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62
THE GÂTHAS.
9. An evil teacher (as that leader is), he will destroy (our) doctrines, and by his teachings he will pervert the (true) understanding of life, seizing away: (from me) my riches 8, the choice and real wealth of (Thy) Good Mind. To You and to Asha, 0 Ahura Mazda! am I therefore crying with the voice of my spirit's * (need)!
10. Aye, this man will destroy my doctrines (indeed, for he blasphemes the highest of creatures that live or are made). He declares that the (sacred) Kines and the Sun are the worst of things which eye can see; and he will offer the gifts of the wicked (as priest to their Demon-gods). And at the last he will parche our meadows with drought, and will hurl his mace at Thy saint (who may fall before his arms).
An improper subjunctive. Otherwise : He (has) destroyed (not irretrievably, of course; the case was not decided, and finally issued favourably).
* Apo--yantâ; otherwise they would take'; Ner, apaharati. • Zak î li îsht avôrto (khvâstak i pavan dastóbar).
• Pavan valmansân milaya î mînavadiha ; Ner, vågbhih manasavrittyâ aham-akrandaye (not following our present Pahlavi text, the gloss however). Observe that in reading Ner. we by no means ipso facto read the Pahlavi, either in correct translation, or as following our texts. Compare XLVI, 2.
One thinks somewhat of the familiar foes of the Vedic kine; but there can be of course no connection. The Iranian sacred Cow did not represent the rain cloud, at least not at all directly.
Read viyâpat as a demon. without sign: 'v' was miswritten for 'y' as often 'y' for 'v.' The Pahlavi language, not to speak of the Pahlavi translation, suggests it. How are we to account for the word vîyâvânînêd? We should not arrest our philology at the Zend and Sanskrit. The long vowel is most awkward for a comparison with the Indian vap=shear. And I think that 'destroying the means of irrigation' gives as good a meaning as
shearing the land.' Notice that elsewhere a more correct form appears, vîâpôtemem (Vd. III, 15, (51 Sp.) )=viyâpôtemem.
? Literally, 'he will discharge his club at the righteous.'
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| SR No. | 007673 |
| Book Title | Zend Avesta Part 03 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | L H Mills |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1887 |
| Total Pages | 2618 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 49 MB |