The First Mortal

² The fair Yima, the great shepherd! He was the first mortal that I talked to and taught the law of Ahura, the law of Zarathustra.

[To Yima] ³ ‘Well, fair Yima, son of Vîvanghat, be the preacher and bearer of my law!

⁴ Since you do not want to be the preacher and bearer of my law, then make my worlds thrive. You will nourish, rule, and watch over my world.

7 (17) 2. Then I brought 2 implements for him:

1. A golden ring

2. A poniard inlaid with gold

3. Behold, here Yima bears the royal sway!

8 (20). Thus, under the sway of Yima, 300 winters passed away. The earth was replenished with flocks and herds, with men and dogs and birds and with red blazing fires.

There was no more room for flocks, herds, and men.

9. Then I warned the fair Yima, saying:

‘O fair Yima, son of Vîvanghat, the earth has become full of flocks and herds, of men and dogs and birds and of red blazing fires, and there is no more room for flocks, herds, and men.’

10. Then Yima stepped forward, towards the luminous space, southwards, to meet the sun, and (afterwards) he pressed the earth with the golden ring, and bored it with the poniard, speaking thus:

11. Yima made the earth grow larger by 1/3 than it was before. There came flocks and herds and men, at his will and wish, as many as he wished.

12 (23). Thus, under the sway of Yima, 600 winters passed away. The earth was replenished with flocks and herds, with men and dogs and birds and with red blazing fires, and there was no more room for flocks, herds, and men.

13. I warned the fair Yima:

‘O fair Yima, son of Vîvanghat, the earth has become full of flocks and herds, of men and dogs and birds and of red blazing fires, and there is no more room for flocks, herds, and men.’

14. Then Yima stepped forward, towards the luminous space, southwards, to meet the sun, and (afterwards) he pressed the earth with the golden ring, and bored it with the poniard, speaking thus:

15. Yima made the earth grow larger by 2/3. There came flocks and herds and men, at his will and wish, as many as he wished.

16 (26). Thus, under the sway of Yima, 900 winters passed away.

The earth was replenished with flocks and herds, with men and dogs and birds and with red blazing fires, and there was no more room for flocks, herds, and men.

17 (28). I warned the fair Yima, saying:

‘O fair Yima, son of Vîvanghat, the earth has become full of flocks and, herds, of men and dogs and birds and of red blazing fires, and there is no more room for flocks, herds, and men.’

18 (31). Then Yima stepped forward, towards the luminous space, southwards, to meet the sun, and (afterwards) he pressed the earth with the golden ring, and bored it with the poniard, speaking thus:

19 (37). Yima made the earth grow larger by 3/3. There came flocks and herds and men, at his will and wish, as many as he wished.