Denkard 7.06 - Propagation of Religion to Vishtasp
Denkard Book 7, Chapter 6 Translated by E.W. West (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 47, 1897)
CHAPTER 6. Further events till the death of Vishtasp.
1
About the marvellousness which is manifested after the departure (vikhezo) of Zartosht, whose guardian spirit is reverenced, to the best existence, and in the lifetime of Vishtasp.
2
One marvel is this which is declared by revelation, about the provision of a chariot by Srito of the Visraps; this is through a famous wonder and the coming of a report about the marvellousness of that chariot to Vishtasp, Vishtasp’s begging that chariot from Srito, and Srito saying in reply to Vishtasp : ‘That chariot is for a righteous man, in which the soul of Srito in the lifetime of Srito’s body, and that of that man in the lifetime of his body, come visibly together once in the worldly existence.’ 3. And the soul of Srito, through the generosity of that Srito, presents that chariot to the eyesight of that man of righteousness; thereby it becomes evident he had seen it, and is told not to act in another manner. 4. The exalted Kay Vishtasp, as becoming from revelation more particularly aware of this marvel about the future at that time, and for the sake of this marvel being published to the worldly existence (gehanigih), and of his becoming more invoking for the supremacy of the Mazda-worshipping religion, became discernible by those of the realm, is sought for, and is most attended.
5
A great wonder became manifest to Vishtasp and those of the world, just as revelation mentions thus: ‘Thereupon the archangels are letting forth the soul of that Srito from the light of the supreme heaven, from the light on to the earth created by Ohrmazd; and the soul of Vishtasp proceeded from him into the light to meet it. 6. Vishtasp proceeded on to the propitious south (rapitvino); he was producing more gain than the gainers, and he was more inquisitive than the inquisitive; to all whom he saw he spoke, and unto such as spoke he listened; when he gazed at them looking simultaneously they stood up, and obeisance was offered by them unto the soul and person of Vishtasp.‘
7
Immediately upon that no delay occurred until there came on at a run - besides the soul of Srito of the Visraps - the most horrid (agrandtum) of demons, from the horrid northern quarter of the horrid destroyer (zadar), that was himself black, and his deeds, too, were very black. 8. And as he comes himself, so also he grumbles to the soul of Srito thus: ‘Give a maintenance (khvarag) to Vishtasp who is thy driver, for the sake of good fellowship and service, and for that, righteousness is suitable unto a pure one; do not give it as a thing which is protective (that is, do not give it for the sake of worldly gratuity), but for love of the righteousness which is owing to the perfect existences.‘
9
When those words were fully heard by Srito of the Visraps, the early bestower (levino-vakhsh), he stood still and so he spoke in words thus: ‘For righteousness I give thee, O mighty Kay Vishtasp! this chariot which is without a driver, only for love of the righteousness which is owing to the perfect existences.’ 10. As much for righteousness as is best for righteousness, and as much for the soul as is best for the soul, the gift of the whole was secured (that is, its acceptance was announced as often as three times).
11
Then that chariot became two chariots, one spiritual and the other worldly; in the worldly one the exalted Kay Vishtasp traveled forth unto the village of the Nodars in the joyfulness of good thoughts, and in the spiritual one the soul of Srito of the Visraps traveled forth unto the best existence.
12
One marvel is this which is declared that in fifty-seven years onwards from the acceptance of the religion by Zartosht, the arrival of the religion is published in the seven regions; and within the lifetime of Vishtasp, the circumstance (aedunoih) is manifested by the coming of some from other regions to Frashostar of the Hvobas for enquiry about the religion, even as revelation mentions thus: ‘Two whose names are thus, Spitois and Arezraspo, who have hastened unto Frashostar of the Hvobas in search of wisdom.‘
13
Thus much splendour and wonder of Vishtasp and those of the realm regarding Zartosht, and thus much due to the coming of the archangels from the sky to the earth before Vishtasp, as evidence about the true prophesying of Zartosht; and that, too, about Peshyotan, the chariot of Srito, and other subjects seen written above, are declared by the Avesta, which is the same that they accepted from Zartosht, as the culmination (avariganih) of Ohrmazd’s words.
14
And if this splendour, glory, and wonder that are written above as regards what those learned men of the realm saw - which are in the statement revealed by the Avesta - had not occurred, king Vishtasp and those learned men of the realm Would not have seen what this Avesta had revealed to them - which was thus much splendour and wonder reported by it to them - and not one word about leaving its preservation to us would be annexed.