Selections from Zoroastrianism’s Sacred Book “Sad Dar”: Chapters 82-100, Part 2 of 2

“The ninety-third subject is this, that it is necessary for all those of the good religion to practice abstinence from uttering slander (ghaibat) behind one’s back. In the commentary of the Vendidad it states, that slander is the greatest of all sins. Every one who perpetrates slander about any one is like him who has eaten dead matter – and the eating of dead matter is a sin that has likewise been mentioned, before this, in this book – but the statement is like this, while they do not indicate any punishment for it in this world, it does not go without it in that other world.” “In order that they may show thy soul, when resigning life, the satisfaction (ijza) for the sin, it states, in the commentary of the Vendidad, as to any one by whom slander is perpetrated, if the injured person goes before him and begs a righteous gift from him, and he provides a righteous gift for that person, the sin departs from him.”

“The ninety-fourth subject is this, when a person confers a benefit or kindness upon any one, it is necessary that that latter should understand the value of it, and lay the obligation (minnat) upon himself; and, if he be able, he should provide a benefit to that amount (miqdar) for that person. It is declared in revelation, that, when a person confers a benefit upon any one, Ohrmazd [Ahura Mazda] gives him ten times as much, as an equivalent.”