Behistun Inscription
Location: Mount Behistun in the Kermanshah city of IranIran Jomhuri-ye Islami-ye Īrān | Sanskrit Arya > Ayryanem> Constitution | Ostanha (provinces-31) : Shahrestan (Countries-429): Bakhsh (District-1057). Capital: Tehran | Official language: Persian/Farsi. Islamic Revolution in 1979. Ostanha Arabistan (Khuzestan) Astarabad (Gorgan) Damavand Gerrus (Bijar) Gilan Golpayegan Hamadan Iraq (Arak) Isfahan Kashan Khamseh (Zanjan) Kermanshahan (Kermanshah) Kurdistan Luristan Malayer Mazandaran Qazvin Qom Saveh Semnan and Damghan Shahrud and Bastam Yazd.
Translation of the Behistun Inscription was made by L.W. King and R.C. Thompson
Column one
(1) I am Darius [Daryavus], the great king, king of kings, the king (xsayathiy) of PersiaPersia King Darius says: These are the countries which are subject unto me, and by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king of them: Persia [Parsa], Elam [Uvja], Babylonia [Babirus], Assyria [Athura], Arabia [Arabaya], Egypt [Mudraya], the countries by the Sea, Lydia [Sparda], the Greeks [Yauna (Ionia)], Media [Mada], Armenia [Armina], Cappadocia [Katpatuka], Parthia [Parthava], Drangiana [Zraka], Aria [Haraiva], Chorasmia [Uvarazmiy], Bactria [Baxtris], Sogdia [Suguda], Gandhara [Gadara], Scythia [Saka], Sattagydia [Thatagus], Arachosia [Harauvatis] and Maka; twenty-three lands in all. [Parsa], the king of countriesCountries A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi C Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic D Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guyana H Haiti Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan K Kenya L Latvia Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Macedonia Malawi Malaysia Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova Mozambique N Namibia New Zealand Nigeria Norway P Pakistan Palau Panama Peru Poland Portugal R Republic of Congo Russia S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovenia Slovakia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Swaziland (Eswatini) Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tanzania The Netherlands The Philippines The Republic of Korea (South Korea) The United Kingdom The United States of America Timor Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey U Uganda Ukraine Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Vietnam Z Zambia Zimbabwe , the son of Hystaspes, the grandson of Arsames, the Achaemenid.
(2) King Darius says: My father (pita) is Hystaspes [Vistsspa]; the father of Hystaspes was Arsames [Aršâma]; the father of Arsames was Ariaramnes [Ariyâramna]; the father of Ariaramnes was Teispes [Cišpiš]; the father of Teispes was Achaemenes [Haxâmaniš].
(3) King Darius says: That is why we are called AchaemenidsPersia King Darius says: These are the countries which are subject unto me, and by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king of them: Persia [Parsa], Elam [Uvja], Babylonia [Babirus], Assyria [Athura], Arabia [Arabaya], Egypt [Mudraya], the countries by the Sea, Lydia [Sparda], the Greeks [Yauna (Ionia)], Media [Mada], Armenia [Armina], Cappadocia [Katpatuka], Parthia [Parthava], Drangiana [Zraka], Aria [Haraiva], Chorasmia [Uvarazmiy], Bactria [Baxtris], Sogdia [Suguda], Gandhara [Gadara], Scythia [Saka], Sattagydia [Thatagus], Arachosia [Harauvatis] and Maka; twenty-three lands in all.; from antiquity we have been noble; from antiquity has our dynasty been royal.
(4) King Darius says: Eight of my dynasty were kings before me; I am the ninth. Nine in succession we have been kings.
(5) King Darius says: By the grace of Ahuramazda am I king; Ahuramazda has granted me the kingdom.
(6) King Darius says: These are the countries which are subject unto me, and by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king of them: Persia [Pârsa], Elam [Ûvja], BabyloniaBabylonia Βαβυλωνία: Mat Akkadi (Achaemenidian language), the fertile alluvial plain between the Euphrates and Tigris. It became capital city of Achaemenidians after the faall of Assyrian empire (612 BCE). Peviously Sumerrians used to live here. Cyrus the Greatcaptured is around 539 BCE His son Cambyses conquered Egypt in 525 BCE, his relative Darius, killed Gaumâta (by the blessing of Ahuramazda). Darius' son was Xerxes ( his campaign against greeks were failed in 480-479). Darius III Codomannus faced Alexander in 336-330 BCE. [Babirus], Assyria [Athura], Arabia [Arabaya], Egypt [Mudraya], the countries by the Sea, Lydia [Sparda], the Greeks [Yauna (Ionia)], Media [Mâda], ArmeniaArmenia Armenia, the first state to adopt Christianity, has a long history of being under various empires. It declared independence in 1918 but was later conquered by the Soviet Red Army. The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been a point of conflict with Azerbaijan, resulting in a 1994 cease-fire. In 2020, a second military conflict occurred, with Armenia losing control over much of the territory. Turkey's border closure has left Armenia isolated, and efforts to normalize relations have been unsuccessful. Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union in 2015 and signed a partnership agreement with the EU in 2017. In 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to the mass exodus of ethnic Armenians to Armenia. [Armina], Cappadocia [Katpatuka], Parthia [Parthava], Drangiana [Zraka], Aria [Haraiva], Chorasmia [Uvârazmîy], Bactria [Bâxtriš], Sogdia [Suguda], Gandhara [Gadara], Scythia [Saka], Sattagydia [Thatagus], Arachosia [Harauvatiš] and Maka; twenty-three lands in all.
(7) King Darius says: These are the countries which are subject to me; by the grace of Ahuramazda they became subject to me; they brought tribute unto me. Whatsoever commands have been laid on them by me, by night or by day, have been performed by them.
(8) King Darius says: Within these lands, whosoever was a friend, him have I surely protected; whosoever was hostile, him have I utterly destroyed. By the grace of Ahuramazda these lands have conformed to my decrees; as it was commanded unto them by me, so was it done.
(9) King Darius says: Ahuramazda has granted unto me this empire. Ahuramazda brought me help, until I gained this empire; by the grace of Ahuramazda do I hold this empire.
(10) King Darius says: The following is what was done by me after I became king. A son of Cyrus [Kuruu], named Cambyses [Kabujiya], one of our dynasty, was king here before me. That Cambyses had a brother, Smerdis [Bardiya] by name, of the same mother and the same father as Cambyses. Afterwards, Cambyses slew this Smerdis. When Cambyses slew Smerdis, it was not known unto the peopleMen Ανθρωποι (People), a woman (γυναίκα), Man (Ανδρας) > Adama, Manu > No proof to establish that due to mutation a monkey turned into a human being. that Smerdis was slain. Thereupon Cambyses went to Egypt. When Cambyses had departed into Egypt, the people became hostile, and the lie multiplied in the land, even in Persia and Media, and in the other provinces.
(11) King Darius says: Afterwards, there was a certain man, a Magian [magus], Gaumata by name, who raised a rebellion in Paishiyauvada, in a mountain called Arakadriš. On the fourteenth day of the month Viyaxana (11 March 522 BC) did he rebel. He lied to the people, saying: ‘I am Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, the brother of Cambyses.’ Then were all the people in revolt, and from Cambyses they went over unto him, both Persia and Media, and the other provinces. He seized the kingdom; on the ninth day of the month Garmapada (1 July 522 BC) he seized the kingdom. Afterwards, Cambyses died of natural causes.
(12) King Darius says: The kingdom of which Gaumâta, the Magian, dispossessed Cambyses, had always belonged to our dynasty. After that Gaumâta, the Magian, had dispossessed Cambyses of Persia and Media, and of the other provinces, he did according to his will. He became king.
(13) King Darius says: There was no man, either PersianPersian Alphabet: ( ا ب پ ت ث ج چ ح خ د ذ ر ز ژ س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ک گ ل م ن و ه ی ) > Cuneiform [Darius I (550-486 BC)] originated from Vedic Sanskrit : adam : dārayavauš : xšāyaθiya : vazarka : xšāyaθiya : xšāyaθiyānām : xšāyaθiya : pārsaiy : xšāyaθiya : dahyūnām : vištāspahyā : puça : aršāmahyā : napā : haxāmanišiya…. or Mede or of our own dynasty, who took the kingdom from Gaumâta, the Magian. The people feared him exceedingly, for he slew many who had known the real Smerdis. For this reason did he slay them, ‘that they may not knowKnowledge Knowledge is derived from the process of an informed person integrating data from sense organs or intuition into their psyche. This concept is explored in the Vedic Nasadiya Sukta, which questions the possibility of ultimate truth or knowledge. In different languages, such as Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, and Chinese, knowledge is expressed as "η γνώση," "Scientia," "ज्ञानम् ," and "知识 Zhīshì," respectively. that I am not Smerdis, the son of Cyrus.’ There was none who dared to act against Gaumâta, the Magian, until I came. Then I prayed to Ahuramazda; Ahuramazda brought me help. On the tenth day of the month BâgayHomosexuality Diagnostic status -In 1973 it was removed from the DSM-II classification of mental disorders and replaced by the category Sexual Orientation Disturbance. St. Paul was against it (Romans 1:26-27). It is sinful and leads one to Naraka and can be cured by practicing Yoga in Sanatan Dharma. It is objected by Kamasutra and categorized as perversion. Charaka, Sushura, and Bagbhtta in Ayurveda described it as a curable disease. Homosexual couples are not Grihastha (गृहस्थ), they are not competent to perform any Vedik Karma.âdiš (29 September 522 BC) I, with a few men, slew that Gaumâta, the Magian, and the chief men who were his followers. At the stronghold called Sikayauvatiš, in the districtDistrict India has 800 districts under 29 federal states and 8 union territories. Adilabad Agar-Malwa Agra Ahilyanagar Ahmedabad Aizawl Ajmer Akola Alappuzha Aligarh Alipurduar Alirajpur Alluri Sitharama Raju Almora Alwar Ambala Ambedkar Nagar Amethi Amravati Amreli Amritsar Amroha Anakapalli Anand Ananthapuramu Anantnag Anjaw Annamayya Anugul Anuppur Araria Ariyalur Arvalli Arwal Ashoknagar Auraiya Aurangabad Ayodhya Azamgarh Bagalkote Bageshwar Baghpat Bahraich Bajali Baksa Balaghat Balangir Baleshwar Ballari Ballia Balod Balodabazar-Bhatapara Balotra Balrampur Balrampur-Ramanujganj Banas Kantha Banda Bandipora Banka Bankura Banswara Bapatla Bara Banki Baramulla Baran Bareilly Bargarh Barmer Barnala Barpeta Barwani Bastar Basti Bathinda Beawar Beed Begusarai Belagavi Bemetara Bengaluru Rural Bengaluru Urban Betul Bhadohi Bhadradri Kothagudem Bhadrak Bhagalpur Bhandara Bharatpur Bharuch Bhavnagar Bhilwara Bhind Bhiwani Bhojpur Bhopal Bichom Bidar Bijapur Bijnor Bikaner Bilaspur Bilaspur Birbhum Bishnupur Biswanath Bokaro Bongaigaon Botad Boudh Budaun Budgam Bulandshahr Buldhana Bundi Burhanpur Buxar Cachar Central Chamarajanagar Chamba Chamoli Champawat Champhai Chandauli Chandel Chandigarh Chandrapur Changlang Charaideo Charkhi Dadri Chatra Chengalpattu Chennai Chhatarpur Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Chhindwara Chhotaudepur Chikkaballapura Chikkamagaluru Chirang Chitradurga Chitrakoot Chittoor Chittorgarh Chumoukedima Churachandpur Churu Coimbatore Cooch Behar Cuddalore Cuttack Dadra And Nagar Haveli Dahod Dakshin Bastar Dantewada Dakshin Dinajpur Dakshina Kannada Dhenkanal Dholpur Dhubri Dhule Dibang Valley Dibrugarh Didwana-Kuchaman Dima Hasao Dimapur Dindigul Dindori Diu Doda Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema Dumka Dungarpur Durg East East Garo Hills East Godavari East Jaintia Hills East Kameng East Khasi Hills East Siang East Singhbum Eastern West Khasi Hills Eluru Ernakulam Erode Etah Etawah Faridabad Faridkot Farrukhabad Fatehabad Fatehgarh Sahib Fatehpur Fazilka Ferozepur Firozabad Gadag Gadchiroli Gajapati Ganderbal Gandhinagar Ganganagar Gangtok Ganjam Garhwa Gariyaband Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi Gautam Buddha Nagar Gaya Ghaziabad Ghazipur Gir Somnath Giridih Goalpara Godda Golaghat Gomati Gonda Gondia Gopalganj Gorakhpur Gumla Guna Guntur Gurdaspur Gurugram Gwalior Gyalshing Hailakandi Hamirpur Hamirpur Hanumakonda Hanumangarh Hapur Harda Hardoi Haridwar Hassan Hathras Haveri Hazaribagh Hingoli Hisar Hnahthial Hojai Hooghly Hoshiarpur Howrah Hyderabad Idukki Imphal East Imphal West Indore Jabalpur Jagatsinghapur Jagitial Jaipur Jaisalmer Jajapur Jalandhar Jalaun Jalgaon Jalna Jalore Jalpaiguri Jammu Jamnagar Jamtara Jamui Jangoan Janjgir-Champa Jashpur Jaunpur Jayashankar Bhupalapally Jehanabad Jhabua Jhajjar Jhalawar Jhansi Jhargram Jharsuguda Jhunjhunu Jind Jiribam Jodhpur Jogulamba Gadwal Jorhat Junagadh Kabeerdham Kachchh Kaimur (Bhabua) Kaithal Kakching Kakinada Kalaburagi Kalahandi Kalimpong Kallakurichi Kamareddy Kamjong Kamle Kamrup Kamrup Metro Kancheepuram Kandhamal Kangpokpi Kangra Kannauj Kanniyakumari Kannur Kanpur Dehat Kanpur Nagar Kapurthala Karaikal Karauli Karbi Anglong Kargil Karimganj Karimnagar Karnal Karur Kasaragod Kasganj Kathua Daman Damoh Dangs Darbhanga Darjeeling Darrang Datia Dausa Davanagere Deeg Dehradun Deogarh Deoghar Deoria Devbhumi Dwarka Dewas Dhalai Dhamtari Dhanbad Dhar Dharashiv Dharmapuri Dharwad Dhemaji Katihar Katni Kaushambi Kendrapara Kendujhar Keyi Panyor Khagaria Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai Khairthal-Tijara Khammam Khandwa (East Nimar) Khargone (West Nimar) Khawzawl Kheda Kheri Khordha Khowai Khunti Kinnaur Kiphire Kishanganj Kishtwar Kodagu Koderma Kohima Kokrajhar Kolar Kolasib Kolhapur Kolkata Kollam Kondagaon Koppal Koraput Korba Korea Kota Kotputli-Behror Kottayam Kozhikode Kra Daadi Krishna Krishnagiri Kulgam Kullu Kumuram Bheem Asifabad Kupwara Kurnool Kurukshetra Kurung Kumey Kushinagar Lahaul And Spiti Lakhimpur Lakhisarai Lakshadweep District Lalitpur Latehar Latur Lawngtlai Leh Ladakh Leparada Lohardaga Lohit Longding Longleng Lower Dibang Valley Lower Siang Lower Subansiri Lucknow Ludhiana Lunglei MAUGANJ Madhepura Madhubani Madurai Mahabubabad Mahabubnagar Mahasamund Mahendragarh Mahesana Mahisagar Mahoba Mahrajganj Maihar Mainpuri Majuli Malappuram Malda Malerkotla Malkangiri Mamit Mancherial Mandi Mandla Mandsaur Mandya Munger Murshidabad Muzaffarnagar Muzaffarpur Mysuru Nabarangpur Nadia Nagaon Nagapattinam Nagarkurnool Nagaur Nagpur Nainital Nalanda Nalbari Nalgonda Namakkal Namchi Namsai Nanded Nandurbar Nandyal Narayanpet Narayanpur Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur(M C B) Mangan Mansa Marigaon Mathura Mau Mayiladuthurai Mayurbhanj Medak Medchal Malkajgiri Meerut Meluri Mirzapur Moga Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chouki Mokokchung Mon Moradabad Morbi Morena Mulugu Mumbai Mumbai Suburban Mungeli Narmada Narmadapuram Narsimhapur Nashik Navsari Nawada Nayagarh Neemuch New Delhi Nicobars Nirmal Niuland Niwari Nizamabad Noklak Noney North North 24 Parganas North And Middle Andaman North East North Garo Hills North Goa North Tripura North West Ntr Nuapada Nuh Pakke Kessang Pakur Pakyong Palakkad Palamu Palghar Pali Palnadu Palwal Panch Mahals Panchkula Pandhurna Panipat Panna Papum Pare Parbhani Parvathipuram Manyam Paschim Bardhaman Paschim Medinipur Pashchim Champaran Patan Pathanamthitta Pathankot Patiala Patna Pauri Garhwal Peddapalli Perambalur Peren Phalodi Phek Pherzawl Pilibhit Pithoragarh Poonch Porbandar Prakasam Pratapgarh Pratapgarh Prayagraj Puducherry Pudukkottai Pulwama Pune Purba Bardhaman Ranipet Ratlam Ratnagiri Rayagada Reasi Rewa Rewari Ri Bhoi Rohtak Rohtas Rudraprayag Rupnagar S.A.S Nagar Sabar Kantha Sagar Saharanpur Saharsa Sahebganj Saitual Sakti Salem Salumbar Samastipur Samba Purba Medinipur Purbi Champaran Puri Purnia Purulia Rae Bareli Raichur Raigad Raigarh Raipur Raisen Rajanna Sircilla Rajgarh Rajkot Rajnandgaon Rajouri Rajsamand Ramanagara Ramanathapuram Ramban Ramgarh Rampur Ranchi Ranga Reddy Sambalpur Sambhal Sangareddy Sangli Sangrur Sant Kabir Nagar Saraikela Kharsawan Saran Sarangarh-Bilaigarh Satara Satna Sawai Madhopur Sehore Senapati Seoni Sepahijala Serchhip Shahdara Shahdol Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar Shahjahanpur Shajapur Shamator Shamli Sheikhpura Sheohar Sheopur Shi Yomi Shimla Shivamogga Shivpuri Shopian Shrawasti Siaha Siang Siddharthnagar Siddipet Sidhi Sikar Simdega Sindhudurg Singrauli Sirmaur Sirohi Sirsa Sitamarhi Sitapur Sivaganga Sivasagar Siwan Solan Solapur Sonbhadra Sonepur Sonipat Sonitpur Soreng South South 24 Parganas South Andamans South East South Garo Hills South Goa South Salmara Mancachar South Tripura South West South West Garo Hills South West Khasi Hills Sri Muktsar Sahib Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore Sri Sathya Sai Srikakulam Srinagar Sukma Sultanpur Sundargarh Supaul Surajpur Surat Surendranagar Surguja Suryapet Tamenglong Tamulpur Tapi Tarn Taran Tawang Tehri Garhwal Tengnoupal Tenkasi Thane Thanjavur The Nilgiris Theni Thiruvallur Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvarur Thoothukkudi Thoubal Thrissur Tikamgarh Tinsukia Tirap Tiruchirappalli Tirunelveli Tirupathur Tirupati Tiruppur Tiruvannamalai Tonk Tseminyu Tuensang Tumakuru Udaipur Udalguri Udham Singh Nagar Udhampur Udupi Ujjain Ukhrul Warangal Wardha Washim Wayanad West West Garo Hills West Godavari West Jaintia Hills West Kameng West Karbi Anglong West Khasi Hills West Siang West Singhbhum West Tripura Wokha Y.S.R. Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Yadgir Yamunanagar Yavatmal Zunheboto Umaria Una Unakoti Unnao Upper Siang Upper Subansiri Uttar Bastar Kanker Uttar Dinajpur Uttara Kannada Uttarkashi Vadodara Vaishali Valsad Varanasi Vellore Vidisha Vijayanagara Vijayapura Vikarabad Viluppuram Virudhunagar Visakhapatnam Vizianagaram Wanaparthy called Nisaia in Media, I slew him; I dispossessed him of the kingdom. By the grace of Ahuramazda I became king; Ahuramazda granted me the kingdom.
(14) King Darius says: The kingdom that had been wrested from our line I brought back and I reestablished it on its foundation. The temples which Gaumâta, the Magian, had destroyed, I restored to the people, and the pasture lands, and the herds and the dwelling places, and the houses which Gaumâta, the Magian, had taken away. I settled the people in their place, the people of Persia, and Media, and the other provinces. I restored that which had been taken away, as it was in the days of old. This did I by the grace of Ahuramazda, I labored until I had established our dynasty in its place, as in the days of old; I labored, by the grace of Ahuramazda, so that Gaumâta, the Magian, did not dispossess our house.
(15) King Darius says: This was what I did after I became king.
(16) King Darius says: After I had slain Gaumâta, the Magian, a certain man named ššina, the son of Upadarma, raised a rebellion in Elam, and he spoke thus unto the people of Elam: ‘I am king in Elam.’ Thereupon the people of Elam became rebellious, and they went over unto that ššina: he became king in Elam. And a certain BabylonianBabylonia Βαβυλωνία: Mat Akkadi (Achaemenidian language), the fertile alluvial plain between the Euphrates and Tigris. It became capital city of Achaemenidians after the faall of Assyrian empire (612 BCE). Peviously Sumerrians used to live here. Cyrus the Greatcaptured is around 539 BCE His son Cambyses conquered Egypt in 525 BCE, his relative Darius, killed Gaumâta (by the blessing of Ahuramazda). Darius' son was Xerxes ( his campaign against greeks were failed in 480-479). Darius III Codomannus faced Alexander in 336-330 BCE. named Nidintu-Bêl, the son of Kîn-Zêr, raised a rebellion in BabylonBabylonia Βαβυλωνία: Mat Akkadi (Achaemenidian language), the fertile alluvial plain between the Euphrates and Tigris. It became capital city of Achaemenidians after the faall of Assyrian empire (612 BCE). Peviously Sumerrians used to live here. Cyrus the Greatcaptured is around 539 BCE His son Cambyses conquered Egypt in 525 BCE, his relative Darius, killed Gaumâta (by the blessing of Ahuramazda). Darius' son was Xerxes ( his campaign against greeks were failed in 480-479). Darius III Codomannus faced Alexander in 336-330 BCE.: he lied to the people, saying: ‘I am Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabonidus.’ Then did all the province of Babylonia go over to Nidintu-Bêl, and Babylonia rose in rebellion. He seized on the kingdom of Babylonia (3 October 522 BC).
(17) King Darius says: Then I sent (an envoy?) to Elam. That ššina was brought unto me in fetters, and I killed him.
(18) King Darius says: Then I marched against that Nidintu-Bêl, who called himself Nebuchadnezzar. The armyArmy The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran shall be an Islamic army, which is an ideological and peoples army and which shall recruit competent individuals faithful to the objectives of the Islamic Revolution and ready to make sacrifices for attaining the same. (Art-144) of Nidintu-Bêl held the Tigris; there it took its stand, and on account of the waters (the river) was unfordable. Thereupon I supported my army on (inflated) skins, others I made dromedary-borne, for the rest I brought horses. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda we crossed the Tigris. Then did I utterly overthrow that host of Nidintu-Bêl. On the twenty-sixth day of the month Âçiyâdiya (13 December 522 BC) we joined battle.
(19) King Darius says: After that I marched against Babylon. But before I reached Babylon, that Nidintu-Bêl, who called himself Nebuchadnezzar, came with a host and offered battle at a city called Zâzâna, on the Euphrates. Then we joined battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did I utterly overthrow the host of Nidintu-Bêl. The enemy fled into the water; the water carried them away. On the second day of the month Anâmaka (18 December 522 BC) we joined battle.
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(20) King Darius says: Then did Nidintu-Bêl flee with a few horsemen into Babylon. Thereupon I marched to Babylon. By the grace of Ahuramazda I took Babylon, and captured Nidintu-Bêl. Then I slew that Nidintu-Bêl in Babylon.
(21) King Darius says: While I was in Babylon, these provinces revolted from me: Persia, Elam, Media, Assyria, Egypt, Parthia, Margiana [Marguš], Sattagydia [Thataguš], and Scythia [Saka].
(22) King Darius says: A certain man named Martiya, the son of Zinzakriš, dwelt in a city in Persia called Kuganakâ. This man revolted in Elam, and he said to the people: ‘I am Ummaniš, king in Elam.’
(23) King Darius says: At that timeTime χρόνος. Judicial: Where any expression of it occurs in any Rules, or any judgment, order or direction, and whenever the doing or not doing of anything at a certain time of the day or night or during a certain part of the day or night has an effect in law, that time is, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, held to be standard time as used in a particular country or state. (In Physics, time and Space never exist actually-“quantum entanglement”) यमः , पुं, (यमयति नियमयति जीवानां फलाफलमिति । यम् + अच् । विश्वे च कलयत्येव यः सर्व्वायुश्च सन्ततम् । अतीव दुर्निवार्य्यञ्च तं कालं प्रणमाम्यहम् ॥यमैश्च नियमैश्चैव यः करोत्यात्मसंयमम् । स चादृष्ट्वा तु मां याति परं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥, I was friendly with Elam. Then there were Elamites afraid of me, and that Martiya, who was their leader, they seized and slew.
(24) King Darius says: A certain Mede named Phraortes [Fravartiš] revolted in Media, and he said to the people: ‘I am Khshathrita, of the family of Cyaxares.’ Then did the Medes who were in the palace revolt from me and go over to Phraortes. He became king in Media.
(25) King Darius says: The Persian and Median army, which was with me, was small. Yet I sent forth an(other) army. A Persian named Hydarnes, my servant, I made their leader, and I said unto him: ‘Go, smite that Median host which does not acknowledge me.’ Then Hydarnes marched forth with the army. When he had come to Media, at a city in Media called Maruš, he gave battle to the Medes. He who was chief among the Medes was not there at that time. Ahuramazda brought me help: by the grace of Ahuramazda my army utterly defeated that rebel host. On the twenty-seventh day of the month Anâmaka (12 January 521) the battle was fought by them. Then did my army await me in a district in Media called Kampanda, until I came into Media.
(26) King Darius says: An ArmenianArmenia Armenia, the first state to adopt Christianity, has a long history of being under various empires. It declared independence in 1918 but was later conquered by the Soviet Red Army. The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been a point of conflict with Azerbaijan, resulting in a 1994 cease-fire. In 2020, a second military conflict occurred, with Armenia losing control over much of the territory. Turkey's border closure has left Armenia isolated, and efforts to normalize relations have been unsuccessful. Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union in 2015 and signed a partnership agreement with the EU in 2017. In 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to the mass exodus of ethnic Armenians to Armenia. named Dâdarši, my servant, I sent into Armenia, and I said unto him: ‘Go, smite that host which is in revolt and does not acknowledge me.’ Then Dâdarši went forth. When he came into Armenia, the rebels assembled and advanced against Dâdarši to give him battle. At a place in Armenia called Zuzza they fought the battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did my army utterly overthrow that rebel host. On the eighth day of the month ThûravâharaHara (हरति पापानीति । हृ + अच् ) शम्भु ईश पशुपति शिव शूलिन् महेश्वर ईश्वर शर्व ईशान शङ्कर चन्द्रशेखर भूतेश खण्डपरशु गिरीश गिरिश मृड मृत्युञ्जय कृत्तिवासस् पिनाकिन् प्रमथाधिप उग्र कपर्दिन् श्रीकण्ठ शितिकण्ठ कपालभृत् वामदेव महादेव विरूपाक्ष त्रिलोचन कृशानुरेतस् सर्वज्ञ धूर्जटि नीललोहित हर स्मरहर भर्ग त्र्यम्बक त्रिपुरान्तक गङ्गाधर अन्धकरिपु क्रतुध्वंसिन् वृषध्वज व्योमकेश भव भीम स्थाणु रुद्र उमापति अहिर्बुध्न्य अष्टमूर्ति गजारि महानट अज शिपिविष्ट नीलकण्ठ वृषाकपि । (20 May 521 BC) the battle was fought by them.
(27) King Darius says: The rebels assembled for the second time, and they advanced against Dâdarši to give him battle. At a stronghold in Armenia called Tigra they joined battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did my army utterly overthrow that rebel host. On the eighteenth day of the month Thûravâhara (30 May 521 BC) the battle was fought by them.
(28) King Darius says: The rebels assembled for the third time and advanced against Dâdarši to give him battle. At a stronghold in Armenia called Uyamâ they joined battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did my army utterly overthrow that rebel host. On the ninth day of the month Thâigaciš (20 June 521 BC) the battle was fought by them. Then Dâdarši waited for me in Armenia, until I came into Armenia.
(29) King Darius says: A Persian named Vaumisa, my servant, I sent into Armenia, and I said unto him: ‘Go, smite that host which is in revolt, and does not acknowledge me.’ Then Vaumisa went forth. When he had come to Armenia, the rebels assembled and advanced against Vaumisa to give him battle. At a place in Assyria called Izalâ they joined battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did my army utterly overthrow that rebel host. On the fifteenth day of the month Anâmaka (31 December 522 BC) the battle was fought by them.
(30) King Darius says: The rebels assembled a second time and advanced against Vaumisa to give him battle. At a place in Armenia called Autiyâra they joined battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did my army utterly overthrow that rebel host. At the end of the month Thûravâhara (11 June 521 BC) the battle was fought by them. Then Vaumisa waited for me in Armenia, until I came into Armenia.
(31) King Darius says: Then I went forth from Babylon and came into Media. When I had come to Media, that Phraortes [Fravartiš], who called himself king in Media, came against me unto a city in Media called Kunduruš (Kangâvar?) to offer battle. Then we joined battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did my army utterly overthrow that rebel host. On the twenty-fifth day of the month Adukanaiša(8 May 521 BC) we fought the battle.
(32) King Darius says: Thereupon that Phraortes fled thence with a few horseman to a district in Media called Rhagae [Ragâ]. Then I sent an army in pursuit. Phraortes was taken and brought unto me. I cut off his nose, his ears, and his tongue, and I put out one eye, and he was kept in fetters at my palace entrance, and all the people beheld him. Then did I crucify him in Ecbatana [Hagmatâna]; and the men who were his foremost followers, those at Ecbatana within the fortress, I flayed and hung out their hides, stuffed with straw.
(33) King Darius says: A man named Tritantaechmes [Ciçataxma], a Sagartian, revolted from me, saying to his people: ‘I am king in Sagartia [Asagarta], of the family of Cyaxares.’ Then I sent forth a Persian and a Median army. A Mede named Takhmaspâda, my servant, I made their leader, and I said unto him: ‘Go, smite that host which is in revolt, and does not acknowledge me.’ Thereupon Takhmaspâda went forth with the army, and he fought a battle with Tritantaechmes. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army utterly defeated that rebel host, and they seized Tritantaechmes and brought him unto me. Afterwards I cut off both his nose and ears, and put out one eye, he was kept bound at my palace entrance, all the people saw him. Afterwards I crucified him in Arbela.
(34) King Darius says: This is what was done by me in Media.
(35) King Darius says: The Parthians [Parthava] and Hyrcanians [Varkâna] revolted from me, and they declared themselves on the side of Phraortes [Fravarta]. My father Hystaspes was in Parthia; and the people forsook him; they became rebellious. Then Hystaspes [Vištâspa] marched forth with the troops which had remained faithful. At a city in Parthia called Višpauzâtiš he fought a battle with the Parthians. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army utterly defeated that rebel host. On the second day of the month Viyaxana (8 March 521) the battle was fought by them.
Column three
(36) King Darius says: Then did I send a Persian army unto Hystaspes [Vištâspa] from Rhagae [Ragâ]. When that army reached Hystaspes, he marched forth with the host. At a city in Parthia called Patigrabanâ he gave battle to the rebels. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda Hystaspes utterly defeated that rebel host. On the first day of the month Garmapada (11 July 521) the battle was fought by them.
(37) King Darius says: Then was the province mine. This is what was done by me in Parthia.
(38) King Darius says: The province called Margiana [Marguš] revolted against me. A certain Margian named Frâda they made their leader. Then sent I against him a Persian named Dâdarši, my servant, who was satrap of Bactria [Bâxtriya], and I said unto him: ‘Go, smite that host which does not acknowledge me.’ Then Dâdarši went forth with the army, and gave battle to the Margians. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army utterly overthrew that rebel host. Of the twenty-third day of the month Âçiyâdiya (28 December 521) was the battle fought by them.
(39) King Darius says: Then was the province mine. This is what was done by me in Bactria.
(40) King Darius [Dâryavuš] says: A certain man named Vahyazdâta dwelt in a city called Târavâ in a district in Persia called Vautiyâ. This man rebelled for the second time in Persia, and thus he spoke unto the people: ‘I am Smerdis [Bardiya], the son of Cyrus [Kûruš].’ Then the Persian people who were in the palace fell away from allegiance. They revolted from me and went over to that Vahyazdâta. He became king in Persia.
(41) King Darius says: Then did I send out the Persian and the Median army which was with me. A Persian named Artavardiya, my servant, I made their leader. The rest of the Persian army came unto me in Media. Then went Artavardiya with the army unto Persia. When he came to Persia, at a city in Persia called Rakhâ, that Vahyazdâta, who called himself Smerdis, advanced with the army against Artavardiya to give him battle. They then fought the battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my host utterly overthrew the army of Vahyazdâta. On the twelfth day of the month Thûravâhara (24 May 521) was the battle fought by them.
(42) King Darius says: Then that Vahyazdâta fled thence with a few horsemen unto Pishiyâuvâda. From that place he went forth with an army a second time against Artavardiya to give him battle. At a mountain called Parga they fought the battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my host utterly overthrew the army of Vahyazdâta. On the fifth day of the month Garmapada (15 July 521) was the battle fought by them. And they seized that Vahyazdâta, and the men who were his chief followers were also seized.
(43) King Darius says: Then did I crucify that Vahyazdâta and the men who were his chief followers in a city in Persia called Uvâdaicaya.
(44) King Darius says: This is what was done by me in Persia.
(45) King Darius says: That Vahyazdâta, who called himself Smerdis, sent men to Arachosia [Harauvati] against a Persian named Vivâna, my servant, the satrap of Arachosia. He appointed a certain man to be their leader, and thus he spoke to him, saying: ‘Go smite Vivâna and the host which acknowledges king Darius!’ Then that army that Vahyazdâta had sent marched against Vivâna to give him battle. At a fortress called Kapisa-Kanis [= Kandahar ] they fought the battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army utterly overthrew that rebel host. On the thirteenth day of the month Anâmaka (29 December 522) was the battle fought by them.
(46) King Darius says: The rebels assembled a second time and went out against Vivâna to give him battle. At a place called Gandutava they fought a battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army utterly overthrew that rebel host. On the seventh day of the month Viyaxana (21 February 521) the battle was fought by them.
(47) King Darius says: The man who was commander of that army that Vahyazdâta had sent forth against Vivâna fled thence with a few horsemen. They went to a fortress in Arachosia called Aršâdâ. Then Vivâna with the army marched after them on foot. There he seized him, and he slew the men who were his chief followers.
(48) King Darius says: Then was the province mine. This is what was done by me in Arachosia.
(49) King Darius says: While I was in Persia and in Media, the Babylonians revolted from me a second time. A certain man named Arakha, an Armenian, son of Haldita, rebelled in Babylon. At a place called Dubâla, he lied unto the people, saying: ‘I am Nabû-kudurrī-Aṣur (Nebuchadnezzar), the son of Nabonidus.’ Then did the Babylonian people revolt from me and they went over to that Arakha. He seized Babylon, he became king in Babylon.
(50) King Darius says: Then did I send an army unto Babylon. A Persian named Intaphrenes [Vidafarnâ], my servant, I appointed as their leader, and thus I spoke unto them: ‘Go, smite that Babylonian host which does not acknowledge me.’ Then Intaphrenes marched with the army unto Babylon. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda Intaphrenes overthrew the Babylonians and brought over the people unto me. On the twenty-second day of the month Markâsanaš (27 November) they seized that Arakha who called himself Nebuchadnezzar, and the men who were his chief followers. Then I made a decree, saying: ‘Let that Arakha and the men who were his chief followers be crucified in Babylon!’
Column four
(51) King Darius says: This is what was done by me in Babylon.
(52) King Darius says: This is what I have done. By the grace of Ahuramazda have I always acted. After I became king, I fought nineteen battles in a single year and by the grace of Ahuramazda I overthrew nine kings and I made them captive.
One was named Gaumâta, the Magian; he lied, saying ‘I am Smerdis [Bardiya], the son of Cyrus [Kurus].’ He made Persia to revolt.Another was named ššina, the Elamite [Ûvjiya]; he lied, saying: ‘I am king the king of Elam.’ He made Elam to revolt.
Another was named Nidintu-Bêl [Naditabaira], the Babylonian [Bâbiruviya]; he lied, saying: ‘I am Nebuchadnezzar [Nabukudracara], the son of Nabonidus [Nabunaita].’ He made Babylon to revolt.
Another was named Martiya, the Persian; he lied, saying: ‘I am Ummanniš, the king of Elam.’ He made Elam to revolt.
Another was Phraortes [Fravartiš], the Mede [Mâda]; he lied, saying: ‘I am Khshathrita, of the dynasty of Cyaxares [Uvaxštra].’ He made Media to revolt.
Another was Tritantaechmes [Ciçataxma], the Sagartian [Asagartiya]; he lied, saying: ‘I am king in Sagartia, of the dynasty of Cyaxares [Uvaxštra].’ He made Sagartia to revolt.
Another was named Frâda, of Margiana; he lied, saying: ‘I am king of Margiana [Marguš].’ He made Margiana to revolt.
Another was Vahyazdâta, a Persian; he lied, saying: ‘I am Smerdis [Bardiya], the son of Cyrus [Kûruš].’ He made Persia to revolt.
Another was Arakha, an Armenian [Arminiya]; he lied, saying: ‘I am Nebuchadnezzar, [Nabu-kudra-asura], son of Nabonidus.’ He made Babylon to revolt.
(53) King Darius says: These nine kings did I capture in these warsWar Whenever Christians wage a war, it is a Just war (City of God). Jesus asked his followers to purchase swords (Luke 22: 35-36). Those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility (Catechism 2265). Without Jihad there is no Islam. In Mahabharata, Krishna tried to stop the War imposed by Kurus. Lord Rama killed Ravan in the war to restore his wife. Deva and Asura battles are not available in Vedas..
(54) King Darius says: As to these provinces which revolted, lies made them revolt, so that they deceived the people. Then Ahuramazda delivered them into my hand; and I did unto them according to my will.
(55) King Darius says: You who shall be king hereafter, protect yourself vigorously from lies; punish the liars well, if thus you shall think, ‘May my country be secure!’
(56) King Darius says: This is what I have done, by the grace of Ahuramazda have I always acted. Whosoever shall read this inscription hereafter, let that which I have done be believed. You must not hold it to be lies.
(57) King Darius says: I call Ahuramazda to witness that is true and not lies; all of it have I done in a single year.
(58) King Darius says: By the grace of Ahuramazda I did much more, which is not graven in this inscription. On this account it has not been inscribed lest he who shall read this inscription hereafter should then hold that which has been done by me to be excessive and not believe it and takes it to be lies.
(59) King Darius says: Those who were the former kings, as long as they lived, by them was not done thus as by the favor of Ahuramazda was done by me in one and the same year.
(60) King Darius says: Now let what has been done by me convince you. For the sake of the people, do not conceal it. If you do not conceal this edict but if you publish it to the worldWorld Κόσμος , then may Ahuramazda be your friend, may your family be numerous, and may you live long.
(61) King Darius says: If you conceal this edict and do not publish it to the world, may Ahuramazda slay you and may your house cease.
(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.
(64) King Darius says: You who may be king hereafter, whosoever shall be a liar or a rebel, or shall not be friendly, punish him!
(65) King Darius says: You who shall hereafter see this tablet, which I have written, or these sculptures, do not destroy them, but preserve them so long as you live!
(66) King Darius says: If you shall behold this inscription or these sculptures, and shall not destroy them, but shall preserve them as long as your line endures, then may Ahuramazda be your friend, and may your family be numerous. Live long, and may Ahuramazda make fortunate whatsoever you do.
(67) King Darius says: If you shall behold this inscription or these sculptures, and shall destroy them and shall not preserve them so long as your line endures, may Ahuramazda slay you, may your family come to nought, and may Ahuramazda destroy whatever you do!
(68) King Darius says: These are the men who were with me when I slew Gaumata the Magian [magus], who was called Smerdis [Bardiya]; then these men helped me as my followers:
Intaphrenes [Vidafarnâ], son of Vayâspâra, a Persian;Otanes [Utâna], son of Thukhra [Thuxra], a Persian;
Gobryas [Gaubaruva], son of Mardonius [Marduniya], a Persian;
Hydarnes [Vidarna], son of Bagâbigna, a Persian;
Megabyzus [Bagabuxša], son of Dâtuvahya, a Persian;
Ardumaniš, son of Vakauka, a Persian.
(69) King Darius says: You who may be king hereafter, protect the family of these men.
(70) King Darius says: By the grace of Ahuramazda this is the inscription which I have made. Besides, it was in AryanArya Ἀριάνης (OInd. āˊrya-, Ir. *arya, in Old Pers. ariya-, Avesta. airiia-, etc.) >The word is used 32 times in Rigveda. It means A learned person, an intelligent person, or any high ranking person in society. Before the 1850s (Arthur de Gobineau) the term was never used to denote any race. Mleccha is one who was not able to speak the Vedic language (5000 BCE). आर्यावर्त (Identified in Manu Samhita). Ērān (Iran) and Ireland derived from Sanskrit आर्य (ऋ+यत्). अर्य (ऊरव्या ऊरुजा अर्या वैश्या भूमिस्पृशो विशः । आजीवो जीविका वार्ता वृत्तिर्वर्तनजीवने ॥ (Amar Kosa-२.९.१ ). अर्य (पर्जन्यौ रसदब्देन्द्रौ स्यादर्यः स्वामिवैश्ययोः । तिष्यः पुष्ये कलियुगे पर्यायोऽवसरे क्रमे ॥ (Amar Kosa--३.३.१५५ ). Ref: Saraswati. script, and it was composed on clay tablets and on parchment. Besides, a sculptured figure of myself I made. Besides, I made my lineage. And it was inscribed and was read off before me. Afterwards this inscription I sent off everywhere among the provinces. The people unitedly worked upon it.
Column five
(71) King Darius says: The following is what I did in the second and third year of my rule. The province called Elam [Ûvja] revolted from me. An Elamite named Atamaita they made their leader. Then I sent an army unto Elam. A Persian named Gobryas [Gaubaruva], my servant, I made their leader. Then Gobryas set forth with the army; he delivered battle against the Elamites. Then Gobryas destroyed many of the host and that Atamaita, their leader, he captured, and he brought him unto me, and I killed him. Then the province became mine.
(72) King Darius says: Those Elamites were faithless and Ahuramazda was not worshipped by them. I worshipped Ahuramazda; by the grace of Ahuramazda I did unto them according to my will.
(73) King Darius says: Whoso shall worship Ahuramazda, divine blessing will be upon him, both while living and when dead.
(74) King Darius says: Afterwards with an army I went off to Scythia, after the Scythians who wear the pointed cap. These Scythians went from me. When I arrived at the river, I crossed beyond it then with all my army. Afterwards, I smote the Scythians exceedingly; [one of their leaders] I took captive; he was led bound to me, and I killed him. [Another] chief of them, by name Skunkha, they seized and led to me. Then I made another their chief, as was my desire. Then the province became mine.
(75) King Darius says: Those Scythians [Saka] were faithless and Ahuramazda was not worshipped by them. I worshipped Ahuramazda; by the grace of Ahuramazda I did unto them according to my will.
(76) King Darius says: Whoso shall worship Ahuramazda, divine blessing will be upon him, both while living and when dead.
