Chapter LXV

CHAPTER LXV.

1. As to the sixty-fourth question and reply, that which you ask is thus: Where and from what did the origin of race, which they say was next-of-kin marriage (khvêtûdâdŏ) 3, arise; and from what place did it arise?

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2. The reply is this, that the first consummation of next-of-kin marriage was owing to that which Mashyâîh and Mashyâyôîh 1 did, who were brother and sister together, and their consummation of intercourse produced a son 2 as a consummation of the first next-of-kin marriage. 3. So that they effected the first intercourse of man with woman, and the entire progress of the races of every kind of lineage of men arose from that, and all the men of the world are of that race.

4. It is truly said, that it was the joy of the lord and creator after the creation of the creatures, and, owing to that, its consummation, which was his complete accomplishment of the existence of the creatures (dâmânîh), was owing to him. 5. And its occurrence, too, is in evidence that the creator, who is so with unflinching (atôrâk) will, is as much the cause of the begetting and entire progress of his own perfect creatures 3, in whom begetting is by destiny, as Hôshâng 4 by whom two-thirds 5 of the demons were smitten, Tâkhmôrup 6 who overturned Aharman through the power of the angels, Yim by

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whom order was arranged and death was driven away (avakâldŏ) 1, Frêdûn who fettered Az-î Dahâk 2 and stripped his blaspheming (nîrangâk) from the world, and the many princes (kayân) and high-priests of grave spirit who were, and are, and will be.

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