History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. IV.] THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM. 181

book. Its name (original creation) “is applicable enough,” says Dr. West, “to much of the earlier part of the work which treats of the progressive development of the creation under good and evil influences.” The whole book seems to be a collection of fragments relating to the cosmogony, mythology, and legendary history taught by Mazdayasnan tradition.

The fifteenth, Mino Kherad (spirit of wisdom), as its name implies, contains an account of the “tenets, legends, and morals of the Mazdayasnan religion.”

The sixteenth is an account of some deep and mystical enigmas asked by a sorcerer named Akht ot Gosht-i-Fryano, who solves them.

The nineteenth is an account of Arda Viraf’s vision of heaven, and his description of what he saw in heaven and also in hell.

The twentieth! is a book which contains a list of practical good advice given by Adarbad Marespand to his son Zarathust.

The twenty-first, as its name implies, is a historical account of the actions of King Ardeshir Babekan.

The twenty-second book is otherwise known as the Pandnama Buzargche-Mehr, that is, the advice given by the prime minister of this name of Naoshirvan the Just. It is known by the name given in the first list because it was said to be deposited in the royal treasury.

1 A Gujarati translation of this book was published by Sheriadji Dadabhai Bharucha in 1869.