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EVIL
Astovidad

This demon of death casts his deadly noose around all. He it is who causes the painful separation of the soul from the body and brings death.[1] He casts around the necks of all that are born in this world a noose which cannot be thrown off by any one during life. But at the dissolution of the body, when the soul emerges from its prison of clay, it can shake off the halter if it is righteous, but is dragged to hell by means of this rope if it is wicked.[2] When the wicked demon Astovidad strokes a man, he causes lethargy; when he lays his hands on the sick, he makes him feverish; when he looks the victim in the eye, with his deadly gaze, he deprives him of life.[3] He was sent by Ahriman in the beginning of creation to slay the primeval man;[4] and ever since that time he has been destroying all, and yet he knows no check.[5]

Vizarsh

Astovidad's collaborator. The demon Vizarsh[6] frightens the souls during the three nights of their stay in this world after death.[7] He sits at the gate of hell, ready to drag the wicked souls down to the infernal depths, as soon as they are sentenced to hell by the heavenly judges. When the souls approach the bridge, he contends with Srosh for their possession.[8] He casts a noose around the neck of all persons. The righteous ones are able to free themselves from it, but the wicked ones are entangled in it, and are dragged into the infernal abyss by it.[9]

Eshm

An impetuous assailant of man. This demon, Eshm,[10] who has no bodily existence,[11] occasions trouble in the world by con-

  1. ↑ Dk, vol. 10, bk. 5. 19, p. 16.
  2. ↑ Bd. 3. 22; Dd. 23. 3; Dk., vol. 7, p. 494, 495; Gs. 141.
  3. ↑ Bd. 28. 35.
  4. ↑ Bd. 3, 21; Zsp. 4. 4.
  5. ↑ Mkh. 2. 117.
  6. ↑ Av. Vizaresha.
  7. ↑ Bd. 28. 18; cf. Bd. Modi, An untranslated chapter of the Bundehesh, 2.
  8. ↑ Mkh. 2. 162.
  9. ↑ Phl. Vd. 19. 29.
  10. ↑ Av. Aeshma.
  11. ↑ Mkh. 27. 37.
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