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Electronic edition prepared by Joseph H. Peterson, 1999.
Note: Spelling has been normalized to conform with F.M. Kotwal and J. Boyd, A Guide to the Zoroastrian Religion (Scholars Press, 1982). Text in [] added by JHP.
Dk3 chapters 1-65. From a photocopy made by Mr. Damania and graciously supplied by Noshir Jesung.
From Peshotun Dustoor Behramjee Sunjana [Sanjana], The Dinkard
Vol. I (Bombay: D. Ardeshir & Co., 1874).
The Denkard is one of the oldest, most reliable and valuable of the Pahlavi works that have been preserved by the Zoroastrian community. It contains some of the most exalted precepts of the Mazdayasnian religion; as also a life of Zoroaster, a history of the Zoroastrian religion, and much valuable instruction regarding this and the next world. Each and all of the subjects comprised in it are worthy the attention of Zoroastrians. But the style in which it is written is neither so smooth nor so simple as that of other Pahlavi works. Moreover, the subjects treated of are uncommon and difficult to understand. The task, therefore, of deciphering and understanding the work, is one of no ordinary difficulty; especially when one has to depend upon what his own individual efforts can accomplish. To give some idea of the difficulties that have had to be faced in carrying out the present undertaking it is enough to state that although a century nearly has elapsed since the Denkard was brought to this country from Persia, no Pahlavi scholar has as yet ventured to translate the work, with the exception of one or two of the subjects included in it.
The present respected Trustees of the religious and charitable funds of the Zoroastrian community of Bombay having highly approved of a suggestion made to them for publishing a translation of the Denkard, I was requested to undertake the work, under the patronage and support of the "Sir Jamsetjee Jijeebhoy Translation Fund." The present volume is the result of this arrangement, and is one of a number of similar other volumes which it is hoped will be published hereafter. This first installment is, with the approval of the Trustees, divided into the four following parts: --
1. The original Pahlavi text.
2. The same transliterated in Zand characters.
3. Gujarati and English translation of same.
4. A glossary of select terms.
Although every possible effort has been made to avoid errors and defects, yet looking to the great difficulty of translating the work, I cannot venture to hope that it is entirely free from them.
I may mention that the Denkard does not appear to have been written either at one time or by one person: the different parts bear evidence of having been written at different times. The work appears to have been first composed, under its present name, in the time of the Kayanian King Vishtasp, the son of Lohrasp, by the principal disciple of our prophet, the holy Zoroaster; and, under his particular direction; and copies of it were, by the orders of King Vishtasp, distributed among the people, while the original work was placed in the royal library, and a copy of it was preserved in the "Déjé napésté" [1] The original work was found in the royal library by Alexander the Great when he invaded the capital of Persia. When King Ardashir Babagan of the Sasanian dynasty came to rule over Persia, he collected the scattered fragments of the work, and entrusted them, along with other religious works, to a learned Dastur, named Tosré, by whom they were, after examination and inquiries, arranged in the original order. Copies of this work were then, by the royal command, distributed among the people. Subsequently, additions were made to it by the light of other religious works, by Dastur Adur-Farnbag son of Farokhvzat [2].
From the account given at the end of the Denkard, it appears that the original Ms. of the High Priest Adur-Farnbag son of Farokhvzat was obtained, at the time of the fall of the Zoroastrian empire, from a descendant of his, by Dastur Adarbad, the son of A'dmit. Dastur Adarbad A'dmit seems to have carefully copied out the Ms. A copy of this copy was in the year 359 of Yazdegird taken by Dastur Mahávandád Ramiáné Béhrám. Copies in succession of the last mentioned copy were made till one of them made by Dastur Rustam Gushtasp Ardésar was, about a hundred years ago brought to Surat, by Mulla Behman the son of Mulla Behram, and, by him presented to Shet Aspandiarshah the son of Ratanjishah of that place. [3] A copy of this Ms. was caused to be made by Shet Aspandiarshah in the year 1156 of Yazdegird and by him sent to Messrs. Nanabhai Behramji, Manekji Navrozji Wadiaji, Behramji Navrozji Wadiaji, and Dadabhai Noserwanji, the then elders of the Parsi community of Bombay. This copy is now in my possession in the library of Dastur Edalji Darabji Sanjana.
The text of the present edition has been published after carefully collating the four following Mss.--
1. Ms found in the library of Dastur Edalji Darabji Sanjana, late head priest of the Shahanshahi Zoroastrians of Bombay.
2. Ms. copy in the handwriting of the late Dastur Temulji Navrozji Sanjana made at Surat.
3. Ms. copy in the handwriting of Rustamji Noserwanji Meharjirana, Head Priest of Nowsari.
4. Ms. copy found in the library of Mobed Minochehrji Jamaspji Wachhchha. [4]
Where different lections occur, the first of these Mss. is referred to by the initials D. E., (Dastur Edalji); the second by D. T. (Dastur Temulji); the third by D. R. (Dastur Rustamji) and the fourth by M. M. (Mobed Minochehrji).
In giving the pronunciation of Pahlavi words, every, word of Semitic origin has been compared with its root and the pronunciation based thereupon. These pronunciations resemble those of the Pahlavi words written in Pahlavi characters in the Máliknámé Asúri, but do not resemble the corresponding Pahlavi words written underneath in Zand characters. The reason of this, I now think to be that, in former times our people, although they used Semitic words in Pahlavi writings, yet in reading them they did not pronounce them as in the original, but instead, read as if the corresponding Iranian Pahlavi words had been written. In proof of this assertion the Pahlavi works and essays which have been translated by Neriosang Dhawal and his predecessors, giving the pronunciation of the text in Zand characters, may be cited. Thus the practice of reading Semitic words as pronounced originally being discontinued, the recollection of the proper pronunciation gradually faded away. The author of the Máliknámé Asúri in compiling a glossary of words of Semitic origin used in the Pahlavi language, attempted to restore the original pronunciation, by writing the words correctly in Pahlavi characters and giving their meanings in Persian equivalents. But as the correct pronunciation was generally forgotten and as Pahlavi characters glide into, and are mistaken for, one another, an attempt was made, at a date long subsequent, to fix the pronunciation, by writing down under the words in Pahlavi characters in the Máliknámé Asúri, their pronunciation in Zand characters. The same reasons, however, that rendered the transliteration necessary; affected its accuracy; but, the pronunciation having been thus fixed, has been adopted up to the present time. The necessity, under the circumstances, of a return to the correct mode being obvious, I have endeavored in this work to give the proper pronunciation.
Drs. Frederick Spiegel, Martin Haug, Ferdinand Justi, and other learned scholars of Europe have, after much research and labor, given the pronunciation of Semitic words employed in Pahlavi writings: but they do not agree with each other. The labors and researches in this direction of Dr. Haug, who is well known in Bombay for his learning, are deserving of high commendation, and the pronunciations given by him are to a great extent correct and accurate. Still ill giving the pronunciation of Semitic words in this work. I have not ventured to depend upon the labors of these learned men; but have fixed both the pronunciation and the meaning of each Semitic word after a careful comparison of it with cognate Hebrew, Chaldiac, Samaritan, Syriac and Arabic roots. Where, however, I failed to discover a reliable root in any of the above languages, I have based the pronunciation on the current mode. Again, certain Semitic letters have undergone a change in Pahlavi: these are pronounced in the form in which they are found. Of the Iranian words used in Pahlavi, the pronunciation of 't' is represented by t, T, d, and D, and others: of these, instead of 'd' I have invariably substituted 't': the pronunciation 'd' being only used to represent [~]. Where any word or phrase, or letter, has appeared to me to have been left out in transcription I have supplied it, putting it in brackets thus:-- ( ). As regards the pronunciation of words of Iranian origin, where the pronunciation of Pahlavi words derived from the Zand is altered from the original owing to mistakes arising from the similarity of form of the letters of the alphabet, I have restored the correct pronunciation, after comparing the word with its original Zand root. On finally looking over the proofs I find that some of the more common words of Semitic origin have from oversight been omitted from the glossary: these will be inserted in the next volume.
The first three pages of the Denkard have been lost. The present work, therefore, commences with the fourth. The next nine pages of the original Ms. having been in places eaten away by moths, suitable places have been left in the Ms. which was brought to Surat from Persia, and in the other Mss. which have been copied therefrom. Similar spaces have been left in the text published in this volume. For facility of reference I have numbered each succeeding subject in the book, commencing from the third question, in Persian numerals; the same numerals being affixed to the transliteration and the translations. The translation commences with the seventh subject numbered as above; as, owing to tile portions of the preceding text being lost for the reason mentioned above, it was impossible to translate it in an intelligible manner. The figures in Gujarati and English on the margin of; the text, the transliteration, and the translations, represent the paragraphs or sections into which the text is divided. All the Semitic words occurring in the text, are inserted in the glossary: of words of Iranian origin, the most important and unusual only are introduced.
In the Gujarati translation I have followed the structure of the Pahlavi language, so as to reproduce, as far as possible, the style of the original text. This will, no doubt, render the translation rather difficult reading; but my object has been to make it useful to those engaged in the study of the Pahlavi language. The English translation has been made by Mr. Ratanshah Erachshah Kohiyar from the Gujarati.
In conclusion I beg to tender my thanks to those of my friends
who have assisted me in carrying out this undertaking; as also
to those who have supported it by subscribing for copies of the
work.
1. PESHOTUN DUSTOOR BEHRAMJEE SUNJANA.
Bombay, the 19th day of the 9th month of the year 1243
of Yazdegird.
The English translation is a version of the Gujarati. It is strictly literal as regards the text, but the preface and the notes have been more freely rendered. A less severe rendering of the text, while it would have lessened the difficulty of the task, would also have enabled the translator to avoid the inelegance, and, in places, perhaps, the uncouthness, of language so disagreeable to the general reader. But it was feared that such a translation would not have suited the requirements of the student of Pahlavi: nor would it have brought out prominently peculiarities of thought and language.
The translator has been assured that the Gujarati version is strictly
literal.
RATANSHAH E. KOHIYÁR.
NOTES:
2. This account of the Denkard is taken from the history of the book which is to be found about the middle of it.
...
Again Ashmogh [1] asked:- Are what are (called)
Manthra [2] in the nature of traditions?
[3] (because) they are all told by Ohrmazd
to Zartosht in the words [4] of Frashostar,
Jamasp, [5] Hom and the yazads, and in those of
persons born before Zartosht, and after Dayun [6]:
hence, our opinion is, that the speaking of Ohrmazd
to Zartosht is the hymns of the Gathas, and that the rest
is composed by Zartosht and his disciples from traditions, but
that by good faith having been placed therein it has been considered
as appertaining to religion.
Be it known (that other) [7] Manthra as they
are different from the Gathas, (in structure of language) so they
also differ from them in testimony as to higher (things): still,
they are founded upon the hymn of Yatha ahu vairyo,
[8]
and, in them mention is made of the power of omniscience of God
himself and of the Creation. Therefore, no portion of them is
(composed) by the wisdom of man and they could not be composed
from a number of current traditions. If, the Manthra, communicated
to Zartosht in this manner in the form of a dialogue, be not all
from Ohrmazd, and, by their being communicated in the voice of
different persons, Ohrmazd is concluded not to be their promulgator,
then, it would follow, that whatever revelations have been made
in them, by Ohrmazd to Zartosht, about Zartosht and other good
and evil persons, as also about the daevas and even the Ganamino,
must have been made by the Ganamino and the daevas; and Manthra
and Dateh, which are removers-away of the daevas, [9]
must be considered as declared by the daevas. Therefore, the communicating
of the Manthra, by Ohrmazd to Zartosht, in the voice of many (persons)
is, for the purpose that complete knowledge might be conveyed
from Ohrmazd to Zartosht: and that is not fit to take objection
to. Just as the Gathas are all told by Ohrmazd to Zartosht, and
are in the voices of Zartosht, the Amahraspands, the Goshorun,
and other yazads: and, that they are all told by Ohrmazd to Zartosht,
about that, you have no objection to take. But it is owing to
the (natural) disposition of an Ashmogh that he should have evil
thoughts about and inverted vision of, scriptures, that have reference
to protection by Ohrmazd.
Ashmogh put the question: Why do you call it a sin to burn green wood on the fire? It is not (a sin).
Be it known that, green wood being placed upon the fire, by reason
of the fire becoming extinguished owing to its moisture and of
its (the fire's) being improperly put to the hardship of drying
that wood, we call it a sin. But that the reason of it should
appear worthless and like dust to Ashmoghs is owing to their habit.
Ashmogh put the question: Why do you call (drinking) liquor to excess a sin? since liquor cannot be drunk in the moderation.
Be it known that, it is just, our calling immoderate drinking
of liquor a sin. Because, it is said in the religion that whoever
drinks much liquor, eats much food, and, consequently, owing to
not having sung the hymns of the Gathas according to the law,
he becomes guilty. But it is the habit of Ashmoghs to change the
voice of others by rendering their throats dry and to prefer the
consequent vice.
Ashmogh put the question: By always reciting these Manthras, which
are the word of Ohrmazd, you have to live with great circumspection;
but by being so recited, they become a cause of hindrance to industry:
then, how can the command of Ohrmazd in respect of the preference
of Manthras and Gathas for the purpose of obtaining salvation
for the soul be considered just?
Be it known that, the object of our constant recitation of the
Manthras is to inform (men) about the religion of Ohrmazd in respect
of the relations with the next world and of the salvation of souls;
because, by giving to the people of this world the understanding-power
to know their Maker and to be the doers of deeds according with
the will of the Lord, they acquire knowledge with respect to the
invisible yazads, as also the daevas, become rememberers of the
yazads and the acquirers of their love, and remain non-rememberers
of the daevas and givers of pain to them, and understand, whatever
there may be to understand regarding Datehs, Manthras, Gathas,
and are enabled to do, at the (proper) time, much of the work
relating to them. Through it, is frequently obtained aid and knowledge
in exercising dominion, chiefship, and justice in accordance with
the times, in driving away the drujs that may have entered into
one's body, in removing them from creation, in making mankind
walk in freedom and in imparting happiness to a great many men
in the world. And, moreover, wherever and at what time soever
Ashmoghs come to raise a contest about religion, at those times,
through the sagacity, wisdom and strength appertaining to it,
means are found to break down all trouble-giving Ashmoghs, to
refute (them) by God's religion, and to keep back harm from mankind.
The first question put was this: Since owing to the singing of
those heavenly Gathas, righteousness begins to accrue, and, by
reason of the power that cherishes righteousness, the good acquire
the strength that has reference to the next world, and go into
the place of the highest heaven [garothman]; then, why is it said
that righteousness, acquired by such power and in accordance with
law, is canceled and the reward for it not obtained by reviling
the good religion and committing other sins punishable with death?
Be it known, that righteousness that has been completed and strengthened
does not become non-existent or canceled; but at the time of the
last judgment, owing to the sin of reviling the good religion
and other sins punishable with death, the reward of righteousness
being covered up, the righteousness remains buried. Otherwise,
there is no cancellation of righteousness done according to the
good religion. For, the annihilation of righteousness which has
remained uncanceled during worship is owing to the greater weight
of that righteousness being at an end.
The second question put was this: If what Ohrmazd has said was
for making it known to the (first) created Mashye and Mashyane,
[10] then, why is the dialogue, which took
place some generations after Mashye and Mashyane, declared to
be the first dialogue? [11]
Is in this way: What is said about the dialogue held, for the
first time among men, with Jamshed has reference to the religion
promulgated among the men who lived after the time of the original
Mashye and Mashyane in question. The promulgation, directed to
be made to Mashye and Mashyane of what Ohrmazd had said, is not
intended for the original Mashye and Mashyane, but for those men
and women, and for Jamshed himself, who were the descendants of
Mashye and Mashyane. And the reason of it is this; if there are
questions and answers, one with another, they can be in the conversation
of at least two persons, and this conversation in the form of
questions and answers, as it is mentioned as having taken place,
in our behalf, for the first time, between Ohrmazd and Jamshed,
so (no such conversation) has been reported to have taken place,
or is shown to have taken place with Mashye and Mashyane.
The third question put was this: If Gaosahudao [12]
(prayer) is recited, all food can be eaten; and without it whatever
is consecrated that alone can be eaten, and water that has been
consecrated can alone be drunk: what is the reason of this?
Be it known that in the Gaosahudao, vegetables and water are placed
(before the reciter), so that, when the Gaosahudao prayer is recited,
vegetables and water are consecrated and thus the reciter becomes
fit to eat all food and drink water. Therefore, (he who) consecrates
Dron, [13] should have some pure vegetables
with the Dron, so that in the consecration of the Dron, the fruit
of trees and (other) vegetables and water, being together, all
vegetables and fruits of trees and water become consecrated and
consequently the reciter of the prayer becomes fit to eat all
vegetables and fruits of trees and to drink water: but, if the
Dron be not consecrated (with the Gaosahudao prayer) and the thing
belonging to vegetables is consecrated by means of the other thing
(prayer) for consecration, in which vegetables and water are consecrated,
then through that (prayer), the sayer of the prayer becomes fit
to eat the food of the (particular) tree and to drink the (particular)
water. If water is consecrated and (during the consecration) the
prayer is broken, the water becomes unfit (for drinking) for the
consecrator: and, if drunk with a prayer, is, as if drunk without
a prayer.
The question was put: It is declared that by repentance the path
to hell does not remain at all: what is the reason of this?
Be it known that, by the soul becoming impure through sin, the
road (for it) is to hell; and the remedy for the remission of
sin and for obtaining purity is through the dastur possessing
a knowledge of the good religion, who knows to prescribe medicine
for the soul and is a great purifier of it from sin. For, as in
the profession of the physician medicine and other things are
potent in each disease, and the giver of explanation about them
is the physician of the body, and the ailing body is relieved
and renovated through the instrumentality of the physician and
the surgeon who are the pointers out and doers of remedies for
the ailments of the diseased constitution and the deformed body;
so, for the soul that is rendered unholy and polluted by sin,
if, by the injunction of the dastur of the good religion, it be
a hearty repenter for sin, a seeker of pardon by speech, and repenter
by deed, there is remission of committed sin through the physician
of the soul, the dastur of the good religion, and the soul becomes
purified of the unholiness and pollution of sin, and thus the
road to hell is cut off.
The fifth question put was this: Which among the deeds of men
is most beneficial to the world, the causer of much pleasure to
the yazads, the causer of much pain in the world, and is the highest
in rank of all?
Be it known, that among the deeds of men, the deed that is highly
beneficial to the world is the remaining in submission to one's
meritorious master and just king, who is a giver of commands for
the improvement of the people: (the deed that is) the producer
of pleasure to the yazads is the remaining firm in the Mazdayasnian
religion and the keeping people righteous. And the deed that is
highest in rank of all is the imparting of knowledge to worthy
students, the originators of all righteous deeds.
The question put was: Of the commandments published by former
people and dasturs of the religion, if, owing to a difference
of opinion of former people and the dasturs of the good religion
regarding some commandment, some layman, with intent to move forward
in his deeds and thoughts, should not obey that commandment, then,
the commandment of which dastur ought he to listen to and act
upon.
Know (you) that it behooves the person belonging to the good religion
to obey the command and to act in accordance with the command
of him, who among the people is the head dastur and has under
his power other people of the good religion; for, to render the
person of the good religion without a want and of perfect thought,
there is the decision of that one (dastur). Whatever other expositions
there may remain (given) by previous religious leaders and dasturs
of the religion, -- those expositions of the dasturs of the religion
and of the leading men of the religion, it is good to love heartily,
believe in, and, that people may act in accordance with them,
to obey, without looking (at them) with an eye of scorn.
The question put was: What is the reason of the greatness to the
servant of religion from religion, to the ruler from rule, and
to the learned from learning?
Know (you) that, the continuance of religion is through the wisdom
of the servants of the religion; (therefore) that is a reason
for a religious person to obtain greatness from religion. To the
ruler from rule * * * * [14] one reason is,
the improvement of the learned themselves in all matters by means
of wisdom that embellishes and the rendering worthy by means of
profitable wisdom those belonging to them, for their benefit.
The question put was: What is the reason of the admonition contained
in the religion [15] for holding the barsom
in that hand which is the left and is appropriate to barsom? And
those persons who may keep (it) in the left hand, on what (ground)
may they keep it?
Know (you) that, those persons who keep the Barsom in (their)
hands, in accordance with the admonition of the good religion
about keeping the Barsom in the left hand and thus praying to
God, are considered exalted-station-reaching, good created-beings,
by reason of obtaining victory in the good path over other persons,
by living with those thoughts that appertain to Ohrmazd. At the
time when the sun rises in the east, he appears to men in such
a manner that his face is opposite to the west, and (on) his right
side is the north and on (his) left side is the south: from this,
where the faces of men are towards the west, and on the right
side is the north, and on the left side is the south, there, it
becomes manifest to them, which is the left hand, for holding
the Barsom in which, for worshipping God, there is an admonition
in the good religion.
The question was asked: It is mentioned, that in the widely peopled
(earth), the sun shines on the 3 1/2 Karshwars [16]
which are opposite to it, for the purpose of giving them light:
what is the object of this?
Know (you), that the earth has relation to the high mountains
which surround it and to the universe: the figure of the earth
being round, the half of that earth of seven Karshwars
is said to be 3 1/2 Karshwars in the religion; and owing to the
earth being round the sun in his motion always shines for the
beauty, the refulgence and the luster of half the earth.
The question was asked: If a man be washing the trunk of a tree
from below with water and there appear on the top of the tree
(some) unclean [17] matter belonging to man
or dog, then, for the washer with water, is any connection established
with that unclean matter without going up the tree, to the danger
of (his) becoming polluted; and, by the shaking of that unclean
thing, does he become punishable with death? and what is the remedy
for that?
Know (you) that, a good remedy for that is of this kind: the upper
part of the tree becomes purified by exposure to a cloudless atmosphere
and the connection of the wooden trunk with us is like that of
the sense of sight. [18]
The question was asked: How can men, through their deeds, become
holders of relation with Ohrmazd, and holders of relation with
Ohrmazd become perfectly beautiful and equal to the yazads? And
how can they become distant from relationship to Ohrmazd, how
more distant and equal to the daevas?
Know (you) that men by being devoted to the good religion, through
wisdom of a high kind, [19] become the acquirers
of relations with Ohrmazd; by being more (devoted) to the good
religion, become perfectly advanced for relationship with Ohrmazd;
and by being most (devoted) become the equals of the yazads: and,
by being not devoted to the good religion become distant from
relationship with Ohrmazd; and by being devoted to the bad religion
become more distant from Ohrmazd; and by being much devoted to
the bad religion become equal to the daevas.
The question was asked: Since the soul of man is bright and virtuous,
that refulgent and virtuous (soul) cannot be transformed into
the condition of souls formed for vice; [20]
what, then, is the reason of the dictum contained in the Avesta
about the becoming of a committer of sodomy and of him who causes
it to be committed, an invisible daeva, and, of the running on
this earth and in its interior of the souls of Ashmoghs in the
black form of daevas?
Know that, what is stated about the becoming like a daeva of a
committer of sodomy and of him who causes it to be committed,
is not about those who are obedient to Ohrmazd, but about the
souls of those disobedient persons who have advanced far in the
direction of the daevas and are for approving the actions of the
daevas; because, with the souls of the pure are the yazads, --
owing to that the daevas keep aloof from them: similarly the daevas
remain with the souls of sinners, -- owing to that the yazads
keep aloof from them: the soul of the sinner is stated to be of
the nature of daevas, owing to its remaining much in contact with
daevas, worms, frogs, scorpions, snakes and ichneumons. And the
soul of the committer of sodomy and of him who causes it to be
committed is stated to be a more vicious daeva than that of other
(sinners) owing to its greater connection with daevas. And the
soul of a deceitful Ashmogh is stated to be of the shape of a
daeva, owing to its running in the deepest hell. Otherwise, no
change takes place in the nature of the souls of those who commit
sodomy or cause it to be committed, by reason of their living
in close relations with the daevas; and, in that of the soul of
a deceitful Ashmogh by reason of its assuming the shape of a daeva.
The question was asked: About the deeds of salvation of Gayomard,
it has been said, on the testimony of the Avesta that, "Gayomard,
by reason of his speaking the truth, went at once under the supremacy
of the Amahraspands." [21] Again, another
known opinion regarding him has been stated in this manner "His
nature was created for Garothman:" [22]
How then are these two (differently) given decisions to be accepted
as dicta of religion?
Know (you) that, what is said about Gayomard having been created
for Garothman, because of his nature having remained, in this
world, as pure as Garothman, (by abstaining) from the vices of
this world, is admitted by people on (the authority of) the dictum
regarding it; and, what is mentioned about Gayomard having been
saved by his deeds, has reference to the Evil-doer: therefore,
these two different statements are truthful and worthy of being
assented to and approved, without objection.
The question was asked : One of two dasturs says about Gayomard
that "notwithstanding the presence (in this world) of the
Blemish-giver, [23] he lived thirty years";
and the other says that "no sooner the Blemish-giver reached
(this world) than immediately he died"; which (statements)
are opposed to each other (and) obviously objectionable: therefore,
how are the two to be assented to and approved.
Know, that, the weight of these statements depends upon the explanation
obtained regarding them by men; therefore, if any one give an
explanation regarding them with proofs from the Avesta, that (explanation)
is to be believed in by all as the word of the prophet: and if,
in such explanation, the purport of the two agrees with that of
the person on the one side, then, that explanation is not objectionable,
but of similar authority, purpose and relation. Therefore, such
explanation of theirs, of (similar) tendency and relation, must
be accepted and approved similarly with other matters of faith
and explanations of things relating to the good religion declared
by the dastur of the religion.
The question was asked: In the Avesta, what is original (text)
and what is commentary on it, are (treated) as the scriptures;
all these are said to be composed from the very first Word, Yatha
ahu vairyo; but, how was one part [24]
formed from one word of Yatha ahu vairyo?
Know (you) that, in the Avesta, the original (text) and the commentary
upon it, are, as scriptures, founded on the Yatha ahu vairyo;
and, as without a man's head the hair that give (it) beauty
cannot exist, so without the Yatha ahu vairyo the commentaries
that give additional beauty to the religion cannot exist: therefore,
there is nothing objectionable (taken) one with another. [25]
The question was asked: What is the reason for keeping the nasa
of men and dogs at a distance of thirty paces, and a woman who
is menstruating at a distance of fifteen paces, from anything
pure? Is the pollution arising from the nasa of men and dogs greater
than that from the menses? (for) from the overplus in the thirty
paces, the defilement from the nasa of men and dogs (seems to
be) greater. What, then, is the reason of the mention made (in
the religion) about the holy ceremonies for the Good Creation
[26] becoming more impure than the nasa of
men and dogs, by being looked upon by a woman who is menstruating?
Know (you) that, the greater pollution of the nasa of men and
dogs than that of menses is apparent from the distance of thirty
paces; but the cause of a pure thing being defiled by being seen
by a woman who is menstruating is owing to the nasas [27]
acquiring power to run with great force on a woman who is menstruating,
and, to the penetration of the nasas into the pure thing through
the sight of that woman. And, as the secretly injurious stink
of the wind of the posteriors by going into the nose, -- (as)
that stink of a foul stomach, -- is injurious to living created-things,
so her looking at the things appertaining to holy ceremonies,
renders those things useless.
Know (you) that, the greatness of time depends upon good and evil: in it there is goodness through the inherent attributes of the Spenamino, [28] and evil through the opposite attributes of the Ghanamino.
There are eight principal (heads of) knowledge of every good and evil (that happens) in time: their names are Spenaki, Ghanaki, Vadi, Varuni, Bagi, Dadani, Vahuyati and Dushneyati: and the access (of good and evil) is owing to them.
Spenaki is knowledge regarding the (right) understanding of wisdom, obedience and truthfulness in religion, and regarding suffering (persecution) for its (religion's) sake; and it is intended for those who are celebrated for spreading true accounts of the good religion and for religious teachership.
Ghanaki is knowledge regarding the (right) understanding of the disobedience pertaining to the bad religion which opposes the Athornan class; [29] of the inability to see and hear what pertains to the good religion; (and) of the teaching to commit sin and to be ungrateful; and, it has reference to those who are well-known for doing injury to the good religion.
Vadi is knowledge regarding the (right) understanding about the giving by the Arthestar class [30] of the assistance arising from (giving) power, elevated station, authority and justice to the priestly class: and it has reference to those who are renowned for dominion and authority.
Varuni is knowledge regarding the (right) understanding of selfishness that injures the priestly class, of all deceitfulness that helps (such) education (as that) of Bradrok-resh [31] and of evil disposition and immorality; and it has reference to those who are well-known for doing harm and injury to the (priestly) class.
Bagi is knowledge regarding agriculture for (the benefit of) the world; and it has reference to those who, by living conscientiously, collecting food, and bestowing it (upon people) for the sake of a rich reward, are well-known as increasers of help to the priestly and the governing classes.
Dadani is knowledge regarding destruction by robbers and oppressors in the world; the injury done to the prosperity of the world through want of mercy, want of sympathy, miserliness, and meanness; and the harm done to mankind by causing scarcity (of food) and dearth: and has reference to those persons who are injurers of the profession of agriculture.
Vahuyati is knowledge regarding the Hutukhsh [32] class, which class is an helper of the (above) three classes: and to the soul of the follower of this profession, there is acquisition of holiness, through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.
Dushneyati is knowledge regarding people following evil professions: the soul of him who follows evil professions becomes guilty through evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds; and it is a doer of injury to those who follow the three professions. [33]
The formation of the members of the different professions possessing the above knowledge, depends upon the influence of the respective principles; [34] and he, over whom (either of the principles) prevails becomes subject to it.
The good knowledge comprised in Spenaki is (intended) for Vadi; and the knowledge comprised in Vadi is (intended) for Bagi; and, the knowledge comprised in Bagi is (intended) for Vahuyati.
The evil knowledge comprised in Ghanaki is (intended) for Varuni; and the knowledge comprised in Varuni is (intended) for Dadani, and the knowledge comprised in Dadani is (intended) for Dushneyati. And, the manifestation of men in their various meannesses and goodnesses, is owing to them.
Evil arises from oppression, and oppression prevails in the world in various ways. Similarly, various persons prevail in goodness through virtue. In times pertaining to the Evil One [35] the low, generally, have power over the high: at that time much wickedness becomes manifest through oppression, as is said in the holy religion:-- "Man's deeds for obtaining good acquisitions are owing to the strength of the yazads, and (his) deeds for obtaining evil acquisitions are owing to the strength of the daevas."
Times that come for the greatness of Ohrmazd, the Creator, are owing to goodness, and are the cause of making people of a higher nature through goodness; and, owing to them, injury is done to the evil-giving of wickedness and to (men's) becoming wicked through the Evil Principle. And the destruction, from the beginning to the end of time, of the evil-imparting of greater wickedness, which is to happen to mankind through the Evil-doer, is owing to the Principle (of Good) which at once puts a stop to it among mankind. The equibalancing of the powers intended for the Frashegird, [36] and the greater access of the strength and connection (pertaining to them), in the creation, is owing to the prevalence in it of the Good Power which renders Evil lusterless.
Again, the times that possess great preeminence in evil, are (such),
owing to there being much more evil than good in them; and, during
these times, harm is done to all people through the deceitfulness
of the Deceiver In this manner, owing to the continuance of the
Good and the Evil Principle among mankind, harm will be done till
the time of the Frashegird. In the time of the Frashegird, by
means of goodness, there is living with purity; and, owing to
that, to the Ghanamino, there will be a want (of occasions) to
do harm. And all good persons will obtain immortality and a final
well-regulated constitution through the instrumentality of the
Will of the Lord Creator having reference to His final intentions.
Be it known that, the greatness of the relations of a countryman
of Iran is owing to the Mazdayasnian religion and to his being
obedient (to Ohrmazd) through the laws of the Mazdayasnian religion.
And the superiority of his disposition and strength is owing to
certain qualities and demeanor pertaining to obedience (to Ohrmazd.)
The ways of Iranians are the ways of the Mazdayasnian religion;
therefore, whoever is a native of Iran is always a breaker of
cruel customs. Because a native of Iran has the ways of the Mazdayasnian
religion and keeps the good Mino [37] with
him, he has greatness, and the Evil Principle is (constantly)
harassed by him. And, owing to well-made, (justly) proportioned
and well-regulated food, he keeps healthy, well-mended, improved,
happy, pure, beautiful, fragrant, and cheerful. And as to certain
(other religious) communities, their preeminence of disposition
and of strength is owing to their quality of disobedience (to
Ohrmazd) and to their possessing the ways of the religion of the
Ghanamino, and to their keeping the Evil Principle with them.
And so, the Good Principle is hurt by them. And, owing to badly
proportioned, corrupted and extremely uniform food, they remain
ill, evil-doers, corrupted, miserable, impure, stinking, ill-shaped,
and distressed.
Know that the formation also of the religion and customs of the
people of the borders, whose original country was Iran, is (derived)
from the original religion and faith of their Iranian ancestors.
Therefore, to them there is (accrual of) good, profit, and increased
strength by inquiries concerning this same religion and system.
For, the power they have attained is owing to the Iranian religion;
and those who have become lords of the world, inclusive even of
Xwaniratha, [38] are (descended) from Hooshang,
Tahmurasp, Jamshed, Faridoon; Erach, and other Iranians; and,
whatever greatness their sovereignty has acquired, that greatness
is owing to giving freedom and happiness to (their) subjects;
and owing to that there is perpetual advantage to them. Therefore,
the decisions of other rulers, [39] who are
not approvers of those who tell lies for the sake of oppression,
of those who raise up dissensions in religion, of murderers and
highwaymen, must always be acknowledged by the servants of Ohrmazd,
and, they (the rulers) must be reckoned as protecting kings, and
(the servants of Ohrmazd) must keep (themselves) obedient to them
according to the laws, without revolting, and promote their rule.
But, if any one there, [40] should arrest the
greatness, the glory and the splendor of the Mazdayasnian religion
for the sake of introducing (another) religion, then, (the servants
of Ohrmazd) should keep (themselves) in the right from such cruel
persons in the manner in which advantage and happiness may appear
to them. And those who may have fallen from that religion and
become damned should be persuaded to turn back. Again, a check
should be given to the advancing strength and the attack of the
"Yahud" [Jewish] religion of Rum and "the Masahiya"
[Messiah, i.e. Christian] [41] religion of
Khavar, [42] and the "Mani" religion
[Manichaeism] of Turkestan, lest their wickedness and degradation
should enter into (our) co-religionist friends and the purity
of our religion, which is older than that of Rum, should be dimmed.
Be it known that, among persons whose ways are deserving of higher
or lower privileges being bestowed upon them, are many persons
of this kind: among them the first rank is held by a person of
advanced age, skilled in the arts, and the second and lower, by
a skilled youth. There are many reasons for the elderly man-of-art
being superior to the youthful man-of-art: He who is advanced
in age has acquired, with his knowledge, experience regarding
that knowledge; so, much faith is reposed in him and evil of any
kind is removed through him; and the youthful man-of-art, with
his knowledge, does not attain to the proficiency of the (elderly)
man-of-art until he becomes of advanced age. Lower in rank than
him, the third, is the young man without (knowledge of) art; and
lower than him -- the last, is the old man without (knowledge
of) art. There are many reasons for the superiority of the young
man without (knowledge of) art over the old man without (knowledge
of) art: there is hope of a young man attaining to (a knowledge
of) the arts through his superior and uniform strength.
Be it known that, whosoever pursues his calling according to the
law, -- his profession is one for acquiring enduring wealth and
not for acquiring transitory wealth; [43] and
that pursuer of his calling by the good path (and) acknowledger
of God's obligations, lives cheerfully and contented. He whose
calling is to acquire transitory wealth and to avoid enduring
wealth, -- that pursuer of his calling by the wrong path, lives
a grumbler, morose, restless and discontented. The enduring wealth
that keeps the body in order and the soul strengthened is owing
to good behavior; and the increase of transitory wealth is owing
to the absence of it (good behavior) (and) to evil behavior. The
thing that gives to the soul deliverance of every kind and turns
away all sin is righteousness.
Be it known that, the protection (of man) by the yazads in boundless
ways and in various modes is owing to man's remaining aloof from
the commission of sin and his being righteous. As long as there
is goodness, so long the yazads are keepers of relations with
the good; and they leave off protecting those who take to committing
sin. Since it is so, that, by committing sin and thinking evil
of righteousness, (men) become driven from relations with the
yazads, then, surely, from this, good people should always entertain
hopes (of reward) and evil-doers, terror (of punishment). If ever
in this earthly habitation, an evil-doer, who wallows in sin,
with an increase of sinful deeds, live, among mankind, as one
who has obtained good reward and is protected; and, if a good
man live without the (good) fortune to be protected, then, it
is positively said (in the religion) that: -- in the invisible
world, owing to deliverance and superior position, the good attain
to a happy state at the end, and the bad, owing to suffering imprisonment
and disgrace, attain to an unhappy state at the end. (Therefore)
if at any place holy men find it very injurious and hurtful (to
speak the truth), still it (the truth) must be spoken. And, if
at any place, holy men should find untruth very convenient and
beneficial still, it must never, at any time; be spoken. There
is an admonition in the good religion about truthful persons that,
if owing to true information being given by a truthful person,
he should injure holy men, still, not looking to that, he should
be praised for his truth-speaking: and, similarly, if at any time,
by telling an untruth, his (the untruthful person's) false information
should do a benefit to holy men, still, that ought not to be admitted,
and he should be despised for his falsehood.
Be it known that, if Vohuman [44] live as a
guest in the heart of any (man), and Ohrmazd be the ruler over
his will, then, his house (i.e., body) is peaceful; his
thoughts possess the truthfulness of the Invisible Abode; his
speech is comformable to reason; and, his deeds, are (calculated)
to abstain from sin and to move forward in righteousness. And
if Akoman [45] be in the heart of any (man)
and Varun [46] be the ruler over his will,
then, he is the abode of anger and the rulers over his mind are
the invisible Principle of Sin, and, selfishness that gives commands
to (his) tongue; hence, his deeds are (calculated) to abstain
from righteousness and to advance in sin.
Be it known that, the yazads approve of the thoughts relating
to the ways of the good religion for the reason that, they (i.e.
the ways) themselves are for (securing) the Good Principle
and for turning back from the Evil Principle: therefore, he who
is for securing the Good Principle, is a turner away of himself
from the Evil Principle, for the sake of righteousness; and righteousness
is the wish of the yazads. The daevas approve the thoughts relating
to the ways of the bad religion for the reason that, they (i.e.
the ways) themselves are for the Evil Principle and for turning
back from the Good Principle; and, again, whoever possesses the
Evil Principle, is a turner away of himself from the Good Principle,
for the sake of sin; and, sin is the wish of the daevas.
Be it known that, the reason for mankind becoming doers of work
of a superior kind is religion; and it is owing to it only that
there is a living in prosperity through the Creator. It is always
necessary to send it (religion) from time to time to keep men
back from being mixed up with sin and to regenerate them. Gayomard,
who was the origin of mankind and the first king of the world,
was the first to accept the religion from the Creator. And, Soshyant,
-- the last bringer of religion for mankind from God and the embellisher
of the world through religious deeds, -- he, who will make mankind
walk in purity, -- is the chief and lord of the last men; he,
in accordance with the will and desire of the Creator, will be
the bringer of His religion at the time of the End, and will be
the giver of perfect beauty to the work of rendering the world
pure, free from harm and fit for paradise, -- which work was (first
commenced) through Gayomard. All the reformers of mankind (i.e.
prophets) are considered as connected with its (religion's)
design; and the heavenly angels, -- the bringers of the good religion,
are the mediators of the prophets of the good religion; but there
will be no necessity for sending religion, through a prophet,
for the (benefit of) Creatures of the world who will be in existence
after him (Soshyant). Religious teachers who, -- in times of exceedingly
sinful deeds and depraved manners, and during the predominance
of those who make men exceedingly sinful in respect of religion
and make them skeptical regarding the good religion, and of those
who profess a religion which encourages men to go towards darkness,
-- are the promoters of religion, illuminers and superior-knowledge-possessing-renderers
of the world by means of imparting to it knowledge regarding the
entertaining of hopes about the first world; -- if people should
approve, from its published design, the religion of such messengers
(i.e. the religious teachers), then, they (the people)
should acknowledge those messengers as prophets, for the sake
of their good religion: but if in that religion mention is made
about the non-deliverance of the inhabitants of this world, then,
they should abandon it without examination. [47]
Be it known that, the souls of worshippers of daevas and of deceitful Ashmoghs, owing to their impure nature, although (located) in a living body, are, according to the religion, (as if) possessing a dead body; and that body with life is considered as (fit) for hell; hence there is a danger of their pollution and bad qualities reaching Mazdayasnians through mutual intercourse with them; therefore, (the Mazdayasnians) must remain aloof from touching their living bodies, for their bodies are in all places like decayed nasa.
Again, it is made known thus, that owing to their friendship and
the touch of close relations with them, there is diminution of
purity, alloying of good qualities, (with bad ones) and harm to
habits, and lessening of glory. These people are through friendship
and the practice of eating and drinking with them, givers of separation
from the yazads and of relations of impurity; and (thereby) the
understanding becomes debased; therefore, as far as possible,
(we) must remain, aloof from contact with and separate from them,
and with that, do also this, (we) must wash three times with hot
water those plates and eating vessels which they use, and Mazdayasnians
must avoid eating and drinking from out of them.
Be it known that among the servants of God, he, who is self-informed
with knowledge about himself as a servant (of God) and guides
himself by means of a likely-to-improve principle, in the brightness,
majesty, wisdom and (good) qualities pertaining to him, is a superior
servant of God. And he, who improves himself by exactly imitating
that improved servant of God, and guides his powers, in the way
they should be guided, is a servant of God of the middle rank.
And he, who, through an accomplished person possessed of perfect
wisdom -- by means of such powers-improving advice as his, --
is himself (possessed) with knowledge regarding improvement, is,
among the servants of God, a servant of inferior rank. [48]
Be it known that, very great happiness and misery, happiness accompanied
by misery and misery accompanied by happiness, of men of this
world, are quickly-vanishing. And with the going away of misery
of this world, happiness is connected, and with the going away
of happiness, misery is connected.
Be it known that, there is an admonition to man that his obtaining
deliverance (from hell) is by wishing in accordance with and by
inquiring about, the will of Ohrmazd, and, by living properly
in accordance with the will of the Lord through the way (pointed
out) in the good religion; or, by doing, by means of the directions
given in the good religion, the work relating to it; and by remaining
aloof from deeds, hurtful and relating to repentance, (which)
should be abstained from. He whose conscience is the pointer out
to him of the higher path and whom reason governs is the man who
has found Ohrmazd's wish; but he, who abstains from obtaining
knowledge regarding means for himself and is without the desire
to preserve himself in truthfulness and is not an approver of
reason that counsels contentment, [49] is self-willed,
of a perverse conscience, and pertains to selfish things.
Be it known that, the Lord of Existence is manifest through every
existent and created thing pertaining to him.. The Self-existent
is possessed of a faculty of superior wisdom. And, before the
work of the Lord was promulgated through the Spenamino, He Himself
existed. And the existence of all is owing to the Self-existent.
Again, the manifestation, among men, of the Lord of Existence,
through what he has brought into existence, happened last. [50]
For, the manifestation of Ohrmazd as the existence-giver of Vohuman
was after the work of creating Vohuman. So, the wisdom pertaining
to the religion being necessary for the creation, and, it being
necessary that it (the religion) should be spread by means of
the personality of Vohuman, -- Vohuman, having been created by
the Creator, is, as the first creation. And, Vohuman having been
created by the Creator, he is, in expositions of the religion,
mentioned as the son of the Creator, and the Creator, in respect
of Vohuman, is mentioned as the father. Then, it is proved from
this that, the Creator must have manifested himself, before the
creation of Vohuman. And whatever knowledge regarding Him Vohuman
has obtained, -- he is made the possessor of that knowledge by
the Creator. Therefore, it appears from this that, the creator
is able, through His perfect knowledge, all-sufficient power and
entire control, to create as much profitable creation as is wanted.
And there is no one who is high in wisdom, possessed of most knowledge,
and holder of most dignified advantages, like Him. Therefore,
(as regards) the religious teacher among religious teachers who
is (considered) as himself the Creator, also, as (both) father
and son, -- that is impossible; -- (for) that the father is made
before the son and the son after the father -- these two (propositions)
are (considered) regular in all religions. Again, the Self-existent
himself is One, and he has alone created (the creation): how could
he, (then) create himself after? According to the law of descent
of things, one, among two, must precede; therefore, if two precede,
and two follow, it is proper, that the one that precedes the other
among them, should be called the father and the other the son.
(For) among the two, (created, the one) before and (the other)
after (the other), the first is the father of the second, and
the second is the son. But the aged father born before the son,
cannot be the son; and, the son born after the father, cannot
be the father.
Be it known that, the Creator of the creation is an acknowledger
of His creation, as His creation, because of relations being maintained,
by the creation. which He has created, with Him. And He is an
esteemer of the creation (as) valuable, because of higher relations
(maintained) by the creation. And God Himself becomes an esteemer
of His creation (as) valuable, by identifying Himself with it.
That is, He Himself becomes a bestower among the creation of the
precious gift of thoughts regarding Himself,. and a keeper of
it (the creation) free from dread, by reason of (the creation)
not displeasing the Creator openly: [51] for,
the Lord is like a King over his people. Again, whoever guides
himself, among the people of the Lord, by the wisdom of the Creator,
and is generous, he undoubtedly, is not an injurer of himself
through deeds of sin The religion of those religious preceptors,
[52] who are of the side of God, is said to
be one that does not at all harm His creation by deeds of sin
and does not without reason cause suffering in the Kingdom, owing
to the generous deeds, done through the wisdom pertaining to,
and of the sacred justice administered by it (the religion). And
those who have remained without and behind it (i.e. the
wisdom pertaining to the religion) are said to be positively thoughtless.
Be it known that, the superiority and the superior dignity of Athornanship over Arthestarship and Vastariusship are known from many reasons. And one (reason) among them is, that the two titles, soldiership and peasantship are included in priestship; for, the warriorship of an Athornan consists in smiting the invisible drujas and, his peasantship in making (himself) a worshipper of God. [54] And again, the work of conveying the soul in the presence of its Creator is (done) by Athornans.
Another reason is, that to every man the acquisition of knowledge respecting (his) duties -- such as, to know the creator, and to distinguish numerous (deeds of) righteousness and sin -- is through the Athornan class: as also, every man is, in all deeds, relating to his soul, of extended and detailed boundary, through the Athornan class.
Third. The higher rank of priesthood than that of soldiership and peasantship is owing to its religious communing, disposition and the superiority of (religious) places.
Fourth. The dignity of the head in the human body is (allotted) to the profession of Athornan; of the hand, to the profession Arthestar; of the belly, to the profession of Vastariush; and of feet, to the profession of Hutokhsh: thus, it is symbolically shown, that in rank and dignity, the profession of Athornan is as the head of the world; the profession of Arthestar is as the hands of the world; the profession of Vastariush is as the belly of the world; and, the profession of Hutokhsh is as the feet of the world.
Fifth. The superiority of priestship is owing to the (priest)
being (set) over the work relating to their (i.e. of the
members of the three other professions) souls; for, whoever is
in the profession of Athornan, is always a pointer out to people
of boundless (knowledge) regarding their souls. The Athornan class
being mentioned in the good religion as the best adorner of the
mansions of Ohrmazd [55] -- this is a proof,
fit to be admitted, of the greater superiority of the Athornan
class than that of the Arthestar and Vastariush classes.
Be it known that, if a person (be) able, in respect of wealth,
fullness and learning, to impart instruction in the wisdom pertaining
to the good religion, (then) that person, having the power of
learning and wealth, ought to give zealous assistance in respect
of wisdom and wealth to those not fully able; so that, the enabler
(of others) may become, through the God who enabled him, an acquirer
of the reward of fitting dignity in both the worlds, and may,
through the power of the yazads become the receiver of full protection
in both the worlds; and also that, people may remain bound, as
holders of full relations, in respect of the virtues of both the
worlds, and the world may thence become improved, mended and beautified,
and the good tribe may increase, and men obtain deliverance (from
hell) and (the) exaltation (of heaven.)
Be it known that, the yazads are, by the command of God, for the
purpose of removing and driving back each of the numerous dangers
that have approached at different times: and as a wise physician
knows the remedies for driving back the ailments of the body and
for making improvements in the original constitution; and (as)
the cultivator, who removes evil from corn, is the person to apply
remedies to corn affected with destructive evil; so they (the
yazads) are for the purpose of not allowing harm to happen to
the creation at the time of danger and for driving it back. And
they come, by the command of God, immediately upon the appearance
of approaching (danger), and smite the enemy powerfully in a way
that he may not rise up again. They are like heroes who bestow
the advantage upon the world of living in happiness without the
fear of enemies, of affording rest to people for a long period,
and of spreading in the world the religion and (its) glory.
Be it known that (for man) to remain in obedience to the Creator,
depends upon his knowledge, in every particular, regarding religion.
(For), owing to it (religion), a worthy man becomes a conductor
(of himself) towards his Creator without evil, harm or vice, by
means of the things appertaining to the spirit and the body. And
the becoming vicious of men is owing to the diminution and destruction
of the wisdom pertaining to the soul; and hence the soul becomes
guilty. As, owing to admixture, disease is engendered in the body,
so, owing to sin, illness, the pain of death and misery happen
to the soul. Through the miserliness that causes injury to the
riches of the soul and through the dishonest practices of a Farehbut
[56] and the murderous destructive practices
of an Aibibut, [57] there is a diminution of
the life of, and a happening of harm to, the perfect creation
of the Creator. When man regulates his conduct by means of the
wisdom relating to the soul and by means which secure the riches
of safety of body and of prosperity, then the Good creation [58]
prevail to some extent over those who do harm to the creation
of the Creator. And owing to the greater strength derived by him
(man) through, and the care taken of him, by the Creator, the
strength of the Injurer [59] who always hovers
over him to do him harm, will not prevail. Men pass their own
and their kindred's lives in a proper manner through virtue; and
in an improper manner through doing injury. Therefore, arrangements
(made) by virtue, ought to be protected from persons possessing
a disposition to do harm; and communities whose practices are
calculated to cause harm ought to be avoided. Those who are religious
teachers, are not causers of harm to the Creator, but those whose
religion is such as to instill (into people) a desire for sins
that give pain to the Creator, for falsehood, for mischief, and
for harm-causing means, their (religion) is worthless. Such a
religion cannot be considered to be from the Creator and cannot
be called good.
Be it known that, as it is the personal duty of rulers having
a knowledge of the religion to prevent their disobedient enemies
from (approaching) wealthy and influential citizens, so it is
their duty to drive away from them and suppress, misery, hardship,
want, disease, and pestilence; and, as far as practicable, to
discover and adopt such measures as would keep up prowess in the
world. Among rulers he occupies a high position who adopts several
measures for removing misery and disease from the citizens in
such a manner that there may not be a single complaint under his
rule of no measures having been taken against hardship and disease.
But being without a knowledge of religion and of its precepts,
owing to the idleness resulting from perverse thoughts, and owing
to their exerting themselves in occupations pertaining to discontentedness,
(they, the rulers,) promote the causes which generate each disease;
and, there is thus a strengthening of the profession of arms.
Therefore, if any among their subjects should be unable to pursue
their occupation owing to their being without the implements of
their occupation, -- (if), for instance, a husbandman should be
without bullocks and other implements of agriculture, or, (if)
members of other professions be without the implements of their
profession, -- then they should provide such persons with the
implements for carrying on their business and thus render them
defectless. And they should protect defenseless women and children,
who, owing to old age or to their inability to move about, and
owing to there being no person able to keep off plunderers, seek
their assistance. The light to crush misery of this description
before it has made any advance is the light (of religion). Therefore,
rulers should conduct themselves in (the path of works) appertaining
to religion and should give orders to commence (such works), that
thereby the person suffering from disease may not have to prefer
a dungeon (to his misery). For remedying disease and pestilence,
orders should be given for erecting in cities and towns hospitals
placed under the superintendence of every well-known physician
approving of the happiness of the soul, and provided with appropriate
medicines and other appliances for removing disease; and there,
inquiries should be made and care taken for curing a the diseases
of all persons. And measures of all kinds should be taken in cities
whereby the city may flourish and be industrious, and famine,
misery and want may go on being at once annihilated from (among)
most men. Similarly, fire, water, and the earth should be kept
fragrant, and the air should be kept pure from all noxious substances
and things liable to decay, that owing to them men may not suffer
from disease and pestilence. On the contrary, men should keep
(such things) aloof, in the world, from fire, water, and the earth
in obedience to the commands of kings (who act) in accordance
with such admonitions in the good religion.
Be it known that, enmities should be borne to those with whom
(all) relations ought, according to tile good religion, to be
broken; for, the breaking of relations, brought about by harm
done to man and by coming in his way, (so as to prevent him from
doing what is good) is just. Those who are turners away of the
soul of man from the helper, are daevas. And owing to relations
with these evil beings, the help of him from whom there is assistance
to man, is not obtained by him. For, the assistance of daevas
is well known for coming in the way of every person who assists
men; therefore, if an approved Dastur of the good religion be
able to turn a good man from (having) relations with evil persons,
towards the good, then it is not wisdom to quarrel (with him),
but good should be done to him, and love should be shown (to him),
and good offices should be done to him, and he who is wicked should
be turned to what is good by means of wisdom.
Be it known that, looking carefully, those whose ways are to oppose
the creation of Ohrmazd are of three kinds. Of these one (kind)
advances unperceived, one through the passions, and one in bodily
form, to do harm. Those who advance unperceived to do harm are
invisible daevas and drujas; and, the riddance of them is by means
of the ceremony of Ijashne [i.e. Yasna] of the good religion:
and, owing to the adoption of measures of other good-doing, there
is a riddance of the daeva-worship of the bad religion and of
other evil practices. And those who advance (to do harm) through
the passions, are (possessed of) covetousness, envy, and other
passions; and the riddance of the danger from them is by means
of the correlated attributes of inherent wisdom, and by means
of conducting ourselves through the instrumentality of well-reputed
helpers [61] who are the averters of (spiritual)
disease, and their powers. The acquisition of strength by the
drujas, through the passions, is owing to Varun. [62]
And those who advance in bodily form (to do harm) are daeva-worshipping
rulers, wolves. and monsters, who are the destroyers of the world:
they are got rid of generally, by means of the battle-ax, fetters,
and the holy persons who are the possessors of the fetters for
catching them. [63] A daeva-worshipping, deceitful
(ruler) causes greater evil to the world than wolves and monsters,
owing to the power appertaining to rule.
Be it known that, the improvement (of men) for the happiness of
heaven is by keeping an eye towards relations with the pure (and)
invisible yazads, and by opposing the association with themselves
of those who have the intention of wounding and giving pain (to
the yazads) and are of a like disposition. To join battle with
them (i.e. such wicked persons) immediately upon seeing
them, is, for the creation of Ohrmazd possessing the disposition
of the yazads, to secure Final Victory over the darkness of this
world caused by daevas and drujas, and over the practices of the
lightless Evil-doer. [64] In the world, the
possessors of the disposition of the yazads, become improvers
of themselves for eternity, by means of righteousness of all kinds
and by restraining their inclinations for improper happiness.
Those religious teachers who, by means of knowledge derived from
this world, [65] cause numerous men to walk
in evil ways and so render them deliveranceless for eternity,
are like the creatures of the ever-painful abode of hell: for,
their religion imparts evil knowledge respecting the works of
the Creator, (respecting) wisdom, highest happiness and the pure
invisible yazads possessed of knowledge regarding the End. Consequently,
any one of those whose religion is one pertaining to paradise
is said to be for the Evil End and to have the ways of the daevas
by eating and acting with those whose religion is of this (evil)
character.
Be it known that, if a possessor of life [66] be good himself, he becomes possessed of a better rank, owing to making great additions of righteousness under the tutelage of able and very powerful yazads; and, owing to superior righteousness (he) becomes the acquirer of the highest rank. And through him additional advantage is derived at every place. For, he is a great encourager, at every place, of the doing of righteousness; hence, those souls that are (located) in bodies, become doers, at every place of more profitable work for the soul. As, in every place, over the members of a household, is the householder; in a village, over the people in the village is the ruler of the village; in a city, over the people in the city, is the king; and, in religion there is the religious teacher; and as the people of the world live under the different kinds of supremacy of these (persons): So, through them (i.e. the yazads) the whole of the good creation, owing to the goodness of the Almighty and All-High Creator, becomes improved; and, owing to its (of the good creation) continuous righteousness, the good yazads, through the goodness of the Creator, become (capable of) more good.
If a possessor of life be evil himself, he becomes an acquirer
of the highest rank (in evil), through strong protectors more
powerful (than himself) in evil, by (doing) deeds of injury, of
harm to the world, of evil fame, and other more injurious deeds.
And great harm is done through him. For, in every place, he is
an encourager of others (in evil); so that, those souls that are
(located) in bodies become, at every place, doers of greater injury
to the soul. Just as in a household there is the head of the members
of the household; in a village there is the ruler of the people
of the village; in a city there is the King of the people of the
city; and in religion there is the religious teacher, under the
supremacy of whom (all) many men live very uselessly, the causers
of much pain and doers of much injury: owing to which the people
of the world are unable to obtain their wishes, to keep themselves
(from Sin) and strengthen themselves (with righteousness), --
for, how can what is evil be said to be meant to meet the Creator,
the highest source of all creation? -- So how can the religion
of religious teachers who encourage the doing of evil, not pointing
out what is good; and, precepts that break relations of goodness,
diminish goodness, cause hardship and do immense harm, be said
to be meant for forming relations with the Creator? He through
whom evil exists is worse than evil (itself) and all evil doers.
Be it known that, possessors of life are mainly of these three kinds. One kind is constitutionally immortal: its vesture (i.e. body) is (formed) for happiness. Another is constitutionally mortal, and its vesture is perishable. The Amahraspands and yazads are constitutionally immortal, and are invisible to the people of this world. Those whose vesture is perishable are known as constitutionally mortal: but from among these those who are of the side of those possessors of deathless and highly happy life, and whose vesture is related to the good thoughts of Ohrmazd and to Mahraspand, [67] -- they are known as givers of happiness to their souls and as preservers of (their) bodies, through Mahraspand. Again, others are said to be possessors, like the Amahraspands, of bodily vestures intended for the happiness of immortality: that, is owing to behavior like that of the good-thoughted Amahrapands and to the relation of their bodily vesture. The Amahraspands, as also other invisible yazads, are bestowers, in this world, upon holders of the good religion, of glory and splendor. Among things visible to the people of this world, that which is immortal is the Sun; and he is a possessor of life, with a vesture that gives happiness to this world. And as to the moon and stars which shine in uniform arrangement, -- they shine owing to his (the sun's) light. And (they) are possessors of innately happy (and) immortal vesture owing to the motions of the sun. [68] And owing to the relation with him, they are considered as having a (shining) vesture. The sun, the moon and the stars give light to the world, bestow strength on (the) bodies (of people) and increase mankind.
Those men whose immortal souls are within the bodily vesture belonging
to this world, obtain the happiness-giving vesture of him who
is by constitution without death, [69] in various
ways; and such men owing to intercourse, one with another, [70]
are considered to be of a superior rank among the people of this
world. In this world, the obtaining of the constitutional vesture
of immortality, by the people of this world, is by means of knowledge
regarding the religion, and, behavior like that of cattle. And
men and other creation of the visible world become the acquirers
of such a state through the instrumentality and owing to the gift
of those invisible Amahraspands who are by constitution immortal.
In this matter, the object of having the behavior of men like
that of cattle is (based) upon this, that people with that vesture
are, like Vohuman, by nature the protectors of the body of every
man and keep the soul happy. The possessor of the vesture [71]
of Mahraspand has relation with Ohrmazd and is possessed of the
power of His good thoughts; and people become the acquirers of
the light and splendor (emanating) from the Creator through the
instrumentality of the personality of men who are givers of happiness
to such souls. Again, those who are deserving of death [72]
are wearers of the vesture of daevas, wolves, and monsters. Of
these, the bodies of daevas were broken (up) by Zartosht of the
adorable Farohar, by means of the power of the good religion and
of his first hymn. [73] So, for breaking, (by
means of the power of the religion), the bodies of wolves, is
Aushedar; and for breaking the bodies of monsters is Aushedar-mah.
And the coming of victorious Soshyant, the doer of the mighty
work relating to Frashegird, is for destroying all dangers like
these. And after an end has come to them all men will obtain the
immortal body pertaining to the soul; and every one (will obtain)
the final vesture of cattle. [74] And whoever
is not of the meanest rank will, in his immortal soul and in his
perfectly joyous purity, suffer from no danger. And the world
will be (possessed) of everlasting improvement. The meaning of
what is made known by the Creator about the renewal of the creation
is that that creation will be improved for being made happy.
Be it known, that any thought originating in innate reason, that
resembles the good religion like as a brother, -- such a thought
ought to be believed in, accepted, and made current. Any man in
whom thoughts connected with such innate reason are always found,
-- that man, owing to that, obtains embellishments of all kinds.
And the thoughts of those who belong to the bad religion are for
obstinacy, robbery and deceit. Those who promulgate the bad religion
cause such evil as is caused by comers of money by uttering among
people lead in place of gold, or, by alloying gold with lead;
but when those who can distinguish the perverse ways of the bad
religion obtain a knowledge of its origin, then, by being weighed
by right thoughts, it is broken. Perverse ways are understood
by being compared with the ways of the good religion And (their)
being so understood is owing to their resembling the product of
the natural understanding connected with Ohrmazd.
Be it known that, for a man to act so as to obtain his deliverance,
-- this, consists in living properly within the wishes of Ohrmazd,
and in making inquiries and search in the good religion regarding
the wishes of Ohrmazd, and in doing, for (obtaining) it, (i.e.
deliverance,) what may be fit to be done according to the knowledge
(found) in the good religion, and in keeping aloof from doing
anything that is injurious. and is fit to be abstained from: for,
when man improves himself by means of the superior ways of Ohrmazd
and lives in accordance with the commands of reason, he becomes
like to a thing in accordance with the wishes of Ohrmazd. And
it is owing to his obtaining that knowledge that man becomes fully
fit for (adopting) means for preserving true things connected
with himself. But having no desires in regard to these two, --
contentment and reason -- there is an approval of things pertaining
to the commands of evil passions and to a selfish heart.
Be it known that, every man ought to take thought regarding the
giving of deliverance to (his) soul: in this matter, rulers, by
improving the different peoples of the world, by conferring splendor,
by bestowing gladness and by governing well, make (their souls)
more glorious (for the purposes of deliverance). Religious men
make (their souls) more glorious by imparting the practices of
the Mazdayasnian religion, by impressing belief respecting it
and by imparting true relations. And all other men besides these
make (their souls) more glorious by remaining obedient (to the
Mazdayasnian religion) in the business of their professions.
Who remains fresh in wealth? Who possesses happiness pertaining
to the soul? Who is a keeper-aloof from sin? Who possesses superior
wisdom? Who is an increaser of glory? A man possessing the friendship
of many men -- to what is that owing? Through whom is improvement
of the body, and deliverance to its soul?
Be it known that, whoever is industrious with personal zeal and
labor, he remains fresh in wealth. He whose look, in (this) perishable
world is towards the Giver of Life, -- to his soul there is happiness
and tranquillity from the Creator. (He in whose heart) is the
abode of the omniscient Creator, -- he is a keeper of himself
aloof from sin. The man who has much knowledge of the apprehensions
regarding the Hoshbam (of Cheharum) [75] is
of high rank in wisdom. By looking at people with a good eye,
there is an increase of your glory. Men will be very affectionate
towards you by your living with them in friendship and looking
after them. If you force out falsehood from (your) body, your
body will be improved and your soul delivered (from hell.)
Be it known that the wisdom of the Mazdayasnian religion is for
the people professing that religion. And those who are Farehbuts
and Aibibuts, -- to them there is harm from it. (For) the connection
itself of that religion is an opposer of the sinful wisdom of
Farehbut and of the obstructive, cruel wisdom of Aibibut. Again,
by much faith being reposed in the good religion, the Perfect
Improvers [76] by means of good wisdom, of
the believer in the good religion, become frequent residents (in
his heart); and owing to that, the thoughts, the speech, and the
deeds of these professors of the good religion, are always accompanied
with the wisdom of the Mazdayasnian religion. The wisdom intended
for the professors of the Mazdayasnian religion, -- every (portion)
of that wisdom, -- is not obtained by the reasoning faculty (of
man), but it is made known by the Giver of existence to the Mazdayasnian
religion and its Revealer.
Be it known that, the life of citizens consists in (civil) government
(being) connected with religion and religion (being) connected
with (civil) government. And the exposition, based on a knowledge
of the good religion, regarding it is thus: -- (If there be) those
whose government is for (the purposes of) religion and whose religion
is for the improvement of government, -- then, the faithful must
assuredly live in accord with them: for, the rule of such a state
is like a manifest support, to the doers of generous deeds of
the good religion, for remaining firm in the service of Ohrmazd
and for conferring greatness on the religion. For one not to destroy
another, to render obedience to the state t and to confer greatness
upon it, -- (all) these are owing to the remaining in obedience
to the religion of Ohrmazd. The highest greatness to religion
is from (civil) government. There is great splendor and profit
to the people of the world, from God, owing to the influence of
religious behavior. A government is truthful, owing to its being
a government accompanied with the good religion. A government
is related to the good religion owing to there being a complete
connection with the good religion. And from this, the proposition
that, government is (identical with) religion and that religion
is the government of citizens, is clearly apparent. Similarly,
an evil government is owing to its evil religion, and an evil
religion is owing to its correlated evil government.
Be it known that, (a man) becomes good in many ways: especially
by putting faith in the religion of Ohrmazd; and thereby he becomes
a holder of relations with the Creator, Ohrmazd. A man becomes
more and most good by putting more and most faith in the religion
of Ohrmazd. And thereby he becomes a holder of greater and greatest
relations with, the Creator, Ohrmazd, the source of all good.
Similarly, man becomes bad in various ways. Especially by putting
faith in a bad religion. And thereby he becomes a holder of relations
with the Ghanamino: and he becomes more and most bad by putting
more and most faith in the bad religion And thereby he becomes
a holder of greater and greatest relations with the source of
all evil, the Ghanamino. Therefore, how can there be a mingling
of wicked religious teachers in a religion which is the source
of good? That is, in what way can there be a mingling of those
whose religion is of evil ways, with the good religion connected
with the yazads? As the good are said to be holders of relations
with the yazads, through goodness; so, how can the wicked, through
wickedness?
Be it known that, the governor, over the body which the Creator
of unbounded creation, God, has given to man, is his own soul.
In the body, the obtaining of the assistance of the yazads, is
through Bud. [77] And through it the reasoning
faculty becomes a wisher for, and obtainer of; strength. (Man)
is a possessor of strength and a keeper-of-himself-durable through
Hosh. [78] Through reason [79]
man is a finder-out of falsehood, a distinguisher, and a doer
of every deed. Owing to much connection with the yazads, through
(the faculty named) Akho, a path is found to the mind by
wisdom, purity and gladness that have an eye for the Invisible.
Again, seven [80] other bodily things have
been created, giving complete embellishment to the body from without;
among these are the five senses. These are spoken of; by those
who have knowledge regarding them, as the senses of sight, hearing,
taste, smell, and touch, the windows connected with which are
placed outside the body; and the nerves in the dwelling are the
proper carriers of his messages to the owner [81]
of the dwelling-house. [82] Again, there is
a description-giving sense-the tongue, which is the bringer out
of knowledge regarding the owner of the body from within the body
and is the publisher of whatever may be his wishes and thoughts.
In this manner every man is made to personally govern his body,
for the freedom of his wishes. Hence, (this is) like the kings
of the world who are rulers according to their will over people,
and, are considered good rulers over the body of the people, by
managing the kingdom with wisdom, through the good use of their
powers; and, such rule gives to many unworthy persons relations
with the Kingdom of Light; and, consequently, such a king becomes
happy and respected in the invisible world; but if he be a misuser
of his powers, of evil understanding, and an injurer, then, owing
to that, his kingdom is at once subverted, and he remains despised
and possessed of evil reward, in the ever-harassing hell. Among
the people of this world, the nature which is in itself like to
the nature of the Creator Ohrmazd, is the nature of holy men,
who are keepers of the principle of good thought in Akho, givers
of place in their hearts to the service of the Spenamino, keepers
in their minds of (the commands of) Srosh, sufferers in a sufficient
manner, and givers of authoritative decisions to God's creatures
and obeyers of the law. [83] The nature of
that holy man, whose senses possess, in the body, the powers of
the soul, is, -- for the purpose of (giving) to the people of
the world, through Hosh, knowledge regarding God, -- like to that
of the holders [84] of relations with heavenly
ways; and is, -- in obtaining true wisdom by means of the faculty
of reason, -- as if possessing the brilliancy of fire; (and) is,
through the understanding a giver of much admonition for (the
doing of) wise deeds and things; as also a raiser to superior
rank by imparting knowledge regarding the good religion, and eager
to tell and do things calculated for its (religion's) greater
purity, and for fuller thought regarding it; and is, -- owing
to the higher power (residing) in his body, -- courageous, not
afraid of any one, and a remover (of evil), in the midst of all
beholders. Again, (the nature of that holy man) is, -- owing to
keeping a benignant outlook through the eyes, -- like that of
Khwarshed; -- owing to hearing what is good through the ears,
-- like that of Srosh; -- owing to being a truth-teller through
the tongue, -- like that of Rashn; and, owing to doing good work
with the hands and being a mover-about with the feet for righteousness,
-- a worker for eternity; as also, without evil, by means of the
soul and other powers of the body.
Be it known that, there is an obtaining of the nature of Ahriman
by means of thoughts which have reached into Akho through
an evil mind, and, of the evil heart possessing the knowledge
that causes harm, and, of the evil nature of the anger that has
fallen into the mind. And hence (man) is of perverse behavior,
an acquirer of death, an instructor of men in (what leads to)
death, an injurer of good men, and like a chief of sinners. And
his nature is, through the powers of the members pertaining to
the body and the soul, calculated for infidels. Owing to which,
he is, through reason, piercing and hurtful; through Hosh,
unforgetful of vengeance; through thought, a perpetual harasser
of good things; through (his) will, of a nature fit to harass
every man; through ambition, a possessor of the vice of swallowing
up the world, by means of an evil tumult; through the passions,
fired up to blow the smoke of relation with the perverse ways
of the evil religion that causes harm to the world; and, through
head-strong thoughts, pointer-out, in an inverted order, of thoughts
relating to subjection to God which make (a man) to walk in accordance
with the law. And he is, through the qualities of an Ashmogh,
a doer of deeds, in a cruel manner, and a giver of (things pertaining
to) the Ghanamino; through the soul, envious, like Afrasiyab,
of all good creation; through Zohak-like heart, an injurer of
virtue; and through doing evil deeds with both the hands and running
about for evil help with both the feet, hurtful to the world like
thieves and wolves.
Be it known that, whatever wisdom (and) happiness -- these two
-- exist now, are owing to the principles that give the strength
of wisdom and the power of happiness. Among these, by means of
the proper power appertaining to the soul, Ohrmazd reaches into
the heart of the acquirer of wisdom, and the power of obtaining
the wishes, [86] reaches into the heart of
the acquirer of wisdom. And on that wisdom reaching into the mind,
a path is found by the mind that is obedient to Ohrmazd and is
pure, to see what relates to the invisible; and so (man) becomes
worthy of fresh [87] and superior happiness.
Be it known that, the happiness of the soul is desired in two
ways. One, by means of the power of innate reason pertaining to
the soul, which is (a principle) for sending out the inner movements
[88] to the effect to raise the soul to a
higher rank. (Another), by means of educated reason, which is
(a principle) for sending the outer movements within. Similarly,
fear (of hell) is chosen in two ways. One by the rising from within
of the causes for discontented wants: another, by the coming in
from without of the causes for miserliness regarding mean objects.
Good thoughts are the cause of the happiness of the soul and the
lords of innate reason. And evil thoughts are the cause of danger
and the increasers of evil passions. The reaching of good thoughts
into men is from the Spenamino: and the running of evil thoughts
is from the Ghanamino. In man there is residence of good thoughts
as well as of bad thoughts: from among these, for whose residence
should a place be made, and who should be prevented from coming?
In the proportion in which a man possesses good thoughts, in that
proportion he obtains a high, a middling, or a low abode of happiness.
And, he becomes unharassed and of good thoughts by means of innate
reason which has good thoughts Similarly, in the proportion in
which there is evil thought in him, in that proportion he obtains
the abode of fear. By evil thoughts, (a man) has injurious thoughts.
And by means of his innate capacity for causing harm, (a man)
is, possessed, in his body, of proportionately different degrees
of happiness and fear. In man, in the proportion in which there
is an acquisition, of prosperity and of wishes, to innate reason,
by means of cultivated reason, through the relation of good thoughts;
in that proportion is his happiness, (in heaven) powerful over
(his) fear (of hell). And, owing to the effect of evil thoughts,
just as much of evil understanding, of misery, of disappointment
there is, just so much does the power of fear (of hell) prevail
over happiness: therefore, a vigilant, holy man lives in this
world with good thoughts. and is disgusted with evil thoughts.
He who is of evil understanding and full of evil thoughts, that
man is irrational and driven from good thoughts. Now when, in
this manner, there is always a destruction of happiness and of
reason, owing to the evil understanding pertaining to fear (of
hell); (and) when there is always detriment accruing, to fear
(of hell) and to evil understanding, from happiness-giving understanding;
then, it is not that there may not at all be a man, of the highest
rank in happiness and in understanding, who is, with sufficient
wisdom, without the fear (of hell). Nor, similarly, is it that
the most advanced man, in fear and in evil understanding, may
not be without the germ of happiness.
Be it known that, the exposition made, in accordance with the religion, of the happiness arising from the wisdom pertaining to Farehbut and Aibibut, is of this kind: -- owing to their [89] connection with man being well cemented, there is an accrual to him of the happiness of wisdom. And, owing to that, he, lives with the wisdom of the lifeless happiness of sin. The wisdom of sin remains for ever for (the sake of) the happiness that arises from robbery and ignorance of the religion. But, whatever happiness pertaining to good (wisdom) is (found) in just proportion in men, without this relation, [90] -- owing to it, (man) becomes proportioned in happiness; and becomes fit to be approved of in (his) passions, disposition, and conduct; (becomes) one who takes care (of others); brave, and one who pleases with the joys pertaining to the soul. And in the proportion in which the happiness connected with (good) wisdom diminishes, in that proportion the production of the wisdom pertaining to sin prevails over that (good). wisdom. And hence, whatever wisdom pertains to wickedness, that he lays bare. And the person who is much (concerned) in the promotion of the wisdom connected with sin, he is of careless thoughts, a speaker of what is without truth, a giver of birth to the greater success of much inglorious happiness, and a doer of many perverted deeds. And, owing to a wicked understanding that person is (possessed) of habits belonging to the bad religion, is a speaker of what is dreadful and an approver of things that are fit to be given up.
Owing to continued happiness of the nature pertaining to the soul,
there is a prevention of the wicked wisdom pertaining to Aibibut.
And that person [91] is a harmer of the increase
of the wisdom pertaining to Farehbut and of the happiness pertaining
to Aibibut; is of the nature of spirits, and, of good understanding.
And in the proportion in which the knowledge connected with happiness
is (found) in man, in that proportion the unenduring happiness
of sin diminishes. And (when) the superior happiness prevails
over it [92] then, the happiness of the wickedness
connected with the soul, which (happiness) is for (purposes of)
sin, is put a stop to. But when the happiness connected with sin
is much in advance, then, the man becomes a hurter of the harmony
of holy hymns, and a damager of fresh pleasure; and, of mean wisdom.
Owing to much unillumined wisdom, there is a greater prevalence
of lifeless happiness and a stoppage of the glory (coming) from
the yazads; hence, man remains a disapprover of good conscience
and a tyrant. Owing to continued unillumined wisdom, and to the
stoppage of cleanliness, there is the lifeless happiness of wickedness.
And by it, man becomes possessed of the happiness of Farehbut,
of the wisdom of Aibibut, an injurer of the world, and, shameless.
These are of five kinds. One, of these, (consists of) holy (men)
who help the good religion by words, strengthen it by deeds, are
givers of authoritative decisions to the lovers of the religion,
and embellishers of purity. Another, of those who praise the good
religion in words and weaken it by deeds. The third, of those
who extend the friendship of the religion to deceitful, sinning
Ashmoghs, through the precepts of the good religion. The fourth,
of those who contemn the good religion in words, but strengthen
it by deeds, and give decisions regarding it among sinners; and
raise it, without an army, to a higher rank; and keep faith towards
God; and guide co-religionist friends hoping for holiness, by
higher thoughts. The fifth, of those who despise the good religion
in words, but who give decisions regarding it to tyrannous, infidel
rulers, and make them move in deeds (relating to it).
NOTES:
1. Ashmogh, -- this word is derived from the word ashemaogha,
frequently used in the Avesta, which means "hinderer of purity."
Hence, it is applied, among the followers of Zarathushtra to persons
who throw obstructions in the way of religion and create dissensions
in the community and between individuals. The individual putting
the above and other questions is called Ashmogh by the High priest
to whom they were addressed.
2. The Avesta is divided into three parts:-- Gatha, Dateh, and Manthra. The Gathas are written in verse, and treat of the invisible world. The Dateh are written in prose and contain rules for the conduct of men in this world. In the Manthra are comprised the ordinary prayers, which are the means by which men commune with their Maker. They contain an account of the Creator and of the forces of nature created by Him: as also, moral and religious precepts.
3. Meaning, human compositions, as opposed to divine revelations.
4. i. e. using these several individuals as his mouth pieces.
5. Frashostar and Jamasp were the sons of Habub and the disciples and sons-in-law of Zartosht. The latter was also prime minister to Vishtasp, while the former was the head of a college for imparting religious instruction to priests, established by Vishtasp.
8. According to the tenets of the Zoroastrian religion God first made the Ahunwar or 'Yatha ahu vairyo,' which is in the form of a Gatha or hymn. From the three clauses or sentences of the Ahunwar have originated the scriptures or Avesta comprised respectively in Gatha, Dateh, and Manthra; and from the twenty-one words composing the Ahunwar, seven to each sentence, have originated the twenty-one Nasks. Hence the meaning of what is said above, -- that Manthra are founded upon the Yatha Ahu Vairyo.
10. Mashye and Mashyane were, after Gayomard, the first man and woman born in this world: from this pair have sprung the rest of mankind. In the Avesta, Mashye means a man and Mashyane, a woman. The Pahlavi work, Bundahishn contains an account of the origin of man; it says, "Ohrmazd had spoken thus to Mashye and Mashyane:-- As the parents of the world, you are born human beings; I have given you the highest and most perfect mental power; therefore, do the work of justice with mature deliberation, think good thoughts, speak good words, and do good deeds. Remember not the daevas." [Bd15.6]
11. There is here reference to the second Fargard of Vendidad, where it is said that before the time of Zartosht, Ohrmazd had for the first time communicated the Mazdayasnian religion to king Jamshed, and had ordered him to spread it among men, and that Jamshed had accordingly introduced the religion into the world.
The object of this question seems to be to point out a contradiction in the religious books of the Zoroastrians, one of which asserts that the Mazdayasnian religion was for the first time communicated to Mashye and Mashyane and another that it was so communicated to Jamshed, who lived some generations after the first pair of men.
12. There are two descriptions of prayers for the consecration of food before being eaten; one, called the Gaosahudao prayer, from one of the words used in it, and the other Amshespanté and Yathádiyezmédé, from these words having been employed in them. The former is commonly called the big baj and the latter the small baj. These prayers are recited by Mobeds who have undergone the consecrating ceremony of Barsom, before eating any thing; and according as the prayer is the big baj or the small baj, they are allowed to eat food of all kinds, or the particular food that was placed before them at the time the prayer was said. Gaosahudao, means literally, the excellence or merit-giving cow.
13. Small, round, wheaten cakes, placed before the Mobed for consecration.
15. Vendidad, Fargard 19, clause 19. See Westergaard's edition of the Zend Avesta, p. 470. cl. 19.
16. Karshwar is derived from Kereshvar or Karshvar used in the Avesta, and means 'that which is bounded.' In the Avesta the earth is divided into seven Karshwars or continents, called respectively, Arezahi, Sawahi, Fradadhafshu, Widadhafshu, Wouru-bareshti, Wourujareshti, and Xwaniratha
19. i.e. wisdom derived from a knowledge of the Mazdayasnian religion.
20. i.e. evil spirits: the daevas.
21. i.e. in the highest heaven.
24. i.e. Nask, or book of commentary. See note 8.
25. i.e. nothing contradictory in the statement that the text and the commentaries together form the Scriptions.
26. i.e. God, the yazads, the Amahraspands, and the Farohars.
27. Nasas is that which decomposes or destroys; nasa is the decomposed or destroyed thing. Both these words are derived from the root nas=destruction, decomposition.
29. i.e. the priestly class.
30. i.e. the governing class.
For this wicked deed of sodomy is like to the deeds of such daevas as Afrasiyab, the miscreant Zohak, and the sorrow-producing wicked Bradrok-resh who slew Zartosht. the jewel of our religion, from whom our hearts and backs derived warmth.
32. i.e. the trading class.
33. Namely, those of priest, ruler, and husbandman.
34. i.e. of Spenamino and Ghanamino; of Good and Evil.
37. i.e. Spirit, principle.
39. i.e. other than those of Iran and professing the Zoroastrian religion.
40. i.e. in the dominions of border sovereigns.
41. The Messiah of the Jewish scriptures.
42. i.e. the west.
44. i.e. the principle of good thoughts.
45. i.e. the principle of evil thoughts.
46. i.e. evil passions.
"We praise the Farohar of the holy Gayomard, who first heard the thoughts of Ohrmazd and his commands." [Yt13.87]
The testimony as to Soshyant being the last prophet of the Mazdayasnian religion and that he will, in the time of the End, spread it completely among the people of this world, under the command of God, and reform all the people of that time by means of that religion, is contained in the 15th chapter of Zamyad Yasht, as follows:-
We praise the over-powering Kayan Khwarrah created by Ohrmazd, which will be obtained by the victorious Soshyant, as also his other comrades; by means of which he will make the world of a superior grade, without old age, deathless, without rottenness, without putrefaction, possessed with perpetual life, perpetually benefiting, and of satisfied hopes. And at that time the dead will rise again, the living will obtain immortality and they will be given a life of higher desires. Those persons who are givers of knowledge of purity, will become immortal, and the druj that has spread himself round about to do harm to the pure, -- he will be destroyed at that time, and, similarly, hundreds of his progeny will be at an end from that time.
The names of the comrades of Soshyant who, it is said in the above extract from the Avesta, will with him obtain the Kayanian Khwarrah, are given in the Pahlavi work Dadestan-i Denig as follows: Rushn Chashm, Khur Chashm, Faradat Gadman, Vandad Gadman, Kame Vakhshan, Kame Sut, and Soshyant. In the 128th verse of the Frawardin Yasht, where the Farohars of Soshyant and his comrades are invoked, the names of two more comrades are given, viz. Ukhshyad eret and Ukhshyad Nemangh. See Westergaard's Zand Avesta p.243.
50. This is explained by the statement in Yasna 19, in Bundahishn and in the Afrin of Gahambar, that God created first the heavens, next the waters, then land, then the lower animals, then vegetables, next fire, and lastly, man.
51. i.e. purposely, consciously.
52. i.e. Prophets.
53. Athornan = a priest; Arthestar = a warrior; Vastarius = a husbandman.
54. In providing spiritual food.
55. The mansions of Ohrmazd may be taken to refer, either, to the heavenly mansions or to God's places on the earth, namely, Atashkadehs [i.e. Fire-Temples] and other sacred places.
Farehbut means one who considers this world as his highest abode and considers the invisible world to be full of dangers, and prefers that which in the end injures him and brings trouble and punishment to his soul.
57. i.e. One who is vicious: an offender. The following explanation occurs in the Pahlavi translation of the Khordeh Avesta, regarding the deeds of an Aibibut:
"The practice of an Aibibut is to keep people on little or dear food."
58. i.e. the invisible yazads.
60. i.e. Ahriman or Satan, and other evil powers.
64. i.e. the Ghanamino.
66. i.e. Man.
67. i.e. those who live in this world thinking the good thoughts that please Ohrmazd, and offering the prayers and worship enjoined by religion.
68. i.e. The moon and the stars receive their light from and are kept in their respective positions by the Sun.
69. i.e. the yazads and Amahraspands.
70. i.e. with the yazads and Amahraspands.
72. This word includes the notion of punishment in the next world.
73. i.e. the Ahunwar. The reference to the bodies of daevas is explained by the following dialogue between Zartosht and Haoma Yazad occurring in the 9th Ha of the Yasna:
"Thou O pure Zartosht, opposer of the daevas, of the religion of Ohrmazd, wert born in the house of Pourushasp. And in renowned Iranwej, thou O Zartosht first recited, in the voice of song, four (daeva) removing Ahunwars. And after the laud-voiced song, thou madest those daevas, that before that time came upon this world in the shape of men, hide (themselves) in the earth. O Zartosht! Thou art thyself the highest in rank, the strongest, the most enterprising, the swiftest, and the most victorious amongst the invisible creation."
Iranwej is the name given to the land on which Gayomard and Mashye and Mashyane were born, and to the first city that was formed by men in this world. The evidence on this point is furnished by the following passage from the first Fargard of Vendidad:
"I, Ahura Mazda, first among all places and cities, created excellent Airyanem Vaejah of the good creation."
It must not be understood that Zartosht simply recited four Ahunwars. He performed the Yasna of Mino Nawar, and the four Ahunwars were the four "Yatha Ahu Vairyo" recited at the ceremony of bruising the Haoma plant and occurring in the aetat dim Ha of Yasna.
74. This expression means that in the end men will have the inoffensive disposition of cattle. Thus in the 37th Ha of Yasna and the 3rd chapter of the Haftang Yasht the worshipper promises to worship God with a disposition like that of cattle:
"For the sake of His supremacy, greatness, and good protection, we worship Him with the advanced behavior of those among his worshippers who live like cattle."
76. i.e. The invisible yazads.
77. Bud is derived from the word baodha in the Avesta. It is used in Pazand and Persian in the forms bôe and buy, must be understood to refer to the principle or faculty in us which gives us warning, puts us on our guard. Thus, Abujarchameher, the vizier of Nosherwan the Just, in his Ganjeshaigan says "Bud is the principle that gives warning." Again in this work, the Denkard, Bud is thus defined:
"As the harmless light of the sun and the lamp keeps (the people), in the world and in (their) dwellings, unharmed, so Bud is (the power) that keep, the body and soul illuminated and gives to the soul, in the body, unobscured knowledge regarding freedom from harm."
83. This description is applicable to those who are true prophets of God.
85. Lit. body; hence, personality or nature.
86. i.e. Such as are approved by Ohrmazd.
87. i.e. Ever fresh; everlasting.
90. i.e. With Farehbut and Aibibut.
91. Who puts a stop to wicked wisdom.
92. i.e. Over the happiness pertaining to
Farehbut.
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