lūkaḥ 1
1 prathamatō yē sākṣiṇō vākyapracārakāścāsan tē'smākaṁ madhyē yadyat sapramāṇaṁ vākyamarpayanti sma
To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,
2 tadanusāratō'nyēpi bahavastadvr̥ttāntaṁ racayituṁ pravr̥ttāḥ|
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterward became bearers of the message.
3 ataēva hē mahāmahimathiyaphil tvaṁ yā yāḥ kathā aśikṣyathāstāsāṁ dr̥ḍhapramāṇāni yathā prāpnōṣi
And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,
4 tadarthaṁ prathamamārabhya tāni sarvvāṇi jñātvāhamapi anukramāt sarvvavr̥ttāntān tubhyaṁ lēkhituṁ matimakārṣam|
in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.
5 yihūdādēśīyahērōdnāmakē rājatvaṁ kurvvati abīyayājakasya paryyāyādhikārī sikhariyanāmaka ēkō yājakō hārōṇavaṁśōdbhavā ilīśēvākhyā
In the reign of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 tasya jāyā dvāvimau nirdōṣau prabhōḥ sarvvājñā vyavasthāśca saṁmanya īśvaradr̥ṣṭau dhārmmikāvāstām|
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 tayōḥ santāna ēkōpi nāsīt, yata ilīśēvā bandhyā tau dvāvēva vr̥ddhāvabhavatām|
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 yadā svaparyyānukramēṇa sikhariya īśvāsya samakṣaṁ yājakīyaṁ karmma karōti
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 tadā yajñasya dinaparipāyyā paramēśvarasya mandirē pravēśakālē dhūpajvālanaṁ karmma tasya karaṇīyamāsīt|
it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;
10 taddhūpajvālanakālē lōkanivahē prārthanāṁ kartuṁ bahistiṣṭhati
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 sati sikhariyō yasyāṁ vēdyāṁ dhūpaṁ jvālayati taddakṣiṇapārśvē paramēśvarasya dūta ēka upasthitō darśanaṁ dadau|
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 taṁ dr̥ṣṭvā sikhariya udvivijē śaśaṅkē ca|
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 tadā sa dūtastaṁ babhāṣē hē sikhariya mā bhaistava prārthanā grāhyā jātā tava bhāryyā ilīśēvā putraṁ prasōṣyatē tasya nāma yōhan iti kariṣyasi|
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 kiñca tvaṁ sānandaḥ saharṣaśca bhaviṣyasi tasya janmani bahava ānandiṣyanti ca|
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 yatō hētōḥ sa paramēśvarasya gōcarē mahān bhaviṣyati tathā drākṣārasaṁ surāṁ vā kimapi na pāsyati, aparaṁ janmārabhya pavitrēṇātmanā paripūrṇaḥ
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 san isrāyēlvaṁśīyān anēkān prabhōḥ paramēśvarasya mārgamānēṣyati|
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 santānān prati pitr̥ṇāṁ manāṁsi dharmmajñānaṁ pratyanājñāgrāhiṇaśca parāvarttayituṁ, prabhōḥ paramēśvarasya sēvārtham ēkāṁ sajjitajātiṁ vidhātuñca sa ēliyarūpātmaśaktiprāptastasyāgrē gamiṣyati|
He will go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 tadā sikhariyō dūtamavādīt kathamētad vētsyāmi? yatōhaṁ vr̥ddhō mama bhāryyā ca vr̥ddhā|
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 tatō dūtaḥ pratyuvāca paśyēśvarasya sākṣādvarttī jibrāyēlnāmā dūtōhaṁ tvayā saha kathāṁ gadituṁ tubhyamimāṁ śubhavārttāṁ dātuñca prēṣitaḥ|
“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 kintu madīyaṁ vākyaṁ kālē phaliṣyati tat tvayā na pratītam ataḥ kāraṇād yāvadēva tāni na sētsyanti tāvat tvaṁ vaktuṁmaśaktō mūkō bhava|
And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.”
21 tadānīṁ yē yē lōkāḥ sikhariyamapaikṣanta tē madhyēmandiraṁ tasya bahuvilambād āścaryyaṁ mēnirē|
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 sa bahirāgatō yadā kimapi vākyaṁ vaktumaśaktaḥ saṅkētaṁ kr̥tvā niḥśabdastasyau tadā madhyēmandiraṁ kasyacid darśanaṁ tēna prāptam iti sarvvē bubudhirē|
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 anantaraṁ tasya sēvanaparyyāyē sampūrṇē sati sa nijagēhaṁ jagāma|
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 katipayadinēṣu gatēṣu tasya bhāryyā ilīśēvā garbbhavatī babhūva
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 paścāt sā pañcamāsān saṁgōpyākathayat lōkānāṁ samakṣaṁ mamāpamānaṁ khaṇḍayituṁ paramēśvarō mayi dr̥ṣṭiṁ pātayitvā karmmēdr̥śaṁ kr̥tavān|
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.”
26 aparañca tasyā garbbhasya ṣaṣṭhē māsē jātē gālīlpradēśīyanāsaratpurē
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 dāyūdō vaṁśīyāya yūṣaphnāmnē puruṣāya yā mariyamnāmakumārī vāgdattāsīt tasyāḥ samīpaṁ jibrāyēl dūta īśvarēṇa prahitaḥ|
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 sa gatvā jagāda hē īśvarānugr̥hītakanyē tava śubhaṁ bhūyāt prabhuḥ paramēśvarastava sahāyōsti nārīṇāṁ madhyē tvamēva dhanyā|
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor – the Lord is with you.”
29 tadānīṁ sā taṁ dr̥ṣṭvā tasya vākyata udvijya kīdr̥śaṁ bhāṣaṇamidam iti manasā cintayāmāsa|
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 tatō dūtō'vadat hē mariyam bhayaṁ mākārṣīḥ, tvayi paramēśvarasyānugrahōsti|
when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 paśya tvaṁ garbbhaṁ dhr̥tvā putraṁ prasōṣyasē tasya nāma yīśuriti kariṣyasi|
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 sa mahān bhaviṣyati tathā sarvvēbhyaḥ śrēṣṭhasya putra iti khyāsyati; aparaṁ prabhuḥ paramēśvarastasya piturdāyūdaḥ siṁhāsanaṁ tasmai dāsyati;
The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
33 tathā sa yākūbō vaṁśōpari sarvvadā rājatvaṁ kariṣyati, tasya rājatvasyāntō na bhaviṣyati| (aiōn g165)
and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 tadā mariyam taṁ dūtaṁ babhāṣē nāhaṁ puruṣasaṅgaṁ karōmi tarhi kathamētat sambhaviṣyati?
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 tatō dūtō'kathayat pavitra ātmā tvāmāśrāyiṣyati tathā sarvvaśrēṣṭhasya śaktistavōpari chāyāṁ kariṣyati tatō hētōstava garbbhād yaḥ pavitrabālakō janiṣyatē sa īśvaraputra iti khyātiṁ prāpsyati|
“The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
36 aparañca paśya tava jñātirilīśēvā yāṁ sarvvē bandhyāmavadan idānīṁ sā vārddhakyē santānamēkaṁ garbbhē'dhārayat tasya ṣaṣṭhamāsōbhūt|
And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;
37 kimapi karmma nāsādhyam īśvarasya|
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”
38 tadā mariyam jagāda, paśya prabhērahaṁ dāsī mahyaṁ tava vākyānusārēṇa sarvvamētad ghaṭatām; ananataraṁ dūtastasyāḥ samīpāt pratasthē|
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary. “Let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 atha katipayadināt paraṁ mariyam tasmāt parvvatamayapradēśīyayihūdāyā nagaramēkaṁ śīghraṁ gatvā
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 sikhariyayājakasya gr̥haṁ praviśya tasya jāyām ilīśēvāṁ sambōdhyāvadat|
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 tatō mariyamaḥ sambōdhanavākyē ilīśēvāyāḥ karṇayōḥ praviṣṭamātrē sati tasyā garbbhasthabālakō nanartta| tata ilīśēvā pavitrēṇātmanā paripūrṇā satī
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 prōccairgaditumārēbhē, yōṣitāṁ madhyē tvamēva dhanyā, tava garbbhasthaḥ śiśuśca dhanyaḥ|
and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 tvaṁ prabhōrmātā, mama nivēśanē tvayā caraṇāvarpitau, mamādya saubhāgyamētat|
But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 paśya tava vākyē mama karṇayōḥ praviṣṭamātrē sati mamōdarasthaḥ śiśurānandān nanartta|
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 yā strī vyaśvasīt sā dhanyā, yatō hētōstāṁ prati paramēśvarōktaṁ vākyaṁ sarvvaṁ siddhaṁ bhaviṣyati|
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 tadānīṁ mariyam jagāda| dhanyavādaṁ parēśasya karōti māmakaṁ manaḥ|
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 mamātmā tārakēśē ca samullāsaṁ pragacchati|
and my spirit delights in God my Savior,
48 akarōt sa prabhu rduṣṭiṁ svadāsyā durgatiṁ prati| paśyādyārabhya māṁ dhanyāṁ vakṣyanti puruṣāḥ sadā|
for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 yaḥ sarvvaśaktimān yasya nāmāpi ca pavitrakaṁ| sa ēva sumahatkarmma kr̥tavān mannimittakaṁ|
“For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 yē bibhyati janāstasmāt tēṣāṁ santānapaṁktiṣu| anukampā tadīyā ca sarvvadaiva sutiṣṭhati|
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 svabāhubalatastēna prākāśyata parākramaḥ| manaḥkumantraṇāsārddhaṁ vikīryyantē'bhimāninaḥ|
“Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 siṁhāsanagatāllōkān balinaścāvarōhya saḥ| padēṣūccēṣu lōkāṁstu kṣudrān saṁsthāpayatyapi|
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 kṣudhitān mānavān dravyairuttamaiḥ paritarpya saḥ| sakalān dhaninō lōkān visr̥jēd riktahastakān|
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 ibrāhīmi ca tadvaṁśē yā dayāsti sadaiva tāṁ| smr̥tvā purā pitr̥ṇāṁ nō yathā sākṣāt pratiśrutaṁ| (aiōn g165)
“He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
55 isrāyēlsēvakastēna tathōpakriyatē svayaṁ||
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 anantaraṁ mariyam prāyēṇa māsatrayam ilīśēvayā sahōṣitvā vyāghuyya nijanivēśanaṁ yayau|
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 tadanantaram ilīśēvāyāḥ prasavakāla upasthitē sati sā putraṁ prāsōṣṭa|
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 tataḥ paramēśvarastasyāṁ mahānugrahaṁ kr̥tavān ētat śrutvā samīpavāsinaḥ kuṭumbāścāgatya tayā saha mumudirē|
and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 tathāṣṭamē dinē tē bālakasya tvacaṁ chēttum ētya tasya pitr̥nāmānurūpaṁ tannāma sikhariya iti karttumīṣuḥ|
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 kintu tasya mātākathayat tanna, nāmāsya yōhan iti karttavyam|
when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”
61 tadā tē vyāharan tava vaṁśamadhyē nāmēdr̥śaṁ kasyāpi nāsti|
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 tataḥ paraṁ tasya pitaraṁ sikhariyaṁ prati saṅkētya papracchuḥ śiśōḥ kiṁ nāma kāriṣyatē?
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 tataḥ sa phalakamēkaṁ yācitvā lilēkha tasya nāma yōhan bhaviṣyati| tasmāt sarvvē āścaryyaṁ mēnirē|
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised
64 tatkṣaṇaṁ sikhariyasya jihvājāḍyē'pagatē sa mukhaṁ vyādāya spaṣṭavarṇamuccāryya īśvarasya guṇānuvādaṁ cakāra|
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 tasmāccaturdiksthāḥ samīpavāsilōkā bhītā ēvamētāḥ sarvvāḥ kathā yihūdāyāḥ parvvatamayapradēśasya sarvvatra pracāritāḥ|
All their neighbors were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 tasmāt śrōtārō manaḥsu sthāpayitvā kathayāmbabhūvuḥ kīdr̥śōyaṁ bālō bhaviṣyati? atha paramēśvarastasya sahāyōbhūt|
All who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another – “What can this child be destined to become?” For the Power of the Lord was with him.
67 tadā yōhanaḥ pitā sikhariyaḥ pavitrēṇātmanā paripūrṇaḥ san ētādr̥śaṁ bhaviṣyadvākyaṁ kathayāmāsa|
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 isrāyēlaḥ prabhu ryastu sa dhanyaḥ paramēśvaraḥ| anugr̥hya nijāllōkān sa ēva parimōcayēt|
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 vipakṣajanahastēbhyō yathā mōcyāmahē vayaṁ| yāvajjīvañca dharmmēṇa sāralyēna ca nirbhayāḥ|
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
70 sēvāmahai tamēvaikam ētatkāraṇamēva ca| svakīyaṁ supavitrañca saṁsmr̥tya niyamaṁ sadā|
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 kr̥payā puruṣān pūrvvān nikaṣārthāttu naḥ pituḥ| ibrāhīmaḥ samīpē yaṁ śapathaṁ kr̥tavān purā|
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 tamēva saphalaṁ karttaṁ tathā śatrugaṇasya ca| r̥tīyākāriṇaścaiva karēbhyō rakṣaṇāya naḥ|
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 yathōktavān tathā svasya dāyūdaḥ sēvakasya tu|
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 vaṁśē trātāramēkaṁ sa samutpāditavān svayam|
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 atō hē bālaka tvantu sarvvēbhyaḥ śrēṣṭha ēva yaḥ| tasyaiva bhāvivādīti pravikhyātō bhaviṣyasi| asmākaṁ caraṇān kṣēmē mārgē cālayituṁ sadā| ēvaṁ dhvāntē'rthatō mr̥tyōśchāyāyāṁ yē tu mānavāḥ|
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 upaviṣṭāstu tānēva prakāśayitumēva hi| kr̥tvā mahānukampāṁ hi yāmēva paramēśvaraḥ|
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ūrdvvāt sūryyamudāyyaivāsmabhyaṁ prādāttu darśanaṁ| tayānukampayā svasya lōkānāṁ pāpamōcanē|
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 paritrāṇasya tēbhyō hi jñānaviśrāṇanāya ca| prabhō rmārgaṁ pariṣkarttuṁ tasyāgrāyī bhaviṣyasi||
to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 atha bālakaḥ śarīrēṇa buddhyā ca varddhitumārēbhē; aparañca sa isrāyēlō vaṁśīyalōkānāṁ samīpē yāvanna prakaṭībhūtastāstāvat prāntarē nyavasat|
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
