Chapter 19
Zarathustra called his fifty companions before him, saying: Because these people are delivered from the tyrant, they will become his enemies. A people long oppressed, love vengeance. This would thwart the Ormazdian law. Take them, therefore, away from the city, dividing them into groups among yourselves, and I will send angels, capable of interpreting languages.
I’hua’Mazda said: Behold, a God does not come to accomplish at random. Nor does he come to one man only, in order to overthrow the evil of a whole world. You have been prepared for this work since the day of your birth. My angels have been with you, and you are a part of my army. Now this shall happen to you: After you have divided these people, and conducted them into the forests, you shall begin to speak with new tongues, and these people will understand you. And you shall build altars of worship to Ormazd, teaching these people songs, prayers and dancing, explaining to them the Ormazdian law.
Zarathustra said: Do not wait for me to come, nor for the voice of I’hua’Mazda, but do in faith as I have commanded, and the Voice will be with you.
So those who fled from the anarchy of the city, were led away, half a day’s journey, and there encamped. And the companions of Zarathustra, who were called Inquas, were entranced, and comprehended the language of the people, and could talk with them understandingly.
So they built altars to Ormazd and taught the people worship, and caused them to take an oath to not kill any man, woman or child, nor any beast or bird, nor any animal created alive. And they bound them on the oath taken under the thigh, to eat only fruit, nuts, roots and bread, according to the Ormazdian law. And they divided them into families of tens and families of hundreds, and of a thousand, giving them one rab’bah for each, according to the Zarathustrian law.
But Zarathustra returned into the city, and I’hua’Mazda clothed him around with fire, at night, and with clouds in the daylight, so that the people could behold his power, and no man dared raise a hand against him.
Then he commanded the people to gather together all the skulls on the walls, and the scalps that were hung about the houses and on the poles; and they were taken away and burned. And as for the soldiers, he disbanded them; and thus, the king was rendered helpless, left to stroll about, cursing.
And Zarathustra advised the people to go out of the city to live; and so they went forth by thousands, beginning new lives. After that, Zarathustra left the place; and at once it was filled with drujas, and they went to the druks and inspired them to fire and plunder. And it came to pass, in not many days, the great city of Tse’gow, with all its temples, towers, and palaces, was reduced to a heap of ashes.
Zarathustra went before the hundreds of thousands of people, speaking by the voice of I’hua’Mazda, saying: I hear certain ones saying: Whoever sets value on earthly things, above heavenly things, it is good for him to have fire and destruction. But I say to you, all things come from the Father, Ormazd, or by His permission. When He withdraws His hand from a wicked city, evil spirits rush in.
You have said: Who are evil spirits? Why does Ormazd not destroy them? I say to you, evil spirits are both yourselves and the dead. Those whom you have slain in passion, still live to torment you in spirit. You had their skulls hung on the gates and walls; the doorways to your temples of science were hung with the scalps of your enemies. The spirits of these people still live, though their bodies are dead, and for vengeance’ sake they obsess you to deeds of wickedness.
This is the Ormazdian law; when a man is dead, you shall either burn the body, or bury it in the ground, so that the spirit is not troubled. But you have bound them in spirit; Tse’gow was an eyesore in the sight of those who were slain for its glory. They delighted to see it destroyed.
Compared to what you lost by the fire, these spirits have gained tenfold; for now the Gods can deliver them in heaven. For which reasons, I declare to you that it is a great good that Tse’gow is destroyed. The world is large; the lands are very wide. Kill no man, woman or child. They are Ormazd’s.
Neither shall you build large cities; they are a curse on the face of the earth. Nor shall you live alone, for such people become bound to self; but you shall dwell in families of tens, hundreds and thousands. Has the Father not given you an example in the I’hins? They do not kill, nor take that which is another’s; nor are they given to lust, war, or quarrelsomeness.
The Voice said: Where is the king’s wife, Hi’ti’us? Where is Ha’sing, the prince? And the princesses, Peutu, Zoo, He’in, and Zabee? The multitude answered: They are gone!
After that the Voice said: I say to you, they were gone, but they are returning. Presently they will be here. They shall speak before you. || And sure enough, presently the king’s wife, son, and daughters came. Hi’ti’us said: Behold, Tse’gow of Oas is burned. Who has seen the king? || He’in and Zabee, the princesses, were very young girls, and they cried for their father. He had slain himself, cutting his bowels across with his sword.
I’hua’Mazda spoke through Zarathustra, saying: Come, Hi’ti’us, and stand on the rocks so that all can see, and bring your children. She came and stood beside Zarathustra. And now the Voice said: Let these bear witness whether or not the dead live in spirit.
Hi’ti’us said: With my own eyes I have seen the spirits of the dead; with my own ears, heard them talk. My children shall hold up their hands if these things are true. The children held up their hands. Again Hi’ti’us said: Where is my husband, the king?
While they were still standing on the rocks, lo and behold, the ghost of the king rose up before all the people, and He’in and Zabee cried out: Here is my father! Then I’hua’Mazda spoke, saying to the soul of the king: Do you know you are dead? The soul of the king spoke loud, so that all could hear him; he said: No, I am not dead, but I have done a foolish thing, I cut my bowels across.
Then Hi’ti’us said: I fear, indeed, the king is dead, and this is his spirit. He looks strange! I’hua’Mazda said: There is no cut. Your belly is unharmed. But the spirit persisted, saying: I thrust my hands in the hole, and yet you say, there is no wound! You are mad! I remember you; it was you who brought back these phantom enemies to torment me!
I’hua’Mazda said: What enemies do you see? The spirit answered: All I ever slew; a thousand or more! Away, you torments! You mockers! I will thrust you through.
The soul of the king then stamped and raved, for he saw the spirits of the dead; but the audience did not see them, though they saw him, for he was in sar’gis form.
I’hua’Mazda said: I say to you, O king, you are dead, and risen from the dead. If you could only awaken to this fact, you would be risen in spirit. Nor can you be delivered till these, your enemies, are also delivered. Then the spirit of the king answered, saying: I banish you from the city of Tse’gow! Nor shall you ever return, under penalty of death!
I’hua’Mazda said: I tell you, O king, the city of Tse’gow is destroyed. Truly there is not one house standing in the entire place! The soul of the king answered, saying: You torment me! You madman! You assert lies in the face of facts! Be gone, wretch! O if only my belly were not cut across, I would go at you with vengeance!
I’hua’Mazda withdrew the sar’gis, and the king could not be seen; nevertheless, his spirit continued cursing and raging all the same. The queen, Hi’ti’us, comprehended the matter fully, and her heart was heavy with sorrow.
I’hua’Mazda said to her: Remember the faith of your forefathers, the I’hins. Be strong in the Ormazdian law, and these sorrows will pass away. Nor is there anything in heaven or earth that can satisfy the soul that is short before the law. To her who can say, I live the all highest, happiness has a sure foundation.
And whoever perceives the dead in torments, let such pray for them, singing anthems to the Father. Let such intercede with the All Light, to bestow them with peace. Do not think that because of your prayers the All Light runs with haoma, to feed the spirits of the dead. But this I declare to you, that by the peace and joy in your devotions to the Father, the spirits are reclaimed to virtue and exaltation.
These things I will show to you this night; be steadfast and hopeful in Faith, and when the evening has come, I will again call up the spirits of the dead before you.