Page:Next-of-kin Marriages in Old Iran.djvu/69

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NEXT-OF-KIN MARRIAGES.

Qaêta by 'der Verwandte' (Ys. XXXII. 1, &c.) "the allied or relation," and remarks in note 7' page 125, of his German translation of the Avesta, that it denotes 'the spiritual relation to Ahura Mazda, as though one feels himself almost in communion with Him.[1] It is characteristic that in the Gâthâs Qaêtu very often stands in connection with the terms Verezenya[2] and Airyamna, signifying "an active labourer" fulfilling the desires of Mazda, and "joyful devotion" towards Him (XXXII. 1; XXXIII. 3, 4; XLIX. 7 ; XLVI. 1; LIII. 4). The Gâtha XXXII. 1, says:—"Unto Him may the allied[3] aspire, his deeds coupled with devotion." In XXXIII. 3 and 4 Zarathushtra speaks:—(3) "He is the best for the Righteous Lord, O Ahura, who, having knowledge, becomes Thy ally, Thy active labourer

  1. ↑ Comp. Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen Gesellschaft, Vol. XVII. (1863), "Bemerkungen über einige Stellen des Avestâ," by Dr. F. von Spiegel, pp. 58–69.
  2. ↑ According to Pahlavi, Verezenya may mean "an active neighbour" of the Almighty
  3. ↑ The Rev. Dr. Mills., S. B. E., Vol. XXXI.:—'lordly-kinsman.'
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