Chapter 18
I’hua’Mazda spoke to Zarathustra, the All Pure, saying: Explain these things to my people, for they shall not dwell in darkness or fear. Zarathustra said: What shall I tell them, O I’hua’Mazda?
I’hua’Mazda said: My people are united; My people are delivered out of the evil city. To themselves, of themselves, and by themselves, I have delivered them, as a separate people.
I found an easy way to unite them; I went not by a dark road. This is no miracle, but the manifestation of Faith in the All Light.
Take them farther away from Oas; far away into the forest. And since Asha is an old man, and learned above all other men, he shall be the ara’ba over them.
I’hua’Mazda said: But as for you, O Zarathustra, you are young and strong. You shall choose fifty men from among my people, well learned and strong, full of vigor. And they shall be your companions; and you shall visit the large cities of Jaffeth, Shem and Ham. For four years you shall travel, delivering the Zarathustrian law; but at the end of that time you shall return to Oas, and to this people, my first chosen.
And behold, after that, Asha shall go with you to Oas, and you shall raise your hand against the city, and it shall fall. ||
Zarathustra then explained these things to the people, and afterward took them to the valley of Yan’she, by the river Witch’owitch; and he divided them into three large cities and four small ones, after the manner of the I’hins, the sacred people, white and yellow.
And he gave them fathers (rab’bahs), and made Asha chief father over all the others. Thus was founded the Zarathustrian religion; the I’hua’Mazdian law, the Ormazdian law, the Zarathustrian law.
And Zarathustra chose fifty men, who were well learned, and vigorous, not old; and they departed, to establish the Zarathustrian law in the cities of the east and south. I’hua’Mazda led them forth, speaking to Zarathustra, the All Pure, telling him where to go, and directing him along in the nearest roads, over the mountains and plains, and across the rivers. And wherever they went, I’hua’Mazda provided them with beasts of burden, and beasts to ride on, converting their owners to the Ormazdian law, who gave them all things required.
The first large city Zarathustra came to was Tse’gow, on the plains of Jo’ab, high walled with wood and stone; and when he came to its gate the keeper demanded his name and business, speaking in another language, and Zarathustra did not understood him. Then came I’hua’Mazda, answering the keeper in his own tongue, saying:
I am a servant of the Creator, Ormazd; I come to prove immortal life before the king. Send word, therefore, to your king, and he will admit me and my people. So the keeper sent word to the king, who commanded that Zarathustra come before him.
And when he and his attendants were before the king, the king said: Are you the one of whom the King of the Sun has spoken? And what is your business with me? Your king, the king of kings, is mad. Then I’hua’Mazda answered, saying:
Zarathustra, of whom the Sun King spoke, is before you. I am here to prove to you many things pertaining to what is written in the Book of Holies. But before I utter many words, I ask that your son, Ha’sing, and your wife, Hi’ti’us, and your daughters, Peutu, Zoo, He’in and Zabee, be present also.
The king said: How do you know the names of my people? And I’hua’Mazda said: Here stand guardian spirits, ashars, and they speak to me. Chief among them is Ay’ay, your grandfather, who slew himself; and next to him are your kinspeople in spirit, Noa, Wess, Lut, Gan’ce, Mith’ce, Nim’och, Wo’huin, Ruks and Pa’stcue.
The king was concerned, for many of these had been slain in wars, nor did he know how Zarathustra discovered their names. So he sent for his wife and children, and they all went into an inner chamber with Zarathustra. Then I’hua’Mazda spoke to the king, saying:
Do not think that Asha is mad because he has given up all he had and gone to live with the poor. The Gods call all men mad who do otherwise, especially rich men, kings, and rulers. For such men set value on things that they cannot retain except during earth life at most. Asha sets value on that which will last forever. I wish that all men would do as Asha has done.
Because of unbelief in the Great Spirit, man has set himself up as the All Highest, and his trade has become war and destruction. I did not come to persuade you to give away your kingdom nor your riches, nor yet for any glory or profit to myself. I speak for the hosts being slain, tribe against tribe, city against city; I speak for the millions of spirits in darkness, who dwell on the battlefields.
I’hua’Mazda thus gained the attention of the king, and, meanwhile, the angels who accompanied him took on forms, looking like mortals; and presently the king and his family looked about and saw them, and were frightened; and the king drew his sword, saying: Who have entered, uncalled! But as he advanced, behold, the spirits disappeared. The king was amazed, I’hua’Mazda continued, saying:
Do not be concerned that the spirits show themselves; neither call these appearances miracles. Spirits are always present; but because they clothed themselves with corporeal parts, you have seen them for the first time. While you were quiet, they came; with your sudden passion they disappeared.
The king said: Will they come again? Then I’hua’Mazda answered, saying: Since your wife and your daughters are frightened, why should they appear again? Yet hear me, O king! Since your youth up you have been prepared for this. Your wife is half-breed with the I’hins, the sacred people. The I’hins were preserved by the Gods for this purpose, for they are like leaven, prepared for the resurrection of all the races of men. Because of this great virtue in your wife, the spirits of the dead can show themselves before you.
While I’hua’Mazda thus spoke, the angels again assumed sar’gis, and present were several spirits whose mortal lives had been cut short by the king’s own sword. Chief of these was Awetakeytha, one time king of the city of Tse’gow.
The sar’gis spoke to the king, saying: Do not think that I am dead, O king! I am not dead, except in the corporeal part. As by your sword you cut me off, so by the sword you shall be pierced through. Next spoke Too’Sain, another sar’gis, saying: Till you are dead, O king, and your soul cast into hell, I will not cease to torment you! Next spoke Ghon, another sar’gis, saying: Before yesterday I brought venom from rotten flesh, and inoculated you in the breath of your mouth! You shall cough blood and foul-smelling corruption! Next spoke Owd, saying: I come from the land of the dead, O king, with the torments of hell for you! Then spoke We’Seay, a sar’gis, saying: I am your first wife; why did you slay me? Was the world not wide enough?
In that manner the spirits continued to speak, suffered by I’hua’Mazda to express their evil desires and passions in their own way; nor did one spirit appear who had a single good word of cheer for the king. Then the king spoke, saying:
Go away, spirits, or devils! I will see no more! And, with that, he swung his sword about fiercely; but when he quieted a little, I’hua’Mazda spoke to him, saying:
I declare to you, O king, the air is filled with the spirits of the dead; and because they were slain by you, they lie in wait for your soul, when you die. Do not think that by slaying a man you are rid of him; only the corporeal part is within your power to destroy. The soul never dies. Ormazd is just. Those you have injured, you shall restore.
The king said: If a man is a bad man, and I kill him, is it not a great good? I’hua’Mazda said: To kill him is a great evil. You should convert him to good. The king said: But if he belongs to me? Then I’hua’Mazda said: No man belongs to you. The same Creator created all men; from Him all men are created; and they belong to Him.
The king said: But I have possession of them. They are mine. If your Creator is stronger than I, let Him take them. I’hua’Mazda said: To take them from you would be no honor; but for you to deliver them is your own honor.
Now while the king’s mind was thus engaged, the angels fell to work to demonstrate their presence and power, in some unusual way; and, accordingly, they cut loose the tapestry hanging on the walls, and let it fall to the floor, with a great explosion of sound. The queen and her daughters rose up and fled.
The king was angered, and thrust his sword at Zarathustra; but, lo, it broke into a hundred pieces, and yet no part touched Zarathustra. I’hua’Mazda said: Unless you repent of your evil ways, I will withdraw my holy angels from this house, and you shall bear witness that before the morning sun appears, this palace shall not be left standing.
But the king was hardened. So, when I’hua’Mazda perceived there was no repentance in the king, he withdrew the Lord and his ashars, abandoning the palace to evil spirits, but he sent guardian spirits to inspire the queen and her daughters to flee from the house that night, which they did. And the spirits of darkness went to the king’s enemies and inspired them to go against the palace; which they did, and destroyed it.
The next day, Zarathustra went about in the city, which was in great tumult, and I’hua’Mazda spoke through him to the people. And in one day he gained more than a thousand followers; and when the king saw this, he decreed Zarathustra to death, offering a reward to whoever would slay him.
The next day he preached again before the people, and gained a great addition to his followers; and then the king ordered his soldiers, of whom there were ten thousand, to attack Zarathustra and his people, and destroy them. But I’hua’Mazda had prophesied this to his adherents beforehand, and had advised them to flee. And many escaped before morning; but there were also many who were still within the walls when the soldiers came upon them.
I’hua’Mazda stretched his hand upward, saying: Fire of Your fire, O Father! Give me here a wall of fire! And a wall of fire rose up between them and the soldiers; and the latter, seeing this, turned and fled, crying out: Shri! Shri! (signifying spirit.)
Thus Zarathustra led them out of the city, and not one man, woman or child was injured. But it came to pass that the deeds done through Zarathustra were greatly exaggerated by those reporting them, so that people who had not yet seen him believed the world was about to come to an end.
Thus the king lost all discipline over the city; and the people lived without law or order; robbing one another, or destroying whatever stood before them.