Mainyo-i-Khard 43

The sage asked the spirit of wisdom

thus: 'How are the sky and earth arranged?

How are the flow and arrangement of the water in the world?

Whereon do the clouds rest?

Where is the demon of winter more predominant?

And which country is the more undisturbed?'

The spirit of wisdom answered

thus: 'The sky and earth and water, and whatever else is within. them are egg-like (khâiyak-dis), just as it were like the egg of a bird.

The sky is arranged above the earth, like an egg, by the handiwork of the creator Aûharmazd;

and the semblance of the earth, in the midst of the sky, is just like as it were the yolk amid the egg; [

and the water within the earth and sky is such as the water within the egg.]5

And the flow of the water of every kind which is in the world is from the region of Arzah

there where the sun comes up; and its downward surge (nigun bâlisnŏ) is towards the region of Savah

where the sun goes down; and the surging on (âbâlisnŏ) of the water is into the sea Pûtîk,

and from the sea Pûtîk it goes back to the sea Varkash.

The abode and seat of the clouds are on Albûrz.

The demon of winter is more predominant in Afrân-vêgô. And it is declared by revelation, (19) that in Aîrân-vêgô there are ten months winter and two months summer, (20) and even those two months of warm weather are cold as to water, cold as to earth, and cold as to plants. 21. And their adversity is the winter, (22) and the snakes therein are many, (23) while their other adversity is little.

It is declared that Aûharmazd created Airân-vêgo better than other places and districts.

And its goodness is this, that the life of the people is three hundred years,

and of the oxen and sheep one hundred and fifty years.

Their pain and sickness, also, are little;

they fabricate (drugênd) no lies,

they make no lamentation and weeping,

and the domination of the demon of greediness (â) in their bodies is little.

When they eat one loaf among ten men, they are satisfied.

And in every forty years one child is born from one woman and one man.

Their law, also, is goodness, and their religion the primitive faith;

and when they die they are righteous.

Their spiritual chief (ratu), likewise, is Gopaftŏ, and their lord and king is Srôsh.'