DENKARD, Book 9
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Mss. B, beginning of Book 9.
Details of Nasks 1-3, 21 (The Original Gathic Texts)
Translated by E. W. West, from Sacred Books of the East,
Oxford University Press, 1897.
This volume contains detailed contents of the Gathic Nasks of
the Ancient Canon, much of which is now lost in the original Avesta.
Note however, that (as Dr. West says) "it is abundantly
clear to the practised translator that Avesta phrases often underlie
the Pahlavi passages which seem to be quoted at length from the
original Nasks, especially in Dk. 9; but, for some of the details
mentioned, there may be no older authority than a Pahlavi commentary,
and this should be ever borne in mind by the sceptical critic
in search of anachronisms."
1. Sudgar Nask (gathic/religious)
- fargard 1. Use of various
repetitions of the Ahunwar, and the division of the Nasks according
to its lines (2)
- fargard 2. The Ashem Vohu
(3)
- fargard 3. Formation, decline,
and death of human beings; illiberal opulence (4)
- fargard 4. The utilizers
and misusers of life, the latter being the defects of Zohak; the
vices driven away by Yim [Jamshed], what is to be avoided, the
distresser and the distressed, and the mode of relieving the latter
(5)
- fargard 5. Forgetfulness
of kinsfolk and unforgetfulness of the Gathic spirit, complaint
and power of that spirit (6)
- fargard 6. The five excellences,
distribution and acquirement of fortune, grief of an old man,
things to be amassed in youth, storeholders of excellence, how
one should drink and eat (7)
- fargard 7. The four periods
in Zartosht's millennium (8)
- fargard 8. Abstinence from
sins due to reverence for the arch-demons, chattering while eating,
prayer and purity at meals, loss of merit from want of a priest,
proper times for the ceremonials of various sacred beings (9)
- fargard 9. Heinous sinfulness
of sodomy (10)
- fargard 10. Complaint of
fire against seven kinds of people who injure it; (§10) proper
and improper fire, its wish to leave the world resisted, attention
to it is the best worship, the righteous are to be pleased and
not vexed (11)
- fargard 11. Petition of
fire for removal to the sky or to Eranvej, the propitious fire
Gushnasp; reward of the promoters of fire, and sin of its injurers;
(§10) evil of maintaining fire by extortion, and of neglecting
it; all good to be consecrated, opposition of the fiend to worship,
three grades of ceremonial, sin of not reciting the Gathas, coming
of the demon of death, disbelief of the wicked; (§20) mourning
for the dead prohibited, different desires of body and soul, self-injury
of a liar, sin of employing or being an improper Zot, controllers
of sin; (§30) wounders to be brought before four priests,
promises not to be broken (12)
- fargard 12. Advantage of
satisfying water, impure recitation, impurity of greed, birds
kill snakes, effectual invocation, goodness of archangels and
Zartosht, gifts to his disciples (13)
- fargard 13. The spirit of
the sacred cake attacks demons when the cake is consecrated, men
who pray are righteous if not deceitful, a heinous sin no obliterator
of other sin (14)
- fargard 14. The torment
of Kersasp's soul, notwithstanding his heroic deeds, owing to
smiting the fire which opposes his soul, though befriended by
Goshorun, until Zartosht intercedes (15)
- fargard 15. Proceedings
of the demon of death, the soul alone sees the events of the spiritual
state, treatment of the corpse and misery of its consciousness;
(§9) worldly happiness seldom lasts a century, ordainable
supplies, the seven immortal rulers in Xwaniratha (16)
- fargard 16. Bridge-judgment
of sinners, merit of certain good works, punishment of certain
sinners, Gathas for an ordeal (17)
- fargard 17. Where seven
particular classes of sinners have to go (18)
- fargard 18. Pregnancy of
the fiend due to certain sins; the soul blesses the body when
righteous, and curses it when wicked; proper times for reciting
the Ahunwar and Ashem, the corruption of the wicked (19)
- fargard 19. The souls praise
a virtuous high-priest, miseries of hell, the Chinwad bridge,
promises not to be broken, not even those to a courtesan, in which
case the penalty is childlessness in hell (20)
- fargard 20. Zohak's
oppressiveness, the people's reproaches contrasting him with Yim
[Jamshed], Faridoon's smiting and binding him; (§11) gradual
submission of most of the regions, war with the Mazendarans; (§22)
their defeat and slaughter by Faridoon, since which time none
of them have entered Xwaniratha, except two men who came to consult
Frashostar (21)
- fargard 21. The four best prayers; the Dahman Afrin making
a good man infinitely more splendid than the finest woman, horse,
ox, or sheep, and a bad man infinitely worse. The reign of Kay-Us,
his success and ruin; (§10) his flight followed by the spirit
of Kay Khosraw and the angel Neryosang (22)
- fargard 22. Kay Khosraw riding upon Vae in the form of a camel,
his finding Haoisht, Tus, and Kay-Apiveh, his meeting Soshyant,
who praises him for his exploits; Kersasp, exhorted by Tus, adopts
the religion, and so all the producers of the renovation are united
(23)
2. Warsht-mansr Nask (gathic/religious)
- fargard 1.
Zartosht relates the incidents of his birth to
Maidok-mah; his first three utterances that routed the demons;
(§12) his profession of the religion, Ohmazd's advice and
its acceptance, grumbling of the evil spirit, creation by Ohrmazd,
reverencing fire, water, and a spirit (24)
- fargard 2.
Worthiness of a ruler and high-priest (25)
- fargard 3.
In praise of righteousness (26)
- fargard 4.
Worship of Ohrmazd and the archangels (27)
- fargard 5.
Worthiness of Zartosht and obeisance to the sacred
beings, the supreme heaven, praise of Zartosht and Frashostar,
assisting others, good works, wisdom of Zartosht (28)
- fargard 6.
Complaint and petition of Goshorun, the reason
of her creation, her colloquy with Ohrmazd; (§9) nourishment
of cattle, punishment of their oppressor, wisdom of Ohrmazd, benefit
of the liturgy, goodness of Zartosht (29)
- fargard 7.
Benefits of worship, advice to man, falsehood of
the demon Aresh about the origin of Ohrmazd and Ahriman, their
difference of motive and action, the demons' want of discrimination,
their deception of man; (§10) monarchy and religion provided
for the creatures who triumph in the end, the producers of the
renovation and future existence, the doers of good, advice to
man (30)
- fargard 8.
Reciting revelation, benefit owing to Ohrmazd and
misery to Ahriman, the actions of both spirits; (§6) colloquy
of the demon Aresh and Zartosht, power of the liturgy, creation
by Ohrmazd, benefits from Vohuman, merit of benefiting cattle,
hypocrisy, work of the creator; (§17) complete mindfulness,
liberality, the worst ruler, judges and guardians, conflict of
good and evil, apostates; (§24) the three nights, Hordad
and Amurdad, the good ruler (31)
- fargard 9.
Three deceitful demons and their colloquy with
Ohrmazd; (§8) arrival of demons in the world, their evil
doings and those of their followers, evil of burying a corpse,
its impurity; (§17) evildoers of the ninth and tenth centuries,
their evil deeds; (§25) the final punishment in melted metal,
at the renovation, is the end of evil (32)
- fargard 10.
The renovation and Soshyant, merit of a good priest,
avoidance of oppressors, the Chinwad bridge; Zartosht, taught
by Ohrmazd, is Zot of the world at the renovation; the names of
his assistant priests (33)
- fargard 11.
Vohuman reports to Ohrmazd thrice a day, the demons
trying to seduce man are vexed by his resistance, Armat and Tarokmat,
opposition to the demons, advantage of religion and its reward
(34)
- fargard 12.
Benefits of religion; mutual service of men, cattle,
and the sacred beings; evil deeds prohibited, worship by the righteous
is the best, begging for life; (§11) duties to fire, Zartosht's
seeing the future existence, benefits of worship; (§17) colloquy
of Ohrmazd and Zartosht (35)
- fargard 13.
Reward and tokens of righteousness (36)
- fargard 14.
Ohrmazd's creativeness, threat of the evil spirit,
praise of religion, the wicked in hell, the demons (37)
- fargard 15.
The seven perfections of religious advice, power
and contempt for the demons given to the creatures, praise of
Zartosht (38)
- fargard 16.
Worship not to be neglected on any account, want
of spirituality in men, liberality of the archangels, promises
for the future, praise of the renovators; (§13) characteristics
of the heretic Mani, attracters to the religion, the last millenniums,
disturbers of religion; (§20) praise of the Fryanaks, liberality
for the archangels, praise of Vishtasp, advice to the Spitamas,
four marvels in the other world, advice to Zartosht (39)
- fargard 17.
Praise of truth, cattle, good works, ordeals (40)
- fargard 18.
Evidence of the future existence, four triumphs
of the sacred beings over the demons, inquiring about religion,
avoiding apostates; (§12) mankind attaining wisdom, care
for cattle, oppression by wrath and envy; (§21) progress
of righteousness, the renovation, next-of-kin marriage, girdling
(41)
- fargard 19.
Protection at the renovation, belief necessary
for being convinced, evil of a wicked judge and vicious people;
praise of Zartosht, Frashostar, and Jamasp; punishment of the
wicked (42)
- fargard 20.
Assistance by the archangels, reward given to
the righteous in the other world when unattainable here, cattle
for warriors, advancement of religion by force, assisters, of
the dead righteous, reason for certain movements of the Zot, worship
of archangels, merit of Zartosht, reward of good works (43)
- fargard 21.
Desire for a good ruler; where the best wealth,
prayer, and sovereignty exist; favors from the sacred beings,
memory and discrimination, attraction of spiritual mercy and leadership
in heaven, good works and wealth, submission to the priesthood
meritorious, creations for the benefit of the creatures, comfort
for the spirit of the liturgy; (§10) the wicked deceiver,
man prepared for future existence by fire, the supreme heaven
for the righteous only, enmity of Akht the heretic, Kay and Karb
excluded from virtue; praise of Vishtasp, Frashostar, Hvobo, Jamasp,
Maidok-mah, and Zartosht (44)
- fargard 22.
Perfection of prayers, glory of the Spitamas,
praise of Poruchast and Hutos, characteristics of the preparers
and disturbers of the end, the apostle and follower of the demons
is to be smitten by the righteous ruler (45)
- fargard 23.
Benefits of the Airman supplication (46)
3. Bag Nask (gathic/religious)
- fargard 1.
The Ahunwar produced before the creation; its divisions,
goodness, and use; benefit of its proper recital and sin or imperfect
recital; (§12) it was the first creature and teaches submission
to the king, the reward of Vohuman, dominion given to Ohrmazd,
assistance to the poor, entrance of the destroyer; use of this
saying by the degrees, classes, and chieftainships; the summing
up of liberality (47)
- fargard 2.
Excellence is producing suitably, reward of good
works (48)
- fargard 3.
Worship of Ohrmazd and the archangels, particulars
regarding worship (49)
- fargard 4.
Praise of Zartosht, giving joy to Ohrmazd, good
work of reverence, wisdom of Vohuman, benefit of cattle and the
worthy, prosperity of the worthy, (§10) reverence of the
good, supplicants should be contented, the way to heaven, reverence,
acquaintance with religion, teaching righteousness, seeing the
throne of Ohrmazd, welcoming him, recommending to rulers for benefit,
the way of prosperity; (§20) a suitable sovereign solicited,
the praiser, religion made progressive, zealousness for good works,
the man praised above others, assister of the ignorant, wisdom
for Ohrmazd; the past, present, and future periods (50)
- fargard 5.
Complaint of Goshorun, care of cattle, the cattle-master,
keeping animals properly, admitting the male, not slaughtering
the young, he whose power is most useful, power for worship, reward
stimulates perseverance; (§10) a virtuous mouth, religious
duty develops knowledge, teaching the good, obtaining a throne
in heaven, preventing damage From want of resources, recommending
the righteous to rulers, what is taught by true service for the
king (51)
- fargard 6.
Enlarging the priestly assembly, glorification
of Ohrmazd, worship of Vohuman, the ceremonial becomes greater
through virtue, the extender of religion, discrimination as to
duty, giving to the needy, granting the leadership; selecting
the better of two ways; (§10) the discriminator of sagacity,
thinking of eternity, preventing reverence of demons, practicing
liberality, persistence in virtue and attachment to the sacred
beings for sake of reward, advantage of the righteous (52)
- fargard 7.
The world freed from destruction, apostates forced
to make the religion progressive, triumph of the priests, miraculousness
of Ohrmazd, decision of acquittal or conviction, rite of ordeal,
appointing a priest, reciter of revelation; (§10) teaching
employers their responsibility, thinking of religion, teaching
the nature of the sacred beings, giving a sheep to the diligent
and moderate, development of the world and sheep, inward prayer,
keeping animals and men as property, giving predominance to those
of Gayomard's nature, telling rulers the truth; (§20) keeping
sovereignty within Ohrmazd's will, illustrating the information
due to religion, the virtuous course of the liturgy, he whose
Vohuman is Ohrmazd's progeny, the good creation is Ohrmazd's,
a ruler as to actions, giving Spandarmad to Ohrmazd, wisdom that
arises through care of cattle, admitting the male; (§30)
the way to heaven, assistance to the renovation, a heart and mind
for not being misled, he who sees his sin mingled with good works,
giving a loan, non-injury of the innocent, he who makes Ohrmazd
ruler in himself, a decider informs others, a proper nurturer
is an indicator for others, the demeanor for virtuous statements;
(§40) indicating the acquitted and convicted, immortal and
complete progress, making the soul immortal, persisting in good
works, maintaining predominance as high-priest, growth and increase
owing to Vohuman, welcoming Ohrmazd in oneself, evidence of the
well-informed (53)
- fargard 8.
Not being deceived by an apostate, making Spandarmad
an archangel, wisdom teaches not to destroy, teaching how to learn,
strengthening the archangels and the good, loving Vohuman, giving
thought to religion, keeping wealth in Zartosht's control, destiny
controlled by self, good works becoming one's own (54)
- fargard 9.
The Gathic lore, priestly-controlled action, command
of the liturgy, personal assistance to the creatures, reverence,
causing progress for one's own, benefit for a cultivator through
cattle, making righteousness one's own, three things promoted
by submission, pleasure of energy (55)
- fargard 10.
Advantage of doing good works, injuring an apostate,
he who is eager for knowledge, slaying an apostate, development
by Vohumanic rule, the ceremonial a great ordinance, a ceremonial
of the needy, the way of righteousness, reward of a teacher of
professionals (56)
- fargard 11.
All good works belong to him who teaches virtue,
doing the best for one's own, he whose work is good work, he for
whom the best occurs in both existences, the worship of Ohrmazd,
a leader in religion, a server of religion, the authorizer of
a wish for life; (§10) giving acceptance, hints, and words
to Ohrmazd, teaching the words of Ohrmazd, providing care for
fire, teaching the religion with joyfulness, obeisance, strengthening
fire for its greatest work, being informed as to religion, sagacity
of teaching words and actions, praising the perfection of Ohrmazd's
body, all excellence is both root and fruit; (§20) invoking
Ohrmazd as lord, invoking by name, benefit for one race is felt
by all, he who is the sacred beings' own, and when his own is
in their guardianship, giving life to mankind, obtainer of Ohrmazd's
friendship, causing righteousness and the propitiousness of Ohrmazd,
his perpetual guardianship (57)
- fargard 12.
Benefits, pleasing superiors, the best for one's
own in every mode, teaching virtue to all, one whose spirit is
connected with Ohrmazd, whose words are through Vohuman, who produces
long-continued joy, who teaches the proper way to man, who gives
heat to fire; (§10) assistants of the renovation, the progeny
of Ohrmazd, defeating the bad and accepting the good, transformation
of the creatures, teaching religion like a priest, wisdom of Ohrmazd,
complete mindfulness that is not deceived, maintaining the destinies
of the body, conveying to the rulers for benefit; (§20) benefit
of sovereignty for that which arises, liberality to fire, thinking
of righteousness, interrogating religion, progress of religion,
pleasure given to a friend, gratification from Ohrmazd, indication
of intellect in a vigorous-minded man, the spirit of Ohrmazd,
reward taught in the publicity of the sun (58)
- fargard 13.
Obeisance to the archangels, seven kinds of men,
Vohumanic attainment to religion, perfection of the first of existences,
nourisher of good works; (§10) development in virtue, words
and actions through complete mindfulness, exposition of the renovation,
deciding about duty and opinion, propagation and progressiveness
of the religion, protection from the annoying spirit, exploits
of the archangels, people shall become supplicant, interested
liberality (59)
- fargard 14.
Instruction to be heard, perfection of the first
next-of-kin marriage, the teaching of it, daughterhood of Spandarmad,
this is taught by him who is completely mindful, attraction to
good works, reverence for Vohuman, ceremonial taught with complete
mindfulness (60)
- fargard 15.
To what lands one should step, diligence in good
works, teaching religion, even in an exhausted province, protection
of fire, giving oneself in discipleship, he who so gives men and
women, goodness taught to the good by him whose Chinwad passage
teaches them to step forth; (§10) the world produces abundance
through complete mindfulness, the wicked man becomes unprivileged,
as in the case of Arjasp, contentment of the archangels, he who
thinks of Zartosht (61)
- fargard 16.
The wise, practicing the deeds of complete mindfulness,
nourishing good works and the creatures with propriety, giving
pasture, he who becomes a benefit to the good, sentence according
to declaration of acquittal or conviction, a strong foundation
for learning (62)
- fargard 17.
Maintaining the benedictions of religion, making
known the Chinwad passage, causing a change from evil to good,
generosity to tillers, developing the world, formation of creatures
and devastation by Vohuman caused by him whose rule is for Ohrmazd,
he who increases virtue in a province, he who loves Vohuman, virtuous
deeds set going (63)
- fargard 18.
He who makes people intelligent through his complete
mindfulness, how this occurs, discriminating through wisdom, teaching
joyfulness in righteousness to Frashostar, and ardor in good works,
supplying guardianship, a master of all commands, Vohuman's guarding
the creatures of Ohrmazd, the arrival of the wicked in the fiend's
abode, (§10) reverence coming to assistance through invocation,
the supplicant for what is coveted from Ohrmazd; Ohrmazd's statement
about one's own, confederate, and serf (64)
- fargard 19.
Sheep-nature, mankind nourished, he who produces
joyfulness and provides the ceremonial, displaying wisdom, instructing
the tongue, teaching preparation and the virtuous way; (§10)
obeisance for the archangels, taking assistance, within the day
till dawn made as a signal, complete mindfulness among the existences
(65)
- fargard 20.
Ohrmazd's command about smiting the deceiver and
giving sovereignty to him who is good, providing complete mindfulness,
the coveted thing expedient for sovereignty to give away, words
of Vohuman, innocence from discontinued good works, causing goodness,
way of righteousness not concealed, repletion unnecessary for
cattle, housewifery, loving religion through knowledge, gratification
of Ohrmazd (66)
- fargard 21.
Performing the ceremonial, spirits lodging in
the body, teaching the religion, diligence in good works, loving
the beneficial way, giving a daughter in daughterhood, authority
of Vohuman, a daughter given to a father for womanly service,
reverence of a wife for her husband, producing origin and effect,
dominion in the house (67)
- fargard 22.
Giving delight to him who is a right-living poor
man (68)
- A selection from the whole Yasht referring to the developer: containing
many unidentified statements by Ohrmazd, Zartosht, Soshyant, Vohuman,
and Spandarmad; and concluding with a long series of short quotations,
from the Pahlavi Gathas, concerning what every one shall do, or
know, in the future existence (69)
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Mss. B, beginning of Book 9.