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Pahlavi Texts, Part V: Marvels of Zoroastrianism (SBE47), E.W. West, tr. [1897], at sacred-texts.com


p. 126

CHAPTER III.

1. About that which is manifested as regards the propitiousness, forward intellect, and complete virtue of Zaratûst, it is openly declared that, according to his explaining statements, there occurred such events as the victory of Kaî-Vistâsp and the Irânians over Argâsp 1 and an army of Khyôns and other foreigners of innumerable kinds, and details on that subject; also other assistance of Vistâsp and those of the realm in other necessities.

2. The killing of Zaratûst himself by Brâdrô-rêsh 2 the Tûr; the provision of a chariot by Srîtô 3 of the Vîsraps; and whatever is on those subjects.

3. Also, specially, matters in the times to come, each consecutively, when therein arrive devastators such as Alexander 4, and the killer of Akrê-khiradŏ 5, Mahrkûs 6, Dahâk 7, and other devastators; extenders of belief (vîravîsn-vâlân) such as the Messiah (Mashikh), Mânih 8, and others; periods such as the steel age 9, that mingled with iron, and others; and organizers, restorers, and introducers of religion, such

p. 127

as Artakhshatar 1, Âtûrd 2, Khûsrôî 3, Pêshyôtan 4, Aûshêdar, Aûshêdar-mâh, Sôshâns 5, and others.

4. The formation of custom, and the indications which have come to manifestation and will arrive at various periods; and the proclamation of these, too, by Gâmâsp 6, from the teaching of Zaratûst, is what he wrote, together with the Avesta and Zand, upon oxhides, and it was written with gold, and kept in the royal treasury 7. 5. And it was from it the high-priests of the rulers made many copies and afterwards, too, it is from it that it happened, both to the less intelligent and the corrupters, that they were introducing different opinions and different views.


Footnotes

126:1 Dk. VII, iv, 77, 83, 84, 87-90; v, 7; this victory occurred in the thirtieth year of the religion, see Zs. XXIII, 8.

126:2 Dk. VII, v, 12 n.

126:3 Dk. VII, vi, 2-11.

126:4 Dk. VII, vii, 7.

126:5 Or Aghrêrad (Av. Aghraêratha), killed by his brother Frâsîyâv or Frangrâsîyâk of Tûr, see Bd. XXIX, 5; XXXI, 15, 20-22.

126:6 Dk. VII, i, 24; 3.

126:7 Ibid. i, 26.

126:8 A heretic who flourished AD. 216-242; see Dk. IX, xxxix, 13 n.

126:9 According to Byt. II, 21, 22, the steel age was the time of Khûsrô Anôshêrvân, and that mingled with iron at the end of Zaratûst's millennium.


Next: Chapter IV