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22
DÎNKARD, BOOK VII.
16. Then the three millenniums of Zaratûst ? were the number manifest to them through observation by the eye, and it seemed that he became just like an archangel through bodily contact with (hamkerpih) 2 the archangels. 17. And when the separation of the third millennium occurred, after the framing of Zaratûst together, and before the conveying of Zaratūst down to the worldly state, at the end of the 3,000 years of worldly existence with a destroyer, then Adharmazd argued with Vohamanô and Ashavahistô 3 thus : 'Is his mother beheld by you, so that we may produce Zaratust ?'
18. And Ashavahistô spoke in reply thus: Thou art aware even of that, o propitious one! about the Zaratûst we shall produce, and thou and we have produced, thou knowest, O Adharmazd! and to us who are the other archangels do thou announce the place, because its appearance thou knowest, thou propitious spirit Adharmazd!'
19. Then Adharmazd argued with Vohûmanô and the reminding by Ardavahistô 4, Shatraver, Spendarmad, Khûrdad, and Amûrdad, saying :
Meaning the period of Zaratûst's existence merely as a guardian spirit, the first period of the destroyer ( 17) who then remained powerless in confusion (see Bd. I, 22).
? Or sheltering with ' (ham-karîkîh).
• The personifications of the Avesta phrases for good thought' and perfect rectitude,' who are two of the seven that hold a superior position among sacred beings, somewhat similar to that. of archangels. When a Parsi speaks of Adharmazd as the first of the Ameshaspends, or archangels, he does not put him on an equality with the rest, any more than we put a commander-in-chief on an. equality with his troops when we call him a good soldier. * Another pronunciation of Ashavahistô.
These last four archangels are personifications of the Avesta
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