lives (the life of the body, and that of the soul), praised by the prophets" (Parsees, pp. 141, 142.—Yasna, 30).
In another portion of this Gâthâ it is interesting to observe
the spirit of religious zeal breaking out, as it so generally does,
into the language of persecution:—
xxxi. 18. "Do not listen to the sayings and precepts of the wicked
(the evil spirit), because he has given to destruction house, village, district,
and province. Therefore kill them (the wicked) with the sword!"
The wicked, as appears from the context, are those who did
not accept the Zarathustrian revelation.
In the second Gâthâ, or Gâthâ Ustavaiti, there are some very curious passages. A few have been quoted in the notice of Zarathustra. The following verses indicate the nature of the worship addressed to Ahura-Mazda in the most ancient period of the Parsee religion:—
xliii. 2. "I believe thee to be the best thing of all, the source of
light for the world. Everybody shall choose thee (believe in thee) as
the source of light, thee, thee, holiest spirit Mazda! Thou createst all
good true things by means of the power of thy good mind at any time,
and promisest us (who believe in thee) a long life.
4. "I will believe thee to be the powerful, holy (god) Mazda! For thou givest with thy hand, filled with helps, good to the pious man, as well as to the impious, by means of the warmth of the fire strengthening the good things. For this reason the vigor of the good mind has fallen to my lot.
5. "Thus I believe in thee as the holy God, thou living Wise One! Because I beheld thee to be the primeval cause of life in the creation. For thou hast made (instituted) holy customs and words, thou hast given a bad fortune (emptiness) to the base, and a good one to the good man. I will believe in thee, thou glorious God! in the last (future) period of creation" (Parsees. p. 149).
xliv. 3. "That which I shall ask thee, tell it me right, thou living God! Who was in the beginning the father and creator of truth? Who made the way for the sun and stars? Who causes the moon to increase and wane, if not thou? This I wish to know besides what I already know.
