binds the hands of his offenders, covers their eyesight, takes away their power of hearing, deprives their feet of movement,[1] and breaks asunder their lines of battle, striking terror in their entire array.[2] Though the enemy use arrows and spears, swords and maces, they nevertheless miss the mark in every case,[3] and, all the while, Mithra rushes destructively from a thousand directions against the foes.[4] The adversaries who have lied unto him he kills by fifties and hundreds, by hundreds and thousands, by thousands and tens of thousands, by tens of thousands and myriads.[5] Confusing their minds, he shatters their limbs, and breaks their bones asunder,[6] at the same time as he throws down their heads[7] he enters the battlefield in person, and levels his club at both the horse and the rider.[8]
Mithra's chariot. Mithra goes forth on his daily round through the heavens and upon the earth driving in a celestial car that rolls upon one golden wheel, evidently the sun, with a shining axle.[9] Ahura Mazda made his chariot of heavenly substance and inlaid it with stars.[10] Like Sraosha's vehicle it is drawn by four white stallions that eat celestial food and are undying, shining, and spiritual.[11] When Mithra drives on aloft over the seven zones he is escorted on the left and the right, in front and from behind, by Sraosha, Nairyosangha, Ashi Vanghuhi, Parendi, Nairya Ham-Vareti, Kingly Glory, the Sovereign Sky, Damoish Upamana, Rashnu, Chisti, Atar, Verethraghna, and the Fravashis.[12] With bows and arrows, spears and clubs, and with swords and maces placed by thousands in his chariot, this divine war lord plunges, mace in hand, into the field of battle, smiting and killing the wicked that have been false to him.[13] Even Angra Mainyu and the fiendish demons flee away in terror before Mithra.[14] After smiting the demons and the men who have lied unto him, he drives forward through the seven Zones.[15]
Mithra's wrath. Mithra bemoans with uplifted hands before Ahura Mazda the disregard and negligence of men who do not invoke him by his name, even though he protects and guards
