Menog-i Khrad ("The Spirit of Wisdom")

(Translated by E. W. West, from Sacred Books of the East, volume 24, Oxford University Press, 1885.)

CONTENTS:

 

Chapter 1. Introducing the sage and the spirit of wisdom

 

Chapter 2. How to preserve both body and soul, including the fate of the soul after death, whether righteous or wicked

 

Chapter 3. What liberality and truth, gratitude and wisdom, mindfulness and contentment are good for

 

Chapter 4. The nine chief good works, divided into seven classes

 

Chapter 5. The ten happiest lands

 

Chapter 6. The ten unhappiest lands

 

Chapter 7. The four grades of heaven and hell, with the neutral region between them, and the fate of the souls in each

 

Chapter 8. How Ohrmazd created the universe, and Ahriman corrupted it for 9000 years. The evil influence of the seven planets, the good influence of the twelve signs of the zodiac, and how far the good and evil can counteract each other

 

Chapter 9. The impossibility of going from region to region, the substance of the sky, and the mingling of the water in the earth

 

Chapter 10. The impossibility of peace and affection between Ahriman and Ohrmazd

 

Chapter 11. Wisdom without goodness and skill without wisdom are useless

 

Chapter 12. Worldly treasure is not allotted so truly as spiritual, on account of Ahriman's chieftains the seven planets; but, after death, every one is judged according to his own deeds

 

Chapter 13. Though animals' knowledge is instinctive, men obtain theirs only by toil, because Ahriman has concealed the results of good and evil, and formed many false religions; but the only true one is that taught by Zartosht

 

Chapter 14. The best protection, friend, supporter of fame, helper of enjoyment, wealth, and pleasure

 

Chapter 15. The poverty and opulence which are good, and the characteristics of good and bad government

 

Chapter 16. The best food, grain, and fruit. The effects of wine on different tempers, and when drunk in moderation and in excess. Also why silk clothing is better for the body, and cotton for the soul

 

Chapter 17. The pleasure that is worse than unhappiness

 

Chapter 18. Why people disregard the changeableness of worldly things, death, the account of the soul, and hell

 

Chapter 19. Living in fear and falsehood is worse than death

 

Chapter 20. The best and worst conversation for kings

 

Chapter 21. The fate of men who are worldly, scoffing, idle, malicious, lazy, false-hearted, and arrogant

 

Chapter 22. How far worldly wealth can be acquired through exertion

 

Chapter 23. The impossibility of contending with destiny

 

Chapter 24. Providence can over-rule destiny; but rarely does so, because of Ahriman's evil doings

 

Chapter 25. The poorest of the rich, and the richest of the poor

 

Chapter 26. A blind mind is worse than a blind eye, and an ill-informed is worse than an ill-tempered man

 

Chapter 27. The several advantages resulting from the actions of Gayomard, Hooshang, Tahmurqasp, Yim [Jamshed], Azi Zohak, Frasiyav, Faridoon, Manuschihar, Kay Kobad, Sahm, Kay Us, Siyavakhsh, Kay Khosraw, Kay Lohrhtm, and Kay Vishtasp

 

Chapter 28. The most forgiving, strongest, swiftest, happiest, and most miserable

 

Chapter 29. What must be most regarded and protected

 

Chapter 30. The worst life and most unforeseeing man

 

Chapter 31. The business of the three classes -- priests, warriors, and husbandmen

 

Chapter 32. The business of the fourth class, the artisans

 

Chapter 33. The worst ruler, chieftain, friend, kinsman, wife, child, and country

 

Chapter 34. Ahriman can hardly disturb a wise and contented man

 

Chapter 35. The seven kinds of men who are rich, and the seven who are poor

 

Chapter 36. The thirty sins

 

Chapter 37. The thirty-three good works

 

Chapter 38. Why worldly happiness is not allotted to the worthy who are accepted in heaven

 

Chapter 39. Whose power is most seemly, wisdom most complete, disposition most faithful, speech most proper, goodness least, friendship worst, mental pleasure least, heart most seemly, endurance most approvable, and who is not faithful. What should be kept by every one and no one, and also in conversation. Who cannot give evidence, to whom obedience is due, who must be minded and praised, what must not be unrespected, who is like Ohrmazd, and who like Ahriman

 

Chapter 40. What is coldest, warmest, brightest, darkest, fullest, emptiest, most fruitless, without superfluity, incapable of deprival, cannot be bought, satisfies every one, and satisfies no one. What Ohrmazd desires from men, and what Ahriman does; and what is the end in the worldly and spiritual existences

 

Chapter 41. The mightiest man, most dreadful road, most perplexing account, pleasantest tie, most regrettable work, and most unprofitable gift

 

Chapter 42. The three kinds of man

 

Chapter 43. The spiritual armor and weapons requisite for attaining to heaven and escaping from hell

 

Chapter 44. The arrangement of the sky and earth, flow of the water, and resting-place of the clouds; where the winter demon is most predominant, and the most undisturbed country

 

Chapter 45. How Ahriman deceives, whence is his pleasure, where he has a foundation, whom he haunts, and whence is his food

 

Chapter 46. Ahriman considers no injury complete, unless he seizes the soul

 

Chapter 47. What is better than all wealth, predominant over everything, and from which no one can escape

 

Chapter 48. The dwelling of the understanding, intellect, seed, and wisdom in the body

 

Chapter 49. The duties and motions of the stars, Tishtar, Vanand, Haptoring, the twelve signs of the zodiac, and the rest, the sun and the moon

 

Chapter 50. The opulent person who is fortunate, and the reverse

 

Chapter 51. Why a bad man sometimes succeeds, and a good one fails

 

Chapter 52. How the ceremonies and religion should be considered, and what is requisite for the renunciation of sin

 

Chapter 53. How the homage and glorifying of the sacred beings are to be performed

 

Chapter 54. Why an ignorant man will not learn

 

Chapter 55. Why an ill-natured man is no friend of the good, nor an untalented man of the talented

 

Chapter 56. The uses of mountains and rivers

 

Chapter 57. The many advantages and uses of wisdom

 

Chapter 58. Though an ignorant king is esteemed by man, a wise poor man is more esteemed by the angels

 

Chapter 59. The vices of the four classes -- priests, warriors, husbandmen, and artisans

 

Chapter 60. The man most conversant with good and evil

 

Chapter 61. The chiefs of men, women, horses, flying creatures, oxen, wild animals, and grains

 

Chapter 62. Regarding Kangdez, the enclosure formed by Yim [Jamshed], the body of Sahm, the abode of Srosh, the three-legged ass, the Haoma tree, Gopaitoshah, the Kar fish, the griffin bird, and Chinamrosh

 

Chapter 63. The best good work, which requires no trouble