Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 4.djvu/114

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16
VENDÎDÂD.
1

make snow-flakes fall thick, even an aredvî deep on the highest tops of mountains[1].

23 (52). 'And the beasts that live in the wilderness[2], and those that live on the tops of the mountains[3], and those that live in the bosom of the dale[4] shall take shelter in underground abodes.

24 (57). 'Before that winter, the country would bear plenty of grass for cattle, before the waters had flooded it Now after the melting of the snow, O Yima, a place wherein the footprint of a sheep may be seen will be a wonder in the world.

25 (61). 'Therefore make thee a Vara, long as a riding-ground on every side of the square[5], and thither bring the seeds of sheep and oxen, of men, of dogs, of birds, and of red blazing fires[6].

'Therefore make thee a Vara, long as a riding-ground on every side of the square, to be an abode for men; a Vara, long as a riding-ground on every side of the square, for oxen and sheep.

26 (65) 'There thou shalt make waters flow in a bed a hâthra long; there thou shalt settle birds, on the green that never fades, with food that never fails. There thou shalt establish dwelling-places, consisting of a house with a balcony, a courtyard, and a gallery[7].


  1. 'Even where it (the snow) is least, it will be one Vîtasti two fingers deep' (Comm.); that is, fourteen fingers deep.
  2. The Comm. has, strangely enough, 'for instance, Ispâhân.'
  3. 'For instance, Apârsên (the Upairisaêna or Hindû-Kûsh).'
  4. 'For instance, Khorastân (the plain of Khorasan).'
  5. 'Two hâthras long on every side' (Comm.) A hâthra is about an English mile.
  6. That is to say, specimens of each species.
  7. The last three words are ἅπαξ λεγόμενα of doubtful meaning.