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Pahlavi Texts, Part IV (SBE37), E.W. West, tr. [1892], at sacred-texts.com


CHAPTER LXVII.

Bakŏ Nask.

1. In the twenty-first fargard, Vahistôisti 5, it is proclaimed by the righteous Zaratûst, that the ceremonial is performed by him owing to whom our

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worship is good thinking. 2. This, too, that Vohûman and the liturgy are lodging in the body of him in whose body the religion is lodging; and so is the spirit of goodness, which is peace (padmân). 3. This, too, that the good religion is taught in word and deed by him who shall achieve the giving of thought (mînisn-dahîh) to Vohûman in the ceremonial. 4. This, too, that the archangels become lodging in the body of him who loves Vohûman; even for this reason, because their lodging is in light, purity, and perfume, and the body is illuminated, purified, and perfumed by Vohûman.

5. This, too, that mankind are made diligent in the performance of good works by him who shall provide gifts for the doers of good works. 6. This, too, that by him who loves the beneficial way 1, even others are put in the same way and taught. 7. This, too, that he gives his daughter in daughterhood to his fatherhood 2, who teaches to the daughter reverence towards her father; even for this reason, because she is made steadfast in daughterhood by him. 8. This, too, that the authority of Vohûman is taught by him who keeps the talent which is his for virtue; even for this reason, because from the authority of goodness arise the advantage and freedom from strife of the sciences (hûnarânŏ).

9. This, too, that a daughter is given to a father for womanly service (nêsmanîh 2), and so also a wife to another man, by him who teaches reverence, towards father and husband, to the daughter and the other woman; and so, too, by him who instructs

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the wife of a man in housewifery; because the advantageous womanly service of a woman for a man arises through reverence towards her husband and good training in housewifery. 10. This, too, that even the reverence of a wife towards a husband is produced by him who gives a woman unto a man; because the giver of possession (khûdîh) becomes praiseworthy even by the act of having given that possession.

11. This, too, that origin and effect (bûn va-bar) are produced for Aûharmazd by him who gives what is necessary unto Aûharmazd and teaches perpetual preservation; what is properly necessary being the origin of the preservation which is the effect of what is properly necessary. 12. This, too, that dominion is acquired for the house of him who keeps the door of the house an opening for the wise; the house being the body, and the door of the house being the ear, eye, and mouth.

13. It is the excellence of righteousness that is perfect.


Footnotes

381:5 See Chap. XXII, 1 n.

382:1 See Pahl. Yas. LII, 2 d.

382:2 Ibid. 4 a. In § 9 (as in Chap. XLV, 4) there appears to be no confinement of the meaning to matrimony.


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