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240 BC

THE PAPYRUS OF ANI

THE EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD

Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge

 

Part 16

THE SEVEN ARITS

  The First Arit.

  The name of the Doorkeeper is Sekhet-her-asht-aru. The name of the

Watcher is Smetti. The name of the Herald is Hakheru.

  The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, shall say when he cometh unto

the First Arit: "I am the mighty one who createth his own light. I

have come unto thee, O Osiris, and, purified from that which

defileth thee, I adore thee. Lead on. Name not the name of Ra-stau

to me. Homage to thee, O Osiris, in thy might and in thy strength in

Ra-stau. Rise up and conquer, O Osiris, in Abtu. Thou goest round

about heaven, thou sailest in the presence of Ra, thou lookest upon

all the beings who have knowledge. Hail, Ra, thou who goest round

about in the sky, I say, O Osiris in truth, that I am the Sahu

(Spirit-body) of the god, and I beseech thee not to let me be driven

away, nor to be cast upon the wall of blazing fire. Let the way be

opened in Ra-stau, let the pain of the Osiris be relieved, embrace

that which the Balance hath weighed, let a path be made for the Osiris

in the Great Valley, and let the Osiris have light to guide him on his

way."

  The Second Arit.

  The name of the Doorkeeper is Unhat. The name of the Watcher is

Seqt-her. The name of the Herald is Ust.

  The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he cometh to

this Arit]: "He sitteth to carry out his heart's desire, and he

weigheth words as the Second of Thoth. The strength which protecteth

Thoth humbleth the hidden Maati gods, who feed upon Maat during the

years of their lives. I offer up my offerings [to him] at the moment

when he maketh his way. I advance, and I enter on the path. O grant

thou that I may continue to advance, and that I may attain to the

sight of Ra, and of those who offer up [their] offerings."

  The Third Arit.

  The name of the Doorkeeper is Unem-hauatu-ent-pehui. The name of the

Watcher is Seres-her. The name of the Herald is Aa.

  The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he

cometh to this Arit]: "I am he who is hidden in the great deep. I am

the Judge of the Rehui, I have come and I have done away the offensive

thing which was upon Osiris. I tie firmly the place on which he

standeth, coming forth from the Urt. I have stablished things in Abtu,

I have opened up a way through Ra-stau, and I have relieved the pain

which was in Osiris. I have balanced the place whereon he standeth,

and I have made a path for him; he shineth brilliantly in Ra-stau."

  The Fourth Arit.

  The name of the Doorkeeper is Khesef-her-asht-kheru. The name of the

Watcher is Seres-tepu. The name of the Herald is Khesef-at.

  The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he

cometh to this Arit]: "I am the Bull, the son of the ancestress of

Osiris. O grant ye that his father, the Lord of his god-like

companions, may bear witness on his behalf. I have weighed the

guilty in judgment. I have brought unto his nostrils the life which is

ever lasting. I am the son of Osiris, I have accomplished the journey,

I have advanced in Khert-Neter."

  The Fifth Arit.

  The name of the Doorkeeper is Ankhf-em-fent. The name of the Watcher

is Shabu. The name of the Herald is Teb-her-kha-kheft.

  The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he

cometh to this Arit]: "I have brought unto thee the jawbone in

Ra-stau. I have brought unto thee thy backbone in Anu. I have gathered

together his manifold members therein. I have driven back Aapep for

thee. I have spit upon the wounds [in his body]. I have made myself

a path among you. I am the Aged One among the gods. I have made

offerings to Osiris. I have defended him with the word of truth. I

have gathered together his bones, and have collected all his members."

  The Sixth Arit.

  The name of the Doorkeeper is Atek-tau-kehaq-kheru. The name of

the Watcher is An-her. The name of the Herald is Ates-her-[ari]-she.

  The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he

cometh to this Arit]: "I have come daily, I have come daily. I have

made myself a way. I have advanced over that which was created by Anpu

(Anubis). I am the Lord of the Urrt Crown. I am the possessor [of

the knowledge of] the words of magical power, I am the Avenger

according to law, I have avenged [the injury to] his Eye. I have

defended Osiris. I have accomplished my journey. The Osiris Ani

advanceth with you with the word which is truth."

  The Seventh Arit:

  The name of the Doorkeeper is Sekhmet-em-tsu-sen. The name of the

Watcher is Aa-maa-kheru. The name of the Herald is Khesef-khemi.

  The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he

cometh to this Arit]: "I have come unto thee, O Osiris, being purified

from foul emissions. Thou goest round about heaven, thou seest Ra,

thou seest the beings who have knowledge. [Hail], thou, ONE! Behold,

thou art in the Sektet Boat which traverseth the heavens. I speak what

I will to his Sahu (Spirit-body). He is strong, and cometh into

being even [as] he spake. Thou meetest him face to face. Prepare

thou for me all the ways which are good [and which lead] to thee."

  RUBRIC: If [these] words be recited by the spirit when he shall come

to the Seven Arits, and as he entereth the doors, he shall neither

be turned back nor repulsed before Osiris, and he shall be made to

have his being among the blessed spirits, and to have dominion among

the ancestral followers of Osiris. If these things be done for any

spirit he shall have his being in that place like a lord of eternity

in one body with Osiris, and at no place shall any being contend

against him.