Chapter XXIII

CHAPTER XXIII.

Sûdkar Nask.

1. The twenty-second fargard, Airyaman 5, is about the meeting of Kaî-Khûsrôî 6 and Vâê, the long-continuing lord 7 next to the renovation of the

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universe; and Kaî-Khûsrôî's asking Vâê, the long-continuing lord, about his smiting so many of the ancients who have been the highest of mankind in splendour and glory. 2. The reply of Vâê, the long-continuing lord, about his smiting them; and, upon that answer, Kaî-Khûsrôî's taking Vâê, the long-continuing lord, and transforming him into the shape of a camel, mounting him, and going, with the Irânian levies (hangamanôîkân), to the place where the immortal Haoist, son of Geurva 1, lies in strength 2, and his letting him lie; also his going beyond (kâdmon) him to the place where Tûs 3, the banisher of strife, lay in strength, and his letting him also lie; and his going beyond him to the place where Kaî-Apîvêh 4 lies, and his letting him also lie.

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3. His proceeding beyond them, and meeting on the road with that beneficial victor Sôshâns 1, and being asked by that beneficial victor thus: 'What man art thou who sittest aloft on Vâê, the long-continuing lord, so that thou makest Vâê fly, the long-continuing lord transformed into the shape of a camel?' 4. The speaking of Kai-Khûsrôî, in reply to Sôshâns, thus: 'I am Kai-Khûsrôî.' 5. The extolling of Kai-Khûsrôî, by Sôshâns, as regards his having extirpated the idol-temples on the shore of Lake Kêkast 2, and his smiting the wizard Frâsîyâv 3.

6. The glorifying of the Mazda-worshipping religion by Kai-Khûsrôî; the coming of the powerful being Keresâsp 4, club in hand, advancing towards them at the dwelling of that wizard Ges 5; the standing up of Tûs, the banisher of strife, and his calling to Keresâsp for reliance upon the Gâtha lore and for union with them; and the praising of righteousness 6 by Keresâsp, and his throwing away the arm-breaker.

7. As to these, too, it says that so those men come together for producing the renovation of the universe who are mentioned in this fargard, and also in other places, and are all experienced and eminent

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doers, and all powerful and brave; and they shall produce the renovation through a desire for an existence undecaying, immortal, hungerless, and thirstless for ever and everlasting.

8. It is perfect excellence that is righteousness.

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