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CHAPTER XXXVII, 46-52.
the demon of demons, the mightiest (mazvantum) in valour, rushing up across that boundary; they are beaten back now, when they have not reached it from the gloom, at once and finally (yak-vayo akhar).
50. And the fiend of gloomy race, accustomed to destruction (aôsh-âyin), changed into causes of death the position (gâs) of the brilliant, supreme heaven of the pure, heavenly angels-which he ordained through the power of1 Mitôkht ('falsehood')—and the triumph of the glory of the world's creatures, as ordained through two decrees (zikŏ):one, the destruction of the living by the power 2 of death; and one causing the manacling of souls by a course of wickedness. 51. And he made as leaders therein that one astute in evil who is already named 3, and Astô-vidâd who is explained as 'the disintegration of material beings;' he also intrusted the demon Bûshasp ('lethargy') with the weakening of the breath, the demon Tap ('fever') with stupefying and disordering the understanding, and the demon Az ('greediness') with suggesting cravings and causing drinking before having the thirst of a dog". 52. Also the demon Zarmân ('decrepitude') for injuring the body and abstract
4
1 Or, zôharakŎ may mean ' venomous.' Mitôkht was the first demon produced by the evil spirit (see Bd. I, 24, XXVIII, 14, 16) who is supposed to be as much 'the father of lies' as his counterpart, the devil of the Christians.
2 Or, zôhar may mean 'venom.' 3 Mitôkht.
95
• See § 44.
• See Bd. XXVIII, 27.
See Chap. XXIII, 3.
7 Reading pês tisno-i sagak nôsânînîdano, but we might read pês tisnog sedkůnisnînîdano, 'causing gnawing before being thirsty.'
See § 44 for this demon and the next two.
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