AvestaZoroastrianismAccepted ScriptureAvestanShareVendidad Fargard 9Darmesteter and Mills / Sacred Books of the East - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableDarmesteter and Mills / Sacred Books of the EastLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Vendidad Fargard 1Vendidad Fargard 2Vendidad Fargard 3Vendidad Fargard 4Vendidad Fargard 5Vendidad Fargard 6Vendidad Fargard 7Vendidad Fargard 8Vendidad Fargard 9Vendidad Fargard 10Vendidad Fargard 11Vendidad Fargard 12Vendidad Fargard 13Vendidad Fargard 14Vendidad Fargard 15Vendidad Fargard 16Vendidad Fargard 17Vendidad Fargard 18Vendidad Fargard 19Vendidad Fargard 20Vendidad Fargard 21Vendidad Fargard 22Sirozah Sirozah 1Yashts KhorshedSirozah Sirozah 2Yashts Ormazd YashtYashts ArdibehioT 1 YashtYashts Khordad YashtYashts Aban YashtYashts Khorshed YashtYashts Mah YashtYashts Tlr YashtYashts G oS YashtYashts Mihir / Mithra YashtYashts Sraosha Yasht HadhoKhtYashts Rashn YashtYashts Bahram YashtYashts Ram YashtYashts Ashi YashtYashts Aytad YashtYashts Zamyad YashtYashts Van Ant YashtYashts Yasht FragmentYashts Vtetasp YashtNyayis Khorshed? NyayiyNyayis Mihir / Mithra NyayiyNyayis Aban NyayiyNyayis Atay NyayisYasna Yasna 28Yasna Yasna 34Yasna Yasna 30Yasna Yasna 31Yasna Yasna 32Yasna Yasna 33Yasna Yasna 43Yasna Yasna 44Yasna Yasna 11Yasna Yasna 45Yasna Yasna 46Yasna Yasna 47Yasna Yasna 48Yasna Yasna 49Yasna Yasna 50Yasna Yasna 51Yasna Yasna 60Yasna Yasna 53Yasna Yasna 1Yasna Yasna 2Yasna Yasna 3Yasna Yasna 4Yasna Yasna 5Yasna Yasna 6Yasna Yasna 7Yasna Yasna 8Yasna Yasna 9Yasna Yasna 10Yasna Yasna 12Yasna Yasna 13Yasna Yasna 22Yasna Yasna 14Yasna Yasna 15Yasna Yasna 16Yasna Yasna 17Yasna Yasna 19Yasna Yasna 18Yasna Yasna 20Yasna Yasna 21Yasna Yasna 29Yasna Yasna 23Yasna Yasna 24Yasna Yasna 25Yasna Yasna 26Yasna Yasna 27Yasna Yasna 35Yasna Yasna 36Yasna Yasna 37Yasna Yasna 38Yasna Yasna 39Yasna Yasna 40Yasna Yasna 41Yasna Yasna 42Yasna Yasna 52Yasna Yasna 54Yasna Yasna 55Yasna Yasna 56Yasna Yasna 57Yasna Yasna 58Yasna Yasna 59Yasna Yasna 61Yasna Yasna 62Yasna Yasna 65Yasna Yasna 66Yasna Yasna 68Yasna Yasna 70Yasna Yasna 71Yasna Yasna 72Visparad Visparad 1Visparad Visparad 2Visparad Visparad 11Visparad Visparad 3Visparad Visparad 4Visparad Visparad 5Visparad Visparad 7Visparad Visparad 8Visparad Visparad 9Visparad Visparad 10Visparad Visparad 12Visparad Visparad 13Visparad Visparad 14Visparad Visparad 15Visparad Visparad 16Visparad Visparad 18Visparad Visparad 19Visparad Visparad 20Visparad Visparad 21Visparad Visparad 23Afrinagan AfrinaganGahs Gah 1Gahs Gah 2Gahs Gah 3Gahs Gah 4Gahs Gah 5Miscellaneous Fragments Fragment 1Miscellaneous Fragments Fragment 2Miscellaneous Fragments Fragment 3Miscellaneous Fragments Fragment 4Miscellaneous Fragments Fragment 5Miscellaneous Fragments Miscellaneous FragmentsMiscellaneous Fragments Fragment 9›Vendidad: Fargard 9Vendidad Fargard 9ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1Zarathoytra asked Ahura Mazda: ‘ O most ] 20 beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! How shall they manage here below, who want to cleanse the body of one defiled by the dead?’ 2Ahura Mazda answered: ‘A godly man, O Spitama Zarathustra! who speaks truth, who learns the Holy Word, and who knows best the rites of cleansing according to the law of Mazda1, such a man shall fell the trees off the surface of the ground on a space of nine V ibizus 2 square. 3‘ It should be the part of the ground where there is least water and where there are fewest trees, the part which is the cleanest and driest, and the least passed through by sheep and oxen, and by Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda, by the consecrated bundles of baresma, and by the faithful.’ 4How far from the fire? How far from the water? How far from the consecrated bundles of baresma? How far from the faithful? 5(12). Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Thirty paces from the fire, thirty paces from the water, thirty paces from the consecrated bundles of baresma, three paces from the faithful. 6(13). ‘ Then thou shalt dig a hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come 3. 7‘Thou shalt dig a second hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. ‘ Thou shalt dig a third hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. ‘ Thou shalt dig a fourth hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. ‘ Thou shalt dig a fifth hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. ‘ Thou shalt dig a sixth hole \ two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come.’ 8How far from one another? ‘ One pace.’ How much is the pace? ‘ As much as three feet. 9‘Then thou shalt dig three holes more1 2, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come.’ How far from the former six? ‘ Three paces.’ What sort of paces? ‘ Such as are taken in walking.’ How much are those (three) paces? ‘ As much as nine feet. 10‘ Then thou shalt draw a furrow all around with a metal knife.’ How far from the holes? ‘ Three paces.’ What sort of paces? ‘ Such as are taken in walking.’ How much are those (three) paces? ‘ As much as nine feet. Ib. 12‘ Then the unclean one shall walk to the holes; thou, O Zarathuitra! shalt stand outside by the furrow, and thou shalt recite, Nemasia yi irmaitii' 1 z&kti1-, and the unclean one shall repeat, Nemasia y& drmaitii' iz&k&. 14‘ Then thou shalt sprinkle him with gomez from a spoon of brass or of lead; thou shalt take a stick with nine knots 4, O Spitama Zarathu-stra! and thou shalt fasten the leaden spoon to the upper part of the stick. 15‘They shall wash his hands first. If his hands be not washed first, he makes his whole body unclean. When he has washed his hands three times, after his hands have been washed, thou shalt sprinkle the forepart of his skull; then the Dru^ Nasu rushes in front, between his brows5. 16‘Thou shalt sprinkle him in front be¬ tween the brows; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the back part of the skull. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the back part of the skull; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the jaws. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the jaws; then the Dru^* Nasu rushes upon the right ear. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left ear; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the right shoulder. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the right shoulder; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the left shoulder. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left shoulder; then the Dru^- Nasu rushes upon the right arm-pit. 18(64). ‘Thou shalt sprinkle the right armpit; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the left arm-pit. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left arm-pit; then the Dru^ Nasu rushes upon the chest. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the chest; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the back. 19‘Thou shalt sprinkle the back; then the Dru^ Nasu rushes upon the right nipple. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the right nipple; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the left nipple. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left nipple; then the Drug- Nasu rushes upon the right rib. 20‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the right rib; then the Dru^ Nasu rushes upon the left rib. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left rib; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the right hip. ‘Thou shalt sprinkle the right hip; then the Dru^* Nasu rushes upon the left hip. 21‘Thou shalt sprinkle the left hip; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the sexual parts. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the sexual parts. If the un¬ clean one be a man, thou shalt sprinkle him first behind, then before; if the unclean one be a woman, thou shalt sprinkle her first before, then behind; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the right thigh. 22(88). ‘Thou shalt sprinkle the right thigh; then the Dru^ Nasu rushes upon the left thigh. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left thigh; then the Druf Nasu rushes upon the right knee. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the right knee; then the Drug* Nasu rushes upon the left knee. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the right leg; then the ~Drng Nasu rushes upon the left leg. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left leg; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the right ankle. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the right ankle; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the left ankle. 24‘Thou shalt sprinkle the left ankle; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the right instep. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the right instep; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the left instep. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left instep; then the Dru£- Nasu is driven to the sole of the foot, where what is seen of her is like the wing of a fly. 25‘ He shall press his toes upon the ground and shall raise up his heels; thou shalt sprinkle his right sole; then the Drug Nasu rushes upon the left sole. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left sole; then the Dru^ Nasu is driven to the toes, where what is seen of her is like the wing of a fly. 26(113). ‘He shall press his heels upon the ground and shall raise up his toes; thou shalt sprinkle his right toe; then the Drug" Nasu rushes upon the left toe. ‘ Thou shalt sprinkle the left toe; then the Dru^ Nasu flies away to the regions of the north, in the shape of a raging fly, with knees and tail sticking out, all stained with stains, and like unto the foulest Khrafstras. 27‘And thou shalt say those fiend-smiting and most-healing words: — ‘ “ Yathd ahh vairyd: — The will of the Lord is the law of holiness; the riches ofVohu-man6 shall be given to him who works in this world for Mazda, and wields according to the will of Ahura the power he gave to him to relieve the poor. ‘ “ K^m nd mazdd Whom hast thou placed to protect me, O Mazda! while the hate of the fiend is grasping me? Whom, but thy Atar and Vohu-man6, by whose work the holy world goes on? Reveal to me the rules of thy law! ‘ “Ke verethrem gk: — Who is he who will smite the fiend in order to maintain thy ordinances? Teach me clearly thy rules for this world and for the next, that Sraosha may come with Vohu-mand and help whomsoever thou pleasest. ‘ “ Keep us from our hater, O Mazda and Armaiti Spewta! Perish, O fiendish Dru^! Perish, O brood of the fiend! Perish, O world of the fiend! Perish away, O Drug! Rush away, O Dru^! Perish away, O Druf! Perish away to the regions of the north, never more to give unto death the living world of the holy spirit 1! ” 28(1x9). ‘At the first hole the man becomes freer from the Nasu; then thou shalt say those fiend-smiting and most-healing words: — “ Yatha ahh vairyd,” &c. 2 ‘At the second hole he becomes freer from the Nasu; then thou shalt say those fiend-smiting and most-healing words: 27.2— “Yathd ahh vairyd,” &c. x 27 ‘At the third hole he becomes freer from the Nasu; then thou shalt say those fiend-smiting and most-healing words: — “Yatha ahft vairyft,” &c. ‘At the fourth hole he becomes freer from the Nasu; then thou shalt say those fiend-smiting and most-healing words: — “Yathft ahft vairyft,” &c. ‘At the fifth hole he becomes freer from the Nasu; then thou shalt say those fiend-smiting and most-healing words: — “ Yathft ah ft v airy 6,” &c. ‘ At the sixth hole he becomes freer from the Nasu; then thou shalt say those fiend-smiting and most-healing words: — “Yathft ahft vairyd,” &c. 29(120). ‘Afterwards the unclean one shall sit down, inside the furrows 1, outside the furrows of the six holes, four fingers from those furrows. There he shall cleanse his body with thick handfuls of dust. 30‘ Fifteen times shall they take up dust from the ground for him to rub his body, and they shall wait there until he is dry even to the last hair on his head. 31‘When his body is dry, then he shall step over the holes (containing water). At the first hole he shall wash his body once with water; at the second hole he shall wash his body twice with water; at the third hole he shall wash his body thrice with water. 32(130). ‘Then he shall perfume (his body)2 with perfumes from U rvasna, or Vohu-gaona, or Vohu-kereti, or H adha-naepata, or from any sweetsmelling plant; then he shall put on his clothes, and shall go back to his house. 34(137). ‘Then he shall sit down again in the place of infirmity, inside the house, apart from the other worshippers of Mazda. He shall not go near the fire, nor near the water, nor near the earth, nor near the cow, nor near the trees, nor near the faithful, either man or woman. Thus shall he continue until six nights have passed. When six nights have passed, he shall wash his body, he shall wash his clothes with g6m£z and water to make them clean. 35‘Then he shall sit down again in the place of infirmity, inside the house, apart from the other worshippers of Mazda. He shall not go near the fire, nor near the water, nor near the earth, nor near the cow, nor near the trees, nor near the faithful, either man or woman. Thus shall he con¬ tinue, until nine nights have passed. When nine nights have passed, he shall wash his body, he shall wash his clothes with gomez and water to make them clean. 36‘ He may thenceforth go near the fire, near the water, near the earth, near the cow, near the trees, and near the faithful, either man or woman. 37‘ Thou shalt cleanse a priest for a holy blessing 2; thou shalt cleanse the lord of a province for the value of a camel of high value; thou shalt cleanse the lord of a town for the value of a stallion; thou shalt cleanse the lord of a borough for the value of a bull; thou shalt cleanse the master of a house for the value of a cow three years old. 38(151). ‘Thou shalt cleanse the wife of the master of a house for the value of a ploughing3 cow; thou shalt cleanse a menial for the value of a draught cow 4; thou shalt cleanse a young child for the value of a lamb. 39‘ These are the different cattle that the worshippers of Mazda shall give to him who has cleansed them, if they can afford it; if they cannot afford it, they shall give him any other reward that may make him leave their houses well-pleased with them, and free from anger. 40‘For if the man who has cleansed them leave their houses displeased with them, and full of anger, then the Dru^ Nasu enters them by the nose, by the eyes, by the tongue, by the jaws, by the sexual organs, by the hinder parts. 41‘And the Drug Nasu rushes upon them even to the end of the nails, and they are unclean thenceforth for ever and ever. ‘ It grieves the sun indeed, O Spitama Zarathustra! to shine upon a man defiled by the dead; it grieves the moon, it grieves the stars. 42‘That man delights them, O Spitama Zarathustra! who cleanses from the Nasu those whom she has defiled; he delights the fire, he de¬ lights the water, he delights the earth, he delights the cow, he delights the trees, he delights the faithful, both men and women.’ 43Zarathmtra asked Ahura Mazda: ‘ O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! What shall be his reward, after his soul has parted from his body, who has cleansed from the Nasu any one defiled by her?’ 44(166). Ahura Mazda answered: ‘ The welfare of the blessed abode thou canst promise to that man, for his reward in the other world.’ 46Ahura Mazda answered: ‘ Say aloud those words in the Gathas that are to be said twice; say aloud those words in the Gathas that are to be said thrice; say aloud those words in the Gdthas that are to be said four times; and the Drug shall fade away like the self-moving arrow 2, like the carpet of the earth3 when the year is over, like its garment3 which lasts a season.’ 47O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man who does not know the rites of cleansing according to the law of Mazda, offers to cleanse the unclean, what shall the worshippers of Mazda do? How shall I then fight against that Dru g who from the dead rushes upon the living? How shall I fight against that Dru^ who from the dead defiles the living? 48(175)- Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Then, O Spitama Zarathiutra! the Dru^ Nasu waxes stronger than she was before. Stronger then are sickness and death and the working of the fiend than they were before.’ Ahura Mazda answered: ‘ The worshippers of Mazda shall bind him; they shall bind his hands first; then they shall strip him of his clothes, they shall flay him alive, they shall cut off his head, and they shall give over his corpse unto the greediest of the birds of the beneficent spirit, unto the corpse¬ eating birds, unto the ravens, with these words 1: — ‘ “ The man here has repented of all his evil thoughts, words, and deeds. 50‘“If he has committed any other evil deed, it is remitted by his repentance; if he has committed no other evil deed, he is absolved by his repentance for ever and ever 1.” ’ 51Who is he, O Ahura Mazda! who threatens to take away fulness and increase from the world, and to bring in sickness and death? 52Ahura Mazda answered: ‘ It is the un¬ godly Ashemaogha 2, O Spitama Zarathuitra! who in this material world cleanses the unclean without knowing the rites of cleansing according to the law of Mazda. 53‘For until then, O Spitama Zarathmtra! sweetness and fatness would flow out from that land and from those fields, with health and healing, with fulness and increase and growth, and a growing of corn and grass V 54O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! When are sweetness and fatness to come back again to that land and to those fields, with health and healing, with fulness and increase and growth, and a growing of corn and grass? 5556(192, 193). Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Sweet¬ ness and fatness will never come back again to that land and to those fields, with health and healing, with fulness and increase and growth, and a growing of corn and grass, until that ungodly Ashemaogha has been put to death, and the holy Sraosha has been in that place, offered up a sacrifice4, for three soul living,’ that is to say, that makes it enter heaven. It is pro¬ bably to be performed only in case the sinner has performed the Patet (see the note to § 49). days and three nights, with fire blazing, with baresma tied up, and with Haoma uplifted. 57‘Then sweetness and fatness will come back again to that land and to those fields, with health and healing, with fulness and increase and growth, and a growing of corn and grass.’ ‹Previous chapterVendidad Fargard 8Next chapterVendidad Fargard 10›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public-domain 1880/1883/1887 English translation