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CHAPTER 11, 16-24.
23
The conveying of Zaratûst down does not seem to be for me, because, having a mouth and having a tongue, he will be a proclaimer to the world of embodied beings. 20. If we convey Zaratůst down on to the world of embodied beings, having a mouth and having a tongue, as a proclaimer of the celestial mansion, this is evident: they will say, concerning the origin of him who is my righteous man, that we frame him together with the water, with the land, with the plants, and with the animals?. 21. Therefore we will carry off there, to the village of Pôrûshåspô, him whom they will call Zaratust of good lineage of both natures, both of Nêryôsang ? who is of the archangels, and of Yim who is of mankind.'
22. Then the archangels framed together a stem of Hôm the height of a man, excellent in colour, and juicy where fresh ; also to carry off the guardian spirit of Zaratûst to that stem of theirs, the archangels made it go forth thither from that endless light, and gave it up there also to the instinctive intellect (asnô vir). 23. Likewise their carrying off was manifest around, and a wall was openly displayed round them, but a restless one; the Hôm was constantly provided with a mouth, where it was suitable, and sap constantly oozed from the Hôm where it was moist.
24. And when thirty 3 years of the 3,000 years of
phrases for desirable dominion, bountiful devotion, completeness or health, and immortality.'
1 That is, as an inferior and irresponsible being.
? Here spelt Nêrôsang ; see Chaps. I, 29; II, 70; and Zs. XIII, 6, for this angel's influence on the royal race.
The MS. has 330 years, but the time intended is evidently that shortly before the birth of Zaratūst, and this third 3,000 years
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