lUkaH 1
1 prathamato ye sAkShiNo vAkyaprachArakAshchAsan te. asmAkaM madhye yadyat sapramANaM vAkyamarpayanti 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 tadanusArato. anyepi bahavastadvR^ittAntaM rachayituM pravR^ittAH|
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterward became bearers of the message.
3 ataeva he mahAmahimathiyaphil tvaM yA yAH kathA ashikShyathAstAsAM dR^iDhapramANAni yathA prApnoShi
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 tadarthaM prathamamArabhya tAni sarvvANi j nAtvAhamapi anukramAt sarvvavR^ittAntAn tubhyaM lekhituM matimakArSham|
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 yihUdAdeshIyaherodnAmake rAjatvaM kurvvati abIyayAjakasya paryyAyAdhikArI sikhariyanAmaka eko yAjako hAroNavaMshodbhavA ilIshevAkhyA
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 jAyA dvAvimau nirdoShau prabhoH sarvvAj nA vyavasthAshcha saMmanya IshvaradR^iShTau dhArmmikAvAstAm|
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 tayoH santAna ekopi nAsIt, yata ilIshevA bandhyA tau dvAveva vR^iddhAvabhavatAm|
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 yadA svaparyyAnukrameNa sikhariya IshvAsya samakShaM yAjakIyaM karmma karoti
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 tadA yaj nasya dinaparipAyyA parameshvarasya mandire praveshakAle dhUpajvAlanaM karmma tasya karaNIyamAsIt|
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 taddhUpajvAlanakAle lokanivahe prArthanAM kartuM bahistiShThati
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 sati sikhariyo yasyAM vedyAM dhUpaM jvAlayati taddakShiNapArshve parameshvarasya dUta eka upasthito darshanaM dadau|
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 taM dR^iShTvA sikhariya udvivije shasha Nke cha|
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
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; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 ki ncha tvaM sAnandaH saharShashcha bhaviShyasi tasya janmani bahava AnandiShyanti cha|
He will be to you a joy and a delight; 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; 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 isrAyelvaMshIyAn anekAn prabhoH parameshvarasya mArgamAneShyati|
and will reconcile many of the Israelites 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|
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 tadA sikhariyo dUtamavAdIt kathametad vetsyAmi? yatohaM vR^iddho mama bhAryyA cha vR^iddhA|
“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 tato dUtaH pratyuvAcha pashyeshvarasya sAkShAdvarttI jibrAyelnAmA dUtohaM tvayA saha kathAM gadituM tubhyamimAM shubhavArttAM dAtu ncha preShitaH|
“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 madIyaM vAkyaM kAle phaliShyati tat tvayA na pratItam ataH kAraNAd yAvadeva tAni na setsyanti tAvat tvaM vaktuMmashakto mUko 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 tadAnIM ye ye lokAH sikhariyamapaikShanta te madhyemandiraM tasya bahuvilambAd AshcharyyaM menire|
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 sa bahirAgato yadA kimapi vAkyaM vaktumashaktaH sa NketaM kR^itvA niHshabdastasyau tadA madhyemandiraM kasyachid darshanaM tena prAptam iti sarvve bubudhire|
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 anantaraM tasya sevanaparyyAye sampUrNe sati sa nijagehaM jagAma|
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 katipayadineShu gateShu tasya bhAryyA ilIshevA garbbhavatI babhUva
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 pashchAt sA pa nchamAsAn saMgopyAkathayat lokAnAM samakShaM mamApamAnaM khaNDayituM parameshvaro mayi dR^iShTiM pAtayitvA karmmedR^ishaM kR^itavAn|
“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 apara ncha tasyA garbbhasya ShaShThe mAse jAte gAlIlpradeshIyanAsaratpure
Six months later 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 there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 sa gatvA jagAda he IshvarAnugR^ihItakanye tava shubhaM bhUyAt prabhuH parameshvarastava sahAyosti nArINAM madhye tvameva dhanyA|
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor – the Lord is with you.”
29 tadAnIM sA taM dR^iShTvA tasya vAkyata udvijya kIdR^ishaM bhAShaNamidam iti manasA chintayAmAsa|
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 tato dUto. avadat he mariyam bhayaM mAkArShIH, tvayi parameshvarasyAnugrahosti|
when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 pashya tvaM garbbhaM dhR^itvA putraM prasoShyase tasya nAma yIshuriti kariShyasi|
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 sa mahAn bhaviShyati tathA sarvvebhyaH shreShThasya putra iti khyAsyati; aparaM prabhuH parameshvarastasya piturdAyUdaH siMhAsanaM tasmai dAsyati;
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 tathA sa yAkUbo vaMshopari sarvvadA rAjatvaM kariShyati, tasya rAjatvasyAnto na bhaviShyati| (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 tadA mariyam taM dUtaM babhAShe nAhaM puruShasa NgaM karomi tarhi kathametat sambhaviShyati?
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For 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 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 apara ncha pashya tava j nAtirilIshevA yAM sarvve bandhyAmavadan idAnIM sA vArddhakye santAnamekaM garbbhe. adhArayat tasya ShaShThamAsobhUt|
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 nAsAdhyam Ishvarasya|
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”
38 tadA mariyam jagAda, pashya prabherahaM dAsI mahyaM tava vAkyAnusAreNa sarvvametad ghaTatAm; ananataraM dUtastasyAH samIpAt pratasthe|
“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 katipayadinAt paraM mariyam tasmAt parvvatamayapradeshIyayihUdAyA nagaramekaM shIghraM gatvA
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 sikhariyayAjakasya gR^ihaM pravishya tasya jAyAm ilIshevAM sambodhyAvadat|
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 tato mariyamaH sambodhanavAkye ilIshevAyAH karNayoH praviShTamAtre sati tasyA garbbhasthabAlako nanartta| tata ilIshevA pavitreNAtmanA paripUrNA satI
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 prochchairgaditumArebhe, yoShitAM madhye tvameva dhanyA, tava garbbhasthaH shishushcha dhanyaH|
and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 tvaM prabhormAtA, mama niveshane tvayA charaNAvarpitau, mamAdya saubhAgyametat|
But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 pashya tava vAkye mama karNayoH praviShTamAtre sati mamodarasthaH shishurAnandAn nanartta|
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 yA strI vyashvasIt sA dhanyA, yato hetostAM prati parameshvaroktaM vAkyaM sarvvaM siddhaM bhaviShyati|
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 tadAnIM mariyam jagAda| dhanyavAdaM pareshasya karoti mAmakaM manaH|
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 mamAtmA tArakeshe cha samullAsaM pragachChati|
and my spirit delights in God my Savior,
48 akarot sa prabhu rduShTiM svadAsyA durgatiM prati| pashyAdyArabhya mAM dhanyAM vakShyanti puruShAH sadA|
for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 yaH sarvvashaktimAn yasya nAmApi cha pavitrakaM| sa eva sumahatkarmma kR^itavAn mannimittakaM|
“For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 ye bibhyati janAstasmAt teShAM santAnapaMktiShu| anukampA tadIyA cha sarvvadaiva sutiShThati|
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 svabAhubalatastena prAkAshyata parAkramaH| manaHkumantraNAsArddhaM vikIryyante. abhimAninaH|
“Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 siMhAsanagatAllokAn balinashchAvarohya saH| padeShUchcheShu lokAMstu kShudrAn saMsthApayatyapi|
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 kShudhitAn mAnavAn dravyairuttamaiH paritarpya saH| sakalAn dhanino lokAn visR^ijed riktahastakAn|
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 ibrAhImi cha tadvaMshe yA dayAsti sadaiva tAM| smR^itvA purA pitR^iNAM no yathA sAkShAt pratishrutaM| (aiōn g165)
“He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
55 isrAyelsevakastena tathopakriyate svayaM||
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 anantaraM mariyam prAyeNa mAsatrayam ilIshevayA sahoShitvA vyAghuyya nijaniveshanaM yayau|
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 tadanantaram ilIshevAyAH prasavakAla upasthite sati sA putraM prAsoShTa|
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 tataH parameshvarastasyAM mahAnugrahaM kR^itavAn etat shrutvA samIpavAsinaH kuTumbAshchAgatya tayA saha mumudire|
and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 tathAShTame dine te bAlakasya tvachaM Chettum etya tasya pitR^inAmAnurUpaM tannAma sikhariya iti karttumIShuH|
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 kintu tasya mAtAkathayat tanna, nAmAsya yohan iti karttavyam|
when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”
61 tadA te vyAharan tava vaMshamadhye nAmedR^ishaM kasyApi nAsti|
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 tataH paraM tasya pitaraM sikhariyaM prati sa Nketya paprachChuH shishoH kiM nAma kAriShyate?
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 tataH sa phalakamekaM yAchitvA lilekha tasya nAma yohan bhaviShyati| tasmAt sarvve AshcharyyaM menire|
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised
64 tatkShaNaM sikhariyasya jihvAjADye. apagate sa mukhaM vyAdAya spaShTavarNamuchchAryya Ishvarasya guNAnuvAdaM chakAra|
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 tasmAchchaturdiksthAH samIpavAsilokA bhItA evametAH sarvvAH kathA yihUdAyAH parvvatamayapradeshasya sarvvatra prachAritAH|
All their neighbors were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 tasmAt shrotAro manaHsu sthApayitvA kathayAmbabhUvuH kIdR^ishoyaM bAlo bhaviShyati? atha parameshvarastasya sahAyobhUt|
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 tadA yohanaH pitA sikhariyaH pavitreNAtmanA paripUrNaH san etAdR^ishaM bhaviShyadvAkyaM kathayAmAsa|
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 isrAyelaH prabhu ryastu sa dhanyaH parameshvaraH| anugR^ihya nijAllokAn sa eva parimochayet|
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 vipakShajanahastebhyo yathA mochyAmahe vayaM| yAvajjIva ncha dharmmeNa sAralyena cha nirbhayAH|
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
70 sevAmahai tamevaikam etatkAraNameva cha| svakIyaM supavitra ncha saMsmR^itya niyamaM sadA|
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 kR^ipayA puruShAn pUrvvAn nikaShArthAttu naH pituH| ibrAhImaH samIpe yaM shapathaM kR^itavAn purA|
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 tameva saphalaM karttaM tathA shatrugaNasya cha| R^itIyAkAriNashchaiva karebhyo rakShaNAya naH|
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 yathoktavAn tathA svasya dAyUdaH sevakasya tu|
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 vaMshe trAtAramekaM sa samutpAditavAn svayam|
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence 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, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 upaviShTAstu tAneva prakAshayitumeva hi| kR^itvA mahAnukampAM hi yAmeva parameshvaraH|
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 UrdvvAt sUryyamudAyyaivAsmabhyaM prAdAttu darshanaM| tayAnukampayA svasya lokAnAM pApamochane|
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 paritrANasya tebhyo hi j nAnavishrANanAya cha| prabho rmArgaM pariShkarttuM tasyAgrAyI bhaviShyasi||
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 bAlakaH sharIreNa buddhyA cha varddhitumArebhe; apara ncha sa isrAyelo vaMshIyalokAnAM samIpe yAvanna prakaTIbhUtastAstAvat prAntare nyavasat|
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
