Words of Wisdom

Roj Fravardin, Mah Dae 1377 Yz. Continuing our series of beautiful sayings from the Pahlavi word “Datistan i Menog i Khrad”, here is another priceless gem: The Wise One asked…

Roj Amardad, Mah Adar 1377 Yz.

Continuing our series of beautiful sayings from the Pahlavi word “Datistan i Menog i Khrad”, here is another priceless gem:

The Wise One asked the Spirit of Wisdom: “is charity better or truthfulness? Or thanksgiving or wisdom? Or perfect mindedness or contentment?”

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Roj Khorshed, Mah Meher, 1377 Yz.

I had written about the Pahlavi work Datistan-i-Menog-i-Khrad or “Opinions of the Spirit of Wisdom” in my last post. This is a catechism (question and answer session) written by an unknown author, who identifies himself only as ‘danag’, meaning ‘wise one or sage’, possibly a scholar-Dastur somewhere around the 5 th century AD. Unfortunately, we do not have the complete book with us. The existing manuscripts end abruptly after the 62nd question. The format of this book generally follows the pattern:

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Roj Ava, Mah Meher, 1377 Yz.

Among the various Avesta scriptures that survived the repeated rounds of destruction, first at the hands of Alexander, then the Arabs and Mongols and the ever flowing abrasions of time; most were classified and arranged into the Yasna, Vispered, Vandidad, Yashts, other Khordeh Avesta prayers etc. However, amongst the survivors were also pieces of Avesta that were once part of some larger prayer lost in entirety. Some fragments were found as remains of manuscripts thrown in to the fire by zealots trying to wipe out Zarathushtrian scriptures which were then carefully preserved by the persecuted families. Several of these fragments were collected and annotated by the laborious efforts of the early European savants like Westergaard and Darmesteter who published them in the 19th century.

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