VOLUME I.
David Shea translation
PARIS:
PRINTED FOR THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
SOLD BY BENJAMIN DUPRAT, BOOKSELLER TO THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE ROYALE, 7, RUE DU CLOITRE SAINT-BENOIT. AND ALLEN AND CO., LEADENHALD-STREET, LONDON.
1843.
TO
The Memory
OF
THE RIGHT HONORABLE
THE EARL OF MUNSTER,
Etc., etc., etc.
CONTENTS
Of the Preliminary Discourse.
Page
PART I.
Introduction.
Section
I.—How the Dabistán first became known—its author—the sources of his information iii
II.—Discussion on the Desátir xix
PART II.
Synopsis of the dynasties, religions, sects, and philosophic opinions treated of in the Dabistán.
Section
I.—The first religion—the dynasties of Mahabad, Abad Azar, Shai Abad, Shai Giliv, Shai Mahbad, and Yasan lxvi
II.—The Peshdadian, Kayanian, Ashkanian, and Sassanian dynasties—their religious and political institutions lxxvii
III.—The religion of Zardusht, or Zoroaster lxxxiii
IV.—The religion of the Hindus cv
V.—Retrospect of the Persian and Indian religions cxx
VI.—The religion of the Tabitian (Tibetans) cxxv
VII.—The religion of the Jews ibid.
VIII.—The religion of the Christians cxxvi
IX.—The religion of the Muselmans cxxviii
X.—The religion of the Sadakiahs cxli
XI.—The religion of the Roshenians cxlv
XII.—The religion of the Ilahiahs cxlvii
XIII.—The religion of the Philosophers cliii
XIV.—The religion of the Súfis clxix
XV.—Recapitulation of the Contents of the Dabistán ibid.
PART III.
Conclusion.
Section
I.—General appreciation of the Dabistán and its author clxxix
II.—Notice concerning the printed edition, some manuscripts, and the translations of the Dabistán clxxxviii
CONTENTS
Of the Dabistán (vol. I.)
Page
Introduction of the Author 1
CHAPTER I.
Of the religion of the Parsian 4
Section
I.—Tenets and ceremonies observed by the Sipasian and Parsian 5
Description of the worship rendered to the seven planets, according to the Sipasian faith 35
II.—Description of the Sipasian sect 87
III.—The laws of the Paiman-i-Farhang and the Hirbed Sár 147
Descriptions of the gradations of Paradise 150
Description of the infernal regions 152
IV.—An account of the Jamshapian sect 193
V.—The Samradian sect 195
VI.—The tenets of the Khodaiyan 201
VII.—The system of the Rádián ibid.
VIII.—The Shidrangián creed 203
IX.—The Páikárian creed ibid.
X.—The Milánián system 204
XI.—The system of the followers of Alár 206
XII.—The Shidanian faith 207
XIII.—The system of the Akhshiyán sect ibid.
XIV.—The followers of Zardusht 211
Account of the precepts given by Zardusht to the king and all mankind 260
The Sad-der, or “the hundred gates” of Zardusht 310
Enumeration of some advantages which arise from the enigmatical forms of the precepts of Zardusht’s followers 351
Summary of the contents of the Mah-zend 353
XV.—An account of the tenets held by the followers of Mazdak 372
iii