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· CHAPTER XXI, 7-19.
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thou proceed to an assembly of the spirits !' 12. As much as Vohûmano walked on in nine steps, Zaratûst did in ninety steps, and when he had gone ninety steps farther than him, he saw the assembly of the seven archangels. 13. When he came within twenty-four feet of the archangels, he then did not see his own shadow on the ground, on account of the great brilliancy of the archangels; the position of the assembly was in Irân, and in the direction of the districts on the bank of the water of the Daitth. 14. Zaratůst offered homage, and spoke thus :
Homage to Adharmazd, and homage to the archangels !' and he went forward and sat down in the seat of the enquirers.
15. As to the asking of questions by Zaratust, he enquired of Adharmazd thus: 'In the embodied world which is the first of the perfect ones, which the second, and which the third ?' 16. And Adharmazd replied thus: The first perfection is good thoughts, the second good words, and the third good deeds.'
17. Zaratūst also enquired thus: Which thing is good, which is better 1, and which is the best of all habits ?' 18. And Adharmazd replied thus : "The title of the archangels is good, the sight of them is better, and carrying out their commands is the best of all habits.'
19. Afterwards he demonstrated the duality of the original evolutions (bûn ga stâno) 3, and the divergence in each control, and spoke thus: Of those spirits, he who was wicked preferred the
Both MSS. have 'worse' here. . This title, ameshaspenta, is immortal benefactor.'
The two prime movers in creation.
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