Behistun T 39

Behistun or Bisotun: town in Iran, site of several ancient monuments, including a famous inscription by the Persian king Darius I the Great (r.522-486 BCE), the great organizer of the Achaemenid Empire.

On these pages, you can find drawings, a transliteration and an adapted version of the King/Thompson translation of the inscription.

Column iv, lines 59-66

  1. â \ mâ \ biyâ \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ ima \ tya \ adam \ akunavam \
  2. hamahyâyâ \ tharda \ vašnâ \ Auramazdâha \ akunavam \ Auramazdâmaiy \ upas
  3. tâm \ abara \ utâ \ aniyâha \ bagâha \ tyaiy \ hatiy \ thâtiy \ Dârayavau
  4. š \ xšâyathiya \ avahyarâdiy \ Auramazdâ \ upastâm \ abara \ utâ \ ani
  5. yâha \ bagâha \ tyaiy \ haijy \ yathâ \ naiy \ arika \ âham \ naiy \ draujana \ âham \ na
  6. iy \ zûrakara \ âham \ naiy \ adam \ naimaiy \ taumâ \ upariy \ arštâm \ upariy
  7. âyam \ naiy \ škaurim \ naiy \ tunuvatam \ zûra \ akunavam \ martiya \ hya \ hamata
  8. xšâta \ manâ \ vithiyâ \ avam \ ubartam \ abaram \ hya \ viyanâthaya \ avam \ ufrasta

(62) King Darius says: This is what I have done in one single year; by the grace of Ahuramazda have I always acted. Ahuramazda brought me help, and the other gods, all that there are.

(63) King Darius says: On this account Ahuramazda brought me help, and all the other gods, all that there are, because I was not wicked, nor was I a liar, nor was I a despot, neither I nor any of my family. I have ruled according to righteousness. Neither to the weak nor to the powerful did I do wrong. Whosoever helped my house, him I favored; he who was hostile, him I destroyed.