________________
CHAPTER II, 136-156.
21
and archangels of every description come to meet him, (148) and ask tidings from him (149) thus : “How hast thou come, from that which is a perishable, fearful, and very miserable existence, to this which is an imperishable existence that is undisturbed, thou youth who art well-thinking, well-speaking, well-doing, and of good religion ?”
150. “Then Adharmazd, the lord, speaks (151) thus: “Ask ye from him no tidings; for he has parted from that which was a precious body, and has come by that which is a fearful road. 152. And bring ye unto him the most agreeable of eatables, that which is the midspring butter 1, (153) so that he may rest his soul from that bridge of the three nights, unto which he came from Astô-vidad and the remaining demons 2; (154) and seat him upon an all-embellished throne."
155. 'As it is declared (156) that: "Unto 3 the righteous man and woman, after passing away 5, they bring food 6 of the most agreeable of eatables
1 The Maidhyô-zarm rôg han, which is explained in Dd. XXXI, 14 as the spiritual representative of butter made during the Maidhy ô-zaremaya, 'mid-verdure,' festival, which was considered the best of the year. This festival is held on the forty-fifth day of the Parsi year, which was about 4th May when the year was fixed to begin at the vernal equinox as described in Bd. XXV, 3-7, 20. The heavenly food which goes by this name is not to be confounded with the Hash which is expected to be prepared at the resurrection, from the fat of the ox Hadhayôs and the white Hôm, for the purpose of making mankind immortal (see Bd. XXX, 25); although some such confusion appears to exist in AV. X, 5. K43 has rûbân, soul,' instead of rôghan, butter.' ? See $$ 114-123.
S K43 omits 'unto.' · Literally, 'male.'
* L19 adds from the body and consciousness.'
* Reading kazag, instead of kazad, both here and in the next clause of the sentence. L19 has the angels of the spiritual exist
Digitized by Google
i
