Page:History of Zoroastrianism.djvu/484

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ZARTUSHT DURING THE PERSIAN PERIOD

shasp was much incensed at these words and heated discussions ensued between him and Zartusht. Purshasp and the magicians were vanquished by the future prophet. The magicians left the house in confusion and disgrace. They fell ill and soon hurried along to the abode of retribution.[1]

When Zartusht reached the age of fifteen he gave up attachment to worldly things and engaged himself in holy meditation in seclusion. Day and night he laboured in the service of the Almighty. He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and helped the needy. A glory shone round him owing to his pious life of austerity and his fame spread among all people.[2]

Zartusht receives revelation. At the age of thirty, one day Zartusht was returning with his relations and companions towards Iran. They came to a large expanse of water and there was no boat. He invoked God's help and crossed over the water in such a way that the water moistened only the soles of their feet. He then met the archangel Bahman to whom he expressed his heart's desire. Bahman asked him to close his eyes. On opening the eyes, Zartusht found himself in the midst of the heavenly beings waited on by celestial virgins. The angels greeted him and he conversed with God, who taught him all sciences and everything from the beginning of creation to the end of time. Upon Zartusht's request Ormazd showed him Ahriman in his gloomy abode. When the Prince of Darkness beheld Zartusht, he asked him to turn away from the religion of Ormazd and promised to grant all his earthly desires. Zartusht was then made to pass successfully through the ordeals. On Zartusht's asking him about the symbol of religion, Ormazd said that the most excellent emblem was light, from which he had created the entire good creation. Wherever there was any luminous object it was the effulgence of his divine light. He instructed Zartusht in the Avesta and asked him to recite the texts of the book to king Gushtasp. Each of the other archangels then asked Zartusht to exhort mankind to preserve the material creation under his special charge.[3]

Zartusht at the court of king Gushtasp. Zartusht now turned his steps towards the court of Gushtasp, when the Prince

  1. ↑ ZtN. p. 489, 490; Db. 1. 227–229
  2. ↑ Mirkhond, tr. Shea, p. 283; Db. I. 229
  3. ↑ Masudi, Prairies d'or, 2, p. 153, tr. Barbier de Meynard; ZtN. p. 490–497; Db., 229–243.
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