Chapter 25
Sudga, the false, sent by De’yus to overturn the Great Spirit’s dominion in Vind’yu, and to establish the highest heavenly place, Urvatooz [Hored –Ed.], was wiser than Osiris or Te-in in his wicked work. For he did not permit his army of one billion to immediately rush for the places of worship and for the oracle-houses. But most deliberately he halted his forces in Haroyu, the lowest heavenly place over the mountains of Vivrat, in Vind’yu. Situated three miles high, and broad as the earth, it offered a commanding situation.
From this place, in a sure way, he sent his measurers on ahead down to the earth, to measure mortals, as to their weakness or strength of faith in Jehovih (Ormazd), and in other heavenly rulers; and then to map, mark and number them.
Great was the peace, beauty and glory of Vind’yu in that day. Her rivers and canals coursed the country over, and her industrious sons and daughters, two hundred million, were, in the eyes of the angels, the pride and glory of the earth. Hundreds of thousands of her people were prophets and seers. And so abundant was spiritual light among the people, that even those who had learned only one language, could understand and speak other languages with people from remote parts; using words and sentences they had never heard, even when first meeting strangers. The Vind’yuans lived like the inhabitants of Jaffeth in government and industry, their economy being mostly by the exchange of goods, and not by buying and selling. This was their weakest point, as to an assault.
Sudga said to his generals and captains: Only by confounding the languages of these people can they be broken up and subdued. Behold, they are becoming like Gods; knowing and understanding in advance of the words spoken. Does this not, then, become their greatest liability, if we confound them suddenly in the meaning of words? Therefore fall upon them, possessing and obsessing all who are easily captured. Get a foothold here and there in the first place; and then cripple them in their commerce.
Sudga said: It is a strong city that makes all kinds of goods; it is a weak place indeed that depends on another which is far off. Such people are easily tripped up. Behold, I will teach these people that I am the militant before whom every knee shall bow; or, in failing to win them in that way, I will set city against city, and country place against country place; all against one another, for which their superabundant languages will furnish excellent material.
Sudga opened the door at night for his hosts to fall on mortals who were weakest in faith in Ormazd, Who, to hundreds of thousands of men and women, had become like a stale story. In Vind’yu woman had risen in knowledge, higher than the highest of women in other parts of the world. In the HOUSES OF PHILOSOPHY and HOUSES OF SCIENCE women were foremost, compared to men, and skeptical as to the Ormazdian power.
On rushed Sudga’s legions; and even as Osiris and Te-in won in the third assault, so now Sudga won in the first. And he too sent word to De’yus, and exaggerated his victories beyond all bounds of truth. Nevertheless, his hosts were sufficiently anchored on the earth to claim an everlasting victory for De’yus and to establish his name.
And here, also, after a few years, the questions came from mortals, such as: Behold, you cut off the heavens of the ancients, the Nirvanian regions beyond Chinvat. You teach us that De’yus is the ALL HIGH RULER. What, then, is the all highest for man? How did the worlds come about? Where did man come from? How was the creation created?
To answer which, Sudga sent to De’yus for instructions. And De’yus sent to Sudga, even as to the other Gods, an invitation to meet in Hored, to hear the words of the Lord God, to learn his commands.
Thus invited, the five great warrior Gods went before De’yus, each taking with them ten thousand attendants, besides thousands of trumpeters. De’yus had a good feast prepared for them, and sent receivers forth to meet them and conduct them to Sanc-tu in great splendor.