Chapter 21
The place thus founded by Brahma was called Haraoyo, and his people, at this time, extended to seven cities and thirty villages, and possessed all the country of Roam, which had been uninhabited for hundreds of years. And the Vedans cultivated the lands, living on fruits, roots, and bread made from wheat grown in the fields; but they ate neither fish nor flesh, nor anything that had breathed the breath of life.
Brahma, Yu-tiv and their youngest son, Hog, departed from Haraoyo, accompanied by seven disciples, and they went forth under the direction of the angels of Ormazd, to preach and explain the Veda, carrying one book with them. And they first went to the northeast, through the kingdoms of Haomsut, Ali-oud, Zeth, and Wowtichiri; then westerly to Hatiqactra, where the tyrant, Azhi-Aven, had built a temple of skulls, like the ancients. Azhi kept six dens of lions, for devouring his condemned slaves. So, because of oppression, the kingdom of Azhi was profitable to Ormazd. From Hatiqactra, Brahma obtained three thousand followers.
And when Brahma had seven thousand followers, the angel of God directed him to the plains of Cpenta-armaiti. And here he established his people, dividing them into families and villages, and appointing priests to them. And after that, Cpenta-armaiti became renowned over all the known world. ||
After Cpenta-armaiti had been established, the angel directed Brahma to go to the southwest, through the kingdoms of H’spor and Vaetaeyo, and Aramya, and then to Dacyama, to the city of H’trysti, where Ormazd had a host of one thousand already inspired to join Brahma.
And now the angel directed Brahma to take his hosts to the mountains of T’cararativirwoh, and establish them, which he did. And behold, the time of Yu-tiv and of Brahma was near an end, for they were grown quite old.
The angel said to Brahma: Great has been your labor. Very great Yu-tiv’s! Where else in all the world is such a woman? From the day you first saw her! For the glory of your sons! And in her old age to follow you, walking so far!
Behold, O Brahma! Yu-tiv is weakening fast. Rise up and take her back to Haraoyo! The mountains of Roam are calling her! And your faithful son, Hog, strong and tall. Take him back with his mother. Haraoyo is calling.
Brahma went and looked at Yu-tiv; and his soul spoke within him, saying: O Ormazd, have I not forgotten her in You! The mother of my Gods! O her proud young soul when first I saw her! Alas, I see, she is tottering and feeble!
Brahma came closer to Yu-tiv, and she spoke to him, saying: O Brahma, you God among men! I do not know if my eyes are turning dim. But O, I have had so strange a vision even toward the high sun. It was myself I saw, rising, going upward! The earth going downward! Then I called: O Ormazd! Not alone! Behold, my God is over there! Let me go back to Brahma! Then I thought the Creator brought me back and said: Go quickly and see your godly sons in Haraoyo, for your time has come!
Brahma said: My angel says: Go back to Haraoyo, your labor is nearly finished. || This is why I came to you just now. It is well, therefore, for us that we return, taking Hog with us.
So Brahma, Yu-tiv and Hog, with five remaining disciples, departed for Haraoyo, which lay a three days’ walking journey away, and they did not know how Yu-tiv would make it, for she was worn to the last step, and, above all, her shoes were worn out, and she had only pieces of cloth on her feet.
And while they were deliberating, having gone only a short distance, Hog spied a score of soldiers going in another direction, mounted on horses; and they were leading a number of spare horses with them. Then spoke the soul of Hog within him, saying to him:
Behold, my father has made many converts in his day, made good men out of bad ones. And he has always refused money, gifts and presents. Now, wherever justice lives I do not know; but many of the rascals who became followers of my father were conscience-stricken with ill-gotten gains, and, finding that my father would not receive their stuff, they tried me, and behold, my pockets are full of gold and diamonds. In truth, it may have been a very devil that prompted me; but I am not supposed to know the higher light, but to know the lower. Of myself and for myself I do not want these things. If they belong to Ormazd, it follows I should not keep them. Therefore, if I give some gold or diamonds to those soldiers, they will give me a horse for my angel mother to ride on. Who knows but the nearest road for this gold to find its way to Ormazd is by way of those soldiers?
So Hog went away and purchased a horse, and brought it to his mother, saying: Behold, a man gives you a present in the name of Ormazd, but forbids you to retain it except to ride to Haraoyo, where you shall sell it and give the money to the poor.
Yu-tiv said: A good man he was, and wise, for only on those conditions could I have accepted the horse. Accordingly, Yu-tiv was mounted on the horse, and they proceeded on their way, going slowly, for Brahma was also near the end. And after seven days they arrived at Haraoyo, where they were received by Brahma’s sons, and by all the multitude of disciples.
But owing to Yu-tiv’s deep love for her sons, and also being worn out, and having witnessed the glory of righteous works fulfilled through her husband and her sons, the strain was too much for her corporeal parts. And they brought straw and laid her on it, putting a bundle of straw under her head. Then she spoke, saying:
First to You, O Ormazd, my blessing, because You created me alive, to enjoy Your glories. Next, O Brahma! My husband, my blessing on you, God among men! You have taught me the fullness of earth and heaven! O the glory of having been your wife!
Then she called Whe-ish and said: O my son, my first-born! My blessing on you. Because I have watched you from the hour of conception, I have had the wisdom of creation demonstrated before me. O the joy when my eyes first saw you; I am going now, to prepare a place in heaven for you!
And, after that, Yu-tiv blessed all her sons, and coming to Hog she said: My blessing on you, O my latest born, God among men! To all my other sons I have told my love, but to you my soul so overflows, I am nearly speechless. You have been a very God in all your ways, and yet do not believe in Ormazd; nor in heaven nor angels! For which reason I look upon you as the highest of all creations. You are good for goodness’ sake; wise for wisdom’s sake, happy in finding a way to master all unhappiness!
And these were Yu-tiv’s last words; she shut her eyes. She was dead! So they took her body, and robed it in white, and on the fourth day buried her in the forest of Roam.