Behistun T 40

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 67-76

  1. m \ aparsam \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ tuvam \ kâ \ xšâyathiya \
  2. hya \ aparam \ âhy \ martiya \ hya \ draujana \ ahatiy \ hyavâ \ zurakara \ ahat
  3. iy \ avaiy \ mâ \ dauštâ \ biyâ \ ufraštâdiy \ parsâ \ thâtiy \ Dâra
  4. yavauš \ xšâyathiya \ tuvam \ kâ \ hya \ aparam \ imâm \ dipim \ vainâhy \ ty
  5. âm \ adam \ niyapaišam \ imaivâ \ patikarâ \ mâtya \ vikanâhy \ yâvâ \ u
  6. tava \ âhy \ avathâšatâ \ paribarâ \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ ya
  7. diy \ imâm \ dipim \ vainâhy \ imaivâ \ patikarâ \ naiydiš \ vikanâhy \ utâ
  8. taiy \ yâvâ \ taumâ \ ahatiy \ paribarâhadiš \ Auramazdâ \ thuvâm dauštâ \ biy
  9. â \ utâtaiy \ taumâ \ vasiy \ biyâ \ utâ \ dargam \ jîvâ \ utâ \ tya \ kunavâhy
  10. \ avataiy \ Auramazdâ \ ucâram \ kunautuv \ thâitiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâ

(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.