Pahlavi Texts, Part IV: Contents of the Nasks — SBE Vol. 37 (trans. E. W. West, 1892)

about ordainable supplies in a friendly ov inimical (paty4nm 6nd) way, which is more particularly expedient for them—a supply, suitable for the discreet, of the rest of that which is constantly desirable, is to be extracted therefrom, and ove is to keep up 2¢s preparation with his own.

12. About the seven immortal rulers who are produced in the region of Khvantras’, and also about the ordaining of their glory and the goodness, too, of ¢her assistants living and privileged in both existences. 13. The tree opposed to harm ® is on Atran-vég +, in the place of most excavations (fréhnig4n4n g4s). 14. Gdk-patd® is in foreign ® coun-

1 Or ‘they offer up (Azdahénd).,’

* See Bk. VIII, Chap. VIII, 2. And, regarding these seven rulers, compare Bd. XXIX, 5, 6; Dd. XC.

* The many-seeded tree in the wide-formed ocean, whence the seeds of all wild plants are brought by the rain (see Yt. XII, 17; Bd. XXVII, 2, 3; Mkh. LXII, 37-42).

* See Chap. XII, 3.

5 Gépatshah in Bd. XXIX, 5, XXXI, 20, 22; Byt. II, 1; Dd. XC, 3, 4; Gdpaitéshah in Mkh. LXII, 8, 31; and Gépaftd in Mkh. XLIV, 35. All these forms of the name imply that he was a king, or master, of oxen; and Mkh. describes him as a Mazdaworshipping minotaur on the sea-shore, probably the Caspian, or the river Oxus, as Bd. makes him a brother, or nephew, of Frastyav the Turfnian. His country is called Saukavastan in Bd., and Gépaté in Dd.

* Pahl. an-AtrAn which corresponds with the position of Saukavast4n being between Tfirkistin and Xi%nist4n, as stated in Bd. XXIX, 13, and that of Gépaté being coterminous with Afrin-vég, as in Dd. XC, 4. But K, by omitting the negative prefix, places it

CHAPTER XVI, 11-19. 203

tries. 15. Péhshétand’, son of Vistasp, is in Kangdez ? the hundred-moated (sad-gandak), wherein ¢here ave a myriad spears (drafsh), those of the exalted who wear black marten fxr, who are righteous listeners of the religion %, out of the retinue (ak har th) of Péhshétand, som of Vistésp. 16. Fradakhshtd, son of the mortal Khimbtks ‘, who is predominant on the waters flowing in channels. 17. Ashavazd, son of Péridakhshté °, who is predominant over the most manifest among uplands, the plain of Pésinds °. 18. Barazak’ the causer of strife. 19. ‘And the eighth Kaydn * who was renowned, O Vistdsp! it is

‘within the countries of Iran ;’ and Mkh. makes Gdpaitd a chief of
Aifran-vég.

1 Av. Peshétanu, commonly written Péshydtanfi in Pahlavi.

* A fortified settlement, to the east of Iran (see Bd. XXIX, ro), formed by Stydvakhsh (see Bk. VIII, Chap. XIII, 14) who was first cousin of Vistâsp’s great-grandfather (see Bd. XXXI, 25, 28, 29).

® Who are expected to be led into Iran by Péhshétanf in future times, when he is summoned by the angels to restore religion to the world after the conflict of the nations (see Byt. III, 25-42).

VIII, Chap. XIII, 14) who was first cousin of Vistâsp’s great-grandfather (see Bd. XXXI, 25, 28, 29).

® Who are expected to be led into Iran by Péhshétanf in future times, when he is summoned by the angels to restore religion to the world after the conflict of the nations (see Byt. III, 25-42).

‘ K has ‘Fradakhshtd, son of Khfimbtk the son of Hésh4ng.’ He was evidently the Fradhakhsti Khuiibya of Yt. XIII, 138, who might have been considered as a descendant of the Haoshyangha mentioned before him in Yt. XIII.

5 Av. Ashavazdangh Pourudhakhstayana of Yt. V, 72,
XIII, 112.

® Said to be in KAvulistén where SAma Keres4spa lies asleep till summoned to kill Dah4k in the latter times (see Bd. XXIX, 7, 11; Byt. III, 59-61). It may be connected with the vairi Pisanangh : of ¥t. V, 37, where KeresAspa offered sacrifice, and with the Pisin valley south-east of Qandah4r; but Chap. XXI, 20 seems to place it between Mazendaran and Iran, and Mkh. LXII, 20 also describes it as near Mount Dim4vand. Its name is variously written Pésinas, Pesfnsih, PésyAnsaf, Pésandas, Pésanigas, &c.

™ Possibly Av. Varaza of Yt. XIII, ror.

® Kavi Haosravangh (Kat-Khfsr6?) is the eighth and last in the list of Kavis, or Kayans, in Yt. XIII, 132; and was celebrated forp. 204 he whom one calls Kat-Khdsr6i, who produces even an advance of thy religion of the Mazda-worshippers, and also understands about z¢; who gives my good practices further blessings, so that the world? maintains my doings with benedictions.’

20. Righteousness is perfect excellence.

Cuarpter XVII.
Sidkar Nask.

1. The sixteenth fargard, Spemt4-mainyt’, is about effecting the bridge-judgment of sinners, as declared by revelation. 2. About performing the ceremony (yast6) for a man and a woman, and it is ordered for the woman before the man; the fitness for the supreme heaven (garédm4ntkth) arisen through the liturgy (yast6) to be recited itself, or through purchasing heaven in the worldly existence’.

3. About the immunity of the soul from hell through the righteousness of having respectfully given a horse of a good race, the land of a cultivated field, ov a virtuous woman, to a righteous man ; and also the woman who gives herself in marriage to his opposition to idolatry (see Yt. V, 49, 50; Bd. XVII, 7). This section appears to be an actual quotation from the Pahlavi version of the Nask, professing to give the words of Zaratfst.

1 K has déhifk, ‘a provincial.’

® The first two words of the first h& of the third Gétha (Yas.
XLVII, 1), which are converted into the Pahlavi appellation
Spendmaftd.

5 By providing for the performance of the proper ceremonies for the benefit of one’s own soul.

CHAPTER XVI, 20-XVII, 9. 205

the righteous man; and that liberal good work increases from time ¢o time!, and from day éo day.

XLVII, 1), which are converted into the Pahlavi appellation
Spendmaftd.

5 By providing for the performance of the proper ceremonies for the benefit of one’s own soul.

CHAPTER XVI, 20-XVII, 9. 205

the righteous man; and that liberal good work increases from time ¢o time!, and from day éo day.

4. About the bridge Zenalty of him who is a mourner (navintd@4r) and se/f-wounder in the three nights after a death, and how zt zs as though ¢hey who are living sould again pour melted ore on a human being. 5. About the punishment for a woman who gives herself in marriage to a righteous man, and comes away? from him; such as when a hedgehog ® should be constantly going in and coming out by her sexual organ; and the cutting off of her way from the best existence. 6. About the nondeliverance of a soul of the wicked from hell till the future existence. 7. About the punishment of the wicked there zs this, too, z¢ 2s as though a sheep which is alive should be remaining tied by the legs, head downwards, and ¢herve should be a specific exudation of its toes through running at the nose ¢.

8. About the Gathas for an ordeal of the spiritual existence, which is concealed in every mode, Jeng without a footing (apé-p4stak®$), as it were, for him who is a righteous chanter of the Gathas. .

9. The excellence of righteousness is perfect.

' Pahl. vidanaanag vidanddnag, 4 hybrid equivalent of zamanak zamanak (see Bk. VIII, Chap. XXXV, 6 n).

* B has ‘relapses.’

5 Compare AV. LXX.

* Pahl, afas angQst6 zahth-1-i mayaganik pavan vintk-tag af For mayag4nik, ‘specific’ (which occurs, however, in Bk. VIII, Chap. XX, 166), we can read m4sfnfk, ‘tumerous or coagulating,’ or we may consider it equivalent to mftyisntk, ‘lamentable.’

* Compare the reference to the ordeal by fire in Pahl. Yas. XLVI, 6; the earlier part of the chapter is also somewhat of a homily upon the references to the wicked and righteous in the same ha.

p. 206

Cuapter XVIII.
Stdkar Nask.

1. The seventeenth fargard, Yézt?, is about where he is who shall commit any of these five sins, and, thereby perverted from the religion, has diminished his own life and destiny*:—A human being when he contentedly reverences a demon in spiritual lordship (ahdth) and priestly authority (radih), one steadfast in religion when he so reverences one unsteadfast in religion, a teacher when he so reverences one who 7s no teacher and ignorant, one acquainted with the Gathas when he so reverences one unacquainted with the GAâthas amd _ unintelligent (anashnAs) 4, avd a helpful one when he so reverences an unhelpful ad unwise one.

2. This, too, where also they are who unlawfully slaughter a sheep, ov beast of 6urden,which diminishes their life and destiny. 3. And so, too, those also who think scornfully of Atharmazd, O pure and righteous Spitam4n! and their own religion, the strength of the righteous avd thy disciples.

4. Excellence ¢hat zs perfect is righteousness.

CHAPTER XIX.