Sacred Texts  Zoroastrianism  Index  Previous  Next  Buy this
Book at Amazon.com    1. The sage asked the spirit of wisdom (2)
thus: 'As to a ruler 2, (3) a chieftain, (4) a friend, (5) a
kinsman, (6) a wife, (7) a child, (8) and a country, which is
the worse?'  9. The spirit of wisdom answered (it)) thus: 'That
ruler is the worse, that is not able to keep the country
unalarmed, and the people untroubled. 11. That chieftain is the
worse, who is defective in ability, unthankful unto agents
(kardârân), and no helper and interceder for a servant (asâk) 3.
12. That friend is the worse, who is not fit to be relied upon.
13. That kinsman is the worse, who is no helper in illness
(khastânak) 4. 14. That wife is the worse, with whom it is not
possible to live with pleasure. 15. That child . is the worse,
who is no bringer of renown. 16. And that country is the worse,
in which it is not possible to live in happiness, fearlessness,
and permanence.'   69:2 L19 makes §§ 2-7 each a separate
question, by adding 'which is t