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CHAPTER I, 50-II, 14.
the good", and to the maintenance of the body in the worldly existence and the preservation of the soul in the spiritual one.'
CHAPTER II. 1. The sage asked the spirit of wisdom (2) thus : How is it possible to seek the maintenance and prosperity of the body [without injury of the soul, and the preservation of the soul without injury of the body?]?'
3. The spirit of wisdom answered (4) thus : ‘Him who is less than thee consider as an equal, and an equal as a superior, (5) and a greater than him as a chieftain, and a chieftain as a ruler. 6. And among rulers one is to be acquiescent, obedient, and true-speaking ; (7) and among accusers 4 be submissive, mild, and kindly regardful.
8. Commit no slander; (9) so that infamy and wickedness may not happen unto thee. 10. For it is said (11) that slander is more grievous than witchcraft; (12) and in hell the rush of every fiend 5 is to the front, but the rush of the fiend of slander, on account of the grievous sinfulness, is to the rear.
13. Form no covetous desire; (14) so that the
1 Meaning, specially, the priests.
: The passage in brackets is omitted by K43, and is here supplied from L19.
3 In L19 the text is corrupt, but has nearly the same meaning.
- L19 has 'associates,' which seems equally appropriate; the two words are much alike in Pahlavi writing.
• The word drug, 'fiend,' is usually supposed to mean a female demon, and is often understood so in the Avesta, perhaps because it is a feminine noun. It is usually an impersonation of some evil passion (see Chap. XLI, 11).
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