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III. MEANING OF KHVÊTOK-DAS.
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afflicting' holder of decision; and the shame of the brother of Tùr arose, like that of a man whose shame was that they spoke of his Khvêtūk-das so that he might perform it. This Tar was Tor-1 Adrvâltà-sang?, the little-giving, who was like a great sovereign of that quarter; and he maintained many troops and much power. And the multitude told him they would seize the great one from him who is littles. But Tar-i Adrvâltà-sang, the littlegiving and well-afflicting, spoke thus :—Should thereupon smite him, this great one who mingles together those propitious words for us—where we are thus without doubt as to one thing therein, such as Khvêtûk-das, that it is not necessary to perform it-it would make us ever doubtful that it might be necessary to perform it.' .... And Zaratust spoke to him thus: 'I am not always that reserved speaker, by whom that I have mentioned is the most propitious thing to be obtained; and inward speaking and managing the temper are a Khvêtuk-das“, and the high-priest who has performed it is to perform the ceremonial.'”. This passage attributes to Zaratůst himself the enforcement of next-of-kin marriage, but it is hardly necessary to point out that the Dinkard only records a tradition to that effect; which
1 The word hQ-nosako is the Pablavi equivalent of Av. hunusta (Yas. L, 10, b), but the meaning of both words is uncertain. This Tür seems to have been more friendly to Zaratust than the Tûrânians were in general, but he appears not to be mentioned in the extant Avesta.
As this epithet has not been found in the extant Avesta, the reading is uncertain.
• Meaning that they demanded possession of Zaratūst in an insolent manner.
• In a figurative sense.
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