Abigail Tan

Abigail Tan

DNa Inscription


This is a translation and transliteration of the Old Persian version of the DNa inscription of Darius I at Naqsh-e Rustam.

Translation

A great god is Ahuramazda, who put in place this earth, who put in place that sky, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Darius king, one king of many, one commander of many.

I am Darius, great king, king of kings, king of lands of all kinds of people, king in this great earth far and wide, son of Hystaspes, an Achaemenid, a Persian, son of a Persian, an Aryan, of Aryan stock.

Says Darius the king: by the greatness of Ahuramazda, I took these lands further away from Persia; I ruled over them; they brought me tribute; what was said to them by me, that they did; the laws that were mine, those were held: Media, Elam, Parthia, Aria, Bactria, Sogdia, Chorasmia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Sattagydia, Gandhara, India, the haoma-drinking Scythians, the Scythians with pointed hats, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Lydia, Ionia, the Scythians across the sea, Skudra, the petasos-bearing Ionians, the Libyans, the Ethiopians, the Makranians, and the Carians.

Says Darius the king: when Ahuramazda saw this earth in turmoil, then he gave it to me; he made me king; I am king by the greatness of Ahuramazda. I set it down in place: what I said to them, that was done; it was according to my wish. If you shall think “of what sort were those lands which Darius the king held?”, look at the images of those who bear the throne. There you shall know, then to you it shall become known: the spear of the Persian man has gone forth far; then to you it shall become known; the Persian man has given battle far indeed beyond Persia.

Says Darius the king: this which has been done, all that I did by the greatness of Ahuramazda. Ahuramazda brought me aid until I did the work. May Ahuramazda protect me from harm, and my house, and this land. I ask this of Ahuramazda; this may Ahuramazda grant to me. Man, that which is the command of Ahuramazda, may this not seem evil to you; may you not leave the right path; may you not rebel!


Transliteration

baga vazarka Auramazdā haya imam bumim adā haya avam asmānam adā haya martiyam adā haya šiyātim adā martiyahayā haya Dārayavaum xšāyathiyam akunauš aivam paruvanām xšāyathiyam aivam paruvanām framātāram

adam Dārayavauš xšāyathiya vazarka xšāyathiya xšāyathiyānām xšāyathiya dahayūnām vispazanānām xšāyathiya ahayāyā bumiyā vazarkāyā duraiāpiy Vištāspahayā puça Haxāmanišiya Pārsa Pārsahayā puça Ariya Ariya ciça

thātiy Dārayavauš xšāyathiya vašnā Auramazdāhā imā dahayāva tayā adam agarbāyam apataram hacā Pārsā adamšām patiyaxšayaiy manā bājim abaraha tayašām hacāma athahaya ava akunava dātam taya manā avadiš adariya Māda Uvja Parthava Haraiva Bāxtriš Suguda Uvārazmiš Zraka Harauvatiš Thataguš Gadāra Hiduš Sakā haumavargā Sakā tigraxaudā Bābiruš Athurā Arabāya Mudrāya Armina Katpatuka Sparda Yauna Sakā tayaiy paradraya Skudra Yaunā takabarā Putāyā Kušiyā Maciyā Karkā

thātiy Dārayavauš xšāyathiya Auramazdā yathā avaina imām bumim yaudatim pasāvadim manā frābara mām xšāyathiyam akunauš adam xšāyathiya amiy vašnā Auramazdāhā adamšim gāthavā niyašādayam tayašām adam athaham ava akunava yathā mām kāma āha yadipatiy maniyāhaiy taya ciyakaram āha avā dahayāva tayā Dārayavauš xšāyathiya adāraya patikarā didiy tayaiy gāthum baratiy avadā xšnāvāhay adataiy azdā bavātiy Pārsahayā martiyahayā duraiy arštiš parāgmatā adataiy azdā bavātiy Pārsa martiya durayapiy hacā Pārsā parataram patiyajatā

thātiy Dārayavauš xšāyathiya aita taya kartam ava visam vašnā Auramazdāhā akunavam Auramazdāmaiy upastām abara yātā kartam akunavam mām Auramazdā pātuv hacā gastā utāmaiy vitham utā imām dahayāum aita adam Auramazdām jadiyāmiy aitamaiy Auramazdā dadātuv martiyā hayā Auramazdāhā framānā hauvtaiy gastā mā thadaya pathim tayām rāstām mā avarda mā stabava


Line By Line

𐎲𐎥𐏐𐎺𐏀𐎼𐎣𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏐𐏃𐎹𐏐𐎡𐎶
baga vazarka Auramazdā haya im
𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎲𐎢𐎷𐎡𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎠𐏐𐏃𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎺𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎿𐎶
ām bumim adā haya avam asm
𐎠𐎴𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎠𐏐𐏃𐎹𐏐𐎶𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎠𐏐𐏃
ānam adā haya martiyam adā ha
𐎹𐏐𐏁𐎡𐎹𐎠𐎫𐎡𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎶𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏃𐎹𐎠
ya šiyātim adā martiyahayā
𐏐𐏃𐎹𐏐𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐎶𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎤
haya Dārayavaum xšāyathiyam aku
𐎢𐎴𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎠𐎡𐎺𐎶𐏐𐎱𐎽𐎢𐎺𐎴𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎳𐎼𐎶𐎠𐎫𐎠
nauš aivam paruvanām xšāyath
𐎡𐎹𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎡𐎺𐎶𐏐𐎱𐎽𐎢𐎺𐎴𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎳𐎼𐎶𐎠𐎫𐎠
iyam aivam paruvanām framātā
𐎼𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎶𐏐𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎺
ram adam Dārayavauš xšāyathiya va
𐏀𐎼𐎣𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐎠𐎴𐎠𐎶
zarka xšāyathiya xšāyathiyānām
𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎭𐏃𐎹𐎢𐎴𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎻𐎡𐎿𐎱𐏀𐎴𐎠
xšāyathiya dahayūnām vispazanā
𐎴𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐏃𐎹𐎠𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎲𐎢𐎷𐎡
nām xšāyathiya ahayāyā bumi
𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎺𐏀𐎼𐎣𐎠𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎯𐎢𐎼𐎡𐎠𐎱𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎻𐎡𐏁𐎫𐎠𐎿
yā vazarkāyā duraiāpiy vištās
𐎱𐏃𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎱𐎢𐏂𐏐𐏃𐎧𐎠𐎶𐎴𐎡𐏁𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿𐏐𐎱
pahayā puça Haxāmanišiya Pārsa P
𐎠𐎼𐎿𐏃𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎱𐎢𐏂𐏐𐎠𐎼𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎼𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎨𐎡
ārsahayā puça Ariya Ariya ci
𐏂𐏐𐎰𐎠𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹
ça thātiy Dārayavauš xšāya
𐎰𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎺𐏁𐎴𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏃𐎠𐏐𐎡𐎶𐎠𐏐
thiya vašnā Auramazdāhā imā
𐎭𐏃𐎹𐎠𐎺𐏐𐎫𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎥𐎼𐎲𐎠𐎹𐎶𐏐
dahayāva tayā adam agarbāyam
𐎠𐎱𐎫𐎼𐎶𐏐𐏃𐎨𐎠𐏐𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎶𐏁𐎠𐎶𐏐
apataram hacā Pārsā adamšām
𐎱𐎫𐎡𐎹𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎶𐎴𐎠𐏐𐎲𐎠𐎪𐎡𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎲𐎼
patiyaxšayaiy manā bājim abara
𐏃𐏐𐎫𐎹𐏁𐎠𐎶𐏐𐏃𐎨𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎰𐏃𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎺𐏐𐎠
ha tayašām hacāma athahaya ava a
𐎤𐎢𐎴𐎺𐏐𐎭𐎠𐎫𐎶𐏐𐎫𐎹𐏐𐎶𐎴𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎺𐎮𐎡𐏁𐏐
kunava dātam taya manā avadiš
𐎠𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎶𐎠𐎭𐏐𐎢𐎺𐎩𐏐𐎱𐎼𐎰𐎺𐏐𐏃𐎼𐎡
adariya Māda Uvja Parthava Harai
𐎺𐏐𐎲𐎠𐎧𐎫𐎼𐎡𐏁𐏐𐎿𐎢𐎦𐎢𐎭𐏐𐎢𐎺𐎠𐎼𐏀𐎷
va Bāxtriš Suguda Uvārazm
𐎡𐏁𐏐𐏀𐎼𐎣𐏐𐏃𐎼𐎢𐎺𐎫𐎡𐏁𐏐𐎰𐎫𐎦𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎥
iš Zraka Harauvatiš Thataguš Ga
𐎭𐎠𐎼𐏐𐏃𐎡𐎯𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎿𐎣𐎠𐏐𐏃𐎢𐎶𐎺𐎼𐎥𐎠𐏐𐎿
dāra Hiduš Sakā haumavargā Sa
𐎣𐎠𐏐𐎫𐎡𐎥𐎼𐎧𐎢𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎲𐎠𐎲𐎡𐎽𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎠
kā tigraxaudā Bābiruš A
𐎰𐎢𐎼𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎼𐎲𐎠𐎹𐏐𐎸𐎢𐎭𐎼𐎠𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎼𐎷𐎡𐎴
thurā Arabāya Mudrāya Armina
𐏐𐎣𐎫𐎱𐎬𐎢𐎣𐏐𐎿𐎱𐎼𐎭𐏐𐎹𐎢𐎴𐏐𐎿𐎣𐎠𐏐𐎫𐎹𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎱
Katpatuka Sparda Yauna Sakā tayaiy pa
𐎼𐎭𐎼𐎹𐏐𐎿𐎤𐎢𐎭𐎼𐏐𐎹𐎢𐎴𐎠𐏐𐎫𐎣𐎲𐎼𐎠𐏐𐎱𐎢𐎫𐎠𐎹
radraya Skudra Yaunā takabarā Putāy
𐎠𐏐𐎤𐏁𐎡𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎶𐎨𐎡𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎣𐎼𐎣𐎠𐏐𐎰𐎠𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎭
ā Kušiyā Maciyā Karkā thātiy Da
𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎹𐎰
ārayavauš xšāyathiya Auramazdā yath
𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎺𐎡𐎴𐏐𐎡𐎶𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎲𐎢𐎷𐎡𐎶𐏐𐎹𐎢𐎭𐎫𐎡𐎶𐏐
ā avaina imām bumim yaudatim
𐎱𐎿𐎠𐎺𐎮𐎡𐎶𐏐𐎶𐎴𐎠𐏐𐎳𐎼𐎠𐎲𐎼𐏐𐎶𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎧𐏁
pasāvadim manā frābara mām xš
𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎤𐎢𐎴𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎶𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹
āyathiyam akunauš adam xšāyathiya
𐏐𐎠𐎷𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎺𐏁𐎴𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏃𐎠𐏐𐎠
amiy vašnā Auramazdāhā a
𐎭𐎶𐏁𐎡𐎶𐏐𐎥𐎠𐎰𐎺𐎠𐏐𐎴𐎡𐎹𐏁𐎠𐎭𐎹𐎶𐏐𐎫𐎹𐏁𐎠
damšim gāthavā niyašādayam tayašā
𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎰𐏃𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎺𐏐𐎠𐎤𐎢𐎴𐎺𐏐𐎹𐎰𐎠𐏐𐎶𐎠𐎶𐏐
m adam athaham ava akunava yathā mām
𐎣𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎠𐏃𐏐𐎹𐎮𐎡𐎱𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎶𐎴𐎡𐎹𐎠𐏃𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎫
kāma āha yadipatiy maniyāhaiy ta
𐎹𐏐𐎨𐎡𐎹𐎣𐎼𐎶𐏐𐎠𐏃𐏐𐎠𐎺𐎠𐏐𐎭𐏃𐎹𐎠𐎺
ya ciyakaram āha avā dahayāva
𐏐𐎫𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹
tayā Dārayavauš xšāyathiya
𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐏐𐎱𐎫𐎡𐎣𐎼𐎠𐏐𐎮𐎡𐎮𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎫𐎹𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎥
adāraya patikarā didiy tayaiy g
𐎠𐎰𐎢𐎶𐏐𐎲𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎺𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎴𐎠𐎿𐎠𐏃𐎹𐏐
āthum baratiy avadā xšnāvāhay
𐎠𐎭𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎲𐎺𐎠𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿𐏃𐎹𐎠𐏐
adataiy azdā bavātiy Pārsahayā
𐎶𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏃𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎯𐎢𐎼𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎫𐎡𐏁𐏐𐎱
martiyahayā duraiy arštiš pa
𐎼𐎠𐎥𐎶𐎫𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎭𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎲𐎺𐎠𐎫𐎡
rāgmatā adataiy azdā bavāti
𐎹𐏐𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿𐏐𐎶𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎯𐎢𐎼𐎹𐎱𐎡𐎹𐏐𐏃𐎨𐎠𐏐𐎱𐎠
y Pārsa martiya durayapiy hacā Pā
𐎼𐎿𐎠𐏐𐎱𐎼𐎫𐎼𐎶𐏐𐎱𐎫𐎡𐎹𐎩𐎫𐎠𐏐𐎰𐎠𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎭𐎠
rsā parataram patiyajatā thātiy Dā
𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎡𐏁𐏐𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎡𐎫𐏐𐎫𐎹𐏐𐎣𐎼𐎫
rayavauš xšāyathiya aita taya karta
𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎺𐏐𐎻𐎡𐎿𐎶𐏐𐎺𐏁𐎴𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏃𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎤
m ava visam vašnā Auramazdāhā aku
𐎢𐎴𐎺𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐎶𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎢𐎱𐎿𐎫𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎲
unavam Auramazdāmaiy upastām aba
𐎼𐏐𐎹𐎠𐎫𐎠𐏐𐎣𐎼𐎫𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎤𐎢𐎴𐎺𐎶𐏐𐎶𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎠
ra yātā kartam akunavam mām A
𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎱𐎠𐎬𐎺𐏐𐏃𐎨𐎠𐏐𐎥𐎿𐎫𐎠𐏐𐎢𐎫𐎠𐎶
uramazdā pātuv hacā gastā utāma
𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎻𐎡𐎰𐎶𐏐𐎢𐎫𐎠𐏐𐎡𐎶𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎭𐏃𐎹𐎠𐎢𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎡𐎫𐏐𐎠𐎭
iy vitham utā imām dahayāum aita ada
𐎶𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎩𐎮𐎡𐎹𐎠𐎷𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎡𐎫𐎶
m Auramazdām jadiyāmiy aitam
𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏐𐎭𐎭𐎠𐎬𐎢𐎺𐏐
aiy Auramazdā dadātuv
𐎶𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹𐎠𐏐𐏃𐎹𐎠𐏐𐎠𐎢𐎼𐎶𐏀𐎭𐎠𐏃
martiyā hayā Auramazdāha
𐎠𐏐𐎳𐎼𐎶𐎠𐎴𐎠𐏐𐏃𐎢𐎺𐎫𐎡𐎹𐏐𐎥𐎿
a framānā hauvtaiy gas
𐎫𐎠𐏐𐎶𐎠𐏐𐎰𐎭𐎹𐏐𐎱𐎰𐎡𐎶𐏐
tā mā thadaya pathim
𐎫𐎹𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎼𐎠𐎿𐎫𐎠𐎶𐏐𐎶𐎠
tayām rāstām mā
𐏐𐎠𐎺𐎼𐎭𐏐𐎶𐎠𐏐𐎿𐎫𐎲𐎺
avarda mā stabava

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