Pahlavi Texts, Part IV (SBE37), E.W. West, tr. [1892], at sacred-texts.com
1. The Vistâsp-sâstô 3 is about particulars of
every kind relating to Kaî-Vistâsp 1; the temper, character, demeanour, knowledge, learning, and law for sovereignty; the government of the creatures, and the advancement of the will of the sacred beings requisite for it.
2. The creator Aûharmazd sends the archangels 2 on to Kai -Vistâsp as evidence about Aûharmazd, and a reminder of Spîtâmân Zaratûst, of the pure goodness of the Mazda-worshipping religion, and of the command for the ruler Vistâsp, as to its triumph, on accepting the religion from Zaratûst. 3. The visible coming of the archangels to the metropolis, and, secondly, their domestication (handêmânîh) at the residence of Vistâsp and his companions; the envoys’ explanation of Aûharmazd's message to Vistâsp, and the accepting of the Mazda-worshipping religion by the obedient king Vistâsp.
4. The outpouring (sârînîdanŏ) of Argâsp the Khyôn 3, by the demon of wrath, for war with Vistâsp
and disturbance of Zaratûst; the arrangements and movements of king Vistâsp for that war, and whatever is on the same subject.
5. Excellence that is perfect is righteousness.
23:3 Corresponding to the tenth word, dazdâ, in the Ahunavair, according to B. P. Riv.; but it is the eleventh Nask in other Rivâyats. p. 24 Vistâsp-sâstô means 'the instruction of Vistâsp,' and is corrupted into Vistâsp-shâh, Vistâspâd, or Vistâsp, in the Rivâyats, which also state that it contained originally sixty kardah, or ʓûrat, of which only ten, or eight, were recovered after the time of Alexander. The last number refers, no doubt, to the eight fargards still extant under the corrupt name Vistâsp Yast, which probably consist of fragments of the Avesta text of this Nask; but in comparing that text with this description it must be remembered that the author is describing the contents of the Pahlavi version which would contain much commentary.
24:1 The king of Iran in the time of Zaratûst, who accepted the Mazda-worshipping religion; the last king of the old history derived from the Avesta (see Chap. XIII, 15, 16).
24:2 Compare Vistâsp Yt. 40.
24:3 The 'deadly Hvyaona Aregad-aspa' of Yt. IX, 30, XVII, 50, whom Kavi Vîstâspa prayed to be delivered from. According to the Yâdkâr-î Zarîrân, Argâsp, king of the Khyôns, made war upon p. 25 Vistâsp on account of the latter's conversion to Mazda-worship and was defeated with great difficulty in a most desperate battle which is also described in the Shâhnâmah. Whether the Khyôns were the Chionitae of later times is uncertain.