garments and covered ourselves,

And Fertility was engendered

And the Elect settled

and shall be established.

Life is harmonized and is victorious,

And victorious is the man that goes hence.

Hymn 6

In the name of the Gieat Life,

Sublime Light be magnified!

His nuptial couch is spread for the bridegroom

And bowls of wine are mixed for him.

The bolster of the bridegroom is clods of earth,

(Earth) is the bridegroom’s pillow, his vault is the sky.

The bridegroom’s robes are of pure lustration

The bridegroom’s girdle is all of well-springs,

Full of well-springs of radiance, light and glory;

The bridegroom’s tunic is of foaming waters.

The bridegroom’s wreath is of the purest kind of Vine;

The bridegroom’s staff is of camel-thorn.

And they say,

“Come that we may make

A great wedding-feast for the bridegroom

As the Great (Life) commanded us,

To cause his appearance to shine

And to make him prosperous to life’s end

To cause good fortune to rest upon him.

And we will say to him,

Reciting a prayer for the bridegroom,

‘Rejoice, Bridegroom, rejoice!

And rejoice in your living wreath!

Inasmuch as your wreath is fresh

Your likeness shall be bright

And you shall be established in the radiance

Of the Great Life that sent you’”

They bring in white flour by the khor

With sacks of fine meal and household requisites they do enter

And finest flour (or “treasure”) without measure;

Sheep arrive in flocks and oxen without number,

They bring in myrtle by the load, and trails

Of jasmine in bunches.

Okes of gold they bring in,

and silver tied up in money-bags,

Precious stones and pearls,

all set by the hands of craftsmen,

Oil and wine,

all collected by experts.

A thousand stand on the ground

And two thousand stand on the roof

A thousand thousand uthras stand by the bridal-canopy,

And say

‘Come, let us make a great wedding-feast for the bridegroom,

As the Great (Life) commanded us,

To cause his appearance to shine

And to make him prosperous to liie’s end:

To cause good fortune to rest on the bridegroom.

And we will chant a prayer for the bridegroom

And will say to him: —

‘This radiance, whose is it?

And from whom doth this light emanate?’

‘This is Hibil’s radiance,

this is the light of Shitel

And this, the effulgence of Anosh Uthra, is great,

For it is vast and limitless’.

‘The radiance of Hibil is fair;

bright is the light of Shitel,

Great is the effulgence of Anosh Uthra

For it is vast and limitless’.

Sun in his pride bowed down before the bridegroom

And shed some of the rays of light that clothed him

And clad the bridegroom therein

and said to him,

‘I and my soldiers and doughty warriors

Will stand and take care of you from beginning to end

Moon, lord of crown and wreath

Brought his crown and wreath to the bridegroom

And made a declaration to the bridegroom.

He said to him,

‘Our father, your wreath is an uthras’ wreath,

And your resplendence proceeds from the strength of Radiance.

The king of uthras that beheld you removed his robes of radiance,

He clad you therein and said to you:

How lovely are your robes!

Your appearance is bright and shall be preserved

Mars, lord of arms and war,

put on his armour and warharness

And stands before the bridegroom’s bridal-canopy

And slays devils and demons,

Putting an end to

and slaughtering his foes.

And he said to him

‘I, with my warriors and mighty men,

Will stand here and guard you to the end

Mercury, learned and wise,

instilled some of his wisdom into the heart of the bridegroom,

And hymned the bridegroom and said to him,

‘Who sent you, new-made king?

These doings all take place on thine account (alone).

You have brightened the Ether-world,

And have illumined the whole earth from end to end!’

Jupiter, Son of the Waters,

brings his vesture to the bridegroom,

And hymned him and said to him,

‘Your vesture, our father;

Is uthras’ vesture and its light, clothing (your) shoulder,

Will be weighed with you, our father, in the Scales

And will seal you with a pure Sign’.

Saturn, in his beauty and ruddiness,

brings his smock to the bridegroom,

And he hymned the bridegroom and said to him

‘O uthra in whose resplendence Nasoraeans shine,

Vaunting themselves in the Word,

The world of light vaunts itself about you,

With the king Shihlun-Ziwa that established you’.

Venus, Lady of Beauty and Desire

Brought her wreath and girdlestring to the bride,

And they set them upon the head of the bride,

And addressed a hymn to the bride, saying to her,

‘O crowned bride, that sits upon columns of water

Rejoice! and rejoice in this spouse that took you to wife,

And rejoice in your living wreath.

Inasmuch as your wreath is living (refulgent)

So shall thine appearance give light,

And you shall be preserved until world’s end

And Life is victorious,

and victorious is the man that goes hence.

When you reachest (the words) “Venus, Lady of Beauty and desire, her wreath and girdlestring they bring to the bride and set them on the bride’s head”,

then place upon the bride’s head the wreath which they bound with twigs when they took her into the canopy.

Then read the hymn “I and the bridegroom’s groomsman”

and thrice knock the head of the bridegroom against that of the bride.

Hymn 7

In the name of the Great Life,

sublime Light be magnified!

(Refrain)

I and the bridegroom's groomsman

Are (like to) the straps of his sandals

And the poles of his bridal canopy.

I and the bridegroom's groomsman

Washed in the waters of the sea.

We revealed not our secret to the sea

To the sea we revealed not our secret,

Nor did we broadcast our wisdom to the highways.

O crowned bride

Fruit that is enclosed!

Who revealed our secret

And broadcast our wisdom to the highways?

Perchance Sun revealed our secret

And broadcast our wisdom in the highways?

(Nay!) Sun revealed not our secret

Nor bruited our wisdom in the highways;

Sun, of whom ye spake,

Rose at dawn and set at dusk.

Sun revealed not our secret

Nor broadcast our wisdom in the highways!

I and the bridegroom's, groomsman, (etc.)

O crowned bride, who was it?

(O) fruit that is enclosed;

Who was it that revealed, who revealed our secret?

And broadcast our wisdom in the highways?

Perchance Moon revealed our secret

And broadcast our wisdom in the highways?

(Nay!) Moon revealed not our secret

Nor broadcast our wisdom in the highways;

Moon, of whom ye spake,

Rose at dusk and set at dawn.

Moon revealed not our secret

Nor broadcast our wisdom in the highways!

I and the bridegroom's groomsman... (etc.)

O crowned bride, who was it?

(O) fruit that is enclosed,

Who was it (that) revealed our secret

And broadcast our wisdom in the highways?

Three uthras not of this world revealed it:

They confirm one another in rank and consecrate one another in office

In one radiance they are clothed

And one light spread over all of them.

When the Good Ones speak,

their speech is one,

Like the speech of the Mighty (Life) in the Great Place

And in the House of Perfection.

Betwixt them there is no hatred,

Quarrelling or division.

Life is harmonious, Life is victorious,

And victorious the man who goes hence.

Hymn 8

In the Name of the Great Life,

sublime Light be magnified!

There is a Vine for Shitel

and a Tree for Anosh

In you, Place of right-dealing men,

That bore reward and bore oblation and bore nasiruta.

The tendrils at its leaf-ends bear prayers

And hymns and sublime books

When I arose in my place,

I made a request that is great;

I asked that a tall ladder be given me

That I might place it against the Vine for ascent

Against the Vine for ascent

I might place it

and mount into my Vine,

be raised up and grasp its foliage

Eat, be refreshed by its shade

and enjoy its leafiness.

When I rose in my place,

they granted the request I made;

They gave me a tall ladder

that I set against the Vine for ascent.

I rose into my Vine.

I grew, I grasped its foliage, ate,

was refreshed by its shade,

And enjoyed its leafiness.

From the tendrils of my Vine

I twisted a wreath and set it on my head.

The worlds gathered together

and the ages assembled,

And twisted themselves twinings

after the manner of my wreath.

The twisters twined,

but (their klila) resembled not (mine).

They went, they put vine(-leaves) on themselves

and say,

“Man, whence is your wreath

and whence came the being that twined it for you?”

To them I reply,

“Vanish, be gone from my presence

(O ye) dead ones, wicked ones who beheld not the Life!

As for me, my wreath is not from here,

The Being that twined it is not from here,

Not of this world.

I, my wreath is of the Vine Arwaz

And the Being that twined it is from the Place of Light.

The Being that brought it and set it on my head

Was from the Eternal Home”.

And Life is harmonious, (Life is) victorious

And victorious is the man that goes hence

Hymn 9

In the Name of the Great Life, sublime Light be magnified!

I am a mana of the Great Life,

A mana am I of the Mighty Life;

I am a mana of the Great Life,

A mana which emanated from the Mana.

From the Mana proceeded my mana

And went towards two lawful spouses of this world.

I came and I opened living water

And gave it to the terrestial pair to drink.

I opened living waters and gave of them

To the bridal pair of this world to drink.

I implanted pregnancy and birth in them

And with sexual desire I enflamed them

And caused love to dwell in both of them.

And with Kushṭa spread them

a bed of leaves from trees (of Life).

And they shall live, and shall rejoice,

and I, the Messenger Hibil,

Have carried out that which my Father commanded me.

And Life is harmonized and victorious

And victorious the man who goes hence.

As you read this hymn “A mana am I of the Great Life”, when you reach (the words) “I came and opened up living waters and gave the two legally joined ones to drink”, the bride’s father shall come from the bridal-booth, and they shall fill bowls with the hamra and give the bride to drink as she sits within the veil, and then end.

Hymn 10

In the name of the Great Life,

sublime Light be magnified!

A. You have come, Pure Pearl,

that illumines dark hearts!

B. Bel, to bring radiance into being,

to be awakened, became Light. (?)

G. I laughed at the planets,

(and) at what they planned and did.

D. I dwelt amongst the Seven (planets)

but they laid no hand upon me.

H. For the Elect that loved the Life

there shall be good things.

W. Woe to the planets

that scheme wickedness against my Chosen Ones!

Z. He is great Radiance

and limitless Light.

Ḥ. He is the First Life,

before Whom none existed.

Ṭ. Well is it for him

who obeys and listens to You, my Lord!

And walks on his way after You

Y. A great light he is, like a soul which came

from the House of the Great Life.

K. A pure wreath he is,

which they set upon Hibil in his dwelling.

L. My heart prays Life

that Life will raise us up to Its Dwellings.

M. From the day that Hibil planted me,

my soul passed to the Place of Light.

N. You are Serenity pre-eminent,

for whose sake an uthra set me at rest (?)

S. The Twelve Gates travel round,

but ascend not by roads to the Light,

nor (plumb) the depths of Naṣiruta

that are profound and fathomless.

P. A sweet fruit it is,

pleasant to taste and without blemish.

Ṣ. I listened to the voice of Life

in the Great Place, the House of Perfection.

Q. The voice of pure Radiance,

that speaks and teaches in its Dwelling.

R. It is a Pure Sign,

wherewith the living are signed in their Dwellings.

Š. I hear the speech of the Living,

whose abode is in the Dwelling of Life.

T. It is a lovely door of Light that is boundless.

And Life is harmonized and victorious,

and victorious is the man who goes hence.

Hymn 11

Lo, the wicked degrade my people

But the good raise my people up.

The voices of uthras come (to us)

And three righteous elect (men).

Lo, your radiance is uthras’ radiance

And the light of (divine) Dwellings illumines you

Your eyes, (O) good one,

behold lamps without wicks.

Lo, uthras have unfurled for you

banners to their full length.

Wellsprings have spread for you myrtle and narcissus

In the shade of the citron-trees.

Hymn 12

Manda and bridegroom rejoice

But the worthless Messiah rejoices not.

Hymn 13

Behold, O my portal, (O) my good doors,

How eager are his eyes!

Enter! Come into your marriage-bed

Amidst the eyes of those who envy you!

Lo, they who hate you, my lord,

They shall be hated.

And (he) that curses you

His first-born shall be his adversary.

(But) the kindly that bless you

Shall have children resembling you.

Manda and the bridegroom rejoice

But the worthless Messiah rejoices not.

Hymn 14

“Lo, my little mistress,

that stands above the room,

Come down, go to the entrance,

for the king’s horsemen are passing

The king has descended in his place,

They clarified wine for him that he may drink it;

They spread out for him cloth of gold, wedding gifts,

Linen and porcelain beside him.

Manda and bridegroom rejoice:

but the worthless Messiah rejoices not!

Hymn 15

“Behold! my little mistress,

daughter of the king’s Chief Gardener

Your father plucks for you that which has perfume

And is overpoweringly sweeet!”.

Hymn 16

“He has pulled me myrtle by the load

And marjoram in bunches,

Like the Unknown Plant comes its perfume

And is overpoweringly sweet”.

Hymn 17

“Hey! my little mistress,

daughter of the king’s Chief Gardener,

How many be the groves of myrtle?

How many the tended garden-beds and seedling plots?”

Hymn 18

“A thousand are the myrtle-groves,

two thousand the tended garden-beds and seedling plots.

They strew the way for the bridegroom

with heaps of Juri roses”.

Hymn 19

“Lo, my little mistress,

his baggy trousers (lie) beside your slippers!

Did you not say to him, to the bridegroom,

That those who mourn in the roads will laugh?”

Hymn 20

They clad him in a robe, an elegant one

Coloured rose and white

At its neck gold

Its hem of pearls.

Behold! The robe (has) bells

Worthy of enchaining me. (?)

My father did not fashion for mother

Garments of dyed stuff

(And) cloaks for the hired maid-servants!

Behold, O little mistress, that earnest the burnished mirror.

Do you not see in it that you are fairer then he?

Behold, is not her beauty that of the moon,

Either at its full or at its absence.

Is not her comb the aid to adornment

Of Venus, daughter of the gods?

Hymn 21

Behold, O you that glitterest with gold

That medium wherewith kings are crowned,

(How) they have endowed him with lustre,

The stranger whom they chose for me as spouse,

My lavish giver of wedding gifts.

(O) my generous (lover) that lavished on me wedding-gifts

Of fair gold and burnished agate,

Who chose for you a slender spouse

With ardent eyes?

“They chose me a lord

whose brilliant qualities endear him to me”.

“Leagues I travelled west

and two thousand leagues west and east,

And treasure they chose out for me,

A slender spouse, with ardent eyes”.

Hymn 22

“Daughter to whom are you?

And whose daughter do they call you?

What poor folk and slaves do you rule?

And who bought you maidservants?”.

“I am daughter to spacious Air

And sister to pure Yushamin,

My father had slaves and my mother handmaidens;

As I have no slaves, whose slaves can they be?”.

Hymn 23

On the day that the great ʿUrash came for her

Your father at our house said to me,

“Her mother was mistaken

when she ferried her over the Euphrates!”

(But) they said,

“Come, be our sister,

head of all our family

And we will be the slaves that stand in your presence.

And will obey all that you say to us”.

Hymn 24

(O) bridegroom, who was it that told you?

Who was it that showed you the way

When you did send presents to my father

Of a hundred camels and a hundred mules?

The camels are laden with gold,

The mules with gauze and silk.

You did send Hibil Ziwa

And with him the pure Yushamin.

Hibil kissed my father,

Yushamin my seven brothers.

You did send the great 'Zlat

Whose ring they placed on my hand

Who wedded the bridegroom

and who put the ring on him?

Who were they that chose him

a faithful spouse of the Greeks?

Hibil wedded the bridegroom

And Shitel placed the ring on him

Kanat chose him

a faithful spouse pf the Greeks.

No moon is like the bridegroom

And no wise man or hero (is his equal!)

His figure is (straight) as the cypress,

His beard is like watermint plants.

He has no peer on earth

Nor partner (equal to him) in cities;

He is like the water-qaduia

Which has seven tendrils.

Hymn 25

Hibil Ziwa has blessed you

And the uthras, his three brothers,

West and east have blessed you

And profound priestly rites have blessed you,

Bridal bed spread and bowls of wine mixed

have blessed you in (your) pure marriage bed

As they blessed Adam and Eve.

“Ho, my father’s portresses,

Hired men and obedient servitors!

Spread in the bridegroom’s path

Heaps of Juri roses!

“Mother listens lest the sound of his shoes should not come;

(But) if they forbid him, I shall perish!

If they question him (plague him with questions)

And I cannot speak with him!

“By your life, father, by your life,

And by the life of your brothers,

Kings lavished on him a thousand zuzim!

(O) but the stranger tarries, Father!”.

“All that he has will be aflame for you! (?)

Not a day on earth will pass

(Before) he showeth you

A house for thyself alone”.

A pomegranate, a golden pomegranate,

A loquot, a burnished fruit,

Magnificent, of the new year

(Is she) that sitteth before the bridegroom!

When he entereth his house

It is bright with lamps.

“One of my hands is beneath his head.

With the other, my right hand, I fan him,

So that I do not wake him,

So that he may wake of himself”.

Hymn 26

Standing beneath the date-palm

And outstretching (my) hand to my lord,

(I pray),

“You, God bless me,

So that I may speak with the stranger!”

The date-palm and its fruit have blessed you!

And profound priestly arts have blessed you!

As long as water flows and air (circulates)

You shall have good fortune!

“By your life, son of head-priests,

Chief of the people that are wedding-guests,

Rejoice and gladden the bridegroom,

That the bridegroom’s heart may rejoice!”

“Bridegroom! Rejoice, rejoice!

Rejoice at your wedding-guests!

Good, good shall be the days

And each sabbath of your week!

And every new year that comes in

Your offspring shall increase!”

Hymn 27

Ye are sealed with the seal-ring of Life

And Manda ḏ-Hiia has, armed you (against evil),

Ye are raised up to greatness as great

As that of Yawar and Simat Hiia.

Hymn 28

A thousand set your table,

And a thousand servitors (wait your will),

Two thousand stand in the road

And gaze at the wedding party.

They bring almonds, sweetmeats and walnuts

For the wedding-guests.

Hymn 29

Pure guardians shall watch over you!

Your root shall be raised up and flourish exceedingly

Your doings shall be made prosperous.

And you shall rise and behold

the Great Place, the Abode of Perfection.

And Life is victorious!

This is the Conclusion of the Wedding Songs.

These are the Wedding Songs.

In the name of the Great Primal Sublime Life!

From the vast worlds of light that are above all works may there be health, purity, strength, soundness, speech and hearing, joy of heart and a forgiving of sins for me, Adam Yuhana, son of Mahnush, and for my father Sam son of Anhar, and for my mother Mahnush daughter of Hawa Simat, and for my wife, Hawa Simat Maliha, and for my offspring, Adam Yuhana and Sharat Mamania, the children of Hawa Simat. And may thought, mind and intelligence enlighten us about the treasure of the Primal Life by means of these prayers and hymns of When the Proven one, the pure one goes.

Hymn 30

In the name of the Great Life!

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the Place where Perfection dwells,

To the place which is all radiance

And (where) light and glory abound,

The Proven, Pure One speaks to Perfection

That is hidden and guarded within Its Veil,

That is set apart by Its glory, and illumines therewith

All Its counsel.

The Proven One, the Pure One speaks

Saying to this Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life), if it please You Great (Life),

An Ether-(world) has been completed:

It is all made, an Ether (-world)

And radiance has been formed therein,

Therein has great radiance been formed,

And sublime light established therein.

Therein are uthras, and Beams-of-Light are established therein:

Therein shine forms that gleam with lovely radiance;

(Therein) illumination groweth

And watcheth over the uthras.

Uthras shine therein, in brightness

Which travels thither from Yourself!”

The Great Predestinate speaks

To the Proven One, the Pure One,

Saying to him,

“These be (welcome) words

That you say to Us!

Go you, and become guardian to them

And all will shine through your strength

And will laud your Garment

And will honour thine appearance

The Proven, Pure One blesses the Great (Life) for (that which)

He said to him with his pure mouth.

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 31

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place where Light shines and praise is unsullied,

Unsullied is the ready praise

And blessed the benediction, the blessed benediction

Which lovely manas pronounced,

Pronounced by lovely manas,

Pre-equipped, calm and perfected manas.

The Proven, Pure One speaks,

Saying to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

A world of light has been created:

Created is a world of light

And glory is established therein.

Dwellings are set up therein

And it shall be bright in Your praise

In your praise it will shine: it will shine in your praise

And will be blessed by Your benediction.

There shall be mystic sprouts (offspring)

And at Your Word they will flourish,

They will flourish at Your Word,

And Sprouts that are zealous shall be raised up”.

The Great (Life) speaks with its pure mouth

To the Proven One, the Pure One.

It says to him, “You are Our Thought,

Our Mind and Our Understanding,

Our Heart that is limitless, Our First Voice,

Our Pure Garment, and Our well-equipped, first Discerner

Transplanted from Our very Self!

Go! Perform your work and (produce) your pure Offspring,

And they shall attain perfection,

They shall attain perfection, your pure offspring,

And be joined in one communion, inseparable.

Make a world of light,

They shall shine within it, yes, it shall be,

It shall be all radiance and all light,

And shall attain perfection”,

And the Great Life be praised!

Hymn 31

When the Proven One, the Pure One, goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the glowing Heart of Glory,

Whose benediction blesses the place where secret (beings) dwell

And speak there of Its Glory,

Speak of Its Glory there,

And are bright in the thought of Itself;

The Proven Pure One speaks

To Predestinate Perfection,

And says to Him, the Pure Vein,

The Tongue that has no limit: —

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

May yardnas be transported?

Permit that we transport (yardnas)

And establish therein a pure sign,

A pure sign we will establish in them,

And there will be abundance for all the uthras

And all the uthras shall be baptised as You baptisest

And shall be established in themselves

As You are established eternally.

They will shine forth and enlighten one another,

And will instruct one another about You,

And about Your pure Vesture that is sublime

And brighter than any other visible thing;

About that which was transplanted from its place,

And about that which was predestined to exist,

And about that which was created in a hidden shrouding”

The Great (Life) speaks, the Predestinate (speaks)

To the Proven One, the Pure One,

And says,

“Their clothing is pure,

But there is nought which has not limit!

All that you have done shall be established,

And all your Vine, all your works shall be illustrious,

There shall be no blemish therein,

And nought from you shall be amiss

And Life is victorious!

Hymn 32

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection abides,

To the place where His Appearance shines

(And) His Countenance gives light,

Their countenances give light

And their counterparts find support at all times,

Every time that they seek and find

And discourse of their Creator.

The Proven Pure One speaks,

Saying to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, great (Life),

If it please You, mighty (Life),

If it please You, great (Life),

Great (spirits) sit in glory;

In glory they sit, the great (spirits),

And speech in their language that is not mortal.

They talk in their gentle voices,

And You sheddest upon them some of that which is Your,

And they sit in fellowship with You,

And are stablished in Your praise

And in talk of Your Place and Your prayers.

And their doings shall be confirmed,

Confirmed shall their doings be,

And the horn on their heads be raised up,

Their root be established and refreshed their innocence,

Refreshed shall be their innocence derived from your strength,

That was derived from Your strength and went forth

And went and rested upon Your own”.

The Great Predestinate speaks to him

And says to the Proven Pure One,

“Go, invest the great (spirits) with radiance,

And bestowl upon them Bread in the Place of Light,

(Sacramental) Bread give to them,

And they will enhance the light of your praise.

Do thus, and inspire (them) with faith, (O) Mana!

And the Life will show Itself grateful to you”.

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 33

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes,

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place of calm speech and form sublime,

To the place where all are kings

And lust and misdoing exist not,

To the Place that is all goodness,

And their Vesture shines upon

The pure arriving (spirit), and upon him

Whose form gives light;

The Proven Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

A building transcendent(ly fair) shall be built;

There shall be built a building surpassing (fair).

And Your right hand shall set it up,

It shall be set up by Your right hand,

And You wilt not cut it off from You.

Your first plan, it shall rise towards You,

It shall be set up, it shall rise towards You

And cut not off from Yourself the First-Born

Whom You did create! He shall be set right,

As Your counterpart. He is a fair portal,

He shall rise towards You, He shall be established,

He shall mount, he shall be directed You-wards,

And shall speech in Your speech that is eternal.

He shall not sever from You or from Your society.

Condemn him not!”

All that the Proven Pure One had said

Pleased the Great (Life).

And Sublime-Light riseth up, and she says to him (r

“You are possessor of will and lord of all victories!

You have prevailed, and have overcome your brethren,

And your Father (Whom) in secret you blessest!

Go, create light for Yushamin and reassure his heart!

Say to him I Fear not!’ and reveal to him

What has been established here.

Explain it to him so that his heart may be glad,

And confirm it so that his mind may be enlightened.

And be gracious and kindly to him and bless him

And show him the light of your countenance,

The light of your countenance show to him,

And say to him that he shall not be abased,

(But) shall be meek and humble

And shall illumine the uthras”.

The Proven One did that which was commanded him,

And the Mana supported the Proven One at his place,

So that he performed that which was commanded him.

And he proceeded to the House of Life,

He went, he said to Them “Thus have I done,

And it was set in order. Should it not be so,

Set Ye it in order!”

The Great (Life) blesses the Proven One

With His pure mouth, for having made report.

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 34

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the Mighty-in-Glory, to the Well-Ordered-and-Well-Ordering,

(That) speaks in His calm voice

Ordering His ordinances,

Uttering in His mild voice His trustworthy teaching,

His secret prayers and wise utterances that are not vain,

The Proven One, the Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life)

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

We will twine klila of radiance;'

Wreaths of radiance will we twine,

And set them on the heads of the uthras.

We will bring them from the Great Light,

And will watch over them.

And if Ye do not thus

In what can the uthras prosper?

In whom shall the uthras rejoice?

And whence will come the authority of the Rays-of-Light?

Whence will they derive renown and honour

And how can they be preserved?

And how can they seek and find,

And speak with You and be heard?”

The Great Predestinate speaks.

He says to the Proven One, the Pure One,

“Go! Join with Radiance,

And take heed that they change raiment.

Give them of my Wreath of Ether

And all the uthras will rejoice.

And from Us and from you

They shall obtain renown and honour,

Renown and honour they shall have,

And in strength and honour they shall be preserved

And Our name and your name shall be upon them,

And they shall give praise in the Secret Place’

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 35

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place of pure vesture,

Vestments of shining radiance;

To the place of living flame

Where all are full of goodness, (where)

All open their eyes in radiance

In radiance they open their eyes

And shine in that Light;

The Proven, the Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

I would say one word to You;

One word I would say to You

That is sublime and illuminating,

And not (to be)cut short!

How lovely is Your Likeness,

And how greatly have You increased

And established Your sublime glory!

(Yet) in the Ether (world) there is no water!

As there is no water in the Ether (-world),

By what can the uthras be invigorated?

The uthras, how can they prosper,

And (how) can priestly wisdom be instilled into their hearts?”

The Great Predestinate speaks,

Saying to the Proven One, the Pure One

“How zealous you are, Yawar!

And how submissive and faithful

Are the words which you have spoken!

Create a source of living waters

For the Ether (world) and send it —

To the Ether, the dwelling of uthras.

The uthras shall all refresh themselves therein and be glad,

They shall Refresh themselves therein and be glad”.

The uthras all drank thereof and were invigorated,

And priestly wisdom was instilled into their hearts.

They all drank of it and were invigorated

And priestly wisdom was instilled into their hearts”.

Harmonized is Life and victorious, —

And victorious is Manda ḏ-Hiia

And those that love his name.

Hymn 36

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place where Pure Perfection dwells,

That proceeded from Itself and Its Word, — It proceeded from Itself,

And its Word and words proceeded from It

And from their Counterparts.

The Proven One, the Pure One, speaks,

And says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

Zihrun Raza shall be summoned;

We will summon Zihrun Raza.

He and his seven mystic brethren that are with him,

One is called “Radiance” and another is called “Light”.

And we will transfer (them)

And they will be enlightened, they will be instructed.

And we will transplant for them flowing streams

That are transcendent.

Transcendent yardnas we will bestow on them,

And they shall rule a Treasure-house of living flame,

And the Family that the Son of Hidden Mysteries led forth.

They shall be baptized and established,

And a Treasure-House shall be established

In their vestments and their strength be in that place

And there, at Your Name, the elect shall be established.

If thus You do not do,

Transitory matters may cause the Treasure-House to sin,

May cause it to fall away from You,

And all the mysteries (rites) will be marred”.

When the Proven Pure One said this,

A Cry descended into all the worlds

From the Secret Radiance: It uttered,

It created Zihrun Raza and the seven mystic brethren that are with him

It created and transferred yardnas,

It set them in rule over the yardnas,

Over the yardnas it set them as rulers,

And (over) wellsprings that cease not (to flow).

Life is harmonized and is victorious,

And victorious is the man that goes hence.

Hymn 37

When the Proven One, the Pure One, goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place that is self-created

And a Presence set up therein,

A Voice went forth from the Presence

Announcing to the Chief of the Rays-of-Light,

Proclaiming to the Great(est) Ray-of-Light

Instruction about every matter,

About every principal matter that was to be explained

And thus it was.

The Proven One, the Pure One speaks,

Saying to the Great (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You Great (Life),

I will tell You all that I have seen.

I have seen, and I desire to create

— If it please You! — three uthras.

And I will settle them in my abode.

One shall be my companion; another shall be,

As it were, my counterpart; and the other

Shall be young, satisfactory to my mind

And they shall chant sublime hymns

And read in secret books

And recite therefrom, in all their wisdom

Performing rites that are seemly.

And (they) shall walk with me in the boundary of the Self (?)

Walking according to my commands

And departing not from my (word).

From my (word) they shall not depart,

Nor alter my pure command,

Nor change my rites that they perform

And were commanded (to perform).

According to my design I created them,

And upon their minds I set the Sign of Life:

The Sign of the Great Life I set on their minds,

And placed my Name upon them.

And Life is victorious!

Hymn 38

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

That is all radiance — and nought is as sublime

Or as pure! — (to the place)

That is full of fair praises of You;

The Proven, the Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You Great (Life),

If it please You Mighty (Life),

If it please You,, Great (Life),

I, with my uthras, will create another,

Another I will create with my uthras.

And I will clothe him in my radiance,

And with my light I will cover him,

I will cover him with my light,

And he shall be protected by my Name.

Of that which was dealt out to me I will bring him.

He shall arise with progress and strength,

And shall take to himself Manda ḏ-Hiia that came hither

(And) shall go to the world of Abatur, (he) from whom came imperfection:

Imperfection came from him, and he sowed bad seed,

Bad seed he sowed and created creations unprofitable to him;

That were unruly and received not baptism,

Nor did he grasp the right hand of his father.

He did that which was not commanded him

And performed that which was unprofitable.

One of my uthras shall go,

He shall confound all such creations,

He shall put all of them to shame —

The creations that he created that have neither hands nor feet.

He shall institute a Way in the world,

And chosen ones shall mount thitherwards thereby.

At my call they will come

And will set up my boundary-stone

And testify to the one great, pure Name.

And the horn on their heads shall be raised up.

Life is harmonized and victorious,

And victorious is the man that goes hence.

Hymn 39

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells —

Pure is the place: in it is no pain;

No infirmity existeth therein, nor is disquiet admitted there;

Friction is not accepted therein, and wrath and violence

Have no place therein, but all is calm, all is kindliness,

For they within it are in harmony; —

The Proven One, Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

Your will shall be wrought upon the uthras;

Upon the uthras Your will shall be wrought,

And all that You desirest, You wilt perform!

I have seen, I have spoken; and he whom I mention before You,

To him, (to) this Abatur Rama, I will reveal why he fell from his throne,

Why he fell from his throne and went and became He-of-the Scales.

When I call for the second time, lay You Your right hand upon him”.

The Great Predestinate speaks,

Saying to the Proven One, the Pure One,

“You knowest all hearts and discernest all thoughts,

To thine eyes (all) is manifest and you divulgest

Your power to them all! For your fame’s sake and Our fame’s sake,

When (thus) he offendeth, who can pardon him?

Who can pardon him when he offendeth

And casteth our Root into polluted waters?

(Is he not) one that accepted favour from Us, then goes

And casteth it into the abode of the Dark Powers?”

When the Proven, the Pure One heard this,

He prostrated himself before Him and bowed down,

He bowed himself and prostrated himself before Him,

And spoke great praise and said “How sublime is that

Which I have heard from You, and have accepted and established from You!”

And Life is victorious!

Hymn 40

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

(He says), “I will speak to You, Mystic Perfection

That are hidden and protected by Your Veilings,

I will tell You, Mystic Perfection,

Secrets told by the uthras.

One that I had created according to Your plan

I sent to that world. How hideous

And without beauty was everything

That he saw in that world! A world of sons of salvation

Who were cause of Harm!

He that was noble here, they made him a slave yonder,

Yonder they made him a slave

And he suffered from the seven planets.

From the seven planets he suffered

And was tormented in the world.

He that went from hence rich

Was reduced to need in the world;

Yonder they made him their fellow

And he suffered at the hands of the Seven Planets,

At the hands of the Seven Planets he suffered

And was reduced to misery in the world

The Great (Life) (speaks) with pure mouth

To the Proven, the Pure One.

To the Proven, Pure One he says,

“(Concerning) this, that one of thine uthras told you:

If this being of whom one of thine uthras spoke

Be virtuous, as (that uthra) said,

We will give you information —

We will create a world of fire,

And the planets that enslaved him shall go to fiery chains.

Pthahil, who made the earth, shall be baptized here

In the White Yardna. (There will be)

A thousand thousand Vestments

That will go forth to meet him, and Presences without limit.

Compassion they will have, and (he and they)

In ritual pact and peace will stretch forth their hands.

How sublime is that which You say to me I

You have reassured my heart!

You givest complete support and raisest up wholly,

You equippest with armour and givest enlightenment!”

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 41

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place where the Almighty has power over Itself,

And its Presence is stedfast and bright,

Showing forth its Likeness in the Secret Place;

(To) the place where Their voice is lovely

And the sound of Their speech is sweet;

And sublime is the place in which the Great (Life) dwells,

And Their praise is unbounded — powerful (beings) shine in ordered array

And perform all that They desire;

The Proven, Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

Reveal to me the mysteries of Blessing (prayer);

And about the armour of their souls

And about the radiance transferred from Yourself”.

The Great (Life) (speaks) with pure mouth

And says to the Proven One, the Pure One,

“You are blessed from the place wherefrom We are blessed

And earnest into being from the place whence We came into being,

And from the place in which We were implanted.

You are trustworthy and your vivifying power is derived (from Us.)

Our radiance and your radiance are triumphant;

Triumphant is the nasiruta that is of Us,

And triumphant are those whom We summon into it,

And their eyes shall open in radiance and light”.

And Life be praised!

Hymn 42

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

When, all filled with innocency

And all bright with saintliness,

When, beauteous in his great radiance

And coming with pure (spirits)

He comes to that place,

He the Proven, Pure One, says,

Speaking to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

Support my words!

(Let) there be thrones,

And in the world of light we will set them up.

We will set them up so that uthras shall sit

Thereon and place themselves (thereon),

So that their ranks shine thereon,

And with their words they will edify them thereon,

So that their ordered array may beseem their splendour

And honourable (office) when they sit on the thrones,

Upon the thrones, and shine with a steady light”,

He, the Great (Life) that dwells in that place, speaks with pure mouth

Speaketh with pure mouth and says to the Proven One the Pure One,

“A Helper are you, and pure is all that you desirest!

Go! Do (your, will)”.

“According to Your will and mine

I have constructed thrones,

Thrones I have established,

And have instructed the uthras that sit on them,

The uthras that sit thereon I have instructed.

And they praise the Great (Life) that counselled me,

(And) they praise myself, every one of them

(Because) I constructed his throne for him.

They stood, the uthras, and praised that which I sought

And found, through the goodness of the Life,

Their Support.

Harmonized is Life and victorious

And victorious the man that goes hence.

Hymn 43

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes,

To the place where Perfection dwells.

Whose vesture becomes him and maketh him

Greater than all the uthras,

Because he beheld the Form of the Great (Life);

Because he beholdeth the Likeness of the Great (Life);

Because Their radiance controlled his thought.

(Yes) their thought they poured out to one another,

And pray a prayer for the uthras.

All uthras trust one another

Love one another in sincerity.

There is no division amongst them

Such as the Second brought about,

So they are undivided from one another

All are armed with one armour,

In one armour are they clad.

And their speech is one in sincerity,

In sincerity their speech is one.

And they dwell in lovely light,

In lovely light do they dwell

And praise the Being who increased them,

And the Being whose love filled them,

And His tranquillity and love rested upon them.

And Life be praised, and Life is victorious.

Hymn 44

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place of Perfection — great is he, the good (Spirit)!

His course was taken towards his Father,

Towards his Father was his course set,

To say to him, in the Hidden Place,

That which is sublime and precious.

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

In the home of splendour honour shall abide:

Dignity shall find habitation therein.

And uthras will seek one another therein;

Uthras will seek one another in prayer

And will pray to one another. Each will reverence his brother

His brother each will reverence,

According to the counsel which went thither from You”.

“You are empowered, great (Spirit);

Go! Honour shall abide in that place:

Dignity shall rest on that place

And with your glory and Ours they will become glorious.

With that (same) glory they will become glorious

And receive the blessing that We sent them

And show Us gratitude. The uthras shall know

That you are greater than all uthras

(For) you revealest and showest them the light

And givest them the praise”.

“I went, I went yonder: yonder I went.

I caused blessing to rest upon them.

The blessing I shed on them they receive

And bless You with a benediction.

A benediction they pronounce upon You

And worship You with praise.

With praise they worship You and establish Your Word:

Your Word they establish, and depart not from You”

Priests in secret bless the great (Spirit)

That honoured them and caused honour to rest upon them.

And Life be praised!

Hymn 45

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells

To the place where dwells Perfection

— And it is hidden within Itself and is (self)-constituted —

He goes towards Him and uttered a sublime saying:

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life)

If it please You, Great (Life)

To accept my speech, there shall be pure signings;

And there shall be protection without limit.

There shall be armament, Your, wherewith

The uthras will be equipped.

(Yes) uthras shall be equipped therewith.

You shall equip them with Good-Faith and Good-Heed

Nor will they repose when You have armed them

With Good-Faith and Good-Heed,

(But) will keep silence and observe obedience,

Thinking like You and acting like You.

And their deeds will be honest,

Honest will be their deeds.

And zealous counsels shall issue from them.

And they will advise one another

And will unite great and small in communion.

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 46

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection abides,

To the place where speech is mild,

Its appearance fair; and luminous and lovely

Are those that dwell there, and their souls

Utterly righteous; Kušṭa and Mzarzuta.

(Are) at their head, in their place.

And they discern, know and distinguish

And are guarded in the thoughts of their souls.

The Proven One, the Pure One speaks,

Saying to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

Bring forth Your Treasury;

Open up, show forth Your Treasury

And take from it a gracious boon

A gracious boon bring forth from it,

And grant to me a servant.

A servant give to me

In whom there is no lacking or fault.

And through him, bring to me my brethren

And through him, bring me all my sons,

My children bring to me.

(So that) by him and by You they may be restored,

And be raised up in Your resurrection

(And) be blessed with the blessing

That proceedeth from Yourself”.

They planned that which the great (spirit) considered good,

They planned that which the great (spirit) schemed.

Uthras adore and praise; uthras worship and praise

The Being that opened His Treasury,

The Being that sent them a precious (gift)

The uthras made obeisance and were grateful for all.

Hymn 47

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the Place whose unsullied image

Inspireth deep reverence, he (the Pure One) speaks

And said to the Great (Life) whose image is unsullied,

If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

We will open up a Light-Euphrates;

A Light-Euphrates we will open up

And set therein a sturdy root

So that from the root Pure Vines will appear

Who will offer up praise to You;

So that from the vines that appear

Sprouts may grow out, healthy offshoots;

So that from the offshoots that show forth

Reward and oblation may be set up;

There may be set up reward and oblation,

Instituted in the congregation of souls,

Set up in the congregation of souls.

From it water will be supplied abundantly

And security assured to all Rays-of-Light.

All will be filled with faith

And put their trust in You”.

“You say, and you shall establish (this)!

Confirm it, and cause it to succeed”.

“I came and I opened up a Light-Euphrates

And established therein a baptism that is efficaciouss.

I set thereby a sturdy root

That gives forth light and is bright

And will not be cut down”.

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 48

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place where speech is pleasant

And speech sublime and foreign (to this world);

To the place where personality existeth not, nor manhood;

(He says to the Great Life)

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

We will set up a Pure Crystal; a Pure Crystal we will set up;

And hidden things that are therein will be established.

The uthra Hibil shall come;

He will dwell on the Euphrates and guard it:

At his right hand will come two beings.

Three dwellings shall be set up, shall be founded.

Blessing shall be made to rest thereon;

Thereon there shall rest a blessing.

(Of) the secret things hidden therein one shall be a Pearl

That enlightens all darkened hearts.

They will be filled with faith,

And those that are stumbling-blocks

Will be corrected thereby.

He that is aroused thereby will arise;

But he that is a cause of stumbling

Shall perish on the spot.

He who is worthy, deserving and perfect

Shall not be cut off from his place;

He shall be confirmed in his trustfulness.

And Life will be his support,

His support will be the Life

And he will be protected in the place of souls”.

And Life is victorious!

Hymn 49

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place of Safekeeping, (the place)

That expresseth the glory of the Great (Life),

The Proven, Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

I will speak a word, and rely You upon it!

If it please You, Great (Life), let us arrange

This, a secret and appointed watch over the man; his guardian.

I will remain and will guard him well.

Seek him, lift him up to Yourself:

So that he will come and will behold Your Countenance;

(So that) he will come and will take Your right hand in fealty.

He will rise up and will hear Your speech that is sublime”.

Hymn 50

“You have spoken!

And seek you him out, seek him,

Bring him hither,

and the Life will be mindful of your goodness”.

Hymn 51

(Bringing?) great radiance and boundless light

Bringing radiance that was great,

I went to the secret guardian. I arrived.

“Rise up!” (I said to him), “Rise up!

Watchers are many. You have kept your watch:

Arise, put on (the robes) that the Great (Life) sent you

And go towards Him. Come! He has required you with Him

And I have required you, so come with us

And listen to Their speech, which is sublime”.

Hymn 52

“The Great (Life) has stretched forth His right hand to you!

Put away passion from your thought.

Your thought shall be filled with Ours,

And your garment and Our garment shall be one”.

And Life be praised,

and Life is victorious.

These two “responses” and two hymns are to be recited for the owner of a crown (i. e. priest) when you celebratest his wedding. Recite them after the chant “To the place where speech is pleasant”. And read “The novice in the cult-hut” and “He stretched forth His right hand to the novice in the cult-hut”,

But do not read them for the wedding of a Mandaean (layman). Be careful, for they are read (only) for the owner of a crown (a priest). And then read the prayer “To go and to perform His works” to its end.

Hymn 53

When the Proven One, the Pure one goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

(In order) to go and perform His works

To institute therein a guardian

(And) to appoint him, (he saiih to the Great Life)

“I, whom the Great (Life) commanded

To show him all the dwellings,

I, the First (Life), enlightened him.

Because of me, the uthras were tranquil,

The uthras were tranquil for my sake.

And the Rays-of-Light ranged themselves in ordered array,

All of them shone in one another’s radiance,

And light was established in all minds.

Over all the works that I had made

I set the Great (Life).

And I became their guardian,

A guardian I became to them

And upheld all the worlds of light in their place”.

And Life is victorious over all works

And victorious is the man who goes hence.

Hymn 54

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells,

To the place of veiled radiance,

(Where) His Likeness is beauteous;

The Proven Pure One speaks

And says to the Great (Life): —

“Your disciple am I, for I grasped

And understood some of Your wisdom.

I stood before You like a son that stands before his father.

You spoke to me and I listened

And that which You did command I did.

The glory which You did bestow on me

I transmitted to all the worlds of light.

That which You did vouchsafe to me,

I bestowed on the Rays-of-Light.

From You I have not departed

And the speech of others existed not for me”.

The Great (Life) praises the Proven One, the Pure One

With His pure mouth, (saying) to him,

To the Proven One, who had made report;

“How submissive and humble you are, Yawar!

What a smoothener and peacemaker you are!

You make uthras agree, and pacify them

And givest stability to the Rays-of-Light!”

And Life is victorious.

Hymn 55

When the Proven One, the Pure One goes

To the place where Perfection dwells

To the place of the Sublime One

That resteth within His (self-) appointed limit,

Within an appointed limit He resteth

And dwells within the beauteous place;

The Proven, Pure One speaks,

He says to the Great (Life),

“If it please You, Great (Life),

If it please You, Mighty (Life),

If it please You, Great (Life),

The works that I have performed shall be confirmed;

They shall be confirmed, the works that I accomplished

And all that I did in Your presence.

And these words that I have uttered before You

Will be confirmed before You.

They will realise my vision.

I have acted as You did desire”.

When the Proven Pure One had spoken thus,

The Great (Life) rejoiced thereat and embraced him

And kissed him with His pure mouth;

And He vailed him with esoteric vails

With esoteric vails He covered him over.

And a Cloud that emanated from Himself

He spread over him, covering the great (spirit),

So that He hid him therein and established him therein.

All the uthras call him “Maintainer of Order”;

All call him “He-that-ennobles-every-thought”

And Life is victorious!

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