and have prospered thereby. He invokes Ahura Mazda for the frustration of their mischievous machinations. Even prophets are moved with indignation and righteous wrath against evil-minded persons who lead mankind to destruction. Jesus, the embodiment of gentleness, denounces the Scribes and Pharisees with prophetic rage as fools and hypocrites, serpents and vipers; he overthrows the tables of money-changers, and casts them out of the temple with a whip of small cords. Zarathushtra exhorts those who seek Vohu Manah's blessings to put down violence and cruelty.[1] He implores Armaiti not to let evil rulers govern the land.[2] Bendva is the powerful foe who thwarts Zarathushtra's work of winning over men and women to righteousness, and he prays unto Ahura Mazda for his downfall.[3] He calls such persons liars, deceivers, and wicked.[4]
The Manthras. The prophetic word of great moral significance is called Manthra, corresponding to the Vedic Mantra. Both in Iran and India they turn into spells of magical charms. Ahura Mazda has, in one will with Asha, made them.[5] Zarathushtra prays that he and Vishtaspa may successfully proclaim them.[6] Whoso explains these sacred formulas unto the wise reaps joy.[7] Zarathushtra is the friend of one who chants them with homage;[8] and invokes Ahura Mazda to help him through Asha.[9] He rouses all those that recite them to religious life.[10] He gains the best reward who proclaims the true words of righteousness, weal, and immortality.[11] He who follows righteousness under the inspiration of the Manthras gains weal and immortality.[12] Those who do not base their conduct upon these salutary words as the prophet himself thinks and does, will be in the woe in the end.[13] Grehma the opponent of the faith and his wicked followers who harass the messenger of Ahura Mazda's holy words will go to the abode of the Worst Thought.[14] Zarathushtra seeks to know how will he rout wickedness by the holy words of Mazda's ordinance.[15] With these sacred formulas on their tongues, he says, he and his disciples will convert the wicked to their Lord.[16] The words of the wicked are also called Manthras, and the prophet exhorts his hearers not to listen to
