The Book of Arda VirafZoroastrianismVisionary / ReceivedPahlavi (Middle Persian)ShareHell 17Martin Haug & E. W. West (1872) - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableMartin Haug & E. W. West (1872)LanguageEnglishEspañol‹Introduction 1Introduction 2Journey to Heaven 3Journey to Heaven 4Journey to Heaven 5Journey to Heaven 6Journey to Heaven 7Journey to Heaven 8Journey to Heaven 9Heaven 10Heaven 11Heaven 12Heaven 13Heaven 14Heaven 15Hell 16Hell 17Hell 18Hell 19Hell 20Hell 21Hell 22Hell 23Hell 24Hell 25Hell 26Hell 27Hell 28Hell 29Hell 30Hell 31Hell 32Hell 33Hell 34Hell 35Hell 36Hell 37Hell 38Hell 39Hell 40Hell 41Hell 42Hell 43Hell 44Hell 45Hell 46Hell 47Hell 48Hell 49Hell 50Hell 51Hell 52Hell 53Hell 54Hell 55Hell 56Hell 57Hell 58Hell 59Hell 60Hell 61Hell 62Hell 63Hell 64Hell 65Hell 66Hell 67Hell 68Hell 69Hell 70Hell 71Hell 72Hell 73Hell 74Hell 75Hell 76Hell 77Hell 78Hell 79Hell 80Hell 81Hell 82Hell 83Hell 84Hell 85Hell 86Hell 87Hell 88Hell 89Hell 90Hell 91Hell 92Hell 93Hell 94Hell 95Hell 96Hell 97Hell 98Hell 99Hell 100Epilogue 101›Chapter 17Hell 17ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter11. I came back again to the Chinwad bridge. (2) And I saw a soul of those who were wicked, when in those first three nights so much mischief and evil were shown to their souls, as never such distress was seen by them in the world. (3) And I inquired of Srosh the pious, and Adar the angel, thus: 'Whose soul is this?' 4. Srosh the pious, and Adar the angel, said (5) thus: 'This soul of the wicked wandered there where the wicked one died, over the place where the life went forth; (6) it stood at his head, and uttered the Gatha words (7) thus: 'Creator Ohrmazd! to which land do I go? and what do I take as a refuge?' (8) And as much misfortune and difficulty happen to him, that night, (9) as in the world, unto a man who lived in the world and lived in difficulty and misfortune.' 1010. Afterward, a stinking cold wind comes to meet him. (11) So it seemed to that soul as if it came forth from the northern quarter, from the quarter of the demons, a more stinking wind than which he had not perceived in the world. (12) And in that wind he saw his own religion and deeds as a profligate woman, naked, decayed, gapping, bandy-legged, lean-hipped, and unlimitedly spotted so that spot was joined to spot, like the most hideous, noxious creature (khrafstar), most filthy and most stinking. 1313. Then that wicked soul spoke thus: 'Who art thou, than whom I never saw any one of the creatures of Ohrmazd and Ahriman uglier, or filthier, or more stinking?' 14. To him she spoke thus: 'I am thy bad actions, O youth of evil thoughts, of evil words, of evil deeds, of evil religion. (15) It is on account of thy will and actions that I am hideous and vile, iniquitous and diseased, rotten and foul-smelling, unfortunate and distressed, as appears to thee. (16) When thou sawest any one who performed the Yazishn and Dron ceremonies, and praise and prayer and the service of God; (17) and preserved and protected water and fire, cattle and trees, and other good creations; (18) thou practicedst the will of Ahriman and the demons, and improper actions. (19) And when thou sawest one who provided hospitable reception, and gave something deservedly in gifts and charity, for the advantage of the good and worthy who came from far, and who were from near; (20) thou wast avaricious, and shuttedst up thy door. 21(21) And though I have been unholy, I am made more unholy through thee; (22) and though I have been frightful, I am made more frightful through thee; (23) though I have been tremulous, I am made more tremulous through thee; (24) though I am settled in the northern region of the demons, I am settled farther north through thee; (25) through these evil thoughts, and through these evil words, and through these evil deeds, which thou practisedst. (26) They curse me, a long time, in the long execration and evil communion of the Evil spirit.' 2727. Afterward, that soul of the wicked advanced the first footstep on Dush-humat and the second footstep on Dush-hukt, and the third on Dush-huvarsht; and with the fourth footstep he ran to hell. ‹Previous chapterHell 16Next chapterHell 18›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