The Bundahishn (Knowledge from the Zand)ZoroastrianismAccepted by Some TraditionsPahlavi (Middle Persian)ShareBundahishn 26E. W. West (1880) - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableE. W. West (1880)LanguageEnglishEspañol‹Bundahishn 1Bundahishn 2Bundahishn 3Bundahishn 4Bundahishn 5Bundahishn 6Bundahishn 7Bundahishn 8Bundahishn 9Bundahishn 10Bundahishn 11Bundahishn 12Bundahishn 13Bundahishn 14Bundahishn 15Bundahishn 16Bundahishn 17Bundahishn 18Bundahishn 19Bundahishn 20Bundahishn 21Bundahishn 22Bundahishn 23Bundahishn 24Bundahishn 25Bundahishn 26Bundahishn 27Bundahishn 28Bundahishn 29Bundahishn 30Bundahishn 31Bundahishn 32Bundahishn 33Bundahishn 34›Chapter 26: Measuring distancesBundahishn 26ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter11. A Hasar 1 on the ground is a Parasang of one thousand steps of the two feet. (2) A Parasang 2 is a measure as much as a far-seeing man may look out, see a beast of burden, and make known that it is black or white. (3) And the measure of a man is eight medium spans 3 . 1. Av. hâthra of Vd2.25 , Vd8.100-102 , Tishtar Yasht 23, 29 . The statements regarding the length of a Hasar are rather perplexing, for we are told that it 'is like a Parasang' ( Chap. 14.4 ), that 'the length of a Hasar is one-fourth of a Parasang ( Chap. 16.7 ), and that 'a medium Hasar on the ground, which they also call a Parasang, is a thousand steps of the two feet when walking with propriety' ( Farhang-i Oim-khaduk , ed. Hosh. p. 42), To reconcile these statements we must conclude that a Hasar is like a Parasang merely in the sense of being a long measure of distance, that it is really a mille passus or mile of the Romans, and that it is a quarter of the actual Parasang. At the same time, as it was usual to call a Hasar by the name of a Parasang, we are often left in doubt whether a mile or a league is meant, when a Hasar or Parasang is mentioned. The Farhang-i Oim-khaduk (p. 41) also mentions other measures of distance, such as the tachar (Av. tachara) of two Hasars, the asvâst (or aêast) of four Hasars, the dashmêst (Av. dakhshmaiti) of eight Hasaras, and the yôjêst (Av. yijaiasti or yujaiasti) of sixteen Hasars. 22. A Parasang is usually from 3 1/2 to 4 English miles, but perhaps a Hasar is meant here. 3. Reading vitast-i miyânak instead of vitast damânak. The Farhang-i Oim-khaduk (p. 41) mentions three kinds of spans, the Av. vitasti ( Vd8.76, 78 , Vd17.5 ) of twelve finger-breadths (angûst), or about 9 inches, which is a full span between the thumb and little finger (the one mentioned in the text); the Av. dishti ( Vd17.5 ) of ten finger-breadths, or about 7 1/2 inches, which is a span between the thumb and middle finger; and the Av. uzashti (Pahl. lâlâ-asht) of eight finger-breadths, or about 6 inches, which is a span between the thumb and fore-finger. ‹Previous chapterBundahishn 25Next chapterBundahishn 27›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