1. उसी दिन राजा क्षयर्ष ने यहूदियों के विरोधी हामान का घरबार एस्तेर रानी को दे दिया। और मोर्दकै राजा के साम्हने आया, क्योंकि एस्तेर ने राजा को बताया था, कि उस से उसका क्या नाता था

1. That day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai was admitted to the king's presence, for Esther had revealed his relationship to her.

2. तब राजा ने अपनी वह अंगूठी जो उस ने हामान से ले ली थी, उतार कर, मोर्दकै को दे दी। और एसतेर ने मोर्दकै को हामान के घरबार पर अधिकारी नियुक्त कर दिया।

2. The king removed his signet ring from Haman, and transferred it into the keeping of Mordecai; and Esther put Mordecai in charge of the house of Haman.

3. फिर एस्तेर दूसरी बार राजा से बोली; और उसके पांव पर गिर, आंसू बहा बहाकर उस से गिड़गिड़ाकर बिन्ती की, कि अगागी हामान की बुराई और यहूदियों की हानि की उसकी युक्ति निष्फल की जाए।

3. In another audience with the king, Esther fell at his feet and tearfully implored him to revoke the harm done by Haman the Agagite, and the plan he had devised against the Jews.

4. तब राजा ने एस्तेर की ओर सोने का राजदणड बढ़ाया।

4. The king stretched forth the golden scepter to Esther. So she rose and, standing in his presence,

5. तब एस्तेर उठकर राजा के साम्हने खड़ी हुई; और कहने लगी कि यदि राजा को स्वीकार हो और वह मुझ से प्रसन्न है और यह बात उसको ठीक जान पड़े, और मैं भी उसको अच्छी लगती हूँ, तो जो चिटि्ठयां हम्मदाता अगागी के पुत्रा हामान ने राजा के सब प्रान्तों के यहूदियों को नाश करने की युक्ति करके लिखाई थीं, उनको पलटने के लिये लिखा जाए।

5. said: 'If it pleases your majesty and seems proper to you, and if I have found favor with you and you love me, let a document be issued to revoke the letters which that schemer Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, wrote for the destruction of the Jews in all the royal provinces.

6. क्योंकि मैं अपने जाति के लोगों पर पड़नेवाली उस विपत्ति को किस रीति से देख सकूंगी? और मैं अपने भाइयों के विनाश को क्योंकर देख सकूंगी?

6. For how can I witness the evil that is to befall my people, and how can I behold the destruction of my race?'

7. तब राजा क्षयर्ष ने एस्तेर रानी से और मोर्दकै यहूदी से कहा, मैं हामान का घरबार तो एस्तेर को दे चुका हूँ, और वह फांसी के खम्भे पर लटका दिया गया है, इसलिये कि उस ने यहूदियों पर हाथ बढ़ाया था।

7. King Ahasuerus then said to Queen Esther and to the Jew Mordecai: 'Now that I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gibbet because he attacked the Jews,

8. सो तुम अपनी समझ के अनुसार राजा के नाम से यहूदियों के नाम पर लिखो, और राजा की अंगूठी की छाप भी लगाओ; क्योंकि जो चिट्ठी राजा के नाम से लिखी जाए, और उस पर उसकी अंगूठी की छाप लगाई जाए, उसको कोई भी पलट नहीं सकता।

8. you in turn may write in the king's name what you see fit concerning the Jews and seal the letter with the royal signet ring.' For whatever is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.

9. सो उसी समय अर्थात् सीवान नाम तीसरे महीने के तेईसवें दिन को राजा के लेखक बुलवाए गए और जिस जिस बात की आज्ञा मोर्दकै ने उन्हें दी थी उसे यहूदियों और अधिपतियों और हिन्दुस्तान से लेकर कूश तक, जो एक सौ सत्ताईस प्रान्त हैं, उन सभों के अधिपतियों और हाकिमों को एक एक प्रान्त के अक्षरों में और एक एक देश के लोगों की भाषा में, और यहूदियों को उनके अक्षरों और भाषा में लिखी गई।

9. At that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, Sivan, the royal scribes were summoned. Exactly as Mordecai dictated, they wrote to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and officials of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia: to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

10. मोर्दकै ने राजा क्षयर्ष के नाम से चिटि्ठयां लिखाकर, और उन पर राजा की अंगूठी की छाप लगाकर, वेग चलनेवाले सरकारी घोड़ों, खच्चरों और सांड़नियों की डाक लगाकर, हरकारों के हाथ भेज दीं।

10. These letters, which he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring, he sent by mounted couriers riding thoroughbred royal steeds.

11. इन चिटि्ठयों में सब नगरों के यहूदियों को राजा की ओर से अनुमति दी गई, कि वे इकट्ठे हों और अपना अपना प्राण बचाने के लिये तैयार होकर, जिस जाति वा प्रान्त से लोग अन्याय करके उनको वा उनकी स्त्रियों और बालबच्चों को दु:ख देना चाहें, उनको विध्वंसघात और नाश करें, और उनकी धन सम्मत्ति लूट लें।

11. In these letters the king authorized the Jews in each and every city to group together and defend their lives, and to kill, destroy, wipe out, along with their wives and children, every armed group of any nation or province which should attack them, and to seize their goods as spoil

12. और यह राजा क्षयर्ष के सब प्रान्तों में एक ही दिन में किया जाए, अर्थात् अदार नाम बारहवें महीने के तेरहवें दिन को।

12. throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on a single day, the thirteenth of the twelfth month, Adar. (E:1) The following is a copy of the letter: 'King Ahasuerus the Great to the governors of the provinces in the hundred and twenty-seven satrapies from India to Ethiopia, and to those responsible for our interests: Greetings! (E:2) 'Many have become the more ambitious the more they were showered with honors through the bountiful generosity of their patrons. (E:3) Not only do they seek to do harm to our subjects; incapable of bearing such greatness, they even begin plotting against their own benefactors. (E:4) Not only do they drive out gratitude from among men; with the arrogant boastfulness of those to whom goodness has no meaning, they suppose they will escape the vindictive judgment of the all-seeing God. (E:5) 'Often, too, the fair speech of friends entrusted with the administration of affairs has induced many placed in authority to become accomplices in the shedding of innocent blood, and has involved them in irreparable calamities (E:6) by deceiving with malicious slander the sincere good will of rulers. (E:7) This can be verified in the ancient stories that have been handed down to us, but more fully when one considers the wicked deeds perpetrated in your midst by the pestilential influence of those undeserving of authority. (E:8) We must provide for the future, so as to render the kingdom undisturbed and peaceful for all men, (E:9) taking advantage of changing conditions and deciding always with equitable treatment matters coming to our attention. (E:10) 'For instance, Haman, son of Hammedatha, a Macedonian, certainly not of Persian blood, and very different from us in generosity, was hospitably received by us. (E:11) He so far enjoyed the good will which we have toward all peoples that he was proclaimed 'father of the king,' before whom everyone was to bow down; he attained the rank second to the royal throne. (E:12) But, unequal to this dignity, he strove to deprive us of kingdom and of life; (E:13) and by weaving intricate webs of deceit, he demanded the destruction of Mordecai, our savior and constant benefactor, and of Esther, our blameless royal consort, together with their whole race. (E:14) For by such measures he hoped to catch us defenseless and to transfer the rule of the Persians to the Macedonians. (E:15) But we find that the Jews, who were doomed to extinction by this archcriminal, are not evildoers, but rather are governed by very just laws (E:16) and are the children of the Most High, the living God of majesty, who has maintained the kingdom in a flourishing condition for us and for our forebears. (E:17) 'You will do well, then, to ignore the letter sent by Haman, son of Hammedatha, (E:18) for he who composed it has been hanged, together with his entire household, before the gates of Susa. Thus swiftly has God, who governs all, brought just punishment upon him. (E:19) 'You shall exhibit a copy of this letter publicly in every place, to certify that the Jews may follow their own laws, (E:20) and that you may help them on the day set for their ruin, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, to defend themselves against those who attack them. (E:21) For God, the ruler of all, has turned that day for them from one of destruction of the chosen race into one of joy. (E:22) Therefore, you too must celebrate this memorable day among your designated feasts with all rejoicing, (E:23) so that both now and in the future it may be, for us and for loyal Persians, a celebration of victory, and for those who plot against us a reminder of destruction. (E:24) 'Every city and province, without exception, that does not observe this decree shall be ruthlessly destroyed with fire and sword, so that it will be left not merely untrodden by men, but even shunned by wild beasts and birds forever.'

13. इस आज्ञा के लेख की नकलें, समस्त प्रान्तों में सब देशें के लोगों के पास खुली हुई भेजी गई; ताकि यहूदी उस दिन अपने शत्रुओं से पलटा लेने को तैयार रहें।

13. A copy of the letter to be promulgated as law in each and every province was published among all the peoples, so that the Jews might be prepared on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14. सो हरकारे वेग चलनेवाले सरकारी घोड़ों पर सवार होकर, राजा की आज्ञा से फुत करके जल्दी चले गए, और यह आज्ञा शूशन राजगढ़ में दी गई थी।

14. Couriers mounted on royal steeds sped forth in haste at the king's order, and the decree was promulgated in the stronghold of Susa.

15. तब मोर्दकै नीले और श्वेत रंग के राजकीय वस्त्रा पहिने और सिर पर सोने का बड़ा मुमुट धरे हुए और सूक्ष्मसन और बैंजनी रंग का बागा पहिने हुए, राजा के सम्मुख से निकला, और शूशन नगर के लोग आनन्द के मारे ललकार उठे।

15. Mordecai left the king's presence clothed in a royal robe of violet and of white cotton, with a large crown of gold and a cloak of crimson byssus. The city of Susa shouted with joy,

16. और यहूदियों को आनन्द और हर्ष हुआ और उनकी बड़ी प्रतिष्ठा हुई।

16. and there was splendor and merriment for the Jews, exultation and triumph.

17. और जिस जिस प्रान्त, और जिस जिस नगर में, जहां कहीं राजा की आज्ञा और नियम पहुंचे, वहां वहां यहूदियों को आनन्द और हर्ष हुआ, और उन्हों ने जेवनार करके उस दिन को खुशी का दिन माना। और उस देश के लोगों में से बहुत लोग यहूदी बन गए, क्योंकि उनके मन में यहूदियों का डर समा गया था।

17. In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king's order arrived, there was merriment and exultation, banqueting and feasting for the Jews. And many of the peoples of the land embraced Judaism, for they were seized with a fear of the Jews.