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Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1Vastag . . - 8,900 ,, 18,400 L6 » 12. Kitrad&d . . - 2,600 ,, 23,400 Gy » 13. Spend. . - 9,900 ,, 20,500 Ly » 14. Bakan-yast . . 22,000 ,, 44,000 a » 15. Nik&dim . . - 62,600 ,, 562,900 » 2 » 16. Ganabé-sar-nigad . 28,000 ,, 251,500 »3 » 17. Haspaéram . + 44,900 ,, 403,600 » 4 » 18. Sakadim . : + §3,000 ,, 476,600 »5 » 1g. Vendidad. . . 23,000 ,, 48,000 G6 _—,,_~-20. Hadékht . . - 8,400 4, 17,400 » I » 2%. Stéd-yast . . . 12,500 ,, 22,400 Total extent of 21 Nasks . 345,700 2,094,200 This total is about 24 times as great as that of the former estimate, but, as nearly the whole of this increase is in the four strictly Legal Nasks, whose length is well attested by that of the extant Nirangist4n, there is little probability that further investigation will lead to any re- 1 This had been done, long ago, in a Persian Rivayat, quoted in Bag, fol. 164, which states that the following sixteen Yasts were in the Bayn-yast Nask, namely, the Hérmezd, Aban, Mah, Tir, Gés, Mihir, Srdsh, Rashn, Fravardin, Bahirim, Ram, Din, Ashasang, Astad, Zamy4d, and Khurshéd Yasts, xlvi PAHLAVI TEXTS.
2164, which states that the following sixteen Yasts were in the Bayn-yast Nask, namely, the Hérmezd, Aban, Mah, Tir, Gés, Mihir, Srdsh, Rashn, Fravardin, Bahirim, Ram, Din, Ashasang, Astad, Zamy4d, and Khurshéd Yasts, xlvi PAHLAVI TEXTS. duction of this estimate. No probable alteration of the estimate of the extent of the Hadha-mathric Nasks, which is the most uncertain, would materially affect the total. Another matter of interest to the readers of translations from the Pahlavi, especially to those who are aware of the ambiguities of the original text, is the degree of confidence they can place in the correctness of the translation. In the case of the Dinkard it is fortunately possible to consult manuscripts written in Persia, and descended through only four or five intermediate copies from the work of the original writer, so that the text is remarkably free from copyists’ errors. The eighth and ninth books also contain very few of those involved sentences, with long parenthetical clauses, which, owing to the habitual absence or misplacement of stops, are very perplexing to a translator. The chief difficulties of the text arise from its synoptical character, and the consequent want of connection between its sentences; there being often too little context to define the meaning of a doubtful word. The number of words of doubtful meaning in Pahlavi is, however, fast diminishing, in proportion to the advancing study of the texts; and the certainty of a translator, as to the correctness of his work, is increasing in a like proportion. At any rate, the reader may safely rely upon the general accuracy of these translations, even if a few errors should hereafter be discovered. As an instance of such possible errors I will here correct one that exists in my translation of the Epistles of MAntskihar, which was pointed out to me by Mébad Tehmuras Dinshawji Ankalesaria, in a letter dated 28th October, 1887. In Ep. II, ii, 9-11, there occurs an illustration of what should be done when commentators differ, derived from the use that can be made of different observations of the stars, and containing three names that were difficult to identify. These names were doubtfully read as corruptions of the names of three of the lunar mansions, but it now appears that they were the names of three sets of astronomical tables (zik); so that Shatro-ay4ran, Hinddk, and Ptoleméés should be read, instead of Satvaharan, Avénak, and Padramgés ; both sets of readings expressing the same INTRODUCTION. xlvii Pahlavi letters. With these alterations the passage may be translated as follows :—
3xlvii Pahlavi letters. With these alterations the passage may be translated as follows :— Ep. II, ii, 9. ‘And there may be a position of the stars, seffled even by computers of the stars, when they would take that of the sun and moon from the tables of Shatro-ay4r, that of Saturn from the Hind@i tables, and that of Mars from the tables of Ptolemy, and the position comes ouf very good, and they are able to speak of the maturity of strength undoubtedly brought on. 10. That this is to be seen as an occurrence is a conjunction which is not possible ; because, if the tables of Shatro-aydr de exact, yet, since its Saturn and Mars are not from the tables, the effect is not a good configuration ; if the Hindfi tables de correct, yet, since its sun, moon, and Mars are not from those tables, the effect is not good; and if the tables of Ptolemy Je correct, yet, since its sun, moon, and Saturn are not from those tables, the effect is not good; on account of which the conjunction is not correct in any way; they believe ¢ possible, however, for a firm mind to accomplish this auspicious labour. 11. But they say the just and wise are making the decision that this would be a very good position, because that which is in the tables of Shatro-ay4r is truly issuing from him, the great Shatro-ayér; and that of Shatro-ayar, demmg better through the tables of Ptolemy, remains that employed.’ In conclusion, it is desirable to make some remarks upon the transliteration of Pahlavi, because it is necessary to express not only the various sounds of the letters of a very deficient alphabet, but also the mode of writing several abbreviated compounds which are quite as essential to the correct orthography of Pahlavi as the forms of the separate letters themselves. For this purpose italics are used to indicate not only a few differences of sound from the usual English pronunciation of consonants, but also different letters having the same sound, and letters abbreviated in the writing of compounds. When the abbreviated letter is already italicised, the preceding short vowel (which is not expressed in Pahlavi writing) is also italicised to indicate the abbreviation, or an apostrophe is introduced between the two consonants when no short vowel sound intervenes. Hyphens are used both to connect the components of compound words, which are often written xl viii PAHLAVI TEXTS. separately, and also to separate words that are written together in Pahlavi. The application of these rules will be best understood by reference to the following list of transliterations which have been found necessary :— ALPHABET. »# a (initial), 4, h, kh, 2d. % or 498,545. _) 2, a (privative), aé, dé ~4y 5, sh, 9+), g-a. (final), h ( final), 4 ch. _Jb. yk. Of, pv. ¢ m. ( d, t. 12, n, 6, 8, 7, 0, v. Qs , &, 2. 4, Lr. \ 1, r. 5d, 6, g, 2, g@, 1, y.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1Vastag . . - 8,900 ,, 18,400 L6 » 12. Kitrad&d . . - 2,600 ,, 23,400 Gy » 13. Spend. . - 9,900 ,, 20,500 Ly » 14. Bakan-yast . . 22,000 ,, 44,000 a » 15. Nik&dim . . - 62,600 ,, 562,900 » 2 » 16. Ganabé-sar-nigad . 28,000 ,, 251,500 »3 » 17. Haspaéram . + 44,900 ,, 403,600 » 4 » 18. Sakadim . : + §3,000 ,, 476,600 »5 » 1g. Vendidad. . . 23,000 ,, 48,000 G6 _—,,_~-20. Hadékht . . - 8,400 4, 17,400 » I » 2%. Stéd-yast . . . 12,500 ,, 22,400 Total extent of 21 Nasks . 345,700 2,094,200 This total is about 24 times as great as that of the former estimate, but, as nearly the whole of this increase is in the four strictly Legal Nasks, whose length is well attested by that of the extant Nirangist4n, there is little probability that further investigation will lead to any re- 1 This had been done, long ago, in a Persian Rivayat, quoted in Bag, fol. 164, which states that the following sixteen Yasts were in the Bayn-yast Nask, namely, the Hérmezd, Aban, Mah, Tir, Gés, Mihir, Srdsh, Rashn, Fravardin, Bahirim, Ram, Din, Ashasang, Astad, Zamy4d, and Khurshéd Yasts, xlvi PAHLAVI TEXTS.
2164, which states that the following sixteen Yasts were in the Bayn-yast Nask, namely, the Hérmezd, Aban, Mah, Tir, Gés, Mihir, Srdsh, Rashn, Fravardin, Bahirim, Ram, Din, Ashasang, Astad, Zamy4d, and Khurshéd Yasts, xlvi PAHLAVI TEXTS. duction of this estimate. No probable alteration of the estimate of the extent of the Hadha-mathric Nasks, which is the most uncertain, would materially affect the total. Another matter of interest to the readers of translations from the Pahlavi, especially to those who are aware of the ambiguities of the original text, is the degree of confidence they can place in the correctness of the translation. In the case of the Dinkard it is fortunately possible to consult manuscripts written in Persia, and descended through only four or five intermediate copies from the work of the original writer, so that the text is remarkably free from copyists’ errors. The eighth and ninth books also contain very few of those involved sentences, with long parenthetical clauses, which, owing to the habitual absence or misplacement of stops, are very perplexing to a translator. The chief difficulties of the text arise from its synoptical character, and the consequent want of connection between its sentences; there being often too little context to define the meaning of a doubtful word. The number of words of doubtful meaning in Pahlavi is, however, fast diminishing, in proportion to the advancing study of the texts; and the certainty of a translator, as to the correctness of his work, is increasing in a like proportion. At any rate, the reader may safely rely upon the general accuracy of these translations, even if a few errors should hereafter be discovered. As an instance of such possible errors I will here correct one that exists in my translation of the Epistles of MAntskihar, which was pointed out to me by Mébad Tehmuras Dinshawji Ankalesaria, in a letter dated 28th October, 1887. In Ep. II, ii, 9-11, there occurs an illustration of what should be done when commentators differ, derived from the use that can be made of different observations of the stars, and containing three names that were difficult to identify. These names were doubtfully read as corruptions of the names of three of the lunar mansions, but it now appears that they were the names of three sets of astronomical tables (zik); so that Shatro-ay4ran, Hinddk, and Ptoleméés should be read, instead of Satvaharan, Avénak, and Padramgés ; both sets of readings expressing the same INTRODUCTION. xlvii Pahlavi letters. With these alterations the passage may be translated as follows :—
3xlvii Pahlavi letters. With these alterations the passage may be translated as follows :— Ep. II, ii, 9. ‘And there may be a position of the stars, seffled even by computers of the stars, when they would take that of the sun and moon from the tables of Shatro-ay4r, that of Saturn from the Hind@i tables, and that of Mars from the tables of Ptolemy, and the position comes ouf very good, and they are able to speak of the maturity of strength undoubtedly brought on. 10. That this is to be seen as an occurrence is a conjunction which is not possible ; because, if the tables of Shatro-aydr de exact, yet, since its Saturn and Mars are not from the tables, the effect is not a good configuration ; if the Hindfi tables de correct, yet, since its sun, moon, and Mars are not from those tables, the effect is not good; and if the tables of Ptolemy Je correct, yet, since its sun, moon, and Saturn are not from those tables, the effect is not good; on account of which the conjunction is not correct in any way; they believe ¢ possible, however, for a firm mind to accomplish this auspicious labour. 11. But they say the just and wise are making the decision that this would be a very good position, because that which is in the tables of Shatro-ay4r is truly issuing from him, the great Shatro-ayér; and that of Shatro-ayar, demmg better through the tables of Ptolemy, remains that employed.’ In conclusion, it is desirable to make some remarks upon the transliteration of Pahlavi, because it is necessary to express not only the various sounds of the letters of a very deficient alphabet, but also the mode of writing several abbreviated compounds which are quite as essential to the correct orthography of Pahlavi as the forms of the separate letters themselves. For this purpose italics are used to indicate not only a few differences of sound from the usual English pronunciation of consonants, but also different letters having the same sound, and letters abbreviated in the writing of compounds. When the abbreviated letter is already italicised, the preceding short vowel (which is not expressed in Pahlavi writing) is also italicised to indicate the abbreviation, or an apostrophe is introduced between the two consonants when no short vowel sound intervenes. Hyphens are used both to connect the components of compound words, which are often written xl viii PAHLAVI TEXTS. separately, and also to separate words that are written together in Pahlavi. The application of these rules will be best understood by reference to the following list of transliterations which have been found necessary :— ALPHABET. »# a (initial), 4, h, kh, 2d. % or 498,545. _) 2, a (privative), aé, dé ~4y 5, sh, 9+), g-a. (final), h ( final), 4 ch. _Jb. yk. Of, pv. ¢ m. ( d, t. 12, n, 6, 8, 7, 0, v. Qs , &, 2. 4, Lr. \ 1, r. 5d, 6, g, 2, g@, 1, y.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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