lUkaH 1
1 prathamato ye sAkShiNo vAkyaprachArakAshchAsan te. asmAkaM madhye yadyat sapramANaM vAkyamarpayanti sma
Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
2 tadanusArato. anyepi bahavastadvR^ittAntaM rachayituM pravR^ittAH|
on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
3 ataeva he mahAmahimathiyaphil tvaM yA yAH kathA ashikShyathAstAsAM dR^iDhapramANAni yathA prApnoShi
it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,
4 tadarthaM prathamamArabhya tAni sarvvANi j nAtvAhamapi anukramAt sarvvavR^ittAntAn tubhyaM lekhituM matimakArSham|
that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
5 yihUdAdeshIyaherodnAmake rAjatvaM kurvvati abIyayAjakasya paryyAyAdhikArI sikhariyanAmaka eko yAjako hAroNavaMshodbhavA ilIshevAkhyA
There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 tasya jAyA dvAvimau nirdoShau prabhoH sarvvAj nA vyavasthAshcha saMmanya IshvaradR^iShTau dhArmmikAvAstAm|
They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
7 tayoH santAna ekopi nAsIt, yata ilIshevA bandhyA tau dvAveva vR^iddhAvabhavatAm|
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
8 yadA svaparyyAnukrameNa sikhariya IshvAsya samakShaM yAjakIyaM karmma karoti
Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
9 tadA yaj nasya dinaparipAyyA parameshvarasya mandire praveshakAle dhUpajvAlanaM karmma tasya karaNIyamAsIt|
it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
10 taddhUpajvAlanakAle lokanivahe prArthanAM kartuM bahistiShThati
and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
11 sati sikhariyo yasyAM vedyAM dhUpaM jvAlayati taddakShiNapArshve parameshvarasya dUta eka upasthito darshanaM dadau|
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;
12 taM dR^iShTvA sikhariya udvivije shasha Nke cha|
and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
13 tadA sa dUtastaM babhAShe he sikhariya mA bhaistava prArthanA grAhyA jAtA tava bhAryyA ilIshevA putraM prasoShyate tasya nAma yohan iti kariShyasi|
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.
14 ki ncha tvaM sAnandaH saharShashcha bhaviShyasi tasya janmani bahava AnandiShyanti cha|
Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 yato hetoH sa parameshvarasya gochare mahAn bhaviShyati tathA drAkShArasaM surAM vA kimapi na pAsyati, aparaM janmArabhya pavitreNAtmanA paripUrNaH
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.
16 san isrAyelvaMshIyAn anekAn prabhoH parameshvarasya mArgamAneShyati|
Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
17 santAnAn prati pitR^iNAM manAMsi dharmmaj nAnaM pratyanAj nAgrAhiNashcha parAvarttayituM, prabhoH parameshvarasya sevArtham ekAM sajjitajAtiM vidhAtu ncha sa eliyarUpAtmashaktiprAptastasyAgre gamiShyati|
and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."
18 tadA sikhariyo dUtamavAdIt kathametad vetsyAmi? yatohaM vR^iddho mama bhAryyA cha vR^iddhA|
"By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
19 tato dUtaH pratyuvAcha pashyeshvarasya sAkShAdvarttI jibrAyelnAmA dUtohaM tvayA saha kathAM gadituM tubhyamimAM shubhavArttAM dAtu ncha preShitaH|
"I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news.
20 kintu madIyaM vAkyaM kAle phaliShyati tat tvayA na pratItam ataH kAraNAd yAvadeva tAni na setsyanti tAvat tvaM vaktuMmashakto mUko bhava|
And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."
21 tadAnIM ye ye lokAH sikhariyamapaikShanta te madhyemandiraM tasya bahuvilambAd AshcharyyaM menire|
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
22 sa bahirAgato yadA kimapi vAkyaM vaktumashaktaH sa NketaM kR^itvA niHshabdastasyau tadA madhyemandiraM kasyachid darshanaM tena prAptam iti sarvve bubudhire|
When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.
23 anantaraM tasya sevanaparyyAye sampUrNe sati sa nijagehaM jagAma|
When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
24 katipayadineShu gateShu tasya bhAryyA ilIshevA garbbhavatI babhUva
and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
25 pashchAt sA pa nchamAsAn saMgopyAkathayat lokAnAM samakShaM mamApamAnaM khaNDayituM parameshvaro mayi dR^iShTiM pAtayitvA karmmedR^ishaM kR^itavAn|
"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
26 apara ncha tasyA garbbhasya ShaShThe mAse jAte gAlIlpradeshIyanAsaratpure
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 dAyUdo vaMshIyAya yUShaphnAmne puruShAya yA mariyamnAmakumArI vAgdattAsIt tasyAH samIpaM jibrAyel dUta IshvareNa prahitaH|
to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.
28 sa gatvA jagAda he IshvarAnugR^ihItakanye tava shubhaM bhUyAt prabhuH parameshvarastava sahAyosti nArINAM madhye tvameva dhanyA|
So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."
29 tadAnIM sA taM dR^iShTvA tasya vAkyata udvijya kIdR^ishaM bhAShaNamidam iti manasA chintayAmAsa|
She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
30 tato dUto. avadat he mariyam bhayaM mAkArShIH, tvayi parameshvarasyAnugrahosti|
But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 pashya tvaM garbbhaM dhR^itvA putraM prasoShyase tasya nAma yIshuriti kariShyasi|
You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.
32 sa mahAn bhaviShyati tathA sarvvebhyaH shreShThasya putra iti khyAsyati; aparaM prabhuH parameshvarastasya piturdAyUdaH siMhAsanaM tasmai dAsyati;
He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;
33 tathA sa yAkUbo vaMshopari sarvvadA rAjatvaM kariShyati, tasya rAjatvasyAnto na bhaviShyati| (aiōn g165)
and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end." (aiōn g165)
34 tadA mariyam taM dUtaM babhAShe nAhaM puruShasa NgaM karomi tarhi kathametat sambhaviShyati?
"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
35 tato dUto. akathayat pavitra AtmA tvAmAshrAyiShyati tathA sarvvashreShThasya shaktistavopari ChAyAM kariShyati tato hetostava garbbhAd yaH pavitrabAlako janiShyate sa Ishvaraputra iti khyAtiM prApsyati|
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'
36 apara ncha pashya tava j nAtirilIshevA yAM sarvve bandhyAmavadan idAnIM sA vArddhakye santAnamekaM garbbhe. adhArayat tasya ShaShThamAsobhUt|
And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 kimapi karmma nAsAdhyam Ishvarasya|
For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
38 tadA mariyam jagAda, pashya prabherahaM dAsI mahyaM tava vAkyAnusAreNa sarvvametad ghaTatAm; ananataraM dUtastasyAH samIpAt pratasthe|
"I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.
39 atha katipayadinAt paraM mariyam tasmAt parvvatamayapradeshIyayihUdAyA nagaramekaM shIghraM gatvA
Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
40 sikhariyayAjakasya gR^ihaM pravishya tasya jAyAm ilIshevAM sambodhyAvadat|
Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
41 tato mariyamaH sambodhanavAkye ilIshevAyAH karNayoH praviShTamAtre sati tasyA garbbhasthabAlako nanartta| tata ilIshevA pavitreNAtmanA paripUrNA satI
and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 prochchairgaditumArebhe, yoShitAM madhye tvameva dhanyA, tava garbbhasthaH shishushcha dhanyaH|
and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
43 tvaM prabhormAtA, mama niveshane tvayA charaNAvarpitau, mamAdya saubhAgyametat|
But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 pashya tava vAkye mama karNayoH praviShTamAtre sati mamodarasthaH shishurAnandAn nanartta|
For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.
45 yA strI vyashvasIt sA dhanyA, yato hetostAM prati parameshvaroktaM vAkyaM sarvvaM siddhaM bhaviShyati|
And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
46 tadAnIM mariyam jagAda| dhanyavAdaM pareshasya karoti mAmakaM manaH|
Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
47 mamAtmA tArakeshe cha samullAsaM pragachChati|
And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
48 akarot sa prabhu rduShTiM svadAsyA durgatiM prati| pashyAdyArabhya mAM dhanyAM vakShyanti puruShAH sadA|
Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
49 yaH sarvvashaktimAn yasya nAmApi cha pavitrakaM| sa eva sumahatkarmma kR^itavAn mannimittakaM|
Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
50 ye bibhyati janAstasmAt teShAM santAnapaMktiShu| anukampA tadIyA cha sarvvadaiva sutiShThati|
And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
51 svabAhubalatastena prAkAshyata parAkramaH| manaHkumantraNAsArddhaM vikIryyante. abhimAninaH|
He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 siMhAsanagatAllokAn balinashchAvarohya saH| padeShUchcheShu lokAMstu kShudrAn saMsthApayatyapi|
He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
53 kShudhitAn mAnavAn dravyairuttamaiH paritarpya saH| sakalAn dhanino lokAn visR^ijed riktahastakAn|
The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
54 ibrAhImi cha tadvaMshe yA dayAsti sadaiva tAM| smR^itvA purA pitR^iNAM no yathA sAkShAt pratishrutaM| (aiōn g165)
His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
55 isrAyelsevakastena tathopakriyate svayaM||
In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
56 anantaraM mariyam prAyeNa mAsatrayam ilIshevayA sahoShitvA vyAghuyya nijaniveshanaM yayau|
So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
57 tadanantaram ilIshevAyAH prasavakAla upasthite sati sA putraM prAsoShTa|
Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;
58 tataH parameshvarastasyAM mahAnugrahaM kR^itavAn etat shrutvA samIpavAsinaH kuTumbAshchAgatya tayA saha mumudire|
and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 tathAShTame dine te bAlakasya tvachaM Chettum etya tasya pitR^inAmAnurUpaM tannAma sikhariya iti karttumIShuH|
And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
60 kintu tasya mAtAkathayat tanna, nAmAsya yohan iti karttavyam|
His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
61 tadA te vyAharan tava vaMshamadhye nAmedR^ishaM kasyApi nAsti|
"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
62 tataH paraM tasya pitaraM sikhariyaM prati sa Nketya paprachChuH shishoH kiM nAma kAriShyate?
They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
63 tataH sa phalakamekaM yAchitvA lilekha tasya nAma yohan bhaviShyati| tasmAt sarvve AshcharyyaM menire|
So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
64 tatkShaNaM sikhariyasya jihvAjADye. apagate sa mukhaM vyAdAya spaShTavarNamuchchAryya Ishvarasya guNAnuvAdaM chakAra|
Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
65 tasmAchchaturdiksthAH samIpavAsilokA bhItA evametAH sarvvAH kathA yihUdAyAH parvvatamayapradeshasya sarvvatra prachAritAH|
And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.
66 tasmAt shrotAro manaHsu sthApayitvA kathayAmbabhUvuH kIdR^ishoyaM bAlo bhaviShyati? atha parameshvarastasya sahAyobhUt|
All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.
67 tadA yohanaH pitA sikhariyaH pavitreNAtmanA paripUrNaH san etAdR^ishaM bhaviShyadvAkyaM kathayAmAsa|
And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
68 isrAyelaH prabhu ryastu sa dhanyaH parameshvaraH| anugR^ihya nijAllokAn sa eva parimochayet|
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
69 vipakShajanahastebhyo yathA mochyAmahe vayaM| yAvajjIva ncha dharmmeNa sAralyena cha nirbhayAH|
And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
70 sevAmahai tamevaikam etatkAraNameva cha| svakIyaM supavitra ncha saMsmR^itya niyamaM sadA|
As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets-- (aiōn g165)
71 kR^ipayA puruShAn pUrvvAn nikaShArthAttu naH pituH| ibrAhImaH samIpe yaM shapathaM kR^itavAn purA|
To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
72 tameva saphalaM karttaM tathA shatrugaNasya cha| R^itIyAkAriNashchaiva karebhyo rakShaNAya naH|
He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
74 yathoktavAn tathA svasya dAyUdaH sevakasya tu|
To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
75 vaMshe trAtAramekaM sa samutpAditavAn svayam|
In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
76 ato he bAlaka tvantu sarvvebhyaH shreShTha eva yaH| tasyaiva bhAvivAdIti pravikhyAto bhaviShyasi| asmAkaM charaNAn kSheme mArge chAlayituM sadA| evaM dhvAnte. arthato mR^ityoshChAyAyAM ye tu mAnavAH|
And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 upaviShTAstu tAneva prakAshayitumeva hi| kR^itvA mahAnukampAM hi yAmeva parameshvaraH|
To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 UrdvvAt sUryyamudAyyaivAsmabhyaM prAdAttu darshanaM| tayAnukampayA svasya lokAnAM pApamochane|
Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
79 paritrANasya tebhyo hi j nAnavishrANanAya cha| prabho rmArgaM pariShkarttuM tasyAgrAyI bhaviShyasi||
Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."
80 atha bAlakaH sharIreNa buddhyA cha varddhitumArebhe; apara ncha sa isrAyelo vaMshIyalokAnAM samIpe yAvanna prakaTIbhUtastAstAvat prAntare nyavasat|
And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.
