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CHAPTER VIII, 27–34.
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they say this, namely: “As to this which thou tellest us, it is evidently not so as thou sayest,” of which they speak thus: “This duty of thy man is not mine (that is, it is not necessary for me to perform) nor thine (that is, it is not necessary even for thee to perform), because it is not this which is righteousness (that is, not a good work)." 31. For this one is produced for these words and thoughts of thine, of whom thou, too, art aware, he who is whatever is here below of Adshêdarof thoughtful controversy, O Zaratust of the Spitâmas! for he brings into notice, through the intermingling of his own soul, him who is righteous, or has not become so.'
32. This, too, he says, namely: Of those, o Zaratûst of the Spitâmas! who come in the ninth and tenth centuries, I tell thee that they are of the fiend of Greed (Âzi); it is in her womb that they are to be fashioned, they who assist those who would be vicious, through pre-eminence in leadership, or through excellence in subserviency.'
33. And this, too, it says about them: “Those men are much to be destroyed ;' so it is said by Allharmazd that 'these who are righteous, who carry away a corpse in this world, distress their fire, according to every high-priest 3, and even longflowing water ; their bodies, which are really cesspools * of a terrible character, become very assisting for the tormentors whose corpses are grievously wicked. 34. Concerning them I tell thee, O Zara
1 To the apostate. 2 See $$ 55-60 and Chap. I, 42 n. Here spelt Aakhshêdar. 3 Reading dastûr, instead of vastûr. * Pahl. maya-vakhdan = Pers. âb-gir.
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