Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān: a newly discovered Middle Persian text: transliteration, transcription, and translation

Abstract

In 2017, the editio princeps of a newly discovered Middle Persian text, the “Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān” or simply “Wīrāzagān”, was published by Raham Asha. This text, which is important not only from a literary and religious perspective, but also from a mythological point of view, was previously unknown to the scholarly community. The Middle Persian original of the text is found in the Codex TD 26 (49r-62v), preserved in the library of the K.R. Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai. The manuscript was first discovered and studied by R. Asha in March 2011. The preliminary remarks on the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān and other texts contained in the Codex TD 26 (Ms. R 494) were published in 2012 in the journal of the same institution. Here I present a translation (accompanied by the transliteration and transcription) of the original text published on pages 3–16 of Asha's book.

1. Introduction

In 2017, the editio princeps of a newly discovered Middle Persian text, called the “Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān” (or simply “Wīrāzagān”) was published by Raham Asha.¹ This text, which is important not only for the insight it provides into Zoroastrian literature and religion but also for some new details it provides regarding mythology, was previously unknown to the scholarly community. The transcription, transliteration, and translation of the Madāyān ī Wīrāzagān presented here aims to explain some of the unique aspects of this little-known Middle Persian text for the wider scholarly community interested in Iranian and Zoroastrian studies.

The Middle Persian original is found in the Codex TD 26 (49r–62v) preserved in the library of the K.R. Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai. The manuscript (which previously belonged to T.D. Anklesaria) was first discovered and studied by R. Asha in March 2011. Some preliminary remarks on the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān and other texts contained in the Codex TD 26 (Ms. R 494) were published the following year in the journal of the same institution.²

In this paper I present a translation (accompanied by a transliteration and transcription) of the original text published on pp. 3–16 of Asha's valuable book. Unfortunately, the original manuscript was unavailable to me, and I have been forced to rely on the Pahlavi text of the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān (MW) as reproduced in Asha's book.³

1.1. What can we say about the text of the MW?

The Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān is the story of an Iranian righteous priest called Wīrāz and his other-worldly journey to heaven and hell. It resembles a similar story found in the famous text of Ardā-Wīrāz-nāmag (AWN), though it is considerably shorter.

Although the MW and AWN present more or less the same narrative, we cannot reliably claim that the texts are interrelated and one stems from the other. Even after a passing examination of this text, one immediately notices some essential differences between the two. This difference is apparent not only from the sheer contrast in the volume of the works, but also from differences in the introductory part of the story and the descriptions of various punishments.

The MW shows some similarities with the Paz. version of the story of Ardā-Wīrāz (Ardā-Vīrāf-nāma) in that both describe the events as taking place during the reign of Kay Wištāsp, the patron of Zoroaster.⁴ However, the similarity goes no further than that and, overall, we can say that the text of the MW is not directly related to any of the available texts detailing the journey of the righteous Wīrāz. It would not be far-fetched to assume that MW might represent a different line of narrative-tradition of the story of the righteous Wīrāz, stemming from a now-extinct Urtext (if there ever was one) of this story.

1.2. The versions of the story of the righteous Wīrāz

We have a number of versions of the story of Ardā Wīrāz, preserved in a number of manuscripts in different languages or scripts.⁵ The most important are:

1. a) Ardā-Wīrāz-nāmag (AWN): the well-known classical Middle Persian version of the story of the righteous Wīrāz;⁶

2. b) Ardā-Virāf-nāma (AVN): the Pāzand version of the story published in Antia's anthology of the Pazand texts;

3. c) Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān (MW): the recently discovered second version of the story written in Middle Persian.⁷ The MW and AWN are the only versions written in Pahlavi;

4. d) Nāma-yi Ardā-Virāf (NAV):⁸ the New Persian prose version of the story, composed by an unknown author.⁹ The date of composition is unknown, though it should have been written before the composition of the Zartošt Bahram Paždu's versified version (thirteenth century ad), which seems to rely on the former as its source;

5. e) Nāma-yi Ardā-Virāf-i Zartošt (NAVZ): This is Zartošt Bahram Paždu's version written in New Persian verse. Based on the time of the author, it would have been written sometime in the thirteenth century. Zartošt seems to have relied on the anonymous NAV as the basis for his versified version.

6. f) Nāma-yi Ardā-Virāf-i Kirmāni (NAVK): This is another New Persian versified version of the story of the righteous Wīrāz, composed sometime in the seventeenth century by Nuširwān Marzbān Kirmāni (in a terrible verse).

In addition to these versions, we also have a number of other abridgements or translations of this story in New Persian, old and new Gujarati, and Sanskrit. Although not insignificant, they add little to the information about the narrative of the Ardā-Wīrāz-nāmag as they stem from the versions listed above.¹⁰

The above-mentioned versions represent different narrative traditions and do not appear to stem directly from the Pahl. AWN. Despite this bold claim, we cannot exclude the possibility that the NAV (despite its slightly more colourful introduction and extensive descriptions) might have been composed on the basis of the first half of the AWN.¹¹

Nowadays the most popular version of the story of the righteous Wīrāz is the one found in the AWN.¹² This is the most authoritative version and has been preserved in various mss which have only minor differences.¹³ It may be concluded from the available dates in the manuscripts¹⁴ that the terminus ante quem for the composition of the commonly known version of the AWN was the thirteenth or fourteenth century ad (although in its current form it was most probably composed earlier).

The events, as described in this version, take place during or after the lifetime of Ādurbad ī Mahraspandān, a Zoroastrian religious leader who allegedly lived during the reign of Shapuhr II (309–379 ad).¹⁵ As Gheybi points out, the current text might represent a combination of two different versions,¹⁶ of which the second begins with ch. 53, when Wīrāz is “reintroduced” to Hell.¹⁷

This version is the most extensive one besides the New Persian NAV, and gives an in-depth account of both Heaven and Hell.

The Paz. AVN, as published in Antia's collection, presents us with a different and much shorter version of the story.¹⁸ It is preserved in two manuscripts, both of which also contain Sanskrit and old Gujarati translations of the Paz. text. The older ms. was written in ad 1415.¹⁹ Its introduction is more abridged than that of the AWN and contains a number of divergences from the latter, e.g. the events are attributed to the reign of Wištāsp-šāh (Gustāsp šāh), which naturally eliminates the need for a long description of the events that followed the reign of Alexander “the Accursed”. Curiously enough, the sins and punishments described in this Pazand version are almost identical to those in the Pahl. AWN, but only those described after ch. 53 (i.e. the second half of the AWN).²⁰

The New Persian prose AVN is an interesting and prominent specimen of NP Zoroastrian literature, and it narrates the journey of Vīrāf in a careful and detailed fashion.²¹ Events are described as having taken place during the reign of Ardašir son of Bābak. It would be interesting to compare the MP and NP versions in detail and see the exact relationship of these texts.

Zartošt Bahram wrote his version in the second half of the thirteenth century, which pushes us to assign an earlier date for the prose AVN.²² It places the events during the reign of Ardašir Bābakān, and includes more extensive descriptions of Heaven. Nevertheless, the differences to the AWN are probably attributable to the individual creativity of the author, rather than being an echo of a different version. The sins and punishments described are very similar to those described in the first half of the Pahl. AWN (before Ch. 53), which again may point to the existence of two separate versions, from which the Pahl. AWN was compiled.

The New Persian Ardā-Virāf-nāme, written in 1693 ad by Nuširwān Marzbān Kermāni, is another very interesting version.²³ It was published in the second volume of the Rivayat of Darab Hormozdyar by Unvala (1922b: 331–42) and contains the full version of the story of Ardā-Vīrāf. Overall, this version does not differ much from that of Zarthošt Bahram, with the exception of the passage about the golden-eared dog (sag-i zarrīn-gōš), whom Vīrāf meets near the Činwad bridge. The passage describing this scene has been published separately in the first volume of the Rivāyats (Unvala 1922a: 257–9), and was transcribed and translated into German by König and Nejati (2009: 318–29).²⁴

1.3. The plot of MW and its comparison with the other versions

As mentioned above, the events in MW take place in the court of Wištāsp-šāh. After Wištāsp-šāh became a follower of Zoroaster by accepting his religion, there remained some uncertainties and knowledge gaps about the true nature of this faith (particularly concerning the afterlife: §10 … kay wištāsp guft kū šaw ud wēn ān šahr ī murdagān ud ēn čāšt ī was ī amāh az zarduxšt padīrift ēd nē dānam kū čē ast ud čē nēst ²⁵). To remove this uncertainty and establish a firm foundation for the Religion (Dēn), Wištāsp and some other (probably religious) officials decided to send someone to the netherworld. After casting lots, they chose one pious man, named Wīrāz, and gave him the special intoxicating drink (not mentioned in the text, but called “mang” in the AWN) which would separate his soul from his body without killing him. After drinking it, the soul of the righteous (ardā) Wīrāz descends into the netherworld and approaches the bridge of judgement, called Činwad. Here, after testifying about his innocence and piety, and encountering the golden-eared dog that guards the bridge, he meets the yazads Ādur and Srōš, who lead him to Ohrmazd. After the meeting, the two yazads accompany Wīraz to Hell, or “the land of the dead£ (šahr ī murdagān), where he witnesses the suffering of sinful souls. In the end, they return to Heaven, and a very brief account is given, where the names of Zarduxšt, Jamšēd, and Ōšnār are mentioned.²⁶

As can be seen from the text itself, the narrative is very brief and abrupt. Its events are placed during the reign of Kay Wištāsp, in contrast to the AWN and the NP versions, but in accordance with Antia's Paz. version. §§ 1–5 serve as an introduction to the story of the journey, §§ 6–11 are descriptions of the netherworldly order, which include the scene at the Činwad bridge and the introduction to Ohrmazd. §§ 12–41 are the descriptions of various sins and their punishments. Lastly, §§ 41–42 contain a very brief description of Heaven and an ending where Wīraz tries to convince Ohrmazd to let him stay in Paradise.

The narrative starts with a statement regarding the time when the book was written:

§1. Ēn mādayān Wīrāzagān xwānēnd ud pad ān zamān nibišt ka Wištāsp-šah pad šahryārīh būd ud Jāmāsp ī bidaxš ērān-kundāg būd…

Then, without further ado, the narrative mentions the act of ‘casting lots’, which is falling on behalf of the pious Wīrāz. It is evident, that textual distortions have played some role in this abruptness of the text, and it is the scribal hand, that is to blame for this (cf. the transmission between passages 1, 2, and 3). Next comes the scene of the sisters of Wīrāz, which is universal to all the available versions of the AWN. Strangely enough though, unlike the Pahl. AWN and the Paz. version, in MW these are not called the wives of Wīrāz, but only his sisters. By this, MW comes closer to Paždu's version, though I think that the reasons behind this deviation are different in both versions. While in Paždu's version the underlying reason for this may be the moralizing aspect and adaptation to the new moral reality of the time of the writer, in the MW the reason remains unclear, for in other passages of the text the incestuous marriage is encouraged (cf. §§ 18, 19).

After the dismissal of his sisters, Wīrāz lays down on a bedding of silk and drinks three cups of unknown intoxicating drink (mang), which makes his soul depart from his body.

The scene of Wīrāz's return to this world is missing in our text. This is contrary to the majority of the narratives (Pahl. AWN, Paz. AVN, Paždu's AVN). Instead, Wīrāz immediately starts describing his journey to the netherworld. This scene (§ 6-8) contains the description of the place, where the judgement of the souls takes place. Rašn the Just and Tīr yazad are mentioned, while the golden-eared dog (sag ī zarrēn-gōš) is named as the guardian of the bridge. This last creature is not mentioned in the rest of the narratives, except in the version of Kirmani.

Interestingly, the next scene in the MW is also absent from the remaining versions. In this scene (§ 9), Wīrāz calls various spiritual beings (Ardā yazad, dahmān xwarrah, and Rašn the Just) as witnesses to his innocence and piety.

Next comes the crossing of the bridge and the conversation of Wīrāz with Ādur yazad, in which the latter reproaches Wīrāz for burning 7-year-old wet wood instead of 1-year-old dry wood, and shows him the pool that has come into existence from the water of that wood (§ 10, cf. AWN, ch. X, 6–13).

Then Wīrāz is brought to the presence of Ohrmazd, who asks for the reason of his arrival (§11), to which Wīrāz answers by citing the order of Wištāsp. Satisfied by this, Ohrmazd apparently orders Sroš and Ādur yazads to accompany Wīrāz to Hell and show the suffering of sinners.²⁷

This is the list of the sins enumerated in MW (§§ 12–41):

• § 12. [man] a lying judge “who didn't judge justly”;

• § 13. [man] spoke unjust speeches and appropriated others’ property;

• § 14. [man] treated animals badly;

• § 15. [man] slept with a menstruating woman;

• § 16. [man] did not feed his own [shepherd's] dogs;

• § 17. [woman] refused to marry and died a virgin;

• § 18. [woman] refused to marry her brother (refused to commit xwēdōdah);

• § 19. [woman] refused to give bread to travellers and asked for money;

• § 20. [woman] refused to marry her brother; married a stranger;

• § 21. [woman] humiliated her husband (in front of his friend);

• § 22. [woman] refused to feed the poor (thus disobeying her husband);

• § 23. [woman] was the wife of a priest and did not commit herself to religion (?) or gave herself to mourning (?);

• § 24. [woman] was a mazda-worshipper and did not wear the kustīg (a-kustīg frāz dwārist);

• § 25. [woman] did not keep the laws of purity during her period;

• § 26. [woman] committed adultery;

• § 27. [man] slaughtered many males of sheep and cattle;

• § 28. [man] gave false evidence;

• § 29. [man] stole the property of others;

• § 30. [woman] was intolerant of her husband; stole from him and ate with another man;

• § 31. [woman] did not feed her milk to her own child, but instead gave it to the children of others;

• § 32. [woman] went with sinners;

• § 33. [man] was a wealthy but mean person (neither ate himself nor gave [to others]);

• § 34. [man] a seller who cheated on his weights;

• § 35. [man] gave a false oath;

• § 36. [woman] did not keep well the fire of the house;

• § 37. [man] was greedy, intolerant, and malevolent, and envied what others had;

• § 38. [man] harmed/hurt his parents;

• § 39. [man] allowed his menstruating wife close to the fire;

• § 40. [man] abandoned his sister-wife, who died;

• § 41. [man and woman] the woman sinned, the man did not prevent (no punishment).

After completing his tour in Hell, Wīrāz is led back to Heaven, where he sees the souls of the pious people, as well as important religious and mythical figures such as Zoroaster, Ōšnar, and Jamšēd.

The story ends with the entreaty of Wīrāz to Ohrmazd to let him stay in Paradise, to which Ādur yazad answers that so long as he is a pious and good person, his place is secure in Paradise.

1.4. The importance of the MW

Despite the familiar plot of the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagan, its text contains a number of new, rather remarkable, details which are found in the introductory part. First, the very beginning of the introduction of the MW is at variance with the other better-known versions. It starts describing the time when the compilation of the book in question took place, and it places the events that are about to be described during the reign of kay Wištāsp. This is in contrast to the AWN, where the events take place in the course of an unspecified reign, during or after the lifetime of Ādurbad ī Mahraspandān, a well-known religious figure of the fourth century, and the New Persian versions, which usually take place during the reign of Ardashir I. The only version that comes close to MW in this respect is the Paz. AVN.

Unfortunately, there seem to be some interruptions in the introductory part of the text (the reasons why they started drawing lots is omitted from the text of MW), which prevent us from a full comparison with other versions.

However, another remarkable scene, found in MW but not the other versions, is one in which Wīrāz is met by a certain “hufraward” (i.e. “[one who has] a good fraward”), who asks him about his actions in life (§ 8). It is difficult to determine who exactly this divine being is. When answering this question, Wīrāz brings forth some divine beings as his witnesses, and his words are accepted.

The most noteworthy of these passages, which make MW stand out among all other versions, is that referring to the Zoroastrian divinity Tīr as the scribe of the netherworld (Tīr ī dibīr hamē nibēg kunēd, ān nibēg az sar ī zurwān ī pādixšāy kard ēstēd). Here, Tīr is described as sitting near the scales of Rašn the Just and recording all the actions of humans. I am inclined to consider this passage extremely remarkable, because nowhere else in the entire Middle Persian corpus can we find a passage that directly describes this scribal function of Tīr.²⁸

Besides that, we also have a curious remark (§ 5) referring to Zurwan as “the Lord” (zurwān ī pādixšāy), which may show some particular affiliations or influences of the unknown author(s) of the text.

Again, in the introduction, we have a couple of lines dedicated to the “golden-eared dog” (sag ī zarrēn-gōš) that guards the Bridge of Činwad. Of course, this is not the only time this mythical creature is mentioned in Middle or New Persian literature, but its mentions are generally rather rare, despite its antiquity and importance; for example, it does not appear in the standard Pahlavi version of the AWN. A dog guarding the bridge is mentioned once in the Bundahišn, although even there the name of the dog is not clearly stated (Bd 30.3: …ud sag-ē mēnōyīg pad sar ī ān puhl ud dušox azēr ī ān puhl, i.e. “… and a spiritual dog on the end of the Bridge and the Hell [is] under the bridge”). The later sources carry more importance in this respect, as we can see in the rivāyats of Šāpur Bharučī²⁹ where a detailed origin myth is provided for this “golden-eared” dog. As mentioned above, this dog also appears in Kirmāni's NP version.

A new literary perspective provides different interpretations of the reasons that brought Ardā-Wīrāz to the heavenly realm. Although in the AWN the journey is justified due to the lack of reliable sources and the rise of heretical ideas following the invasion of Alexander, the MW provides a substantially different reason. This is what Wīrāz says to justify his journey:

§10…kay wištāsp guft kū šaw ud wēn ān šahr ī murdagān ud ēn čāšt ī was ī amāh az zarduxšt padīrift ēd nē dānam kū čē ast ud čē nēst

Kay Wištāsp said [to me], “Go and see that land of the dead [because from] all this teaching we accepted from Zoroaster, we do not know which is [true] and which is not”).

This is a completely different reason for the journey. It is a more inquisitive one, directed towards the gratification of the inner spiritual necessities of the religious community, in contrast to the more defensive spirit of the AWN. The same spirit prevails in the Pazand version, which makes it possible to see some connection, albeit not a direct one, between the Paz. AVN and that of MW. All this evidence pushes us to assign to the narrative of MW an earlier date and consider this version more archaic than the AWN.³⁰

A deeper inquiry may provide us with clues as to the relative chronology of the creation and redaction of both works, as well as the remaining versions. I hope to discuss the topic in more detail on another occasion.

1.5. A few words on the present translation

The transliteration, transcription, and translation of the present text are completely reliant on the version of the original text presented in the aforementioned editio princeps by Raham Asha. I have no doubts about the competence of that skilled scholar, and even though no one is immune to mistakes, I think that even if they exist in that version of the text, they should be of minor importance, and thus have little or no consequence for the overall reading of the text. As far as I know, this is the first translation of the text of the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān into a modern language.

The numbering of the passages of the text is my own, and is not reliant on Asha's edition. It differs in some respects from that given in Asha's transcription of the text.

Finally, I would like to apologize for any mistakes or typos that I may have unconsciously made in the present version of the text and translation. Mistakes are sometimes unavoidable and involuntary, but apologizing for them beforehand is never redundant. Trying to reduce them is better.

2. Transliteration of the text of the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān³¹

PWN ŠM W hdyb'lyh Y yzd'n

ytk Y nywk'

1. ZNE m'tgd’n wyl'ck’n KLYTWNd W PWN ZK zm'n npšt AMT wšt'sp' šh PWN štr'd’ryh bwt W y'm'sp Y bwthš³² ’yl'n knd'k bwt W dyn' m'zdsn’n΄ BYN OL gyh'n YATWNt.

2. AHL wšt'sp šh LWTE ’yl'n m'zdsn’n΄ PWN …

3. wl W wyck' ’w' wyl'c' YHMTWNt'. AHL YATWNd 7 AHTE'hl Y ’lt’y wyl'c W YDE PWN kš OBYDWNd OL pyš Y šh wšt'sp' YKOYMWNst YMRRWNd AYK AL ŠTRN³³ wyl'c' OL štr' Y mwltk'n ME LNE ’wgwn' hwm'n’k HNEm čygwn ktk'-1 Y rwšn Y b'myk AMT-š ’ywk lwcyn'³⁴ AYT' W ZK lwcyn'³⁵ pr'c OHDWNd W ZK tk³⁶ t'lyk BRA YHWWNyt'. W AHL wšt'sp AYK L LA ŠTRNt'³⁷ wyl'c OL štr' Y mwrtk'n BRA LWTE ’yl'n m'zdysn’n wl W wyc'k ’wwlt. W PWN hwnsndyh MN pyš Y ky wšt'sp' BRA OZLWNt'.

4. YHYTYWNd ZK wstlg plnyk'n΄ 4 ’lšnk΄ MDM zmyk wstlynd. wyl'c΄ MDM ZK wstlg HLMWNyt W YHYTYWNd ZK hwlšn΄ Y wyl'c 1 tšt΄ Y zlyn΄ pr'c YBLYWNd³⁸ AP-š ’yl m'zd'sn'n΄³⁹ pyš YKOYMWNd W dlwn YDBHWNd W OLE Y wyl'c΄ w'c΄ OHDWNyt. W xwlyt 1 tšt W 2 tšt W 3 tšt΄.

5. stykl b'l MDM ZK wstlg HLMWNyt W lwb'n ’c-š BRA ’hcyt⁴⁰ W OZLWNyt ’ywk g'm PWN hwmt΄ W 2 PWN hwht΄ W 3 g'm PWN hwwlšt΄. AMT YHMTWNyt OL ZK gyw'k AYK GDE Y ’p W ’thš YKOYMWNyt W lšn΄ Y l'st tl'cwk Y zlyn΄ PWN YDE YHSNN΄yt W krpk΄ W wn'h hnd'cyt YHOYMWNyt tyl Y dpywr hm'y npyk OBYDWNyt΄ ZK npyk MN sl Y zwlw'n Y p'thš’ krt YKOYMNyt.

6. W ZK KLBA Y zlyn΄ gwš MNW PWN ZK cynwt pwhl p'nk AYT W 1 kwp b'l’y PWN zncyl Y lwdyn bst YKOYMWNyt. cygwn wyl'c΄ HZYTWNyt΄ LALA OL LGLE ’hycyt΄ KRKA⁴¹ PWN hm znyt W KALAy⁴² OBYDWNyt΄ OL wyl'c΄ YATWNyt΄ ZK čynwt pwhl OL hm YATWNyt΄ čygwn ’wstlk tyh΄.

7. L wyl'c tlsyt HNEm W YDE OL yzd'n YHSNNm AYK ME swt΄ AYT΄ ZK yšt΄ yzd'n W k'l W krpk Y L PWN zyndg'n krt΄ ME swt΄ ZK hpt AHTE Y L lth'ycwng’hn sl'y krt΄ W ME swt΄ ZK TWRA W gwspnd Y L nywk PWN OŠTENtn΄ d’št HNEd AP-m OL plyd't LA YHMTWNyt΄.

8. BYN zm'n OL ptylk YATWNt΄ ZK ZY-š hwpplwlt΄ YMLLWNyt AYK AL tls wyl'c΄ mgwg-GBRA BRA shwn l'st΄ YMRRWN MNW MN⁴³ PWN zywndk'n krt΄. L YMRRWm⁴⁴ ’lt'y wyl'c΄ AYK BYN mynwd L MNDOM ywdtl LA krt΄ YKOYMWNyt LA-c ’n'st΄ dlwb΄ gwpt. ’lt'y yzdt΄ PWN gwk's YKOYMWNyt΄. dtykl shn⁴⁵ YMRRWm⁴⁶ BYN mynwd Y L MNDOM-c ywdtl LA krt΄ YKOYMWNyt AP-m d'hm’n GDE PWN gwk's YKOYMWNyt΄. stykl b'l shwn YMRRWm⁴⁷ lšn Y l'st΄ PWN g'p⁴⁸ YKOYMWNyt΄.

9. ZK cynwt pwhl 4 ’lšn΄ PWN p'hn’d YHWWNyt΄. ’m cygwn wydlwm⁴⁹ ADYN΄m OL ptylk YATWNyt΄ ’twr΄ yzdt΄ ’m ZK YMRRWyt⁵⁰ AL drwyst LPME⁵¹ wyl'c΄ Y hwyt΄tm⁵² Y hwyt΄bwd. AHL L YMRRWm⁵³ OL ’twr΄ yzdt΄ AYK dwlwst΄⁵⁴ LPME LK ’twr΄ yzdt΄ ’wltynyt'l AMT L PWN [štr΄]⁵⁵ Y zyndk'n ’ycm W bwd 7 s'lk d’št AP-m KON LK hwyt΄CYBA W hwyt΄bwd KLYTNyh.⁵⁶ AHL-c YMRRWyt⁵⁷ ’twr΄ yzdt΄ AYK LK wyl'c΄ LA YDOYTWst΄⁵⁸ AYK CYBA W bwd ’ywk΄ s'lk΄ Y hwšk ’p'dyt΄ LA 7 s'lk tl MNW 3 nyck b'l’y PWN MYA BYN YKOYMWNyt΄ Y MN ZK CYBA W bwd BRA YATWNt YKOYMWNyt MN KON pr'c΄ ’ycm W bwd Y ’ywk s'lk Y hwšk YHBWN ME ’ywk΄ s'lk Y hwšk ŠPYL AYK 7 s'lk Y tl. AHL L wyl'c΄ YDLWNyt AP-m nm'yt pwhl Y wcwlg MNW pwl MN ZK MYA YKOYMWNyt Y MNW⁵⁹ ZK ’ycm W bwd BRA YATWNt YKOYMWNyt.

10. AP-m YDLWNyt pyš Y ’whrmzd bg ANE΄ wyl'c w'ng Y ’whrmzd OŠMENm W tn΄ LA wynm W nwkcym ⁶⁰ nm'c΄ YBLWNm KN YHMTWNyt΄ ’whrmzd AYK drwyst YATWNt HNEyh wyl'c΄ mgwwg-GBRA⁶¹ ME l'd mt΄ YKOYMWN'y OL ZNE štr΄ Y mwltk'n AMTt ’hnwc YATWtn⁶² LA zm'n. AHL L YMRWNm⁶³ AYK kd wšt'sp΄ gwpt AYK OZLWN W HZYTWN ZK štr΄ Y mwltk'n W ZNE c’št΄ Y KBD Y LNE MN zltwhšt΄ ptylpt΄ HNA LA YDOYTWm⁶⁴ AYK ME AYT΄ W ME LOYT΄.

11. AHL ’whrmzd bg OL slwš ’l'y⁶⁵ W ’twr΄ yzdt΄ [YMRRWNyt]…

12. … MN AHL krp΄⁶⁶ wn's … MN pyš slwš ’l'y W ’twr΄yzdt΄ MN AHL OZLWNm ’lt'y wyl'c΄ W wynym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW PWN ’wzw'n MN d'l ’kwht YKOYMWN't. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄ MNW ’wgwn gl'n p'tpl's YBLWN΄yt. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n΄ Y OLE GBRA AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n d'twbl Y dlwcn΄ bwt AP-š d'twblyh LA l'st΄ krt΄.

13. AHRN wynym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW-š zncyl Y lwdyn BYN ’wzw'n bst YKOYMWNyt W BYN dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMWNyt΄. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄ YKOYMWNyt. slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n PWN hncmn΄ W gyw'k AYK YTYBWNst shwn΄ mdy'ncykyh’ LA gwpt΄ W hw'stk Y LA NPŠE OL NPŠE krt AP-š mynyt AYK d'n’k YHWWNm.

14. AHRN wynym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW PWN YDE΄ W LGLE bst YKOYMWNyt AP-š TWRA wlc'g PWN slwb΄ znyt΄ W PWN swmb΄ wsplyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK lwb'n΄ Y OLE GBRA AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n TWRA PWN k'l d’št AP-š PWN hng'm Y NPŠE MYA LA d't΄ AP-š PWN ’dw'n PWME pr'c bst΄.

15. AHRN wynym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW OD CWLE΄ BYN dšt'n΄ nšst΄ YKOYMWNyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n΄ Y OLE΄ GBRA AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n LWTE NYŠE Y dšt'n΄ HLMWNt.

16. AHRN wynym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW LHMA PWN YDE YHSWNyt΄ OL KLBA hm'y LMYTWyt΄⁶⁷ KLBA LHMA LA OŠTENyt BRA ns'd Y ZK GBRA hm'y OŠTENyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n΄ Y OLE΄ GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n šp'n bwt AP-š lwcyk΄ Y KLBA'n LA d't΄.

17. AHRN wynym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW ns'd Y NPŠE PWN k'lt΄ PSKWNyt hm'y OŠTENyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE zn΄ ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n΄ Y OLE NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n AB΄ W AM Y NPŠE OL šwd hm'y d't΄ AP-š gwpt AYK L zn΄΄ Y ZNE GBRA LA YHWWNm W dwšyck OL mwltk'n YATWNt΄.

18. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW k'lt-1 BYN dyl YHSNNyt W blynyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n΄ Y ZK NYŠE AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n bl'tl Y NPŠE PWN zn΄y⁶⁸ BOYHWNst AP-š LA bwt.

19. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW šlmg's Y NPŠE PWN ’ngšt΄ blycyt΄ W hwlyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. OLE⁶⁹ YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK lwb'n΄ Y OLE΄ NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n LHMA k'lwny’k'n⁷⁰ LA d't΄ AP-š mzd BOYHWNst.

20. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW PWN LGLE-1 OL dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMWN't. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ NYŠE AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n bl'tl Y NPŠE yh⁷¹ BOYHWNst AP-š LA bwt W byk'nk GBRA zn΄ bwt΄.

21. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW myh PWN ’wzw'n΄ bst W OL dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMWN't. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y ZK NYŠE AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n stmbk bwt AP-š b’'st'n šwd dwst OL h'nk YDLWNyt΄ ZK NYŠE hšmyn OL pyš OZLWNt΄ šwd ’c'lynyt AP-š MNDOM OL šwd dwst LA d't΄ W šwd MN šlm Y OLE nngyt mlg ’p'dyt BOYHWNst.

22. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW OL dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMWNyt΄. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn'h krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y ZK NYŠE AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n KRA dlgwš W mzdwbwl⁷² W k'ld’k΄ MNW OLE΄ šwd W srd'l hwlšn΄ W d'lšn΄ plmwt d't΄ OLE ’c-š LWTE⁷³ OHDWNt.

23. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW nkns'l⁷⁴ OL dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMWNyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ NYŠE Y mgwwgGBRA-1⁷⁵ bwt AP-š NPŠEtn΄ OL dyn΄ d⁷⁶ d't.

24. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW BYN dwšhw PWN zncyl Y lwdyn΄ bst΄ YKOYMWNyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ AYT΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n wyhdyn΄ bwt ’kwstyk pr'c db'lyst΄.⁷⁷

25. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y zn΄y-1⁷⁸ MNW nkns'l⁷⁹ OL dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMWNyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n dšt'n PWN MYA HLLWNt W OD g's Y NPŠE PWN gyw'k LA YTYBWNst.

26. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW YDE W LGLE bst YKOYMWN't AP-š TWRA Y wlc'k PWN slwb΄ znyt΄ PWN swmb΄ wsplyt΄. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n PWN ywdt MN swy⁸⁰ NPŠE GBRA pr'c΄ NPŠE hšt΄.

27. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MN⁸¹ ’twrstl PWN kpyc ptmyt W hwlyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ TWRA W gwspnd Y gwšn΄ KBD YKTLWNt.

28. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW nkwn OL dwšhw΄ ’kwht YKOYMWNyt. AP-š myh Y lwdyn BYN kmlbd⁸² kwst YKOYMWNyt W hwn W lym MN PWME hm'y YATWNyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW΄⁸³ PWN …⁸⁴ zwlgwk'syh d't΄ W ZK MRYA gwpt MNW LA dyt W LA ’šnwt.

29. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW nkwn bst ’kwht YKOYMWNyt AP-š PWN m'l Y syd’ hm'y znnd AP-š hm'y gcyt W hm'y blmyt⁸⁵ W YMRRWyt⁸⁶ AYK-m ŠBKWNyt OL ZK štr΄ Y zywndk'n΄ OD ZK ZY-m'n MN dlgwš’n΄ YYNCLWNt΄⁸⁷ KRA ’ywk 4 LWTE⁸⁸ YHBWNm. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n MNDOM MN AYŠ’n YHNCLWNt΄ AP-š hw'stk Y AYŠ’n PWN NPŠE pr'c OHDWNt W PWN gytydy wyd'p’n bwt.

30. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW PWN d'g^(?) Y 'sn΄yn pyst'n Y NPŠE dc'nd⁸⁹ AP-š PWN d'g^(?) W ’twr'n blycynd. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ LWTE swd W srd'l dwšs'ck bwt AP-š MN OLE Y šwy⁹⁰ dwcyh krt AP-š LWTE GBRA Y ks'n΄ BRA hwlt΄.

31. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW ns'd W pyst'n Y NPŠE PWN k'lt PSKWNyt hwlyt AP-š kwtk-1 ’cpl hm'y BKYWN W KRA ’ls-1 MN cšm Y ZK kwtk BRA YATWNyt BRA wym-1 YHWWNyt΄ PWN sl W gldn΄⁹¹ Y ZK zn΄ ptkwpyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n šyl MN kwtk Y NPŠE LWTE⁹² glpt΄ W OL kwtk Y AYŠ’n YHBWNt.

32. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y NYŠE-1 MNW PWN mwy⁹³ OL dwšhw΄ ’kwht YKOYMWNt.⁹⁴ pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE zn΄ MNW PWN zywndk'n LWTE wn'sk’l'n lpt.

33. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW m'l W ’p'ryk plstl⁹⁵ tn΄ hm'y gwwdynd.⁹⁶ pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ twb'nyk bwt AP-š LA BNPŠE hwlt΄ W LA DHBWNt⁹⁷ AP-š b’'st'n mltwm Y dlgwš PWN glcšn΄ W mwst ’c-š bwt HNEnd.

34. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW z'hl Y m'l PWN kpyc΄ ptmyt΄ W hwlyt΄. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ kpyc W tl'cwk΄ Y ks d’št΄.

35. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW PWN lsn΄ OL dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMW't.⁹⁸ pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ swknd Y dlwg⁹⁹ hwlt΄.

36. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y zn΄΄y¹⁰⁰ MNW ’ngšt΄ PWN kpyc΄ ptmyt W hwlt΄.¹⁰¹ pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE NYŠE ME wn's krt΄. [KN] YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE΄ NYŠE MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ ’thš PWN h'nk΄ LA nywk d’št.

37. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 [MNW] myh Y 'sn΄yn BYN ’wzw'n bst΄ YKOYMWNyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ ’twl¹⁰² W dwšs'ck΄ W ’n'k’m bwt W AMT-š MNDOM-1 Y nywk PWN AYŠ-1 dyt΄ ADYN-š gl'n W dwšw'l YHWWNt AP-š k'mst AYK PWN AYŠ-c LA YHWWN't.

38. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW PWN p'dy-1 OL dwšhw ’kwht YKOYMWNyt. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n΄ AB΄ W AM Y NPŠE byšyt΄.

39. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW ns'd PWN ’thš blycyt W hwlyt΄. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n NYŠE Y dšt'n΄ nzdyk Y ’thš d’št.

40. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 MNW k'lt-1 Y tyc΄ BYN zyl YHSNNyt W hm'y blynyt΄. pwrsym L wyl'c΄ AYK ZNE GBRA ME wn's krt΄. KN YMRRWNd slwš ’l'y W ’twr yzdt΄ AYK ZNE lwb'n Y OLE GBRA MNW PWN zywndk'n AHTE Y NPŠE NYŠE bwt AP-š MN NYŠEyh BRA ŠBKWNt W wtbht OL štr΄ Y mwltk'n OZLWNt.

41. AHRN wyncym lwb'n Y GBRA-1 W NYŠE-1. ZK GBRA OL whšt΄ W ZK NYŠE OL dwšhw YDLWNnd W ZK NYŠE YDE PWN d'mn΄ Y GBRA YHSNNyt W YMRRWNyt AYK ME k'm’y krtn΄ AMT PWN štr΄ Y zywndk'n LK šwd W srd'l Y L bwt HNWydy W ’ywk LHMA W ’ywk MYA W ’ywk wstlg bwt HNEm ME l'd YDE-1y¹⁰³ W p'dy-1 BRA LA blyt΄ HNEm AP-t ME l'd p'tpl's Y gl'n΄ MDM LA krt Em¹⁰⁴ AYK L-c cygwn LK kwstyk d’št HNEydy¹⁰⁵ AP-m KON 9 hc'l s'lk BYN t'l W twm dwšhw ’p'yt bwtn. BRA LPME¹⁰⁶ OD OL pyš Y lšn΄ Y l'st΄ OZLWNm AP-m'n wcyl W d'twb’lyh OBYDWNyt W OL pyš Y lšn΄ Y l'st΄ OZLWNt HNEnd W krpk Y OLE W wn's Y OLE NYŠE PWN tl'cwk TKLWNyt΄ l'st΄ OLE GBRA W l'st΄ OLE NYŠE W NYŠE OL whšt krt΄ HNEnd.

42. W MN pyš OZLWNyt ’twr΄ yzdt΄ W MN AHL OZLWNm L wyl'c΄. W wynym lwb'n Y krpkl'n W wynym lwb'n Y ’lt'y zltwhšt OL whšt Y b'myk MNW hwm'n’k MN 4 BBA Y zlyn W wynym lwb'n Y ’wšnnl¹⁰⁷ Y pwl hlt W wynym lwb'n Y ymšyt W wynym ’twr΄ yzdt΄ krpkgl MNW BBA Y whšt΄ NTLWNyt KLBA Y zlyn W L wyl'c NTLWNd 7 ’mhrspnd MNW PWN p'nkyh MDM gwm'lt YKOYMWNyt KBD ycšn΄ Y L wyl'c΄ OL mgwdGBRA'n¹⁰⁸ krt΄ KBD krpk΄ Y L wyl'c΄ PWN štr΄ Y zywndk'n krt΄ hymwdyn¹⁰⁹ OL [L] YHMTWNyt.

43. bwlc'm L wyl'c΄ W YDE OL yzd'n YHSNNm W ’whrmzd Y bg pyš YKOYMWNm AYK-m AL štr΄y¹¹⁰ OL štr Y zywndk'n OD PWN ZNE whšt΄ TNLWNm.¹¹¹ AHL ’twr΄ yzdt Y krpkgl OL L wyl'c΄ lwb'n YMRRWNyt AYK ’lt'y wyl'c΄ kwnšn΄ Y NPŠE΄ nk's YHSNN΄ AYK-t ZNE whšt΄ AP-š ’c'l LA YHWWN't.

’pz't ’whrmzd LWTE ’mhrspnd'n΄.

plcpt PWN dlwt W š’tyh.

L dyn΄bnndk΄¹¹² hwšng s'whš npšt MN dptl Y gwtšh¹¹³ lwsthm.

3. Transcription of the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān

pad nām ud ayārīh ī yazadān

ǰadag ī nēk

1. ēn mādayān wīrāzagān xwānēnd ud pad ān zamān nibišt ka wištāsp-šah pad šahryārīh būd ud ǰāmāsp ī bidaxš ērān-⁺kundāg būd ud dēn [ī] mazdēsnān andar ō gēhān āmad.

2. pas wištāsp šah abāg ērān mazdēsnān pad …¹¹⁴

3. … war ud ⁺wēzag¹¹⁵ ō wīrāz rasīd. pas āyēnd 7 xwahar ī ardā wīrāz ud dast pad kaš kunēnd, ō pēš ī šah wištāsp ēst[ēnd], gōwēnd kū: ma frēst¹¹⁶ wīrāz ō šahr ī murdagān čē amāh ōwōn homānāg hēm čiyōn kadag-ēw ī rošn ī bāmīg ka-š ēk rōzan ast ud ān rōzan frāz gīrēnd ud ān kadag tārīk be bawēd. ud pas wištāsp [gōwēd] kū: man nē frēstād¹¹⁷ wīrāz ō šahr ī murdagān, bē abāg ērān mazdēsnān war ud ⁺wēzag āwurd. ud [xwaharān] pad hunsandīh az pēš ī kay wištāsp be šud [hēnd].

4. āwurēnd ān wistarag [ī] parnagān [ī] 3 ārešnag, abar zamīg wistarēnd. wīrāz abar ān wistarag xufsēd ud āwurēnd ān xwarišn ī wīrāz. ē tašt ī zarrēn frāz barēnd u-š ēr mazdēsnān pēš ēstēnd ud drōn yazēnd ud ōy ī wīrāz wāz gīrēd. ud xwarēd 1 tašt ud 2 tašt ud 3 tašt.

5. sidigar bār abar ān wistarag xufsēd ud ruwān az-iš be āxēzēd ud šawēd ēk gām pad humat ud 2 pad huxt ud 3 gām pad huwaršt. ka rasēd ō ān gyāg kū xwarrah ī āb ud ātaxš ēstēd ud rašn ī rāst tarāzūg ī zarrēn pad dast dārēd ud kirbag ud wināh handāzēd ēstēd. Tīr ī dibīr hamē nibēg kunēd, ān nibēg az sar¹¹⁸ ī zurwān ī pādixšāy kard ēstēd.

6. ud ān sag ī zarrēn-gōš kē pad ān činwad puhl pānag ast ud ēw kōf bālāy, pad zanǰīr ī rōyēn bast ēstēd. čiyōn wīrāz wēnēd, ul ō pāy āxēzēd, dandān pad ham zanēd ud wang kunēd, ō wīrāz āyēd. ān činwad puhl ō ham āyēd čiyōn awestarag tēx.

7. man wīrāz tarsīd ham ud dast ō yazadān dāram kū: čē sūd ast ān yašt [ī] yazadān, ud kār ud kirbag, ī man pad zindagān kard, čē sūd ān haft xwah, ī man […………….]¹¹⁹ kard ud čē sūd ān gāw ud gōspand, ī man nēk pad xwardan dāšt hēnd, u-m ō frayād nē rasēd.

8. andar zamān ō padīrag āmad ān, ī-š xōbfraward¹²⁰ [gōwēnd ud] gōwēd kū: ma tars wīrāz mowmard bē saxwan rāst gōw kē čē pad zindagān kard. man gōwam ardā wīrāz kū: andar mēnōy [ī] man tis [ī] ǰuttar nē kard ēstēd, nē-iz ānāst drō guft. ardā yazad pad gugāy ēstēd. dudigar saxwan gōwam: andar mēnōy ī man tis-iz ǰuttar nē kard ēstēd, u-m dahmān xwarrah pad gugāy ēstēd. sidigar bār saxwan gōwam, rašn ī rāst pad gugāy ēstēd.

9. ān činwad puhl 4 ārešn pad pahnāy bawēd. ā-m čiyōn ⁺wideram¹²¹ ēg-im ō padīrag āyēd ādur yazad, ā-m ān gōwēd [kū]: ma drust awar wīrāz ī xwēdēzm ud xwēdbōy. pas man gōwam ō ādur yazad kū: drust awar tō ādur yazad [ī] awardēnīdār ka man pad [šahr] ī zindagān ēzm ud bōy haft-sālag dāšt u-m nūn tō xwēdēzm ud xwēdbōy xwānē. pas-iz gōwēd ādur yazad kū: tō wīrāz nē dānist kū ēzm ud bōy ēk-sālag ī hušk abāyēd, nē haft-sālag tar, kē [ēn war ī] sē nēzag bālāy pad āb andar ēstēd ī az ān ēzm ud bōy be āmad ēstēd. az nūn frāz ēzm ud bōy ī ēk-sālag ī hušk dah, čē ēk-sālag ī hušk wēh kū haft-sālag ī tar. pas man wīrāz nayēd u-m nimāyēd puhl ī wuzurg kē purr az ān āb ēstēd ī az ān ēzm ud bōy be āmad ēstēd.

10. u-m nayēd pēš ī ohrmazd bay. an, wīrāz, wāng ī ohrmazd ašnawam ud tan nē wēnam ud [……]¹²² namāz baram.¹²³ ōh rasēd ohrmazd kū: drust āmad hē wīrāz mowmard. čē rāy mad ēstēh ō ēn šahr ī murdagān ka-t ahanūz āmadan nē zamān. pas man gōwam kū: kay wištāsp guft kū: šaw ud wēn ān šahr ī murdagān ud ēn čāšt ī was, ī amāh az zarduxšt padīrift, ēd nē dānam kū čē ast ud čē nēst.

11. pas ohrmazd bay ō srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad [framūd]…¹²⁴

12. … az pas kirbag¹²⁵ [ud] wināh… az pēš srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad, az pas šawam [man] ardā wīrāz¹²⁶ ud wēnēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē pad uzwān az dār āguxt ēstād. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard kū ōwōn garān pādifrāh barēd. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard ast kē pad zindagān dādwar ī drōzan būd u-š dādwarīh nē rāst kard.

13. anī wēnēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē-š zanǰīr ī rōyēn andar uzwān bast ēstēd ud andar dušox āguxt ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard ēstēd. [ōh gōwēnd] srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān pad hanǰaman ud gyāg kū nišast, saxwan mayānǰīgīhā nē guft ud xwāstag ī nē xwēš ō xwēš kard u-š mēnīd kū dānāg bawam.

14. anī wēnēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē pad dast ud pāy bast ēstēd u-š gāw [ī] warzāg pad srū zanēd ud pad sumb wisparēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: [ēn] ruwān ī ōy mard ast kē pad zindagān gāw pad kār dāšt u-š pad hangām ī xwēš āb nē dād u-š pad ēwān dahān frāz bast.

15. anī wēnēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē tā grīw andar daštān nišast ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard ast kē pad zindagān abāg zan ī daštān xuft.

16. anī wēnēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē nān pad dast dārēd, ō sag hamē abganēd. sag nān nē xwarēd bē nasā ī ān mard hamē xwarēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān šabān būd u-š rōzīg ī sagān nē dād.

17. anī wēnēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē nasā ī xwēš pad kārd brīnēd hamē xwarēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān pid ud mād ī xwēš ō šōy hamē dād u-š guft kū: man zan ī ēn mard nē bawam, ud dōšīzag ō murdagān āmad.

18. anī wēn-iz-ēm¹²⁷ ruwān ī zan-ē kē kārd-ēw andar dil dārēd ud brīnēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ān zan ast kē pad zindagān brādar ī xwēš pad zan[īh] xwāst u-š nē būd.

19. ānī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē šarmgāh ī xwēš pad angišt brēzēd ud xwarēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh¹²⁸ gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: [ēn] ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān nān kārawānīgān nē dād, u-š mizd xwāst.

20. ānī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē pad pāy-ēw ō dušox āguxt ēstād. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan ast kē pad zindagān brādar ī xwēš [pad zan]īh¹²⁹ xwāst, u-š nē būd. ud bēgānag mard zan būd.

21. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē mēx pad uzwān bast ud ō dušox āguxt ēstād. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ān zan ast kē pad zindagān stambag būd u-š bāstān šōy dust ō xānag nīd, ān zan xešmēn ō pēš šud [ud] šōy āzārēnīd u-š tis ō šōy dust nē dād ud šōy az šarm ī ōy nangīd [kū] marg abāyēd xwāst.

22. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē ō dušox āguxt ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ān zan ast kē pad zindagān harw driyōš ud mizdwar¹³⁰ ud kārdāg kē ōy šōy ud sālār xwarišn ud dārišn framud dād ōy az-iš abāz¹³¹ grift.

23. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē nigūnsār ō dušox āguxt ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān zan ī mowmard-ē¹³² būd u-š xwēštan ō dēn [nē] dād (or ō sōg dād). ¹³³

24. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē andar dušox pad zanǰīr ī rōyēn bast ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy ast kē pad zindagān wēhdēn būd [ud] a-kustīg frāz dwārist.¹³⁴

25. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē¹³⁵ kē nigūnsār ō dušox āguxt ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān daštān pad āb šust ud tā gāh ī xwēš pad gyāg nē nišast.

26. ānī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē dast ud pāy bast ēstād u-š gāw ī warzāg pad srū be zanēd, pad sumb wisparēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān pad ǰud az šōy [ī] xwēš mard frāz xwēš hišt.

27. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē ādurestar pad kabīz paymāyēd ud xwarēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān gāw ud gōspand ī gušn was ōzad.

28. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē nigūn ō dušox āguxt ēstēd u-š mēx ī rōyēn andar kamarband kōst ēstēd ud xūn ud rēm az dahān hamē āyēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad [zindagān] zūrgugāyīh dād ud ān saxwan guft kū nē dīd ud nē ašnūd.

29. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē nigūn bast āguxt ēstēd u-š pad mār ī syā hamē zanēnd u-š hamē gazed. hamē brāmēd ud gōwēd kū:-m hilēd ō ān šahr ī zindagān tā ān, ī-mān az driyōšān appurd, harw ēk 4 abāz¹³⁶ daham. pursēm man wirāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān tis az kasān appurd u-š xwāstag ī kasān pad xwēš frāz grift ud pad gētīy wiyābān būd.

30. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē pad d’[s]¹³⁷ ī āhanēn pestān ī xwēš dazēd u-š pad dyg ¹³⁸ ud ādurān brēzēnd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān abāg šōy ud sālār dušsāzag būd u-š az ōy ī šōy duzīh kard u-š abāg mard ī kasān be xward.

31. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē nasā ud pestān ī xwēš pad kārd brīnēd xwarēd. u-š kōdag-ēw azabar hamē griyēd ud harw ars-ē [ī] az čašm ī ān kōdag bē āyēd be wēm-ē bawēd pad sar ud grīw ī ān zan pahikōbēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wīnāh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān šīr az kōdag ī xwēš abāz¹³⁹ grift ud ō kōdag ī kasān dād.

32. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē kē pad mōy ō dušox āguxt ēstād. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān abāg wināhkārān raft.

33. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē mār ud abārīg ⁺xrafstar¹⁴⁰ tan hamē ǰōyēnd.¹⁴¹ pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy kē pad zindagān tuwānīg būd u-š nē xwad xward ud nē dād u-š bāstān mardōm ī driyōš pad garzišn ud must az-iš būd hēnd.

34. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē zahr ī mār pad kabīz paymāyēd ud xwarēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān kabīz ud tarāzūg ī keh dāšt.

35. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē pad rasan ō dušox āguxt ēstād. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān sōgand ī drō¹⁴² xward.

36. ānī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī zan-ē¹⁴³ kē angišt pad kabīz paymāyēd ud xwarēd.¹⁴⁴ pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn zan čē wināh kard. [ōh] gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy zan kē pad zindagān ātaxš pad xānag nē nēk dāšt.

37. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē [kē] mēx ī āhanēn andar uzwān bast ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān ⁺āzwar¹⁴⁵ ud dušsāzag ud anāg-kām būd ud ka-š tis-ēw ī nēk pad kas-ē dīd ēg-iš garān ud dušwār būd u-š kāmist kū-š pad kas-iz ma bawād.

38. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē pad pāy-ēw ō dušox āguxt ēstēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān pid ud mād ī xwēš bēšīd.

39. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē nasā pad ātaxš brēzēd ud xwarēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān zan ī daštān nazdīk ī ātaxš dāšt.

40. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ē kē kārd-ēw ī tēz andar dil dārēd ud hamē brēnēd. pursēm man wīrāz kū: ēn mard čē wināh kard. ōh gōwēnd srōš ahlā ud ādur yazad kū: ēn ruwān ī ōy mard kē pad zindagān xwah ī xwēš zan būd u-š az zanīh be hišt ud wadbaxt ō šahr ī murdagān šud.

41. anī wēn-iz-ēm ruwān ī mard-ēw ud zan-ēw. ān mard ō wahišt ud ān zan ō dušox nayēnd ud ān zan dast pad dāman ī mard dārēd ud gōwēd kū: čē kāmē kardan, ka pad šahr ī zindagān tō šōy ud sālār ī man būd hē ud ēk nān ud ēk āb ud ēk wistarag būd hēm, čē rāy dast-ēw¹⁴⁶ ud pāy-ē bē nē brīd ham u-t čē rāy pādifrāh ī garān abar nē kard ham¹⁴⁷ kū man-iz čiyōn tō kustīg dāšt hē, u-m nūn 9 hazār sālag andar tār ud tom dušox abāyēd būdan. bē awar tā ō pēš ī rašn ī rāst šawēm u-mān wizīr ud dādwarīh kunēd. ud ō pēš ī rašn ī rāst šud hēnd ud kirbag ī ōy [mard] ud wināh ī ōy zan pad tarāzūg sanjīd. rāst ōy [ī] mard ud rāst ōy [ī] zan. ud zan ō wahišt kard hēnd.

42. ud az pēš šawēd ādur yazad ud az pas šawam man wīrāz ud wēnēm ruwān ī kirbakkarān ud wēnēm ruwān ī ardā zarduxšt ō wahišt ī bāmīg kē homānāg az 4 dar ī zarrēn. ud wēnēm ruwān ī ōšnar¹⁴⁸ ī purr-xrad ud wēnēm ruwān ī ǰamšēd ud wēnēm ādur¹⁴⁹ yazad ī kirbakkar kē dar ī wahišt pāyēd [abāg^?] sag ī zarrēn[-gōš].¹⁵⁰ ud man wīrāz pāyēnd 7 amahrspand kē pad pānāgīh abar gumārd ēstē[n]d. was yazišn ī man wīrāz ō mowmardān¹⁵¹ kard, was kirbag ī man wīrāz pad šahr ī zindagān kard, hammōyēn ō [man] rasēd.

43. burzam man wīrāz ud dast ō yazadān dāram ud ohmazd ī bay pēš ēstam kū:-m ma frēst¹⁵² ō šahr ī zindagān tā pad ēn wahišt mānam.¹⁵³ pas ādur yazad ī kirbakkar ō man wīrāz ruwān gōwēd kū: ardā wīrāz, kunišn ī xwēš nigāh dār kū-t ēn wahišt u-š āppār nē bawād.

abzād ohrmazd abāg amahrspandān.

frazaft pad drōd ud šādīh.

man dēn-bandag¹⁵⁴ hōšang syāwaxš nibišt az daftar ī gōbad-šāh¹⁵⁵ rōstam.

4. Translation of the Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān

In the name and by the aid of the Yazads

[Let there be] a good omen.

1. This book is called Wīrāzagān, and it was written in the time when Wištāsp-šāh was reigning, and when Jāmāsp the viceroy¹⁵⁶ was the sage-in-chief (or soothsayer-in-chief) of Ēran,¹⁵⁷ and when the Faith of Mazda-worshippers came to [this] world.

2. … then Wištāsp-šāh, together with the noble Mazda-worshipping men …¹⁵⁸

3. … the lot was drawn by Wīrāz. Then come the seven sisters of Ardā Wīrāz,¹⁵⁹ put their hands over their chest,¹⁶⁰ and standing in front of King Wistāsp, they say: “Don't send Wīrāz to the realm of the dead, for we are like a shining house full of light that has one window, and if one takes away the window, the house will fall into darkness”. And then Wištāsp [says]: “I am not sending Wīrāz to the realm of the dead, but he drew lots among the noble Mazda-worshipping men”. And, being thus satisfied, [the sisters] left King Wištāsp.

4. [Then the priests] bring a three-cubit long bedding of silk and spread it on the ground. Wīrāz reposes on it and they bring in the drink of Wīrāz (which he was supposed to drink). They bring a bowl made of gold and the noble Mazda-worshipping men stand forth and consecrate the sacrificial bread (or celebrate a dron ceremony),¹⁶¹ while Wīrāz is saying the prayer of wāz (lit. “taking wāz”).¹⁶² And he drinks the first bowl, the second bowl and the third bowl.

5. [After] he reposes on the bed the third time, his soul rises and walks by the first step in Good Thought, by the second in Good Speech, and by the third step in Good Deed, until it reaches the place where the glory of the waters and the fires stands¹⁶³ and where Rašn the Just,¹⁶⁴ with the golden scale in his hand, stands and measures the pious acts and sins (of the human souls). Tīr the Scribe¹⁶⁵ makes records [in the Book], and that Book is being written since the beginning of Zurwan (i.e. Time) the Sovereign.

6. And the Dog with golden ears¹⁶⁶ that guards the bridge of Činwad¹⁶⁷ and has the height of a mountain, is chained with a brazen chain. As [it] sees Wīrāz, [it] rises up and, baring his teeth, barks and moves towards Wīrāz. The Činwad bridge becomes as narrow as the edge of a razor.

7. I,¹⁶⁸ Wīrāz, became scared, and, stretching my hands towards the gods, [I exclaim]: “Of what use are my sacrifices to the yazads and my beneficial acts that I used to perform when I was alive? Of what use is it [for me] that I … (married?/protected?)¹⁶⁹ those seven sisters, and of what use is it [for me] that I fed the cattle and the sheep well, because none is coming to my aid”.

8. Immediately there came towards me the one who is [called] “[one who has] a good fraward”,¹⁷⁰ and says: “Don't be afraid, O Wīrāz the priest, but speak the truth [about] what you have done in life”. I, the righteous Wīrāz, say: “Nothing harmful has ever been done [by me] to my soul, nor any corrupt words or lies has ever been spoken [by me]”. And Ardā yazad¹⁷¹ stands as a witness for this. The second time I say: “Nothing harmful has ever been done [by me] to my soul”, and the Glory of the pious ones ¹⁷² stands as a witness to this. The third time I speak, and Rašn the Just stands as a witness to it.

9. The Činwad bridge becomes 4 cubits long.¹⁷³ When I pass¹⁷⁴ [over it], Ādur yazad comes towards me and says: “You are not welcome here, O Wīrāz of fresh-wood and fresh-incense!”. And then I say to Ādur yazad: “You are welcome here, O immutable (?) Ādur yazad! While I [was] in the [world] of the living, I offered [you] firewood and incense of seven years and now you call [me] ‘of fresh-wood and fresh-incense’!”. And then Ādur yazad says: “You, Wīrāz, did not know that it is proper to burn dry wood and incense of one year than that of seven years and wet, [as] that [pool of] three-spear-deep water comes from that [kind of] wood and incense. From now on give one-year-old but dry wood and incense, because one-year-old and dry is better than seven years old and wet”. Then he led me, Wīrāz, and showed a large bridge¹⁷⁵ which is full of that water that has come out of that wood and incense (that I have offered to him).

10. And then he leads [me] in front of the Lord Ohrmazd. I, Wīrāz, hear Ohrmazd's voice and do not see his body. And nwkcym ¹⁷⁶ (bow^?), I am paying homage to him. Thus [says] Ohrmazd approaching me: “You are welcome, O priest Wīrāz! Why did you come to this world of the dead, for it is not yet [your] time? Then I answer: “Kay Wištāsp said [to me]: ‘Go and see that land of the dead [because from] all this teaching we accepted from Zoroaster, we do not know which is [true] and which is not’”.

11. Then Lord Ohrmazd [ordered] Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad … .¹⁷⁷

12 … from behind the pious and sinful acts¹⁷⁸ … from the front Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad [move forward], and from behind, [I], Ardā Wīrāz, go [after them], and see the soul of a man who was hanging from his tongue. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit that he is being punished so heavily?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad that: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, was a corrupt judge and did not judge justly”.

13. Then I see the soul of a man who is tied by a chain from his tongue and is hanging in hell. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” [Thus say] Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, in the gatherings and places where he sat, did not speak justly,¹⁷⁹ and appropriated the property that was not his own and thought that ‘I am wise’”.

14.¹⁸⁰ Then I see the soul of a man who is tied by his hands and feet, and an ox is goring him and trampling him under its hoofs. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, made the ox toil and did not give water at the proper time, and tied his mouth with a bridle”.

15. Then I see the soul of a man that is sitting in menstruation blood that reaches his neck. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, slept with [his] menstruating wife”.

16.¹⁸¹ Then I see the soul of a man that has bread in his hand and is throwing it to a dog. The dog does not eat the bread but eats the corpse of that man. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, was a shepherd and did not give the daily meal to the dogs”.

17. Then I see the soul of a woman who is cutting her corpse with a knife and eating it. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, [when] her father and mother tried to marry her [to another man], she said ‘I won't become the wife of this man’, and came to the world of the dead as a virgin”.

18. Then I see the soul of a woman that has a knife struck in her heart and [she] is cutting. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, her brother asked her to marry him and she refused”.¹⁸²

19. Then I see the soul of a woman, who is burning her pudenda with charchoal and eating [it]. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, did not give bread to travellers and asked for pay”.

20. Then I see the soul of a woman that is hanging by one of her feet over hell. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, when her brother asked [her to become his wife], and she did not, and became the wife of a stranger”.

21. Then I see the soul of a woman on whose tongue there was a nail tied (struck?) and [who] was hanging over hell. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, was oppressive and all the time, when her husband brought a friend to the house, that woman stepped forward angrily, tormented her husband and did not give anything to her husband's friend, and her husband was ashamed because of her, [and he thought] I should ask for death”.

22. Then I see the soul of a woman who is hanging over hell. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, every poor man or hireling, or traveller, to whom her husband and lord ordered to give food or property, she took it away from him”.

23. Then I see the soul of a woman who is hanging over hell with her head downwards. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, was the wife of a priest, and did not give herself to the Religion (or gave herself to grief)”.¹⁸³

24. Then I see the soul of a woman who is tied with brazen chains in hell. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, was a true believer and walked around without kustīg (the sacred girdle)”.

25. Then I see the soul of a woman who is hanging over hell with her head downwards. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad that: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, washed her menstruation blood with water and did not sit in her [proper] place untill [the end of] her period”.

26. Then I see the soul of a woman whose hands and feet were tied and an ox was goring her and trampling her under its hooves. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, let a man other than her husband approach her”.

27. Then I see the soul of a man who is weighing ash with kabīz and eating it. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, slaughtered many males of cattle and sheep”.

28. Then I see the soul of a man who is hanging down over hell and a brazen nail is struck in his waist (lit. belt) and blood and dirt are flowing from his mouth. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad that: “This is the soul of that man, who, while [alive], bore false witness and said words [about things] that he had neither seen nor heard of”.

29. Then I see the soul of a man, who is tied up and hanging downwards, and [demons] beat him with a black snake, and [the snake] bites, as he weeps and says: “Let me go to the world of the living, so that I can repay four to one for everything I stole from the poor”. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad that: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, stole things from other people and appropriated the property of others and was a deceiver (wiyābān?) in the world”.

30.¹⁸⁴ Then I see the soul of a woman, who is burning her breasts with an iron comb/sickle(?)¹⁸⁵ and [they] roast her with a cauldron(?) and flames. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, was inappropriate (behaved inappropriately) with her husband and master, and stole from [her] husband and ate it with another man”.

31.¹⁸⁶ Then I see the soul of a woman who is cutting her corpse and breasts with a knife and eating it. And her child is crying from above and every tear that comes from the eyes of that child is turning into stone, striking the head and neck of that woman. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, kept her milk away from her child and gave it to a stranger's child”.

32. Then I see the soul of a woman, who was hanging over hell by her hair. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, used to be with sinful people”.

33. Then I see the soul of a man whose body is being eaten by snakes and other noxious creatures. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that, who, while alive, was rich, and he neither ate it himself (profited from it) nor gave it [to others], and poor people were always weeping and complaining of him”.

34.¹⁸⁷ Then I see the soul of a man, who is weighing snake poison with kabīz and eating it. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, kept a small (i.e. incorrect) kabīz ¹⁸⁸ and scales”.

35. Then I see the soul of a man who was hanging by a rope over hell. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad that: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, swore a false oath”.

36. Then I see the soul of a woman who is weighing charcoal with kabīz and eating it. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this woman commit?” [Thus] say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that woman, who, while alive, did not keep the fire well in the house”.

37. Then I see the soul of a man on whose tongue an iron nail is tied (struck?). I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, was greedy, uncourteous, and evil-desiring. When he saw something good in another's possession, he felt unwell and uneasy, and wished it not to be in anyone's possession” (i.e. he destroyed it).

38. Then I see the soul of a man who is hanging by one of his feet over hell. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, hurt his father and mother”.

39. Then I see the soul of a man, who is roasting his corpse over fire and eating. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, let [his] menstruating wife near a fire”.

40. Then I see the soul of a man who has a sharp knife in his heart and is cutting [constantly]. I, Wīrāz, ask: “What sin did this man commit?” Thus say Srōš the Righteous and Ādur yazad: “This is the soul of that man, who, while alive, his sister was his wife, and he left his wife and [she] the unfortunate came to the world of the dead.

41.¹⁸⁹ Then I see the souls of a man and a woman. They are leading the man to Heaven and the woman to Hell, and that woman is holding the skirt of the man and is saying: “What do you want to do, when in the world of the living you were my husband and master, and we shared the same bread, the same water, and the same bed. Why did you not cut one of my hands or feet, and why did you not punish me heavily so that I would also wear the sacred girdle (kustīg) as you did? And now I must stay for 9,000 years in that dark and gloomy hell. But come here! Let us go to Rašn the Just, so that he will judge us”. And they went to Rašn the Just and he weighed the good deeds of the [man] and the sins of the woman on the scales. Equal is the [pan] of the man, and that of the woman.¹⁹⁰ And they sent the woman to Heaven.

42. From the front Ādur yazad is going forward and, from behind, I, Wīrāz, follow him. And I see the souls of the pious ones and I see the soul of the righteous Zarduxšt in shining Paradise, which is like four golden doors(?) And I see the soul of the wise Ōšnar¹⁹¹ and I see the soul of Jamšēd and I see the beneficent Ādur yazad, who is guarding the door of Paradise [together with] the golden dog,¹⁹² and the seven amahraspands, who are appointed to guard, are guarding me, Wīrāz. The many sacrifices that I, Wīrāz, made for the priests, and all the pious deeds that I, Wīrāz performed while alive, will entirely be returned [to me] …

43. I, Wīrāz, praise and lift my hands towards the gods and stand in front of the lord Ohrmazd [saying]: Do not send me to the world of the living, so that I can stay in Paradise. Then beneficent Ādur yazad says to me, the soul of Wīrāz: “O righteous Wīrāz, watch your actions and this Paradise is yours, and it will not be taken away”.¹⁹³

Let Ohrmazd be propitious with the amahraspands

Completed in prosperity and happiness.

I, servant of religion, Hōšang Syāwaxš, wrote [this] from the book of Gōbadšāh Rustahm.