Reading hallBundahishn
ZoroastrianismBundahishn 24HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
BundahishnBundahishn 24

Bundahishn

Bundahishn 24

1
English · E. W. West

On the chieftainship of men and animals and every single thing it says in revelation, that first of the human species Gâyômard was produced, brilliant and white, with eyes which looked out for the great one, him who was here the Zaratustrôtûm (chief high-priest); the chieftainship of all things was from Zaratust.

2
English · E. W. West

The white ass-goat, which holds its head down, is the chief of goats, the first of those species created.

3
English · E. W. West

The black sheep which is fat and white-jawed is the chief of sheep; it was the first of those species created.

4
English · E. W. West

The camel with white-haired knees and two humps is the chief of camels.

5
English · E. W. West

First the black-haired ox with yellow knees was created; he is the chief of oxen. First the dazzling white (arûs) horse, with yellow ears, glossy hair, and white eyes, was produced; he is the chief of horses. 7. The white, cat-footed ass is the chief of asses. 8. First of dogs the fair (arus) dog with yellow hair was produced; he is the chief of dogs. 9. The hare was produced brown (bûr); he is the chief of the wide-travellers. Those beasts which have no dread whatever of the hand are evil. 11. First of birds the griffon of three natures was created, not for here (this world), for the Karsipt is the chief, which they call the falcon (kark), that which revelation says was brought to the enclosure formed by Yim. 12. First of fur animals the white ermine was produced; he is the chief of fur animals; as it says that it is the white ermine which came unto the assembly of the archangels. 13. The Kar-fish, or Ariz, is the chief of the water-creatures. 14. The Dâîtîk river is the chief of streams. 15. The Dâraga river is the chief of exalted rivers, for the dwelling of the father of Zaratust was on its banks, and Zaratust was born there. 16. The hoary forest is the chief of forests. 17. Hugar the lofty, on which the water of Arêdvivsûr flows and leaps, is the chief of summits, since it is that above which is the revolution of the constellation Satavês, the chief of reservoirs. 18. The Hôm which is out-squeezed is the chief of medicinal plants. 19. Wheat is the chief of large-seeded grains. 20. The desert wormwood is the chief of unmedicinal plants. 21. The summer vetch, which they also call ‘pag' (gâvirs), is the chief of small-seeded grains. 22. The Kûstik (sacred thread-girdle) is the chief of clothes. 23. The Bâzâyvâna is the chief of seas. 24. Of two men, when they come forward together, the wiser and more truthful is chief. 25. This, too, it says in revelation, that Atharmazd created the whole material world one abode, so that all may be one; for there is much splendour and glory of industry in the world. 26. Whatsoever he performs, who practises that which is good, is the value of the water of life'; since water is not created alike in value, for the undefiled water of Arêdvivsûr is worth the whole water of the sky and earth of Khvaniras, except the Arag river, created by Aûharmazd. 27. Of trees the myrtle and date, on which model, it is said, trees were formed, are worth all the trees of Khvantras, except the Gôkard tree with which they restore the dead. 28. Of mountains Mount Apârsên's beginning is in Sagastân and end in Khûgistân, some say it is all the mountains of Pârs, and is chief of all mountains except Albûrz. 29. Of birds Kamrôs is chief, who is worth all the birds in Khvaniras, except the griffon of three natures. 30. The conclusion is this, that every one who performs a great duty has then much value.

1
Bundahishn 24English
2
Bundahishn 240%

Bundahishn

Find your chapter.

34 chapters

Make yourself comfortable.

PAGE COLOUR

TEXT SIZE

100%

Your preferences stay with you on this device.

ORIGINALS & TRANSLATIONS

Choose your edition.

Select one edition for quiet reading, or several to compare the words.

Pahlavi Texts, Part I: The Bundahis, Bahman Yast, and Shâyast Lâ-shâyast, translated by E. W. West. Sacred Books of the East, vol. 5, ed. F. Max Müller (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1880). Public domain. Text read from the scan on Wikimedia Commons (digitised by the Internet Archive): English Wikisource's transcription where proofread, OCR elsewhere. · Source ↗

↑
Explore the atlas
↑ ↓ to explore   ·   Enter to open   ·   Esc to close