An Avestan Hymn PDF
An Avestan Hymn PDF
An Avestan Hymn PDF
Book one. S
t
dgar
1
S
t
dgar is the first of the Avesta codex and second of the
GIic division.
There are two forms of the name of the book: swtkl
/sd
e
gar/
1
, and stwtkl /std
e
gar/
2
. In the Prs
g
Book of Psalms
the word swtyklyy /s
t
d
e
garih/ occurs three times to translate
Syriac "#$%& and '#()% prayer, supplication
3
. It is possible
to suggest a possible connection of the name with Av. stt gar
with the meaning of the collection of praises (and)
invocations
4
.
The S
t
d
e
gar contains twenty-two chapters. A separate
chapter begins with a GIic phrase, illustrates it with ethical and
theological remarks, with sometimes allusions to the legends.
A concise description of the lost S
t
d
e
gar is found in the
eighth book of the Dnkird M 680 and also in the Persian
Rivyats
5
.
Dk viii M 680:
nam: xarrah i veh den m:desn.
sdgar mdavn abar : i abe:ag stvisn i fradom ohrma:d
gbisn, ped menidrih, guftrih ud kirdrih, ud pahre: i a: dd i
1
!" $ % & Dk viii M 678, !" $ '( M 680.
2
)* + $ % & ZVY 1.1, )* + $ ',( K 27, !"#$% MU I 3.
3
Cf. 122 Canon, 128 Canon, 129.2.
4
Cf. Y 34.2 vahme garbis sttm in a hymn with invocations
(consisting) of praises Z nivvisn |k fdag-g
b
ih | utn andar gar[-
dmn] stvem, Y 41.1 stt gar vahm5ng praises, invocations, hymns
(laudations) Z stvisn gir
r
isn ud nivvisn.
5
Cf. the three Rivyats of Kma Bohra, Narimn Hsang and Dastr
Burzj (MU I 4-13), and the Dng Vizrgird 2.
2
vattar pedvragenidrdar
6
mardm, ud stvisn i hunarn kirbag
den i veh hamghr, u-s girisnigih, ud nikhisn i hgn ba:ag
hn i~ vattar den ham-thmag, u-s hilisnig~ih. a: va:isn i
meng ud pahre: i getig amehrspend vas ghih. abar xir i
meng. ud % - . + /kahvan/ bd / . 0 /fum/ baved ke andar
frasegird-i: srav.
ahlvih bdih pahlom ast.
Homage to the Fortune of the Good Dan Mzdayasni.
The S
t
d
e
gar is, essentially, about the strength of the pure
praise (= Avesta)
7
, the first Word (= book) of Ahura Mazd, for
(our) thought, speech and action; (about) the abstinence from the
law of the evil people who are obstinately adversary; the praise
of the virtues and pious works which are of the same substance
as the good dan, and should be taken; and the blame of the
defects and impious works which are of the same seed as the evil
dan, and should be abandoned; concerning the worship of the
Savant Immortals in the world of thought and their protection in
the world of living beings, and also much information about the
things of the world of thought. About the ancient history and also
that which will happen in the Renovation.
asom voh vahistom asti.
A synopsis of each of the twenty-two chapters
8
of the
S
t
d
e
gar nask is found in the ninth book of the Dnkird.
A formula of four words concludes the account of each
chapter. The formula is permuted in the order of its words. In the
first, eighth, fifteen, (and twenty-third) chapters it is written in its
normal order: asom voh vahistom asti Asa vahista is good. It
recalls the name of the creator (daovah-/ daous-, Ahura
6
1 )" 23-45 / )" )6- & , J5 / )7 )6- + , cf. GV 4.74 patvrainidr rendered by
Skt. pratightavit-.
7
Cf. Bd 177.
8
fragard < *fra-karota- section from Av. fra-kart to cut up.
3
Mazd) for the first, eighth, fifteen and twenty-third days of the
month.
Observe. The following statement of the contents of the S
t
d
e
gar is taken
from the Dnkird, except where otherwise noted. Words in [ ] do not belong to
the transposition of the Avesta text, but are glosses or explanations of the
tradition-unbroken (# Skt. akhanita prampar). Words in parentheses ( ) are
added by me to complete the sense of the translation, or they are merely
explaining of those which precede or follow them.
4
Ch. 1 YaI Ah Vairy (Y 27.13 ; Dk M 787-788).
The YaI Ah Vairy (formula) is at the base of the daen
(= Avesta), and from it is the fashioning forth of the twenty-one
books (of the Avesta)
9
.
[The existence of the
a-:tih/.
265
v i vinh- !5 )5 '- /vuxtr/. Cf. Dk iii M 6 vinh-v:ih i mardmn,
M 68 vuxtrih i mardm vinh.
266
M 1 - E4<( Y BQ $ -47 ;5- + )F-4" + , J5 -+ Y Y BQ -47+ BQ + ;5- +-4" )F-4" /pes
vahman a: menisn nbihed/.
267
M ;5 +-4<=-4<- + U , J5 ;5 + +-4F=-4F- a /abuxs(v)isn/.
268
M + H % )F-47 '- , J5 + / % )F-4" E4F3- . Cf. Dk vi M 586 vidarag nivsidrih.
40
They shall treat well (hu-boroiti-) every man who has
abandoned (his country)
269
, and also any priest who is
Iryavan
270
, and even any priest who is in the country
271
, and
any priest who is out of the country, and any priest who is their
own relative.
Thus I say unto you, O Spitma: Never break a contract
(mi/ra-), whether you conclude it with lieful ones [that is, you
make an agreement, and there is not any great accordance with
the law in it], or with the truthful ones who follow your own
religion [in any case, of great accordance with the law]; for the
contract applies to both, the one who is lieful and the truthful
one.
272
asti voh asom vahistom.
Ch. 12 Ustavait (Y 43; Dk M 801).
About the exaltation of ZaraIustra for his satisfaction of :p
(water)
273
, and the hope of the whole creation (dman-) in him.
269
M )F-4<=: '- , J5 )F-4<=: '- @ /residr-deh/ rendering Av. dahu.iric-
(adj.) who abandons land (/ country), cf. Yt 10.75. Cf. also Dk vii M 655
residr-deh srn.
270
A4<=>3=( 45 + H )5 '- /srvisn-vuxtr/ rendering Av. /rvavan-/ /rvaon-
(adj.), cf. Yt 5.86, Yt 14.46.
271
dehig belonging to the country, countryman rendering Av. -daxvu-
/ dahu- (adj.), cf. Y 26.9.
u:dehig belonging to a foreign country ; exiled rendering Av. u:-daxvu-/
dahu- (adj.), cf. Vr 16.2.
272
edn t gbem spitmn k m mihr abar dru:es m ka abg
drvandn hampurses [k past kune ud meh-ddestnih andar ne hd] m ka
abg xes-denn i ahlavn [ped tis-i: meh-ddestnih]; ce harv do mihr ast
drvandn-: ahlavn-: # Yt 10.2 mi/rom m fanva spitama m vim drvata
porosahe m vim xdaen asaona
u
vava :i asti mi/r drvataeca
asaonaeca. Cf. also AVN 52.3.
273
ped husndih i b. Cf. MX 1.55 ped husndih i meng i xrad.
41
About the recitation of the Formulas (m/ra-), not
correctly
274
[that is, one who utters the formulas (of the religion)
not according to the canon
275
].
The Formulas (recited by) a defiled man may bring injustice
to an undefiled place.
276
This is revealed that: A greedy and glutton man
277
who
278
cares only for the rejoicing
279
of the body, every sin has a
tendency to him just like a ditch
280
to which (comes) every
filthiness (by) a slope
281
.
Vayah
282
drags (or, puts in pieces)
283
even those [that is, it
kills them] who have been thick-waisted, who (have been on the
side of) :zi (greed) established by the Davas
284
.
The invocation of the Yazatas
285
is efficacious
286
(when)
thinking (agrees) with speaking, speaking (agrees) with acting,
and acting is without deceitfulness
287
.
274
ne abe:ag usmurdan i mnsr. Av. oro:v upright(ly) is rendered by
Pers. abe:ag, cf. Y 9.13.
275
ped dastvar.
276
mnsr i mard i hgenidag !F- E4<- (J5 !F- E4F- ) /a-ddestnih/ hn i
anhgenidag gvg bared.
Pers. (an-)hgenid(ag) renders Av. (an-)hita- (adj.), cf. F 5.
Pers. a-ddestnih injustice, impropriety, cf. CHP 1.
277
mard i :var i 2-4<- . J ++ \ + /
e
skam-bannag/. Cf. MX 2.56 :var mard.
Pers.
e
skam-bannag, Fars. X7?) QK1 (lit. slave of ones belly) glutton.
278
Y /ke/ rendering Av. v.
279
rmenidrih merriment, giving of joy rendering Av. rafoora- (nt.)
support and rafnah-/ G rafonah- (nt.) id., cf. Y 41.4, Y 51.20.
280
'-4" 1/dr/ wood, tree; gallows, gibbet; 2/dr/ edge, blade. Faute de
mieux I propose % + '-4" /kandr/ ditch.
281
;[-47 + /seb ?/ i harv rimanih avis. Cf. Dk vi M 584 ;[-47 + avis baved.
282
+ 0 /vv/ < Av. vayah- age; time (of death).
283
+ R )" + /varzed/ from Av. varc to drag, put in pieces.
284
: i devn-dd Av. :i- daev.dta-, cf. Y 16.8, Vd 18.19.
42
About the pure goodness
288
of the Holy Immortals (amosa-
sponta-), and the communion of their thoughts, words, and
deeds
289
, and the prosperity of living beings
290
(through) their
establishment, fostering, and protection
291
.
Ahura Mazd established (or, created) ZaraIustra with a
goodness like His own.
Whoever gives a thing (a fee or present) to the disciples of
ZaraIustra, his reward (mi:da-) and recompense are just as
though he had given the thing to Zara/ustra (himself).
292
asti vahistom voh asom.
Ch. 13 Ta[.I.pcrcs (Y 44 ; Dk M 801-802).
About the strength and firmness
293
of the Draonah
(sacrificial cake) in the world of thought.
Every night the Davas rush from hell (dao:aha-) into the
world of living beings (gae/-), for the corruption and
destruction
294
of the creatures; and when they consecrate the
285
a:bvisn i va:adn. Cf. MX 2.64.
286
krig rendering Av. vhi? Cf. Y 46.14 (the Prs
g
translator of the
GIs derives vhi from yah to strive after).
287
ped ;5 ;[: $ E4F3- /a-freftrih/. Cf. Y 9.18 davi/va who deceive Z ke
ped 1 ;[: $ E4F3- /freftrih/.
288
abe:ag-vehih gl. of meh-magih < Av. maz- maga- great ceremony of
donations, cf. Y 29.11.
289
hamih i-sn menisn gbisn kunisn genin. Cf. Yt 13.83.
290
M ;5 )5 ^@ -4C* -4C" , J5 ;5 )5 ^@ -4C* /bdih i gehn/.
291
ddrih ud parvardrih ud pnagih. Cf. GV 15.25 ddrih ud
fridrih ud parvardrih, GV 8.57 parvardrih ud pnagih.
292
Cf. Matthew 25.40.
293
: ud tagigih. Cf. Yt 10.140 mi/rom aofahom taxmom ra/aestm
MiIra, the strong (and) firm warrior.
294
M L!F3Q / )" ++ /marn:enidan/ to destroy, J5 )"!F3Q ++ /margenidan/ to
cause to death (of).
43
draonah, that spirit (ma#yu-) sets in motion
295
to smash and keep
away the davas, and comes down ninety-nine times every night
for the combat
296
with the davas, and it smashes and defeats
them, and keeps them away from destroying living beings
297
(/
the world).
298
Anyone among those men who offers this Word sacrifice
becomes truthful (asavan-), except those men who contentedly
and willingly bring on the badly-put-into-practice Formulas
299
,
who suffer pederasty or who commit pederasty
300
; and those who
undertake (contracts) by word, (however) their evil thought
(dusmata-) is more than good thought (humata-), their evil word
(du:uxta-) is more than good word (hxta-), and their evil deed
(du:varsta-) is more than good deed (hvarsta-).
About the taking away of the accidental (sin) worthy of
death
301
, and the wiping away of other sins through the
profession of faith
302
, like the harsh-running wind when
speedily sweeps the plain.
303
295
v:ed. Cf. Y 65.4 vao:aiti: v:ed.
296
ku
x
sisn rendering Av. posan- (f.) battle, combat, cf. Y 9.20
vana.posan: vnidr-ped-kusisn.
297
marn:enidrih i gehn. Cf. Vd 18.55 moroyonte gae/a astvaitis asahe
(Druj) destroys the osseous (/ material) living beings of Truth.
298
Cf. Abar Cim Drn 12-16; RP 9.2-3.
299
hn i dus
h
varst framn rendering Av. *du:varsta m/ra, cf. Y 4.1
hvarsta m/ra: hn i hvarst framn.
300
viftend avb viftenend. Cf. Vd 8.26.
301
fahisnig margar:n the one accused on an accidental capital offence.
302
stavnih rendering Av. stiti- (f.) praise, cf. Y 12.9 daenava
m:davasnis stitis : den i m:desnn stavnih.
303
vd i skeft-tag humng ka te: dast fr: mled. Cf. Vd 3.42 va/a vt
doro:i.taka/r /som dasin pairi framaro:i like the steadily running
wind would wipe away from the right (/ west) the firmament Z cn vd i
skeft-tag ka te: dast fr:-mled [ud khi:ag-e (MX givhi:ag-e) ud tis-e be
bared]. Cf. also Vd 8.30, MX 52.16, 19 (Av. daro:i.taka/ra- is rendered by
Pers. staft-tag). Pers. te: renders Av.
1
/sa- (adj.) swift (Skt. tvarita- swift,
hasty),
2
/sa- (nt.) firmament.
44
ascm voh ast vahistcm.
Ch. 14 A[.Iravaxsy (Y 45; Dk M 802-803).
Ahura Mazd showed unto ZaraIustra the soul (urvan-) of
Kcrcsspa in a terrible state. ZaraIustra was scared of that
terrible state. Kcrcsspa spoke regretfully concerning his
smashing of innumerable men; he paid respect to those who were
resolved to abstain from sin. The establisher Ahura Mazd
attracted his attention as regards his having smashed fire (tar-/
/r-).
Kcrcsspa requested the Best Existence (/ heaven, vahista-
ahu-) on account of his exploits, that is:
He slew the dragon Srbara, and (put an end to) the
oppression of that adversary (paitvra-).
304
He defeated the yellow-heeled Gandarca, and (put an end
to) the harshness of that fiend.
305
He smote the (evil) sons of Nivika and Dstayni, and (put an
end to) their grievous calamity and damage.
306
He pacified the swift wind
307
, and brought it back from
inflicting losses on (the world of) living beings to the benefit of
the creatures.
304
ka-s kust ga: sruvar ud stahmagih i hn pedvrag. Cf. Y 9.11 v fana
a:im srvarom: ke-s :ad a: i sruvar. Cf. also Yt 19.40, Dk viii M 747, Dk ix M
794.
305
ka-s vnid ,/ ;<3( + ^ 1 c3B>? -4<- - + (gandaroom vim :airi.psnom) ud
skeftih i hn dru:. Cf. Yt 5.38, Yt 19.41. Gandarca is called uppa- (living)
in the water, in the Rm Yt 28. Cf. also MX 27.50 big gandarb.
306
ka-s :ad hunusak i \/ - (J5 + / \ - ) ud )C<-4" - \ - (J5 )C" )* - \ +- ) ud
grn angih ud vi:end i a:isn. Cf. Yt 19.41 v fana hunav va pa/anava
nava hunavasca nivikahe hunavasca dstavnis who smashed the nine
(evil) sons of PaIana, the sons of Nivika, the sons of Dstayni.
307
tagig vd rendering Av. taxma- vta-, cf. Vd 19.13.
45
And when Dahka will come loose from fetters
308
, and will
rush to destroy (the world of) living beings, and will clamour the
annihilation of the creatures (dman-), Kcrcsspa would be
roused to defeat that very strong lie
309
, and to come to the
rescue
310
of the creatures of the world.
311
The fire set against Kcrcsspa because of the offence which
he committed against it, and kept him away from (entering) the
Best (Existence).
(But), Gus Urvan (soul of the primeval cow) supported
him, gave thanks to him, and preserved him from hell.
ZaraIustra requested of the fire to forgive Kcrcsspas sin.
Thanks to that entreaty the fire pardoned
312
him.
Kcrcsspa departed to the Place of Misvan (limbo)
313
.
ascm vahistcm ast voh.
The Prs
g
version of the supplication of the soul of Kcrcsspa for
admittance into heaven was quoted at length in the RP 18f
314
:
It is revealed that: Fire is so esteemed that Ahura Mazd said
to ZaraIustra: Whose soul (urvan-) [it is the action (= daen-),
vital soul (= ustna-)
315
, consciousness (baooah-) and fravasi]
seems better, if you could see it?
ZaraIustra said: That of Kcrcsspa.
308
pe: hn i ka dahk a: bann har:ag baved. Cf. Bd 219 pas na:d
ha:rag sar i~ usidar-mh dahk a: bann har:ag baved.
309
hn i vas-: dru:. Cf. Y 9.8 v fana a:im dahkom as.aofahom
dae
i
vim druf he smashed the dragon Dahka the very strong, fiendish Lie
Z ke-s :ad a: i dahk i vas-: dev dru:.
310
1 )C9: )" + /fravded/.
311
Cf. ZVY 9.20-23.
312
- L )5 ++ /:axtan/ (J5 ) to pardon. Cf. N31 II R pd whmn "wzxt nw"g.
313
)[>I- -45 + - /hamest-oxn/ (J5 cI- )* \ -45 + - + ) = hamestagn. Av.
misvan- gtu- is rendered by Pers. hamesag-sd gh, cf. Sr 1-2.30.
314
Cf. also Sad-dar B 20; MU I 61-65; MU29 n 1.
315
!" 2- /gvg/ place is probably a mistake for gvn.
46
Ahura Mazd summoned the soul of Kcrcsspa. The soul of
Kcrcsspa related the calamity which he had seen in hell to
ZaraIustra: Would that I had been a teaching priest (ae/rapaiti-
) so that there would have been a bag
316
on my back, and I
wandered through the world in search of a livelihood, and the
world used to be hideous to my eyes, and the world would have
feared my dignity (varocah-).
317
Ahura Mazd said: Halt, O soul of Kcrcsspa! For you are
hideous in my eyes, for you killed (my son) :tars (fire), and
you did not take care of it.
The soul of Kcrcsspa said: Forgive me, O Ahura Mazd,
and grant me the Best Existence (vahista- ahu-), the House of
Song (gar.nmna-). (For) I slew the horned dragon (a:im
srvarom), which was horse-devouring (asp.garom), man-
devouring (naro.garom), and its teeth were as long as my arm,
and its ears were as large as fourteen felts (nomata-), and its eyes
(asi-) were as great as a wheel, and its claws were as great as a
horn in height (or: its horns were as high as a branch)
318
. I was
running half a day
319
on its back, till I seized its head at my hand,
I struck it with a club (gao-)
320
, and I slew it
321
. If I had not
316
$ + . - 0 (MR1, J - . - 0 ) /hambn-e/.
317
Y 8: + ^ & (J Y dD + &+ ) /a: var: i man/. Pers. varz/ Av. varocah- (nt.) #
Skt. vrcas- (nt.) illuminating power (of fire or the sun); dignity (of a
brhman).
318
u-s sr and-cand 2-4C" /sg/ ped blv. Pers. sr < Av. sr- (f.) horn ;
claw. Pers. sx/ sg branch ; horn < *)sk
h
-, Armen. c$ax branch, Fars.
Y1horn, Z.1, Sogd. s"h branch, un x%& branch. Cf. also Sad-dar B
20.6 "#) [6- ".$L, (@ "#) 4-7?< 8+% ,
319
1 U+ (MR1 1 ++ )/ nem/ r:. Sad-dar B 20.7 J:L:S 9.NF .P "-7>.)9-
320
gad-e garden :ad. Sad-dar B 20.7 \"@ -7C ]?G () +- % 9! ()
Kcrcsspas epithet is gaoavara- carrying a club, cf. Y 9.10, Yt 13.61.
Cf. also Dk ix M 818 tavnig kssp gad-dast.
47
slain that dragon, then it would have annihilated your whole
creation and you would never have found a remedy for Apra
Ma=yu.
Ahura Mazd said: Halt! For you killed my son :tars.
Kcrcsspa said: Grant me, O Ahura Mazd, the Best
Existence, the House of Song. For I slew Gandarca who
devoured twelve lands (dahu-) at once. When I looked into the
teeth of Gandarca, then I saw dead men were hung up among
its teeth. It seized my beard, and dragged me to the sea.
322
For
nine days and nights we maintained the battle, and then I became
prevailing upon Gandarca. I seized the sole of
323
Gandarcas
foot, and I flayed off the skin up to its head, and with it I bound
the hind and front legs of Gandarca, and I dragged it out from
the sea to the shore, and I entrusted it to :xrra
324
, and (then) I
slaughtered and ate fifteen horses, and I slept in the shadow
325
of
the large domestic animals (staora-). Gandarca dragged off
:xrra, (my) friend
326
, and dragged off my wife and my father
and wet-nurse (/ mother). All the people awakened me from
sleep, and I arouse, and every single step (gman-) I went
forward a thousand steps (gva-), and every thing that passed
under my foot was struck, then it burst into flames. I went to the
sea, and I brought them back; and I seized Gandarca and slew
321
u-m be :ad. Sad-dar B 20.8
#< 7F"#) ($O*+5 +- 4-7F" 9- \"> 9#?, =\"@ X.WF +- 4.," 6" 4 H
322
Gandarca was living in the water (upp), cf. Yt 15.28.
323
$ 0 /tah i/.
324
3-45 V: /xrrag/ < Av. xrra- (m.), a descendant of Haosravah, cf. Yt
13.137.
325
2-4[- / 2-4C[-/svag/. Paz. seaa, cf. GV 16.51 (rendered by Skt.
chv- f. shade, shady place). Av. a-saya- without shadow is rendered by
+ 2!C* /ne-svag/, cf. Y 57.27.
326
dst rendering Av. haxi-/ hasi (m.) companion, friend. In Yt 13.137
:xrra is against the lieful (person) who deceives friends (hasi-dava-).
48
it. If I had not slain it, Apra Ma=yu would have become
predominant over your creation.
Ahura Mazd said: Halt, for you are hideous to my eyes, for
you killed my son :tars.
Kcrcsspa said: Grant me, O Ahura Mazd, the Best
(Existence), the House of Song, for I have slain the brigands
327
who were so big in body that, when they were walking, people
supposed that: the stars and moon move below their (armpits)
and the sun moves below their ears, and the water of the sea
reaches up to their knees.
328
I reached up to their shanks. I
smashed them on the shanks; they fell down, and the mountains
on the earth were shattered by them. If I had not slain those
fallen brigands, Apra Ma=yu would have become predominant
over your creation.
Ahura Mazd said: Halt, for you are hideous to my eyes, for
you killed my son :tars.
Kcrcsspa said: Grant me, O Ahura Mazd, the Best
(Existence), the House of Song, for I have combated with
329
Vta
(wind) and defeated it. The davas deceived Vta, and they said
to Vta: Of all the creatures and creation you are the most
powerful! Then imagine
330
that no one is more powerful than
me! Kcrcsspa walks upon this earth, he despises the davas
and men
331
, and he despises you, even you who are Vta. When
327
rhdr, Saddar B 20.24 haft rhdr seven brigands. Yt 13.136
records that Kcrcsspa smashed pitiless robbers (gaoahe anamar:dikahe).
It is possible that Pers. rhdr renders Av. gaoa- (m.) robber (rendered,
elsewhere, by gayag). Cf. VZ 32.4 rhdrn ud gavagn.
328
ped ed dst k-sn a:er <kas> star ud mh, u-sn a:er gs xarsed
raved, u-sn b i :reh d sng baved. Cf. Saddar B 20.24
() .P -6 4.L*- ^:_> 8.*6" + "6`! DN, 4.L*- 0@ *9 a.$,.> + a.$;5 (@ 7?$1-7?S "#) #F-9 H
329
)CD + /eraxt/.
330
BQ E4<( /menes/ pres. Opt. s2 of men- to think.
331
devn ud mardmn. Cf. Yt 1.6 vispe daeva masvsca.
49
Vta heard this talk, it blew so hard that it uprooted all the trees
and shrubs which were in its path, and it trampled
332
all the
lands which were in its path; and darkness arose. When it came
to me who am Kcrcsspa, it could not lift up my foot from the
ground; I arouse and I set it upon the ground, and I stood with
both feet upon its neck
333
, until it made a pact (*pasti-) (saying):
I shall go again below the earth; I shall do what Ahura Mazd
ordered, that is, support the earth and sky, and I shall not
abandon (this duty). If I had not done that thing, Apra Ma=yu
would have become predominant over your creation.
Ahura Mazd said: Halt, for you are hideous to my eyes, for
you killed my son :tars.
Kcrcsspa said: Grant me, O Ahura Mazd, the Best
(Existence), the House of Song, for it is thus revealed in the
dan (= Avesta) that when Dahka will escape from the bonds,
no one except me will be able to seek a remedy against him. For
that reason grant me the Best (Existence) and the House of
Song!
The Sad-dar B 20.37-46/ MU29 10-11 substitutes a legend about the
gigantic bird Kamaka:
The soul of Kcrcsspa said: Grant me, O creator (/ omniscient) Ahura
Mazd, the Best abode as a reward for this that when Apra Ma=yu established
the bird Kamaka
334
, it spread its wings over all the living beings and
332
1 / - + )F-4" + /pav-xast/. Fars. 2EO:S. Saddar B 20.31 6" (@ D,#@ , "#) X-6
"@ () 4#>.,
333
'Q @ /mul/ (< Av. moro:u- m. peg; vertebra) rendering Av.
manao/ri- (f.) neck, cf. Vd 13.30. Kurd. mil/ mul neck.
E4F3Q can be read /mars/ < Av. mars- (f.) belly (davic) (rendered by
muln, cf. Y 11.1).
334
% 2Q /kamak/, cf. MX 27.50. MU29 10 kamak hn rv gbed k abar
hn i gehn ped andakih baved. If we accept this explanation, then 2ef
/kamak/ < kam
n
ak < kamna-ka- # Fars. bN@ /kamak/ few, scanty.
50
overshadowed the earth, and (the mist and) the rain
335
which rained fell on its
wings and was again poured by its tail into the sea, and it did not let a single
drop fall on the earth. The world of living beings perished through famine and
drought
336
; the people died; and the springs, rivers and fountains
337
dried up.
It ate up men and cattle as if a bird picked up grains of wheat. Nobody except
me could find a remedy for this. I took up my bow and arrows
338
, and seven
days and nights I shot at its wings with arrow-shafts like the falling of rain; its
wings became so weak that it fell down. Many men fell down beneath and
were killed. I bruised its beak with my cudgel (vazra-). If I had not done this,
it would have annihilated the world and no one would have survived.
Ahura Mazd said: O soul of Kcrcsspa, go away! For you have killed
:tars; you appear hideous in my eyes and you have made Asa Vahista, the
Holy Immortal, your enemy. I will not grant you the Best abode.
(Again, the soul of Kcrcsspa said:) If it is not possible to
grant me the Best (Existence) and the House of Song, then give
me back the strength (ama-) and victory (voro/rayna-) which
were mine in life. For if you give me back that strength and
victory as were mine when I was alive, I shall slay Apra Ma=yu
with the davas, I shall eradicate darkness from the Evil
Existence (/ hell, du:-ahu-), and I shall make it beautiful (srira-)
and light (raocah-), and I shall sit and walk alone within it.
Ahura Mazd said: This I shall not give you, O soul of
Kcrcsspa, for men commit sin; and until men commit no more
sin, it is not possible to make you alive again, nor is it possible to
make any other men alive again. For there will be the
resurrection of the dead when all men become quite sinless.
When men die, and their souls are lieful (drvant-), they leave all
335
+KQ + 2- >: + . Cf. Y 10.3 maeyomca vromca: KQ E45 /mi:n
n
/ ud vrn.
336
9.:F /niv:/ (sometimes) rendering Av. haecah-.
337
.UF.G + .,"+6 + .UNL<, MU29 var ud fv i nvdg lakes and navigable
rivers.
338
4.N@ + :P /tigr ud sanvar. Pers. tigr < Av. tiyri- (m.) arrow ; sanvar <
Av. /anvan-/r- (nt.) bow, cf. Vd 17.9 /anvaroca isavasca bows and
arrows.
51
comfort, and become exposed to all the calamity and discomfort.
When Kcrcsspa had spoken of his own exploits in this
manner, the Yazatas in the world of thought and the Yazatas in
the world of living beings wept, and Spitama ZaraIustra wept,
and said: Although you are not inimical
339
, O Ahura Mazd,
you are, in my eyes, inimical to the soul of Kcrcsspa. Since if
Kcrcsspa had not existed as a bodily and living being, nothing
of your creation would have been in the material state.
340
When ZaraIustra had become silent, :tars got up and spoke
of the sinfulness of Kcrcsspa unto itself, and it (finally) said: I
shall not let him into the Best (Existence).
In the Sad-dar B 20.54-57/ MU29 18-19 the speech of :tars is as follows:
The Holy Immortal Asa Vahista, stood up and groaned before ZaraIustra
on account of Kcrcsspa, and said: O ZaraIustra, you do not know what
Kcrcsspa has done unto me. In former times, there was this custom that, as
they would place fire-wood and sheaf
341
under a caldron for cooking food, I
would send the fire, until the caldron should be boiled, and its duty should be
performed, and then it would have come back to its own place. As for the
(horned) dragon which he speaks of having slain, he was hungry, but the fire
fell one hour later upon the fire-wood which he had placed below the
caldron because the wood was wet, he smote the fire with his club, and
cooled the fire. Now I will not allow Kcrcsspas soul to attain heaven.
After :tars, having spoken these words, the worthy of
worship, Gus Urvan (soul of the cow) got up, and said: I
shall not let him into hell (dao:aha-), for he did much good to
me.
339
freftr deceiver rendering an un-known Av. word. Cf. Y 49.2 daibit
doubly so Z freftr. Saddar B 20.512E:F #P X-6 6" J:@ + QLG
340
ped getig estisn. Cf. Bd 239 meng estisn.
341
L 8/ ;5+ E /e:m <ud> vf/. Pers. vf sheaf renders Syr. '#% sheaf,
bundle; handful, cf. Ps 125.6.
52
After Gus Urvan, having spoken these words, ZaraIustra
got up, paid homage to :tars, and said: I shall exert care for
you, I shall speak of your exploits in the world of living beings,
and I shall speak to Vstspa and Jmspa thus: Observe how
:tars acted uninimically (ainiti) when Kcrcsspa underwent
penance (paititi-), and it forgave him.
The Prs
g
version, in RP 18f 33-36, of the fourteenth chapter of the
Std
e
gar breaks off at this point. It is succeeded, however, by a fragment
which belongs to a different version of the legend of Kcrcsspa in another
chapter of the Avesta:
ZaraIustra enquired of Ahura Mazd: Who is the first
whose corpse (irista-) you will prepare?
Ahura Mazd said: That of Kcrcsspa.
342
ZaraIustra felt offended, and he said to Ahura Mazd:
When Kcrcsspas deed was the killing of men, why will you
prepare his corpse first?
Ahura Mazd said: Do not be offended, O ZaraIustra, for if
Kcrcsspa had not been, and had not done those many exploits,
neither you nor any creature of mine would have had existence.
Ch. 15 % Y ;FQ + /kam ncmi zam/ (Y 46; Dk M 803-805).
About the arrival
343
of (the dava of death) Ast.vtu
(partition of bones) on the spot to a person; and from him no
one of the mortals (aosahant-) will escape.
344
About the desire of people (masvka-) for the not-passing of
the mortal body
345
and transient wealth
346
.
342
Cf. Bd 220.
343
abar-rasisnih reaching (the destination), arrival; accident rendering
Av. aii.gaiti- (f.) onset, attack (> Pers. ebgad), cf. Vd 8.4. Pers. abar-
rasisnig accidental, opp. cihrig, cf. Dk iii M 145.
344
a-b:isnih i a:is kas-i: a: somandn # Aog. 58 vahma haca naecis
bunfav aosahatm masvnm.
53
Ast.vtu (binds) all mortals with terrible (fetters), and the
transparent water carries them off.
347
None of them can be saved
from him
348
, but some of them can save their soul
349
.
The soul alone
350
sees the reward (mi:da-) and punishment
(poro/a-) in the world of thought
351
. (The soul, when it is) with
body
352
does not see such things. If it, with body, could have
seen such as that, then it would not have performed the least sin
345
somand tan. Cf. Vd 4.50 aosahai/vaso.tanv, VAM 76 tan i
somand.
346
frasvand xir. Cf. Dk vi M 511 en xir i getig edn frasvand, 515
crag en aberdar ka mard frasvandih i tan ud xir i getig xes nimved,
VAM 77, CHP 57 frasvandih i xir i getig, HOD 42 frasvandih i tis
handesidan.
347
somandn hamg astvihd ped hn i skeft ud fr:-pedg ;<- a /b/
bared. J5 + ;5 +-4<=- L . + @ X:+ ^ 2-4" 1 $ 1 + ;5 ++ )" ;<- 2- 3=( a + g
Pers. skeft hard, harsh, terrible renders Av. skapta- (adj.) secret, cf.
F12, and darsi redoutable, bold, daring, cf. Y 3.20 darsi.draos: skeft-:en.
Cf. also Ch. 20 bastan i ped skeft bann.
Pers. fr:-pedg renders Av. frdorosra- (adj.) transparent, clear, cf. Y
57.27.
Cf. Vd 5.8 ast.viotus dim bandaveiti vav dim bastom naveiti fs
u:va:aiti fs niva:aiti Ast.vitu binds him, Vayah leads him bound, :p
(water) carries him up, :p carries him down Z astvihd v banned, vav |i
vattar| v bast naved, b (/ fs) ul-va:ened |k-s ul sar vared|, b nign-
va:ened |k-s frd bun bared|.
348
Cf. Aog. 58.
349
ke ravn b:ed. Pers. bxt-ravnih salvation of the soul, cf. GV
1.54. Cf. also Dk iii M 193 ravn-b:isnih ud tan-vinrisnih the salvation of
the soul and the recovery of the body.
350
ravn ev-tg. Cf. Ch. 18 (Dk M 807) ravn ev-tg bstn tan
xhisnig
351
meng mizd ud puhl. Cf. Dk viii M 712, 729, ix M 788.
352
tanomand rendering Av. astvant- (adj.) having bones, osseous, cf. Y
34.14. Cf. also Kirdr 1.21 "stwndy lwb"n /astvand ravn/.
54
for anything whatever of the ease and comfort of the material
world
353
, nor forgotten (to do) good work.
About the hideousness and dreadfulness of the body of man
after death. Even that which is considered most precious among
all requisite things is thrown contemptuously to the dust
354
, and
the living ones, even the closest relative, (will consider it)
useless
355
, and they will keep aloof from it.
During <three> days (asn-), the baoah (consciousness)
remains near the body (tan-)
356
, the dogs and birds
357
go forth
for the dismemberment of the body; the baoah fears from them
just like a sheep that (pursued by the wolf) is afraid of the
wolf
358
; it disputes with the dogs and birds about the
dismemberment of the body.
359
(The dogs and birds) perceive the
words (of baoah, which have been pronounced) spiritually
360
.
At first, they go back
361
, thinking the body is alive. Afterwards,
353
snih ud xrih i getig. Pers. snih renders Av. siti- (f.) happiness,
peace, cf. Vr 7.3; Pers. xrih renders Av. x/ra- (nt.) comfort, cf. Y 8.8.
354
afrasg andar xk-abgandagih. Pers. afrasg (adj.) contemptuous,
(nt.) contempt, cf. M 6032.1851-52 hmpd #yw "w b[yd] "frs"g u p"dys"g
qr(y)[nd].
355
abvisnig-tisih anbednigih requisite uselessness, cf. Dk iii M
358 :vn ud anbednih sd ud abvisnigih.
356
ka si~ asn-: bv ped na:digih i tan. Cf. VZ 30.32 bv hn si r: i
pas a: marg ped na:digih i tan pdag klbod i tan nigered pedis grived.
357
sag ud vay. Cf. Vd 2.8 snmca vavmca. sagn ud vavn, Vd 6.45
sn v korofs.xar vav v korofs.xar flesh-eating dogs or flesh-eating
birds.
358
bv a:isn cn mes a: gurg tarsenidan (tarsidan). Cf. VZ 30.32 bv
ka sag ud vav fr: savend ud tan darrenidan kmend fr: tarsed n cn
mes a: gurg. About the fear of the davas from the baoa (smell) of a
truthful one cf. Vd 19.33, Aog. 19, VYt 27.
359
sag ud vav abar ne visuftan i tan pehikrdan. Cf. VZ 30.32 sag ud
vav pehikred k m en i man kerb fr: xared.
360
avesn hn g
b
isn mengih mrdan.
361
ab: 1 )6=( ++ /pas-raftan/. Fars. J$;6 RS 9.) to retrogress, go backward.
55
when they dismember the body, the baoah runs to the vicinity
of the dismembered body just like a female sheep
362
when it
runs near its young ones , it looks at the body with grievous
unhappiness (a-siti-), reflecting thus: That body was (once)
with a beautiful face
363
, and to what misery it has now reached!
If the tan (body, person) was sinful during life, about its not
accepting in its lifetime that which the baoah gave advice to
that tan as regards abstaining from sin and practising good deed,
then (the baoah) weeps again. And (saying) this also: Your
time of happiness was short
364
, but that of misery is long.
Men who live on, in the temporal existence (sti-), for a
hundred years, (yet) live little [that is, one who lives on
365
a
hundred years, his life passes away, little by little, and his life
will be finished, wife and property and other worldly goods all
will leave him at once, and will come to another person].
When men even for a short voyage, on a friendly and thriving
road
366
, select and take with themselves dispensable provision
beyond (their requirement)
367
, then it is more proper to select,
prepare, and take with themselves indispensable provisions for
the other (voyage) which is eternal
368
.
362
mes i dendag. Cf. A 3.7 maesinm daenunm.
363
+-4FI!" andar nekih. The word +-4FI!" can be read /demagn/, cf. Yt
10.107 srira daemna, or smasn < Av. *smarsna- (adj.), cf. Yt 14.12
smarsn.daema: nektom-dem.
364
gisnag rendering Av. moro:u-, cf. F 11.
365
B? h: )" + /:ived/.
366
ka mardm nihang-i: evar: i ped hn i dstomand ud pedixomand rh.
Cf. Dk iii M 309 evar:ign tsag rv bdihomand rh.
367
abar vi:irisnig tsag vi:ihend ud frvih abar drend. Pers. tsag
renders Av. avaha- # Skt. avas- (nt.) food, provisions, viaticum, cf. Aog.
41.
368
nihang-i: evar: abrig hn i fvedn. Cf. Dk vi M 548 edar drang
andak ud evar: :d, ud nh dvvar rst ud abm ne vinded, HP II.2 fvedn
nh abved bdan.
56
About the seven immortal lords (ahu-)
369
who are placed in
the (central) continent X
v
aniraIa, the Fortune
370
and great
strength
371
and also the goodness of their assistants, living (jvant-
/ jva-) and being in command (xsavamna-) in both existence:
1) Van-vdvasa
372
is in the Airyana Vajah (the original
homeland of the Aryans)
373
on the fortunate throne
374
.
2) Gaopaiti
375
is in the non-Aryan lands (anairva
dahv)
376
.
3) PisisyaoIna son of Vstspa in Kapha
377
, with banners
held on high
378
, wherein there are a myriad believers
379
who wear
369
haft a
h
s xadv. Cf. DD 89 xadv i ahs, Bd 197 rad-e ahs.
370
abar-xarrah (lit. with superior Fortune). Av. aii.xaronah- (adj.), cf.
Yt 15.48.
371
va:urg-:ih. Cf. MX 57.11 meh-:ih.
372
+++ ^ / )" . i( Ej /van-i-fud-bes/ < *van-vidvaesa- lit. defeater (and) free
from hostilities. Not to be confounded with another van i fud-bes (lit. the
tree opposed to harm), name of a tree which is placed in the Vouru.kasa sea,
cf. MX 62.32 sen-murv svn ped van i fud-bes (
hu-bes?) i vas-thmag
(compare Yt 12.17).
373
van-i-fud-bes abar ern-ve:. Cf. Bd 197 van-i-fudbes ped ern-ve:.
374
ped hn i 1 -4F: -4" - (S 1 -4CD -4" - ) /farroxn/ gh. Cf. AJ (Paz. 5)
parvn gh.
375
H % 1 $ + /gbed/ < *gaopaiti- lit. lord of cattle # Skt. g-pati- (m.).
376
andar anern dehn. Cf. DD 89.4 gbed sh xadvih andar gbed
bm, ham-vimand i ern-ve: ped br i b i ddig the reign of King Gaopaiti
is over the land of Gaopaiti (# Gum yim suyo.savanom, Arrians 123$4)
neighbouring Airyana Vajah, on the bank of the river Ditya. However,
according to MX 62.3 king Gaopaiti is in Airyana Vajah, within the
continent of X
v
aniraIa: gbed-sh ped ern-ve: andar kisvar i xanirah. Cf.
also Yt 10.15 avi ima karsvaro va xanira/om bmim gavasavanom
gavasitimca baesa:vm toward this continent of X
v
aniraIa, the splendid, the
settlement of the Gavas (gava-savana # Arrians 123$4, Pers. gbedestn),
the healing settlement of the Gavas.
377
1 A4<-47 4" H + i vistspn ped kangdi:. Cf. Bd 197 1 4C<( H $ ++ i vistspn ke-s
L $ : % >Q + (TD2 $ L : >Q + )-: xnend ped kangdi: i bmig.
57
black fur from sables
380
, who are hearers of the dan (/
religion)
381
, who are truthful (asavan-), who follow PisisyaoIna
son of Vstspa.
382
4) Fradxsti son of Xunbya, a descendant of Haosyapha, who
is sovereign on the navigable waters.
383
Pers. kangdiz renders Av. kaha- (m.). Cf. MX 62.13-14 kangdi: ped
usastar rn na:dig sadves gumrd ested ped vimand i ern-ve: Kapha is
entrusted with the eastern quarter, near to Satavasa, on the frontier of
Airyana Vajah, Yt 5.54 upa dvarom xsa/r.sukom apan.tomom
(
mamnite. edn
ped menisn menem.
77
and they said thus: He smashed the master of the house
(nmn.paiti-, name of a fire) that master of the house
523
was
necessary for all the fires of the districts (/raot.stc-)
524
. He
smashed the master of the land (dahu.paiti-), the lord (ahu-) of
all of them. This also: In every place that he came to,
conflagration fell into (that place), and they kindled a huge fire
for (their) protection
525
. This also: Azi Dahka performed mixed
deeds, good deeds (hvarsta-) and also evil deeds (du:varsta-).
A conference was held, after the defeat of Dahka, by the
giants of the Mza=yan land
526
, as to turning to X
v
aniraIa, and
expelling <ra`taona therefrom, with a view to settle therein.
They rushed in great number. On account of their tallness, the
Vouru.kasa Sea reached, in some place up to the middle of their
thighs, in some other place up to the navel, and in the deeper
place up to their mouth. When they came to this continent
(X
v
anira/a), they subjected the poor (driyu-) to grievous harm
(:vni-) and smash (faiovi). The people went to <ra`taona, with
523
mnbed hn be :ad ke harvisp tasn i~ rstgn abved hn
mnbed. Cf. Y 17.11 trom vispanm nmnanm nmn. paitim. tas
harvispin mn mnbed.
524
-!" Y + /rstgn/. Cf. FP 2 Y E!" : $s )* 2- + .
525
harv gvg k v be mad ;<==- + i a: ;<=( + andar bast, u-sn hn i stabr
tas ;<==- $ + pahre: rv.
;<==- + /veb/ conflagration, cf. buhragn 295-96 h"n pd "wy ""yb ("c)ys
b" "wzyh"[d]; or, /seb/ injury; (flame of) calamity.
;<=( + /si:/ danger, trouble (Av. i/vefah-), or, /deb/ from *diHp to light
up.
;<==- $ + /vift/, cf. Dk vii M 610 tas ped vebisn abar vift ested, VZ 10.8
tas pedis abar vift, Dk iii M350 a: xesmenigih varan vift ak
a
man-grih,
viftag-xesm raging, cf. GV 14.9 ayItaa xasm.
526
m:andarn dehn. Av. m:a#va- daeva- the giant dava, cf. Y
57.17 m:a#vaeibv ... daevaeibv: m:anign devn.
78
complaints
527
, and said: Why did you smite Azi Dahka who
was a good ruler (huxsa/ra-) in the exercise of power [that is, he
kept away fear], who was investigator
528
and protected this
continent from (the giants of) the Mza=yan land? They also
said about the villany of the giants who held in contempt the
people of this continent. Then they said: They are eared [that is,
thay have ears]
529
, horned [that is, they are holes]
530
, endowed
with speech [that is, they call one another]
531
, we think they are
men (v+ra-) [we take them for the human beings].
The meeting (hanfamana-) of <ra`taona with those of the
Mza=yan land was held on the plain of Pisinah. He disputed
with them thus: O you of the Mza=yan land! I have smashed
Azi Dahka who was the most agile (aurv.toma-) person, who
was sovereign over both davas and men. Ahura Mazd
527
mardmn ped gar:isn fredn madan. Cf. AJ 4.
528
vi:ustr. Av. ha:ar&.vaoxsti- having a thousand faculties (of
perception), an epithet of Dahka (and MiIra). Cf. Y 9.8 a:im dahkom ...
ha:ar.vaoxstim: a: i dahk i ... ha:r-vi:ustr |i a-ddag ped ghrag]. AZ 3
ha:ar.vaoxstv bavhi va/a a:is dahki. ha:r-vi:ustr bed cn dahk
|vattar-den. v ped abrnih, asm ped frrnih bd].
529
gsomand [k-sn % 2s + ast]. Cf. Bd 21 casmomand gsomand
u:vnomand daxsagomand bd gavmard.
% 2s + /karrag/ (Paz. xarg) from Av.
2
karona- deaf, cf. GV 14.22;
/karrag/ from Av.
1
karona- ear; /kalag/ (Fars. (V@) face, cf. Dk vii M 659
fr: ped kalag favnn pir pedg.
530
sragomand |k-sn srag ast]. Pers. srag hole, sragomand
holed, cf. DD 17.4 ek sag i sragomand.
We can also read s0ragomand horned, s0r < *sr- horn, cf. Yt 14.7
:aranv.srvahe of a golden horned (bull), Arab. horn (of an animal); horn
(as a musical instrument). Cf. also Bd 150 (apropos of the mythical ass which
stands in Vouru.kasa) hn ek sruv :arren humng srgomand that single
golden horn is like a holed instrument (= sur- :aranaeni-).
531
xnisnomand [k ek v i did xnend]. Pers. xn- renders Av. :b to
call, invoke.
79
produced me, and set me beyond other (material) creatures
532
, to
smash him, and to defeat my own opponents. Then you come to
smash my land (dahu-), you who are of the Mza=yan land !
The giants thought lightly
533
of <ra`taona, and said in a tone
of mockery: Supposing that you smashed Azi Dahka who was
the most agile person, who was sovereign over both davas and
men, and Ahura Mazd produced you for smashing him, and set
you beyond other creatures, even then would we settle in this
(place), and would we stay in this (place), and even so you are
tall (boro:ant-), much grown-up
534
, possessor of large cattle
(pasu-/ staora-) and men (vira-), (conversant with) discourses
(uxoa-) (better) than any other, we would not admit you here!
Afterwards, the victorious
535
<ra`taona retreated, and ran to
the highest (place) of Pisinah
536
. His nose blew forth
537
[that is,
he breathed out]. From his right nostril fell down snows they
were cold like winter, and (fatal) like the sharp edged chase
538
.
While from his left nostril fell down stones they were the size
of a house
539
, blazing like fire, and (fatal) like the sharp-edged
532
tarvenidr a: A v A4P-4" /an
v
n dmn/, cf. Y 22.24 taraot a#vis
dmn: tarvenidrdom a: an
v
n dmn.
533
sabuk menid. Cf. Dk vi M 488 dru: taromed ... daxsag en k sabuk-
menisn the devil Tarmaiti (disdain) ...its mark is this: light-mended.
534
vas-rvisn rendering Av. *as.raooa-?
535
per:gar rendering Av. voro/rafan- (adj.) obstruction-smashing, an
epithet of <rataona, cf. Yt 5.61.
536
blist i 1 E4<( , cf. Dk ix M 805 abar ped blist i pedgdom.
537
1 s % )" + < Av. fru, frava- (pres.) to fly away, fr-fru to flap, flutter,
cf. Y 9.32. Cf. Also Dk viii M 729 fravidan i tas.
538
xehisn i burrg i te:. Pers. xehisn translates Av. vi- pursuit, chase,
and, possibly, here vayah- time (of death). Av. bri/r.tae:a- (adj.) is
rendered by Pers. burrg-te:, cf. Y 57.31.
539
sag padid hend i ka ;5 $ ++ /daft/ i kadag-mah. Cf. Vd 19.4 asn
:asta dra:imn kat.masah honti: u-s sag ped dast dst i kadag-mah
baved.
80
chase. They casted their (evil) eyes on him
540
. But, the
victorious and valiant <ra`taona
541
bound them beneath the feet
of the bull Barcmyaona
542
. He tossed them up in the air
543
, and
made them in the shape of stone. He smashed them, those of the
Mza=yan land by striking fifties, by striking hundreds, by
striking thousands, by striking ten-thousands, by striking
countless ones
544
. Thus he smote two thirds of those of the
Mza=yan land, and one-third came (back) smashed and sick
545
.
Never afterwards, O Spitama ZaraIustra, have they who are of
the Mza=yan land marched upon this continent of X
v
aniraIa,
nor have thought haughtily this that we shall go, except those
whose names are Spitis Uspasnaos and $rczrspahe Uspasnaos,
who will hurry in search of wisdom (*xratu.isti-), to Frasaostra
of the Hv
g
va
546
.
vahistcm voh ast ascm.
From the Dnkird vi:
M 548
en-: pedg k fredn a: i dahk :adan kmist. ohrma:d guft k-s
m :an ce purr i en :amig xrafstar
549
baved.
en-: pedg k :ardust a
h
sih xst, ohrma:d guft ka t nn a
h
s kunem
fraskird kirdan ne sved.
540
;5 +r=( E4<>s g /abar as burd/. Cf. Dk vii M 620 ped abar-barisnih as
burd.
541
per:gar i tagig fredn. Cf. Yt 5.61 voro/rafa taxm /raetaon.
542
az (a:er?) pv i gv i gusn i barmvn. Cf. Yt 17.55 aoairi poom
g5us arsn baromvaonahe.
543
u-s hn ped ulih ul-davenid. Cf. Yt 5.61 va dim usca u:dvnava ...
/raetaon.
544
ped pan:h-ganisnih ud e-sad-ganisnih ud e-ha:r-ganisnih ud bevar-
ganisnih ud amar-ganisnih. Cf. Vd 7.53.
545
Cf. Yt 5.21-22: Haosyapha sacrifices to Anhit and asks her to give
him that boon so that he may strike two-thirds of the giant davas.
546
Cf. Dk vii M 648.
81
en-: pedg k fraskird :amn rv bdan ka a: i dahk i edn margar:n
rv ohrma:d guft k-s m :an, ud :ardust i edn veh virstag baved a
h
s ne
kird.
This too is revealed: (When) <rataona desired to kill Azi Dahka,
Ahura Mazd said: Do not kill him, for this earth may become full of
creeping beasts.
This too is revealed: ZaraIustra demanded immortality. Ahura Mazd
said: If I make you immortal now, then it will not be possible to make the
Renovation.
This too is revealed: It was on account of the happening of the time of the
Renovation that Ahura Mazd said concerning Azi Dahka, who is worthy of
death, thus: Do not kill him! and that He did not give immortality to
ZaraIustra, who is so good and right.
Ch. 21 Vahist.stis (Y 53 ; Dk M 815-817).
The best quest is (that of) the good religion (vahi- daen-
)
547
.
Asma (wrath) once every night comes to the whole world,
and Bsyast (putting things off for the future; lethargy) twice,
to corrupt and diminish it; Sraosa asya (obedience/ readiness to
listen, being in charge of rewards) (comes) three times
548
, and
Dahma :friti (qualified blessing) four times
549
, to further and
increase it the most redeeming of the Yazatas is Dhama :friti.
The most wonderful of shapes of women
550
was Humy of
the high-born seed
551
daughter of Vstspa; of horses the Xsata
547
xhisnn pahlom den i veh. Cf. Y 53.1 vahist istis srvi
:ara/ustrahe: pahlom-xhisnih srav i :ardust [k a: hn i h xhend en
pahlom abestg ud :and]. Cf. also Vr 23.1.
548
Cf. Y 57.31, Bd 169.
549
Cf. Bd 157.
550
kerbn abddom a: nrign. Cf. Yt 5.34 hon-kohrpa sraesta
abdtome.
551
humv i :tthmag. Cf. Yt 5.64 (about Anhit) kainin raeva
ci/rom :tava. Cf. also AZ 77 2-q- /humv/ ke andar 2-q- /hamg/ sahr i
ern :an a: v hu:ihrdar nest.
82
horse
552
of Vstspa; of bulls the bull Barcmyaona
553
; of sheep
the ewe with spotted face
554
, ash-coloured
555
, with white jaws
556
,
star-studded
557
, the lower part with pinching members
558
and
gold-studded
559
, the upper part yellow
560
. And yet not one of
them attains to a single thousandth of the Fortune of a dahma
man (who accomplishes wonderfully religious deeds), who is
truthful
561
, for whom the Dahmm vahim fritim
562
is recited.
552
asp i sed. Av. xsaeta- (adj. of colour), Pers. sed; Fars. 7:1 # 7F@
sorrel (Q3 m*6.P); Armen. asxet d:i ariunagovn a xsata-horse blood-
coloured. Cf. Dk vii M 639 hn i abdih i abar sed i asp i vistspn, Bd 120
fradom asp i arus i :ardgs i )F-47 + E4F: /sed-vars/ i sped-casm fr:-brihenid,
hn i ast aspn~ rad.
553
gv i gusn i barmvn. Cf. Yt 17.55 g5us arsn baromvaonahe. Cf.
also Bd 120 fradom gv i sv-mv i :ard-husng (Av. hu-xsnao/ra-) dd, hn
i ast gvn rad. Barcmyaona was apparently <rataonas brother, as
mentioned in Bd 229.
554
1 A4<: )5 & /pars-vaxtar/? Av. parsu- (adj.) spotted, parsv-anika- (adj.)
with spotted face, cf. Yt 14.15; Av. vaxoora- (nt.) < *vax/ra- < *vak-tra-
speech organ, Skt. vaktra- (nt.) mouth, face, muzzle.
555
;* & /dabr/. Pers. dabr mv translates Av. harot gaonanm, cf.
Vd 22.4. Av. darmaesi- (pr. n. m.), Pers. dabr-gv (pr. n. m., Arab. $60gH)g
60g hH*Z).
556
sped-ervrag Av. *spaet.haharona-. Cf. Bd 120 mes [i svg] i
dabr i sped-ervrag mesn rad.
557
star-pesid Av. stohr-paesah- (adj.).
558
;5 : 2I/ + /a:er-nemag/ ped pisdag. Cf. Yt 14.19 aoara.naemt pisat.
Pers. 1 )CC7 % + /pisdag/ < *pis pinching + a.ka- (m.) garment; member
(# Skt. atka-). Cf. AVN 17.9 :an i feh pisdag i fr:-sng i ab:gn.
559
:arren-pesid Av. :aranv.pis-/ paesa-.
560
abardar-nemag :ard. Av. upara.naema- (adj.) is rendered by Pers.
abardar-nemag, cf. Vd 6.50; Av. zairita- (adj.) tawny, yellow # Pers. zard/
zerd, cf. Vd 8.16.
561
dahm mard i ahl. Cf. Y 1.15 dahmaheca nars asaon.
562
= Y 60.
83
There is as much goodness (possessed) by the man and
woman as wickedness (possessed) by the (bad) man and (bad)
woman.
563
Kavi Usa(a)n ruled, powerfully
564
, on the sevenfold earth,
over the davas and men
565
; the execution of his commands was
faster than a wave of the hands.
He built seven houses in the midst of Har bcrczait, one of
gold, two of silver, two of steel, and two of crystal.
566
He
restrained many giant davas (daeva m:a#va) from spoiling the
world of living beings, and bound them to their own duty.
567
Any
mortal man whose (vital) force (:var-) was overcome by old
age
568
, whose life (breath)
569
was near to depart from the body,
he had to reach
570
that house and be conveyed rapidly round that
house, then the old age would leave him and his vital force and
youth would return. Kavi Usan issued a command that: Keep no
man away at the gate, introduce him as a young of fifteen years!
571
563
en-: and-cand ped mard ud :an vehih ped mar ud feh vattarih. Cf. Y
53.6 i/ i hai/v nar a/ f5nav: edn cn ped hn i harv do [tis i meng ud
getig| skrag mard ud :an |ped vehih edn feh ud mar ped vattarih].
564
xadvih ped cerih, cf. Yt 10.109 uyrom xsa/rom. Av. uyra-/ G ugra- is
rendered by Pers. cer, cf. F 9.
565
abar bm i haft ped devn mardmn, cf. Yt 19.26 paiti bmim
haptai/vm daevanm masvnmca. Cf. Yt 5.46.
566
Cf. Bd 209-210.
567
According to the Yasts Haosyapha subdued the giant davas. Cf. Yt
5.22, Yt 9.4, Yt 13.137.
568
:armn rendering Av. :aurv- (f.)/ zaurvan- (m.).
569
gvn rendering Av. ustna- (m.).
570
;CF- $ + /avft<an>/. Pers. ;CF- /avb-/ renders Av. p, apaya- (pres.)
to attain, reach, cf. Y 57.29 apaveinti: ;CF- )" .
571
Cf. Bd 210 u-s harv mi:ag xnig ansag b a:is ta:ed ke :armn
tarvened k ka :armn-mard ped en dar andar saved aburnv i pn:dah slag
ped hn dar bern ved ud margih-i: be :ad.
84
Afterwards, the davas planned the death (aosah-) of Kavi
Usan. Asma (wrath) undertook his death, and came to Kavi
Usan, and presented in his mind as modest that great sovereignty
(xsa/ra-) over the sevenfold earth by instigating him to desire for
the sovereignty over the sky (asan-/ asman-), the place of the
Holy Immortals.
572
Owing to the delusion of Asma and the
other demons who were his cohorts, Kavi Usan persisted in that
improper work, and did not give up (his intention) even despite
the responding argument of the Yazatas. He sped over beyond
Har Bcrczait with many davas and lieful men till the border of
the darkness (= hell)
573
; on that limit (karana-), the Fortune of
the Kavis (kavaem xaron) which accompanied Kavi Usan , in
the shape of a bird of prey
574
hastened away from the army (of
Kavi Usan). But despite the superior argument of the Supreme
Yazatas he persisted anew in his foolishness. Then the creator
(dtar-) called back the Fortune of the Kavis to himself. The
army of the Kavi Usan fell down to the earth from that height,
and Kavi Usan himself flew to the Vouru.kasa sea.
575
This also is said (in this chapter): After his life flied
Nairy.sapha, the furtherer of the world of living beings
572
Cf. Aog. 60.
573
1 & /par/ i tam. Pers. p&r < Av. pra-, drae-pra- (adj.) with distant
borders ; Khot. pra- boundary ; Pers. br, rd
e
br. Pers. tem/ tam < Av.
tomah- (nt.) darkness; Sogd. tam hell.
574
kavn xarrah $ H E kerb bd. In the FP 2 the word $ H E is the Aramaic
TYN" /+in/ mud, clay representing Pers. gil clay. But it makes little sense
here. One might conjecture a reading TYR" /+air/ a bird, (esp.) a bird of
prey (Syr. 1257, Arab. HG0j). Cf. Yt 19.35 susa xaron moroyahe kohrpa
vroynahe the Fortune hastened away in the shape of a bird of prey.
575
Cf. Bd 212 andar xadvih i kavus, andar ham ha:rag, devn
stahmag bd hend menisn vivbnenid d kre:r i asmn sud, sar-nign
bast, xarrah a:is appr bd.
85
(varoda.gae/a-), and at the turning point of his life
576
(the
fravasi of) the unborn Haosravah cried out with a cry of an army
of a thousand
577
: Do not smite this (man), O Nairy.sapha,
furtherer of the world! For if you smite this man, O
Nairy.sapha, there will not then be found the connection (with)
the wise minister of the Tiryan (land)
578
; because owing to this
man will be born one Syvarsan by name, and owing to
Syvarsan I shall be born, who am Haosravah, who will make the
very strong man
579
of the Tiryan (land) (i.e., Fraprasyan) who
has more troops and armies in need of men
580
[that is, I will
destroy his troops and armies], who will drive the ruler
581
of the
Tiryans far away.
With these words the fravasi of Haosravah calmed
Nairy.sapha, furtherer of the world; and owing to these [words],
Nairy.sapha released him, and he became mortal [Kavi
Usan].
582
vahistcm voh ascm ast.
576
ped vardisn i hn i v E4<=- (J5 A4C" + ) /gvn/. Cf. Y 71.15 ustome
urvaese gavehe: d hn i abdom vardisn i gvn | ped abdom vardisn i
gvn ]. Cf. also Y 51.6.
577
edn ham )[>3- + /xrust?/ vng cn hn i ;5 2: A % + /ha:ragnag/
sph. Cf. VZ 2.13 vng burd cn hn i ha:ragnag sph.
578
. + + E A4* H )" '- dastvar i trn. Pers. + A4* H , cf. also Dk ix M 903.
579
)6(+ k+ /virdom/ rendering Av. *virtoma-; Skt. vir-tama-.
580
+ 4F-45 H + + E4F3( /nven-virih/. Pers. nven-dahisn (most Holy, opp.
:omand) renders Av. nidvah- (comp. of dra-) more lowly, weaker, cf. Y
57.10 va/a aofa nidvahom as a strong one (treats) a weaker one Z cn
:omand v i nven-dahisn.
581
pdixsv rendering Av. xsavamna- (adj.), cf. Y 65.14, F 5.
582
ped hn |gbisn| fr: hist ud hn ped somand bd [kayus]. The
original words are found in the Zand of Vd 2.5 kavus rv a: hn gvg pedg:
ahmi (a,i) dim paiti frahoro:a ahmi (a,i) h bava aosaha.
86
Ch. 22 Airyaman ( airym isy Y 54.1; Dk M 817-818).
Kavi Haosravah has a meeting with Vayah of long
dominion
583
, at the moment of the approach of Renovation
(fras.koroiti-). Kavi Haosravah asks Vayah of long dominion
about his having smitten so many of the ancients who had been
supreme in dignity (varocah-) and Fortune (xaronah-) among
men. And Vayah of long dominion replies him about his having
smitten them. On that reply Kavi Haosravah seizes Vayah of
long dominion, and changes him into the shape of a camel,
mounts him, and goes along with the Aryan champions
584
to the
place where the immortal Haoisti son of Gcurva lies down
asleep
585
, and he raises him up. Then he goes with him to that
place where the battle-driving Tusa
586
lies asleep, and he raises
him up. He goes with him to that place where Kavi Aipi.vohu
lies, and he raises him up. He goes with all of them, and on the
way he meets the beneficial victor [Saosyant]
587
, and of him
inquires the beneficial victor, thus: What man are you who sit
aloft on Vayah of long dominion [that is, you drive Vayah of
long dominion] changed into the shape of a camel?
Kavi Haosravah tells Saosyant in reply, thus: I am Kavi
Haosravah.
Then Saosyant exalts Kavi Haosravah by praise, as regards
his having dug up the idol-temple on the shore of lake
583
vv i dagrand-xadv. Av. vayah- (nt.) duration; microcosmic time,
(m.) personified age; Skt. vayas- (nt.) food, meal; vitality, strength; age.
Av. vay(i)- # Arab. klm. Cf. Ny 1.1 vavn daroy.xaotom: vv i dagrand-
xadv. Aog. 77 vavis anamar:dikahe: vv i anmur:id. Cf. also DD 35.3.
584
ern han:amanign. Pers. han:amanig renders Av. vvxana- (adj.).
585
!" # $% # &&'&() + , - + . Cf. Yt 13.118 v()istahe gaoravanahe (/
gurvavanahe).
586
tus i ardig-rvenidr. Cf. Yt 5.53 taxm tus ra/aestr.
587
sdomand i per:gar ss
v
ns. Cf. Y 26.10 saosvant voro/rayna.
sdemand i per:gar [ss
v
ns]. Cf. also Y 59.28, VYt 30.
87
Cacasta
588
, and his having smitten the wizard Fraprasyan
589
, and
his having praised the Conscience of those who worship Ahura
Mazd (daen- m:davasni-).
Then, the powerful (hero)
590
Kcrcsspa comes, with a mace
in hand
591
, opposite them. The battle-conducting Tusa stands
upon the wizards building (= the cavern of Fraprasyan)
592
,
calling to Kcrcsspa for the profession of the faith of the
GIs
593
, and for union with them. Kcrcsspa praises Ascm (i.e.
he recites the Ascm Voh formula), and overthrows the hook
which he has in his arm
594
.
This also is said in this chapter as well as in other places: So
these men meet for the fulfilment of the Renovation (of the
existence), all are agile (aurvant-) and with supreme feats
(upairi.kairya-), all are firm (taxma-) and beautiful (*naiva-),
and they make the existence excellent (frasa-), ageless,
588
A L ;5 + '- (J5 - L ;F/ '- ) /u:dese:r/ abar br i var i cecast. Cf. Yt 5.49
pasne varis caecastahe. Cf. also Bd 125 kav-hsr u:des:r hame kand,
E 7 gu:astak frsvk i tr u:des:r (ud) basn pedis kird. According to
Yt 5.41 the abode of Fraprasyan (hankana, Pers. hang) was built inside the
earth. Cf. also Bd 210, Aog 61Z.
589
fdg frsvb. The Av. epithet of Fraprasyan is mairya, cf. Yt 19.56,
Yt 5.41, Y 11.7.
590
$ )F- + . A \ /had-tavnig/ < Av. *haoa.tavah- (adj.) possessed of
power.
591
kerssp gad-dast. Cf. Y 9.10 korosspasca upar.kairv vava
gaesus gaoavar.
592
abar i v ]F( /des/ fdg mn be estd. Pers.- Parth. desmn
structure, building, cf. M 100.709-10 (ky p)d (dy)sm["n] #ystyd.
593
stavnigih i abar ghnigih. Cf. Y 45.2 ni daena: ne den |ce man
den ghnigih ud t fdgih].
594
abgandan i-s hn i arm :adr. Pers. arm < Av. ar(o)ma- (m.) arm.
Pers. :adr smiter renders Av.
1
aka- (adj.) evil, bad; but, here, it translates
Av.
2
aka- (m.) hook, cf. Yt 10.125 darota hukorota upairispt aka bastm
xsa/rim vairim the upairispt attached to a metal aka which is solid and well-
made.
88
immortal, un-decaying, not putrefying, ever-living, ever-life-
giving, and ruling at will.
595
ast vahistcm voh ascm.
595
harvisp arvand hend ud abargr, harvisp tagig hend ud nev, ud avesn
kunend frasegird ped kmag andar oxn a:armn ud amarg ud asvisn ud
abvisn d hame-ud-hame-ravisnih. Cf. Yt 19.11 va karonavn frasom ahm
a:arosontom