Pahlavi Texts, Part IV (SBE37), E.W. West, tr. [1892], at sacred-texts.com
Varstmânsar Nask.
1. The seventeenth fargard, Spentâ-mainyû 5, is about this, that Aûharmazd produced the creatures through wisdom, and maintains them in truth. 2. This, too, that the best thing 6 for every one is thought in a high-priest who is the tongue of a spiritual lord 7; in a high-priest, who has to maintain thought, no appliances of the body are to lie unto the spiritual lord on account of affection for the
worldly existence. 3. Also that the spiritual lord is always true; of the tongue—when he (the priest) speaks falsehood with the tongue—are those words which he does not believe through the spiritual lord, and it is owing to this, too, when, of all the body, the tongue first dies. 4. 'I say unto thee, O Spîtâmân! that thou shouldst speak with the tongue just as thou thinkest with the mind, and thou shouldst accomplish work with both hands in complete mindfulness 1.' 5. And this, too, that he who shall act thus is sagacious, and he is the father of righteousness through wisdom 2; and whoever would do that which has happened, thoroughly observes it on account of that which has not happened. 6. Also this, that in the person of him who shall do that which he understands, and asks again about that which he does not understand, the propitious spirit of wisdom is lodging.
7. About cattle being produced for the assistance of mankind, and the pastures of pleasure for the assistance of cattle 3. 8. This, too, that the archangels injure the evil demon and wicked people, but they do not injure righteous people 4 and the sage. 9. This, too, is said, namely: 'In scanty opulence do not murmur (al mang) owing to good works 5, and thus in great opulence much good work arises.' 10. This, too, that beneficence gives all to the good, and it is no further the villain whom the sacred beings maintain 6.
11. About the tongue of a true speaker being given for the satisfying (vigârisnŏ) of disputants,
and for declaring who is acquitted or incriminated; and the ordeal that is a demonstrator, to acquit or convict, which he whose tongue is truthful has accepted—and it shall make his statement current—has developed its jurisdiction in the world, and diminished distress. 12. And this, too, is said, that he gives out fire for disputes, so that it may make manifest the acquitted and incriminated, when he in whom are his immense complete mindfulness, and also righteousness, is guardian of the ordeal; and, when many inspect it, that which is the ritual of the ordeal believes them wicked 1.
13. Perfect is the excellence of righteousness.
282:5 See Chap. XVII, 1 n; it is here written spend-matŏ in Pahlavi, and is called the 18th fargard by mistake.
282:6 See Pahl. Yas. XLVI, 2 a.
282:7 Ibid. 2 b.
283:1 See Pahl. Yas. XLVI, 2 c.
283:2 Ibid. 2 d.
283:3 Ibid. 3 c.
283:4 Ibid. 4 a, b.
283:5 Ibid. 4 c.
283:6 Ibid. 5 b, c.
284:1 See Pahl. Yas. XLVI, 6 b, c. d.