________________
372
APPENDIX.
descendants of Nivik and Dåstânik?, were slain by him, and the grievous harm and disaster owing to them; and when the mighty wind was appeased by him, and brought back from damaging the world to benefiting the creatures; and for that which happens when, owing to confinement?, Dahâk becomes eager, rushes on for the destruction of the world, and attempts the annihilation of the creatures, and his being roused to smite him and to tame that powerful fiend for the creatures of the world. The opposition of fire to Keresâsp, through his causing distress to it and keeping away from it, which were owing to his seeking hell; the supplication of Zaratust to the fire to have compassion upon him, which was owing to his sin; the compliance of the fire with that request; and the departure of the soul of Keresâsp to the ever-stationary existence. Perfect is the excellence of righteousness.'
Although the Sůdkar Nask has long been lost, the legend contained in this fourteenth fargard still survives in its Pahlavi form, though probably somewhat abridged, and a Persian paraphrase of this Pahlavi version is also to be found in the Persian
· The Nivika and Dâstayâni of Zamyâd Yt. 41.
? The wind (vado), though an angel when moderate and useful, is supposed to become a demon in a gale or hurricane; and is mentioned as such in Vend. X, 24.
s In the volcano, Mount Dimâvand (see Bd. XII, 31, XXIX, 9, Byt. III, 55-61). This exploit is expected to be performed hereafter.
The hamîstiko ahvâno, intermediate between heaven and hell (see Dd. XX, 3).
The Pahlavi equivalent of the Av. ashem voha, here translated, follows each summary of the contents of a fargard or Nask in the Dinkard, in the same way as ashem vohu follows each fargard of the Vendidad and each section of the Galhas in the Vendidad sådah or liturgy.
Digitized by Google
