The defeat of hunger and the renewal of creation

21. The creating of creation, the progress of Religion, and the final rehabilitation are like unto the building of a house. (22) For a house can only be completed by means of three things, that is the foundation, the walls, and the roof. Creation is the foundation, the progress of Religion the walls, and the rehabilitation the roof. (23) As when a man desires to build a house, he chooses three men of whom one is most skilled in laying the foundation, one in raising the walls, and one in making the roof; and each is assigned to his proper work. Till the foundation was laid and the walls raised, it was not possible (to make the roof). (24) He who bade the house (be built) knows clearly how many things are needed to completei~ and because he has no doubt concerning the skill of the maker of the roof, long does he confidently wait. When the walls are completed, it is as easy for him whose business is the roof, to roof (the house) in as (it is) for the other two in the work that is assigned to them. 25. And again the rehabilitation was like unto a dark night: when the night draws to its close, the Sun rises over three corners of the earth and returns to its proper place and completes its cycle and comes to shine anew and smites the darkness and gloom. 26. It was like unto the Moon which waxes for fifteen (nights) and for fifteen wanes. When it has completely disappeared, it is born anew and is manifest in the sheen (it has) from the Sun, the lord of lights: the restoration of the world of the resurrection is made manifest thereby. 27. It was like unto the year in which, in spring, the trees blossom, in summer they bear fruit, in autumn they bear the last fruits, and in winter they become dry and as if dead. (28) When the order of the years is fulfilled. Mihr (the Sun) returns to his first place, day and night are equal in measure. and the atmosphere (returns to) its original(?) equilibrium. And the resurrection of the dead is like unto dry trees and shrubs that put forth new foliage and shoot forth tender saplings. (29) Since stability must be restored the end of all natural things is in the same manner as their beginning, even as man whose coming to be springs from the semen or as the plants whose becoming is from seed; their perfection and end are in the selfsame seed. 30. In the Religion thus is it revealed -- When Ahriman rushed into creation, he had the brood of the demon Whore of evil religion as his companion even as a man has a whore woman as his bedfellow; for verily the whore is a demon: and he appointed the demon Whore queen of her brood, that is the chief of all the whore demons, the most grievous adversary of the Blessed Man. 31. And [the demon Whore] of evil religion joined herself [to the Blessed Man]; for the defilement of females she joined herself to him, that she might defile females; and the females, because they were defiled, might defile the males, and (the males) would turn aside from their proper work. 32. And he chose a captain of his commanders who is none other than Az (concupiscence): and he gave her four commanders to help her, who are Wrath and Winter and Old Age and Bane, like unto the East and West and South and North. (33) Az chose commanders, captains of the right and captains of the left, which are hunger and thirst: so too did Old Age (choose) lamentation and mourning: so too did Bane (choose) excess and deficiency. 34. At the final rehabilitation first a means of overcoming Az is sought, for she is the captain of the commanders of the other lies, and from her has Ahriman of evil religion most strength. (35) When first creation began to move and Zurvan for the sake of movement brought that form, the black and ashen garment to Ahriman, (he made) a treaty in this wise, 'This is that implement like unto fire, blazing, harassing all creatures, that hath the very substance of Az. When the period of nine thousand years comes to an end, if thou hast not perfectly fulfilled that which thou didst threaten in the beginning, that thou wouldst bring all material existence to hate Ohrrnazd and to love thee -- and verily this is the belief in the one principle, that the increaser and destroyer are the same -- then by means of these weapons Az will devour that which is thine, thy creation; and she herself will starve; for she will no longer obtain food from the creatures of Ohrmazd -- like unto a frog that liveth in the water; so long as it defileth the water, it liveth by it, but when the water is withdrawn from it, it dieth parched.” 36. And Az because she had only one nature, had not the power to cause defilement as long as creatures were dispersed. That her powers might work together within creation, she divided them in three, that is “that pertaining to natural functions,” “that pertaining to natural functions directed outward,” and “that outside the natural functions.” That pertaining to the natural functions consists in eating on which life depends: that pertaining to the natural functions directed outward is the desire to mingle (copulate) which is called lust (Varan) through which, by a glance outward, the inwards are excited and the natural functions of the body thrown into turmoil: that outside the natural functions is the yearning for whatever good thing one sees or hears. 37. Each part was divided into two: that pertaining to the natural functions is hunger and thirst; that pertaining to natural functions directed outward is the emitting and receiving (of seed); that outside the natural functions is hoarding by robbery and refusing to give through avarice. 38. This is she who comprises (all) evil. And it is revealed that at the end Ardwahisht will come to earth with the powerful help of Airyaman, the Messenger, to find a means of overcoming Az, and he will show to creatures that the slaughter of the divers kinds of cattle is a grievous sin and that the profit therefrom is small: and this will he command, “Ye are men; slaughter not the cattle even as hitherto ye have slaughtered them.” 39. When the time of the rehabilitation shall draw nigh, those who hearken to the command of Ardwahisht will turn from the slaughter of cattle and the eating of flesh, and one quarter of the power of Az will dwindle, and the strength that is in her body will be destroyed, and the darkness and gloom will be smitten in part: nature will be clad in spirit and intelligences will be more clearly grasped. 40. In the bodies of the children that are born to them Az shall be less strong and their bodies shall stink less, and their nature will be more closely bound to the gods. Instructed by the gods they will turn away from the drinking of milk; half the power of Az will dwindle. (41) And those who are born to them will be sweet-smelling, lacking darkness, spiritual in nature, without offspring, for they will not eat.