Bahman Yasht (Zand-i Wahman Yasn)
The Zand-i Wahman Yasn (“Interpretation of the Bahman Yasht”) is one of the most important Zoroastrian apocalyptic texts. It preserves Zoroaster’s vision of the four world ages and the sequence of three Saoshyant saviours who will restore the world.
The Vision of the World Tree
Zoroaster sees a tree with four branches:
- Gold branch — age of righteousness under Vishtasp (Zoroaster’s patron)
- Silver branch — age of Ardeshir and the Sassanid restoration
- Steel branch — age when the wicked Aeshmaog-mand spreads heresy
- Mixed iron branch — final evil age before the Saoshyants
The Three Saoshyant Millennia
| # | Name | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ushedar | Ch 6 |
| 2 | Ushedarmah | Ch 7 |
| 3 | Soshyant (Astvat-ereta) | Ch 8-9 |
Note on Chapter System
This text uses the Anklesaria 9-chapter system. E.W. West used a 3-chapter division; the Anklesaria system provides finer-grained access.
Translated by E.W. West (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 5, 1880). Public domain.