ASS: abdīh ud sahīgīh ī zamīg ī Sagestān | The wonders and mirabilia of the land of Sakastāna
Raham Asha
In a short treatise, in Pārsīg, from Drangiana (Sakastāna), it is said that, after Alexander’s onslaught, a few men of priestly class escaped and fled to Drangiana. There was a man, called Sēn-burzmihr, who had compiled two Liturgies from Avesta books, the Dva.yasna: One, the Yasna and Visprad (the Long Liturgy) and the Yašt and Niyāyišn (the Short Liturgy, the Xvardag Abestāg) –Masʿūdī tells obscurely how, after the year 300 (i.e., 300 years after the religion), a man in Sakastāna knew all the canonical texts by heart. A few women and young children tried to study and memorize that book. Mazdayasnian women were admitted to full religious rites and consequently to complete educational facilities. The Hērbedestān 5-6 refers to young women pursuing their studies (aθauruna) even after marriage –and even without the authority of the husband. Thanks to the women and minor children who pursued the study of the book of the daēnā arranged by Sēn-burzmihr the religion returned to Drangiana.
pārsīg
ped nām ī yazdān
(1) abdīh ud sahīgīh ī zamīg ī Sagestān az abārīg šahrīhā ēd rāy abērdar ud veh:
(2) ēk ēn kū: rōd ī Hēdumand ud var ī Frazdān ud zreh ī Kānse ud gar ī Ušdāštār andar zamīg ī Sagestān.
(3) zāyišn ud parvarišn ī Ušīdar ud Ušīdarmāh ud Sōšyāns ī Zarduštān ī Spitāmān, u-š ristāxēz kirdan, andar ham zamīg.
(4) ēk ēn kū: peyvann ud tōhmag ī kayān dahebedān ī ped ēn kišvar vizend aviš mad. (5) az frazendān ī Frēdōn, Salm kē kišvar ī Hrōm, ud Tūz kē Turkestān ped xvadāyīh dāšt, Ērēz Ērān dahebed būd, u-š be ōzad. (6) ud az frazendān ī Ērēz bē kenīg-ē anī kas bē nē mānd. (7) ud pas Frēdōn ō var Frazdān nīd, ud ped nihān dāšt dā dahum peyvann ka az hān kenīg pus zāyād. (8) pas Frēdōn ō var Frazdān šud, u-š az Aredvīsūr Anāhīd āyaft xvāst, ped abāz ārāstan ī Ērānšahr, ud xvarrah ī kayān, abārīg yazdān kē andar Sagestān gāh mehmānīh abardar. āyaft vindād, abāg Manušcihr ud avēšān ērān. āfrīn!
(9) ēk ēn kū: Vištāsp šāh dēn ped var ī Frazdān kird-ravāgīh, fradum ped Sagestān, ud pas ped abārīg šahrīhā.
(10-11) ud Vištāsp šāh ped hampursagīh ī Zardušt ud Sēn ī Ahūmstūdān ī bustīg cōn-iš hāvištān ī Zardušt fradum ped sar-hāvištīh (+sad-hāvištīh) ōy būd hend, +andar Sagestān ō cāšt ravāg dāštan rāy panzāh ud panzāh ped dūdag ī vehān frāz raft.
(12) nask-ē ī do-yasn-z xvānend, cōn Sēn-burzmihr ī Zarduštān ped vīrāstagīh ī hān būd, ī āšnāg. (13) ka guzastag Aleksander ī hrōmīg ō Ērānšahr mad, avēšān kē ped brāh ī muvmardīh raft hend, grift hend ud ōzad hend. (14) mard ud rēdak ēcand ō Sagestān āmad hend. (15) būd ī zanān, būd ī aburnāyag-ē nask ī do-yasn-z xvast ud varm kird ēstād. pez hān rāh, dēn andar Sagestān abāz gašt, ud ārāst ud vīrāst nōg nōg. bē ped Sagestān enyā abārīg gyāg nē varm.
(16) an kē ped hān gyāg, hamāg-dēn-ē yazānd, šādīh guhrīgānīh rāy, hādōxt-ē framāyānd yaštan.
frazaft ped drūd, šādīh ud rāmišn.
šād ud farrox ud dagrzīvišn ud pērōzgar ud ahlav, kāmaghanzām bavād kē nibišt, kē xvēš, ud kē xvāned. aṣǝm!
English
In the name of Gods
(1) The wonders and mirabilia of the land of Sakastāna are much more and better than other provinces, for these reasons:
(2) One reason is this, that the river Haētumaṇt, the lake Frazdānu, the sea Kąsaya, and the mountain Uši.darǝna are located in the land of Sakastāna.
(3) The birth and fostering of Uxšya.ǝrǝta, Uxšya.nǝmah and Saošyaṇt, the sons of Zaraθuštra Spitama, and also the making of the resurrection by Saošyaṇt (will happen there).
(4) One reason is this, that the lineage and family of the Kavi-dynasty, i.e., the rulers of this country sustained some damage.
(5) Of the children of Θraētaona, Salm (*Sairima) who had the reign of the Roman (/ western) Empire, Tūz (*Tūraca) who had the reign of Turkastāna (/ eastern) land, killed Erēz (*Airyaēca) who was the ruler of the Aryan (land). (6) And of the children of Erēz none remained except a daughter. (7) Then Θraētaona conducted (her) to the lake Frazdānu and kept her hidden for ten generations, when a son was born from that daughter. (8) Then Θraētaona went to Frazdānu, and he asked for a boon from Arǝdvī Sūrā Anāhitā to restore the Aryan kingdom, viz., the Fortune of the Kavi and the other, (the Fortune of) the Yazata, that held a higher place in Sakastāna. He obtained the boon, together with Manuš.ciθra and the Aryans. Blessing!
(9) One reason is this, that king Vīštāspa celebrated the religion at Lake Frazdānu, propagated it first in Sakastāna, and thereafter in other lands.
(10-11) King Vīštāspa (held) a conference with Zaraθuštra (in Sakastāna). Saēna son of Ahūm.stūt, of Bust, was the first of Zaraθuštra’s disciples (at the head of) a hundred pupils in the family of the good (in Sakastāna).
(12) There was one book (naska-) which they call Dva.yasna (‘Two Liturgies’, long and short), in whose preparation Sēn-burzmihr son of Zardušt was involved –it is well-known (13) When the accursed Alexander the Greek came to the Aryan kingdom (/ Persia), he seized and slew those who walked with the appearance of the Magi. (14) Some men and boys came to Sakastāna. (15) There were some women and also some minor children who studied and learnt by heart the book Dva.yasna. In that way indeed the religion returned in Sakastāna, and was restored and re-established anew. But except in Sakastāna, there was no recollection elsewhere.
(16) I who am of that place, may they perform (for me) the whole-ceremonial-of-Religion (hamāg-dēn), and in requital of joy (may) they consecrate the ceremonial Haδaoxta.
Finished with peace, joy and ease.
May he who wrote (or, will write), who possesses, who reads it, be joyful, fortunate, long-lived, victorious, blessed and successful. Truth!