بخش 4

After a span of time, the aged Zoroaster counseled Goshtasp that paying tribute to the lord of China is not befitting of their faith; the king agreed, saying he would no longer order tribute to be sent. Then a powerful demon informed King Arjasp of China, saying: the world is under your command—save for Goshtasp, son of Lohrasp, who brings an army toward the Turks and openly bears enmity against you. When Arjasp heard the demon’s report, he descended from the throne, grew weak with grief, and his heart and soul filled with care. He summoned his captains and declared: in Iran glory, knowledge, and the pure religion have been altered; a sorcerer has come claiming prophethood, saying he descended from heaven and wrote the Zand and Avesta from God, speaking of hell and Ahriman. The Iranian nobles—especially Goshtasp, the son of Lohrasp, and his brave brother Zarir—came before this seeker of religion, bound the sacred girdle, and took up his faith until his path and ordinance filled the world. Calling this business vain and rash, Arjasp resolved to write a letter to Goshtasp: to grant him much treasure and admonish him to turn from this base path and fear the Lord of Paradise; to drive away that impure elder (Zoroaster) and hold a feast according to our custom. And if he refuses and renews the new against the old, we will gather scattered troops, raise a fine army, march to Iran, fear neither his harm nor his battle, drive him back and abase him, bind him, and hang him alive.