Table of Contents
1
- He that does not restore (a thing lent), when it is asked for back again, steals the thing; he robs the man 1. So he does every day, every night, as long as he keeps in his house his neighbour’s property, as. though it were his own 2.
2a
2 (4). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! How many in number are thy contracts, O Ahura Mazda?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘They are six in number 3. The first is the word-contract 4; the second
is the hand-contract 1; the third is the contract to the amount of a sheep 2; the fourth is the contract to the amount of an ox 3 the fifth is the contract to the amount of a man 4 the sixth is the contract to the amount of a field 5, a field in good land, a fruitful one, in good bearing 6.’
2b
3 (13). If a man make the word-contract a mere word 7, it shall be redeemed by the hand-contract; he shall give in pledge 8 the amount of the hand-contract.
4 (16). The hand-contract 9 shall be redeemed by the sheep-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the sheep-contract. The sheep-contract shall be redeemed by the ox-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the ox-contract. The ox-contract shall be redeemed by the man-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the man-contract. The man-contract shall be redeemed by the field-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the field-contract.
2c
5 (24). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the word-contract, how many are involved in his sin 1?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘His sin makes, his Nabânazdistas 2 answerable for the 3 three hundred-fold atonement.’
6 (26). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the hand-contract, how many are involved in his sin?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘His sin makes his Nabânazdistas answerable for the six hundred-fold atonement 4.’
7 (28). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the sheep-contract, how many are involved in his sin?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘His sin makes his Nabânazdistas answerable for the seven hundred-fold atonement 1!’
8 (30). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the ox-contract, how many are involved in his sin?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘His sin makes his Nabânazdistas answerable for the eight hundred-fold atonement 2.’
9 (32). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the man-contract, how many are involved in his sin?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘His sin makes his Nabânazdistas answerable for the nine hundred-fold atonement 3.’
10 (34). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the field-contract, how many are involved in his sin?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘His sin makes his Nabânazdistas answerable for the thousand-fold atonement 4.’
2d
11 (36). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the word-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Three hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, three hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana 1.’
12 (39). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One 1 If a man break the hand-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Six hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, six hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana 2.’
13 (42). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the sheep-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Seven hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, seven hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana 3.’
14 (45). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the ox-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Eight hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, eight hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana 4.’
15 (48). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the man-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Nine hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, nine hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana 5.’
16 (51). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the field-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘A thousand stripes with the Aspahê-astra, a thousand stripes with the Sraoshô-karana 1.’
3a
17 (54). If a man rise up to smite a man, it is an Âgerepta 2. If a man come upon a man to smite him, it is an Avaoirista. If a man actually smite a man with evil aforethought, it is an Aredus. Upon the fifth Aredus 3 he becomes a Peshôtanu 4.
18 (58). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! He that committeth an Âgerepta, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Five stripes with the Aspahê-astra, five stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the second Âgerepta, ten stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ten stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the third, fifteen stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifteen stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.
19 (63). ‘On the fourth, thirty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the fifth, fifty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the sixth, sixty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, sixty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the seventh, ninety stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
20 (67). If a man commit an Âgerepta for the eighth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
21 (70). If a man commit an Âgerepta 1 and refuse to atone for it 2, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
22 (73). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man commit an Avaoirista, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Ten stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ten stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the second Avaoirista, fifteen stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifteen stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.
23 (75). ‘On the third, thirty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the fourth, fifty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the fifth, seventy stripes with the Aspahê-astra, 70 stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the sixth, ninety stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
24 (76). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man commit an Avaoirista for the seventh time, without having atoned for the preceding, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
25 (77). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man commit an Avaoirista, and refuse to atone for it, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
26 (79). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man commit an Aredus, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Fifteen stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifteen stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.
27 (81). ‘On the second Aredus, thirty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the third, fifty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the fourth, seventy stripes, with the Aspahê-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; on the fifth, ninety stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
- O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man commit an Aredus for the sixth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
29 (82). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man commit an Aredus, and refuse to atone for it, what penalty shall he pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
30 (85). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man smite another and hurt him sorely, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
31 (87). Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Thirty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; the second time, fifty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; the third time, seventy stripes with the Aspahê-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; the fourth time, ninety stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
32 (89). If a man commit that deed for the fifth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
33 (90). If a man commit that deed and refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
34 (93). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that the blood comes, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Fifty stripes with the Aspahê-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; the second time, seventy stripes with the Aspahê-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; the third time, ninety stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
35 (95). If he commit that deed for the fourth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
36 (96). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that the blood comes, and if he refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
57 (99). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he breaks a bone, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Seventy stripes with the Aspahê-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraoshô-karana; the second time, ninety stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
38 (102). If he commit that deed for the third time, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu:
200 stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
39 (104). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he breaks a bone, and if he refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
40 (106). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he gives up the ghost, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Ninety stripes with the Aspahê-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
41 (109). If he commit that deed again, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
42 (112). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he gives up the ghost, and if he refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He is a Peshôtanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
43 (115). And they shall thenceforth in their doings walk after the way of holiness, after the word of holiness, after the ordinance of holiness.
2e
44 (118). If men of the same faith, either friends or brothers, come to an agreement together, that one may obtain from the other, either goods 2, or a wife 3, or knowledge 4, let him who wants to have goods have them delivered to him; let him who wants to have a wife receive and wed her; let him who wants to have knowledge be taught the holy word.
45 (123). He shall learn on, during the first part of the day and the last, during the first part of the night and the last, that his mind may be increased in knowledge and wax strong in holiness: so shall he sit up, giving thanks and praying to the gods, that he may be increased in knowledge: he shall rest during the middle part of the day, during the middle part of the night, and thus shall he continue until he can say all the words which former Aêthrapaitis 5 have said.
3b
46 (128). Before the water and the blazing fire 6,
[paragraph continues]O Spitama Zarathustra! let no one make bold to deny having received from his neighbour the ox or the garment (he has received from him).
47 (130). . . . Verily I say it unto thee, O Spitama Zarathustra! the man who has a wife is far above him who begets no sons 1; he who keeps a house is far above him who has none; he who has children is far above the childless man; he who has riches is far above him who has none.
48 (134). And of two men, he who fills himself with meat is filled with the good spirit 2 much more than he who does not do so 3; the latter is all but dead; the former is above him by the worth of an Asperena 4, by the worth of a sheep, by the worth of an ox, by the worth of a man.
49 (137). It is this man that can strive against the onsets of Astô-vîdhôtu 5; that can strive against the self-moving arrow 1; that can strive against the winter fiend, with thinnest garment on; that can strive against the wicked tyrant and smite him on the head; it is this man that can strive against the ungodly Ashemaogha who does not eat 2.
49 (bis). . . . The very first time when that deed 3 has been done, without waiting until it is done again 4.
50 (143). Down there 5 the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one cut off the limbs from his perishable body with knives of brass, yet still worse shall it be.
51 (146). Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one nail 6 his perishable body with nails of brass, yet still worse shall it be.
52 (149). Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one by force throw his perishable body headlong down a precipice a hundred times the height of a man, yet still worse shall it be.
53 052). Down there the pain or that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one by force impale 7 his perishable body, yet still worse shall it be.
54 (154). Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: to wit, that deed which is done, when a man, knowingly lying, confronts the brimstoned, golden 8, truth-knowing 9 water with an appeal unto Rashnu 1 and a lie unto Mithra 2.
55 (156). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! He who, knowingly lying, confronts the brimstoned, golden, truth-knowing water with an appeal unto Rashnu and a lie unto Mithra, what is the penalty that he shall pay 3?
Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Seven hundred stripes with the Aspahê-astra, seven hundred stripes with the Sraoshô-karana.’
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