The Zend-Avesta, Part I: The Vendîdâd — SBE Vol. 4 (trans. James Darmesteter, 1880)

Open to allEdited by F. Max Müller; translated by Müller, Legge, Bühler, West, Darmesteter, Palmer, Telang, Thibaut, Jolly, Rhys Davids, Oldenberg, Jacobi, Bloomfield and others297 segments · 100 pp
page 2

The translator’s English as printed (James Darmesteter). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.

Purification of the different sorts of water, when defiled by the dead . . . . . . - 71

IV (42-43). Purification of the Haoma : - 73

L V (44-51). The place for corpses; the Dakhmas : - 74

p. 76I (1-5). How long after death the Drug Nasu takes possession of the corpse . 76

II (6-9). Howfar the defiling power of the DrugNasu extends 78 III (10-22). Cleansing of clothes defiled by the dead. . 79 IV (23-24). Eating of Nasu an abomination . . 81 V (25-27). Bringing Nasu to fire or water an abomination 82 x CONTENTS.

VI (28-35). Cleansing of wood and corn defiled by the dead

VII a (36-40). Physicians ; their probation

VII b (41-44). Their fees .

VIII (45-59). Purification of the earth, of the "Dakhmas.
The Dakhmas and the Daévas.

IX (60-72). Treatment of a woman who has brought forth a still-born child . .

X (73-75). Cleansing of vessels defiled by the dead .

XI (76-77). Cleansing of the cow . .

XII (78-79). Unclean libations .

FARGARD VIII. . . . .

I (1-3). Purification of the house where a man has died

{I (4-13). Funerals .

IIL (14-22). Purification of the ways slong which the corpse has been carried . . - ee

1V (23-25). No clothes to be thrown on a corpse .

V (26-32). Unlawful lusts .

VI (33-34). A corpse when dried up does not contaminate

VII (35-72). Purification of the man defiled by the dead .

“" VIII (73-80). Purification of the fire defiled thy the dead .

IX (81-96). The Bahram fire . .

X (97-107). Purification in the wilderness .

FARGARD IX. THE NINE NIGHTS’ BARASHNOM . Ia(1-11). Description of the place for cleansing the unclean (the Barashnim-ga4h) . I b (12-36). Description of the cleansing II (37-44). Fees of the cleanser . III (47-57). The false cleanser ; his punishment

FARGARD X. SPELLS RECITED DURING THE PROCESS OF
THE CLEANSING. . . .

FARGARD XI. SPECIAL SPELLS FOR THE CLEANSING OF THE
SEVERAL OBJECTS .

FARGARD XII. THE UPAMAN: HOW LONG IT LASTS FOR
DIFFERENT RELATIVES .

FARGARD XIII. THE DoG

I (1-7). The dog of Ormazd and the dog of Ahriman .

Ia (1-4). Holiness of the dog Vangh4para (‘the hedge-hog ’)

Ib (5-7). Hatefulness of the dog Zairimyangura (‘the tortoise ’) . . . :

II (8-16). The several kinds of dogs. Penalties for the murder of a dog.

III (17-19). On the duties of the shepherd’ dog and the house-dog . .. . . . .

PAGE

p. 142

p. 148

p. 155

155
155

157
157
159

CONTENTS,

xi

IV (20-28). On the food due tothe dog. .

V (29-38). On the mad dog and the dog diseased ; how they are to be kept, and cured . : .

VI (39-40). On the excellence of the dog .

VII (41-43). On the wolf-dog .

VIII (44-48). On the virtues and vices of the dog

IX (49). Praise of the dog . . . . . .

X (50-56). The water-dog .. . . .

FARGARD XIV. THE ATONEMENT FOR THE MURDER OF A
WATER-DOG

FARGARD XV.

I (1-8). On five sins the commission “of which ‘makes the sinner a Peshétanu .

Ila (9-12). On unlawful unions ‘and ‘attempts to procure miscarriage .

Praise of the dog . . . . . .

X (50-56). The water-dog .. . . .

FARGARD XIV. THE ATONEMENT FOR THE MURDER OF A
WATER-DOG

FARGARD XV.

I (1-8). On five sins the commission “of which ‘makes the sinner a Peshétanu .

Ila (9-12). On unlawful unions ‘and ‘attempts to procure miscarriage .

II b (13-19). On the obligations ‘of the illegitimate father towards the mother and the child

III (20-45). On the treatment of a bitch big with young .

IV (46-51). On the breeding of dogs . :

FARGARD XVI. .
I (1-7). Onthe uncleanness of women during their sickness
II (8-12). What is to be done if that state lasts too long .
III (13-18). Sundry laws relating to the same matter

FARGARD XVII. HaiIR AND NAILS

FARGARD XVIII. . . . .
I (1-13). On the unworthy priest and ¢ enticers to ; heresy .
II (14-29). The holiness of the cock, the bird of Sraosha, who
awakes the world for prayer and for the protection of Atar
III (30-59). On the four sins that make the Drug Pregnant
UV with a brood of fiends .
IV (60-65). On the evil caused by the Gahi (‘ ‘the prostitute )
V (66-76). How intercourse with a Dasht4n woman is to
be atoned for. . . . . . .

FARGARD XIX.

I (1-3). Angra Mainyu sends the demon Boiti to kill Zarathustra : Zarathustra sings aloud the Ahuna-Vairya, and the demon flies away, confounded by the sacred words and by the Glory of Zarathustra :

la (4-10). Angra Mainyu himself attacks him and propounds riddles to be solved under pain of death

II (11-16). How to destroy the uncleanness born from a contact with the dead .

III (17-19). How to promote the prosperity of the creation

PAGE

p. 160

163
164
165
166
168
168

169
176

176
178

179
180
184

185
185
187
188

p. 190

193
193

p. 196

200 *

p. 208

p. 210

212
214—

xii CONTENTS.

PAGE

IV (20-25). How to purify man and clothes defiled by thedead 215

V (26-34). On the remuneration of deeds after death ; on the fate of the wicked and the righteous ; the Kinvad bridge 217 II a (35-42). Avseries of invocations . 220

__ VI (43-47). The demons, dismayed by the birth of the
Prophet, rush back into hell. - 224
FARGARD XX. THRITA AND THE ORIGIN OF MEDICINE 225
FARGARD XXI. . . : . . 230
I (1). Praise of the holy bull . 231
II (2-3). Invocation addressed to rain as a healing power . 231

III a (4-7). Joint invocation addressed to the waters and to the light of the sun . 231

III b (8-11). Joint invocation addressed to the waters and to the light of the moon . 233

Ill c (12-17). Joint invocation addressed to the waters
and to the light of the stars . . 233
IV (18-23). Spells against disease 235

~— FARGARD XXII. ANGRA MAINYU CREATES 99,999 DISEASES:

‘AHURA MAZDA APPLIES FOR HEALING TO THE HOLY
WORD AND TO AIRYAMAN 236

FRAGMENTS OF THE NASKS.

p. 245II. ZEND FRAGMENTS IN THE ZEND-PAHLAVI FARHANG . 252

III. ZEND FRAGMENTS QUOTED IN THE PAHLAVI CoM- MENTARY OF THE YASNA . 258

p. 245II. ZEND FRAGMENTS IN THE ZEND-PAHLAVI FARHANG . 252

III. ZEND FRAGMENTS QUOTED IN THE PAHLAVI CoM- MENTARY OF THE YASNA . 258

  • 1V. ZEND FRAGMENTS QUOTED IN THE PAHLAVI Com. MENTARY OF THE VENDIDAD . 260 V. TAHMURAS’ FRAGMENTS 275 VI. ERPATISTAN AND NfRANGISTAN 300
  • VII. SUNDRY FRAGMENTS ee ee 389 VIII. AOGEMAIDE . . . . . . . . . 372

Transliteration of Oriental Alphabets adopted for the Translations of the Sacred Books of the East . .

p. 387

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE ZEND-AVESTA.

THE Zend-Avesta is the sacred book of the Parsis, that is to say, of the few remaining followers of that religion which reigned over Persia at the time when the second successor of Mohammed overthrew the Sassanian dynasty (642 A.C.)1, and which has been called Dualism, or Mazdeism, or Magism, or Zoroastrianism, or Fire-worship, according as its main tenet, or its supreme God’, or its priests, or its supposed founder, or its apparent object of worship has been most kept in view. In less than a century after their defeat, most of the conquered people were brought over to the faith of their new rulers, either by force, or policy, or the attractive power of a simpler form of creed. But many of those who clung to the faith of their fathers, went and sought abroad for a new home, where they might freely worship their old gods, say their old prayers, and perform their old rites. That home they found at last among the tolerant Hindus, on the western coast of India and in the peninsula of Guzerat*. There they throve and there they live still, while the ranks of their co-religionists in Persia are daily thinning and dwindling away *.

1 At the battle of Nibavand. ® Ahura Mazda.

3? They settled first at Sang4n, not far from Daman; thence they spread over Sorat, Nowsâri, Broach, and Kambay; and within the last two centuries they have settled at Bombay, which now contains the bulk of the Parsi people, nearly 90,000 souls (89,887 according to the census in 1891).

* A century ago, it is said, they still numbered nearly 100,000 souls; but

Xiv VENDIDAD.

page 2

Purification of the different sorts of water, when defiled by the dead . . . . . . - 71

IV (42-43). Purification of the Haoma : - 73

L V (44-51). The place for corpses; the Dakhmas : - 74

FARGARD VII. . . 76 I (1-5). How long after death the Drug Nasu takes possession of the corpse . 76

II (6-9). Howfar the defiling power of the DrugNasu extends 78 III (10-22). Cleansing of clothes defiled by the dead. . 79 IV (23-24). Eating of Nasu an abomination . . 81 V (25-27). Bringing Nasu to fire or water an abomination 82 x CONTENTS.

VI (28-35). Cleansing of wood and corn defiled by the dead

VII a (36-40). Physicians ; their probation

VII b (41-44). Their fees .

VIII (45-59). Purification of the earth, of the "Dakhmas.
The Dakhmas and the Daévas.

IX (60-72). Treatment of a woman who has brought forth a still-born child . .

X (73-75). Cleansing of vessels defiled by the dead .

XI (76-77). Cleansing of the cow . .

XII (78-79). Unclean libations .

FARGARD VIII. . . . .

I (1-3). Purification of the house where a man has died

{I (4-13). Funerals .

IIL (14-22). Purification of the ways slong which the corpse has been carried . . - ee

1V (23-25). No clothes to be thrown on a corpse .

V (26-32). Unlawful lusts .

VI (33-34). A corpse when dried up does not contaminate

VII (35-72). Purification of the man defiled by the dead .

“" VIII (73-80). Purification of the fire defiled your the dead .

IX (81-96). The Bahram fire . .

X (97-107). Purification in the wilderness .

FARGARD IX. THE NINE NIGHTS’ BARASHNOM . Ia(1-11). Description of the place for cleansing the unclean (the Barashnim-ga4h) . I b (12-36). Description of the cleansing II (37-44). Fees of the cleanser . III (47-57). The false cleanser ; his punishment

FARGARD X. SPELLS RECITED DURING THE PROCESS OF
THE CLEANSING. . . .

FARGARD XI. SPECIAL SPELLS FOR THE CLEANSING OF THE
SEVERAL OBJECTS .

FARGARD XII. THE UPAMAN: HOW LONG IT LASTS FOR
DIFFERENT RELATIVES .

FARGARD XIII. THE DoG

I (1-7). The dog of Ormazd and the dog of Ahriman .

Ia (1-4). Holiness of the dog Vangh4para (‘the hedge-hog ’)

Ib (5-7). Hatefulness of the dog Zairimyangura (‘the tortoise ’) . . . :

II (8-16). The several kinds of dogs. Penalties for the murder of a dog.

III (17-19). On the duties of the shepherd’ dog and the house-dog . .. . . . .

PAGE

p. 142

p. 148

p. 155

155
155

157
157
159

CONTENTS,

xi

IV (20-28). On the food due tothe dog. .

V (29-38). On the mad dog and the dog diseased ; how they are to be kept, and cured . : .

VI (39-40). On the excellence of the dog .

VII (41-43). On the wolf-dog .

VIII (44-48). On the virtues and vices of the dog

IX (49). Praise of the dog . . . . . .

X (50-56). The water-dog .. . . .

FARGARD XIV. THE ATONEMENT FOR THE MURDER OF A
WATER-DOG

FARGARD XV.

I (1-8). On five sins the commission “of which ‘makes the sinner a Peshétanu .

Ila (9-12). On unlawful unions ‘and ‘attempts to procure miscarriage .

Praise of the dog . . . . . .

X (50-56). The water-dog .. . . .

FARGARD XIV. THE ATONEMENT FOR THE MURDER OF A
WATER-DOG

FARGARD XV.

I (1-8). On five sins the commission “of which ‘makes the sinner a Peshétanu .

Ila (9-12). On unlawful unions ‘and ‘attempts to procure miscarriage .

II b (13-19). On the obligations ‘of the illegitimate father towards the mother and the child

III (20-45). On the treatment of a bitch big with young .

IV (46-51). On the breeding of dogs . :

FARGARD XVI. .
I (1-7). Onthe uncleanness of women during their sickness
II (8-12). What is to be done if that state lasts too long .
III (13-18). Sundry laws relating to the same matter

FARGARD XVII. HaiIR AND NAILS

FARGARD XVIII. . . . .
I (1-13). On the unworthy priest and ¢ enticers to ; heresy .
II (14-29). The holiness of the cock, the bird of Sraosha, who
awakes the world for prayer and for the protection of Atar
III (30-59). On the four sins that make the Drug Pregnant
UV with a brood of fiends .
IV (60-65). On the evil caused by the Gahi (‘ ‘the prostitute )
V (66-76). How intercourse with a Dasht4n woman is to
be atoned for. . . . . . .

FARGARD XIX.

I (1-3). Angra Mainyu sends the demon Boiti to kill Zarathustra : Zarathustra sings aloud the Ahuna-Vairya, and the demon flies away, confounded by the sacred words and by the Glory of Zarathustra :

la (4-10). Angra Mainyu himself attacks him and propounds riddles to be solved under pain of death

II (11-16). How to destroy the uncleanness born from a contact with the dead .

III (17-19). How to promote the prosperity of the creation

PAGE

p. 160

163
164
165
166
168
168

169
176

176
178

179
180
184

185
185
187
188

p. 190

193
193

p. 196

200 *

p. 208

p. 210

212
214—

xii CONTENTS.

PAGE

IV (20-25). How to purify man and clothes defiled by thedead 215

V (26-34). On the remuneration of deeds after death ; on the fate of the wicked and the righteous ; the Kinvad bridge 217 II a (35-42). Avseries of invocations . 220

__ VI (43-47). The demons, dismayed by the birth of the
Prophet, rush back into hell. - 224
FARGARD XX. THRITA AND THE ORIGIN OF MEDICINE 225
FARGARD XXI. . . : . . 230
I (1). Praise of the holy bull . 231
II (2-3). Invocation addressed to rain as a healing power . 231

III a (4-7). Joint invocation addressed to the waters and to the light of the sun . 231

III b (8-11). Joint invocation addressed to the waters and to the light of the moon . 233

Ill c (12-17). Joint invocation addressed to the waters
and to the light of the stars . . 233
IV (18-23). Spells against disease 235

~— FARGARD XXII. ANGRA MAINYU CREATES 99,999 DISEASES:

‘AHURA MAZDA APPLIES FOR HEALING TO THE HOLY
WORD AND TO AIRYAMAN 236

FRAGMENTS OF THE NASKS.

  • I. WESTERGAARD’S FRAGMENTS . . . 245
  • II. ZEND FRAGMENTS IN THE ZEND-PAHLAVI FARHANG . 252

III. ZEND FRAGMENTS QUOTED IN THE PAHLAVI CoM- MENTARY OF THE YASNA . 258

  • I. WESTERGAARD’S FRAGMENTS . . . 245
  • II. ZEND FRAGMENTS IN THE ZEND-PAHLAVI FARHANG . 252

III. ZEND FRAGMENTS QUOTED IN THE PAHLAVI CoM- MENTARY OF THE YASNA . 258

  • 1V. ZEND FRAGMENTS QUOTED IN THE PAHLAVI Com. MENTARY OF THE VENDIDAD . 260
  • V. TAHMURAS’ FRAGMENTS 275
  • VI. ERPATISTAN AND NfRANGISTAN 300
  • VII. SUNDRY FRAGMENTS ee ee 389
  • VIII. AOGEMAIDE . . . . . . . . . 372

Transliteration of Oriental Alphabets adopted for the Translations of the Sacred Books of the East . .

p. 387

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE ZEND-AVESTA.

THE Zend-Avesta is the sacred book of the Parsis, that is to say, of the few remaining followers of that religion which reigned over Persia at the time when the second successor of Mohammed overthrew the Sassanian dynasty (642 A.C.)1, and which has been called Dualism, or Mazdeism, or Magism, or Zoroastrianism, or Fire-worship, according as its main tenet, or its supreme God’, or its priests, or its supposed founder, or its apparent object of worship has been most kept in view. In less than a century after their defeat, most of the conquered people were brought over to the faith of their new rulers, either by force, or policy, or the attractive power of a simpler form of creed. But many of those who clung to the faith of their fathers, went and sought abroad for a new home, where they might freely worship their old gods, say their old prayers, and perform their old rites. That home they found at last among the tolerant Hindus, on the western coast of India and in the peninsula of Guzerat*. There they throve and there they live still, while the ranks of their co-religionists in Persia are daily thinning and dwindling away *.

1 At the battle of Nibavand. ® Ahura Mazda.

3? They settled first at Sang4n, not far from Daman; thence they spread over Sorat, Nowsâri, Broach, and Kambay; and within the last two centuries they have settled at Bombay, which now contains the bulk of the Parsi people, nearly 90,000 souls (89,887 according to the census in 1891).

* A century ago, it is said, they still numbered nearly 100,000 souls; but

Xiv VENDIDAD.

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