Ormuzd's Living Word to Zoroaster

Preface.

shipped out to India. For two years, he had to sustain himself in Surat on his soldier’s pay; later, he received support from his King Referring to King Louis XV of France. and was finally able to come closer to his true purpose. From the very beginning, he had sought out the acquaintance of two DastursHigh-ranking Zoroastrian priests; the original text uses the term "Desturs.", Darab and Kaus, the former of whom was known as the most learned priest of that region. From both, he took instruction in the teachings of Zoroaster The ancient Iranian prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism. and in the ancient languages in which these teachings were preserved. He also purchased from them a manuscript of the VendidadA collection of religious texts within the Avesta, focusing on purity laws and myths. in the Zend languageNow generally referred to as Avestan, the language of the Zoroastrian scriptures. with a translation in the Pahlavi languageA Middle Persian language used for religious and administrative purposes in the Sassanid Empire. for 100 Rupees. Out of greed, these priests attempted to delay his progress for a long time by lingering over the basics of the alphabet; however, his tireless diligence soon taught him to decipher everything, so much so that his teachers were [astonished] by his...