Preserving The Heart

Preserving The Heart


[From Lepsius, “Todtenbuch,” Bl. 16.]

THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF A MAN BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM HIM IN
THE UNDERWORLD. Osiris Auf-ānkh, triumphant, born of Sheret-Amsu,
triumphant, saith:

“My heart, my mother; my heart, my mother! My heart of my existence upon
earth. May naught stand up to oppose me in judgment; may there be no
opposition to me in the presence of the sovereign princes; may [no evil]
be wrought against me in the presence of the gods; may there be no parting
[of thee] from me in the presence of the great god, the lord of Amentet.
Homage to thee, O thou heart of Osiris-khent-Amentet! Homage to you, O my
reins! Homage to you, O ye gods who dwell in the divine clouds, and who
are exalted (or holy) by reason of your sceptres! Speak ye fair words for
the Osiris Auf-ānkh, and make ye him to prosper before Nehebka. And
behold, though I be joined unto the earth, and am in the mighty innermost
part of heaven, let me remain on the earth and not die in Amentet, and let
me be a _khu_ therein forever and ever.”

THIS [CHAPTER] SHALL BE RECITED OVER A BASALT SCARAB, WHICH SHALL BE SET
IN A GOLD SETTING, AND IT SHALL BE PLACED INSIDE THE HEART OF THE MAN(25)
FOR WHOM THE CEREMONIES OF “OPENING THE MOUTH” AND OF ANOINTING WITH
UNGUENT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. AND THERE SHALL BE RECITED BY WAY OF A
MAGICAL CHARM THE WORDS: “MY HEART, MY MOTHER; MY HEART, MY MOTHER! MY
HEART OF TRANSFORMATIONS.”




Preserving The Heart


[From the Papyrus of Nu (British Museum No. 10,477, sheet 5).]

THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF THE OVERSEER OF THE PALACE, THE
CHANCELLOR-IN-CHIEF, NU, TRIUMPHANT, BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM HIM IN THE
UNDERWORLD. He Saith:

“O my heart, my mother; O my heart, my mother! O my heart of my existence
upon earth. May naught stand up to oppose me in judgment in the presence
of the lords of the trial; let it not be said of me and of that which I
have done, ‘He hath done deeds against that which is right and true’; may
naught be against me in the presence of the great god, the lord of
Amentet. Homage to thee, O my heart! Homage to thee, O my heart! Homage to
you, O my reins! Homage to you, O ye gods who dwell in the divine clouds,
and who are exalted (or holy) by reason of your sceptres! Speak ye [for
me] fair things to Rā, and make ye me to prosper before Nehebka. And
behold me, even though I be joined to the earth in the mighty innermost
parts thereof, let me remain upon the earth and let me not die in Amentet,
but become a _Khu_ therein.”




Preserving The Heart


[From the Papyrus of Ani (British Museum No. 10,470, sheet 15).]

THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF OSIRIS, THE SCRIBE OF THE HOLY
OFFERINGS OF ALL THE GODS, ANI, TRIUMPHANT, BE DRIVEN FROM HIM IN THE
UNDERWORLD. He saith:

“My heart, my mother; my heart, my mother! My heart whereby I came into
being! May naught stand up to oppose me at [my] judgment; may there be no
opposition to me in the presence of the sovereign princes (_Tchatcha_);
may there be no parting of thee from me in the presence of him that
keepeth the Balance! Thou art my _ka_, the dweller in my body; the god
Khnemu who knitteth and strengtheneth my limbs. Mayest thou come forth
into the place of happiness whither we go. May the _Shenit_ (_i.e._, the
divine officers of the court of Osiris), who form the conditions of the
lives of men, not cause my name to stink. [Let it be satisfactory unto us,
and let the listening be satisfactory unto us, and let there be joy of
heart unto us at the weighing of words. Let not that which is false be
uttered against me before the great god, the lord of Amentet. Verily how
great shalt thou be when thou risest in triumph!]”(26)