The Primal Creation

0. In the name of the creator Aûharmazd.

1. The Zand-âkâs (‘Zand-knowing or tradition-informed), which is first about Aûharmazd’s original creation and the antagonism of the evil spirit and afterwards about the nature of the creatures from the original creation till the end, which is the future existence (tanû-i pasînŏ). 2. As revealed by the religion of the Mazdayasnians, so it is declared that Aûharmazd is supreme in omniscience and goodness, and unrivalled in splendour; the region of light is the place of Aûharmazd, which they call ‘endless light,’ and the omniscience and goodness of the unrivalled Aûharmazd is what they call ‘revelation.’ 3. Revelation is the explanation of both spirits together; one is he who is independent of unlimited time, because Aûharmazd and the region, religion, and time of Aûharmazd were and are and ever will be; while Aharman in darkness, with backward understanding and desire for destruction, was in the abyss, and ‘it is he who will not be; and the place of that destruction, and also of that darkness, is what they call the ‘endlessly dark.’ 4. And between them was empty space, that is, what they call ‘air,’ in which is now their meeting.