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Pahlavi Texts, Part IV (SBE37), E.W. West, tr. [1892], at sacred-texts.com


CHAPTER VII.

dkar Nask.

1. The sixth fargard, Ad-tâ-vakhshyâ 1, is about the perfection of the five excellences: the first through righteousness, the second through virtuous offspring, the third through land producing vegetation, the fourth through flocks of sheep, and the fifth through training in industry. 2. About the distribution of fortune to the diligent; and of destitution to the indolent. 3. About the acquirement of fortune singly sitting, two-fold even walking, three-fold hastening, four-fold even running, five-fold even carrying on a horse, six-fold even driving on a road, seven-fold by understanding legal proceedings, eight-fold by good protection even of wealth, nine-fold by intelligence and diligence in the cultivation of land, and ten-fold by providing the teaching of the bounteous texts 2.

4. About the grievous sorrow of an aged man, owing to the indolence of any one in youth. 5. About the four things through which, when a man has

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amassed them in his youth, he becomes very pleased in old age: first, virtuous learning; second, productive wealth; third, a good wife; and fourth, a prosperous dwelling. 6. About the five store-holders 1 of perfect excellence: industry, diligence, contentment, guileless understanding (nîrikht-hûshîh), and provision of means.

7. About abstaining from sitting with drunkards. 8. And this, too, that he does not drink varieties of wine (mâê-gunagânŏ) with the approval of the sacred beings, who becomes a viciously-disposed assailant and annoyer of others, and a disturber (kêpînîdâr) of duties, through drinking varieties of wine. 9. And this, too, that thou shouldst eat that which is your food where there is a suitable place. 10. And where it is eaten by thee it should be lightly, it should not be heavily, so that, when it is eaten by thee, a good work is performed, and there is abstinence from sin. 11. And, so that what thou eatest shall be immortally joyful to thee, where there are poor, provide them a share, and the poor will bless thee; and, as to a poor man who is righteous, the opinion is that his blessing is best.

12. Excellence that is perfect is righteousness.


Footnotes

179:1 The first three words of the third hâ of the first Gâtha (Yas. XXX, 1), here written atŏ-tâ-vakhshîyâ (B) and atâvakhshâ (K) in Pahlavi.

179:2 The liturgy (mânsar-spend).


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