The poetic gathas are the sacred, inspired poetry of the Prophet Zarathûštrá and in Yasna 46.5 and 46.6 he addresses the issue of offering protection, refuge.
Giving refuge/protection is possible under these three conditions “urvátöiš vá hû-zéñtuš mithrö-ibyö vá.”
The first condition is urvátöiš from urvátá, namely “binding word or formula, law, command.” There shall be some “word, oath and bond” between the ones giving refuge and the one seeking refuge.
(Compare Avestan urvátöiš from urvátá with Lithuanian vardas “name,” Gothic, waúrd “word,” Russian vru pagan formula/lie, Vedic vrata “law, order” Proto Indo European ver “to bind.”)
The second condition is hû-zéñtuš being of “good génos.” The idea is that of innate goodness and nobility of character.
(Compare Avestan zéñtuš with Latin genus, Greek génos)
The third condition is mithrö-ibyö “intercession, friendship.” The Avestan Mithra “Intercessor, loving Friend” is the god-power of “amiable or amicable exchange.” In other words, “bonds of friendship or good-natured amiability” constitutes the last possibility for offering refuge.
(Compare Avestan Mithra with meit, Latin mūtō, Gothic maidjan, Latvian mietuót Vedic metháti “exchange” in an amiable or amicable manner.)
Those who seek refuge shall live in rightness, honesty and justice “rašná jváns.”
Offering refuge is only to the ašava that is to the “virtuous, good and true” and not to dregvañtem or a follower of tricks and lies (Compare Avestan drug with German lug and trug.)
Only those who share our values and abide by our virtues are worthy of our passionate protection and refuge. Those who hold for good and excellent, virtues such as reverence for nature, love/kindness to animals, industry, enterprising spirit, honor and honesty, shall be given refuge amongst us.
The ancient Aryan Prophet admonishes to truly see/observe with “prophetic wisdom” víčirö the difference between the virtuous and the vile, between those who share our ideals, values and those who do NOT; in order to avoid bloodshed, cruelty and civil war ḵrünyát.
(Compare Avestan ḵrünyát with Lithuanian kraūjas, Old Church Slavonic Krúví, Old Prussian Krawian, Germanic króuh2os “blood,” Latin crūdelís “cruel”)
For he/she is treacherous who is good to the liar and treacherous
And he/she is virtuous who is a friend to the good and virtuous
Such is the pristine wisdom/vision established by the god-force
hvö zî dregváv ýé dregváitæ vahištö
hvö ašavá ýahmái ašavá fryö
hyat daænáv paôurûyáv dáv ahûrá.
ardeshir
Below is the transliteration and translation of Yasna 46.5
ýé vá ḵšayáns adáns drîtá ayañtem
urvátöiš vá hû-zéñtuš mithröibyö vá
rašná jváns ýé ašavá dregvañtem
vîčirö háns tat frö ḵvaætavæ mrûyát
uzüithyöi îm mazdá ḵrünyát ahûrá.
As for one who shall take into his dominion/kingdom one coming
On the basis of a binding word/formula or oath, or on the basis of good nature or noble birth or on the basis of loving friendship
One who is living in rightness, a genuinely good and virtuous, apart from the vile or treacherous
Telling his/her own with prophetic wisdom to truly see/observe
In order to guard against, cruelty and bloodshed, O God of Wisdom and Genius
ardeshir
