CHAPTER 2. [Viraf and his preparations to visit the spiritual realm]

1. And that Viraf had seven sisters, (2) and all those seven sisters were as wives of Viraf; (3) they had also learned the religion of heart, and recited the prayers. (4) And when they heard those tidings, then they came upon them so very grievously, (5) that they clamored and shrieked, (6) and went into the presence of the assembly of the Mazdayasnians, (7) and they stood up and bowed, (8) and said thus: 'Do not this thing; ye Mazdayasnians; (9) for we are seven sisters, and he is an only brother; (10) and we are, all seven sisters, as wives of that brother. (11) Just as the door of a house, in which seven lintels were fixed, and one post below, (12) they who shall take away that post will make those lintels fall; (13) so for us seven sisters is this only brother, who is our life and maintenance; (14) every benefit from him proceeds from God.

(15) Should you send him, before his time, from this realm of the living to that of the dead, (16) you will commit an injustice on us without cause.' 17. And afterward, those Mazdayasnians, when they heard those words, pacified those seven sisters, (18) and said thus: 'We will deliver Viraf to you, safe and sound, in seven days; (19) and the happiness of this renown will remain with this man.' (20) Then they became satisfied. 21. And then Viraf joined his hands on his breast before the Mazdayasnians, and said to them (22) thus: 'It is the custom that I should pray to the departed souls, and eat food, and make a will; afterward, you will give me the wine and narcotic.' (23) The Dasturs directed thus: 'Act accordingly.' 24.

And afterward, those Dasturs of the religion selected, in the dwelling of the spirit, a place which was thirty footsteps from the good. (25) And Viraf washed his head and body, and put on new clothes; (26) he fumigated himself with sweet scent and spread a carpet, new and clean, on a prepared couch. (27) He sat down on the clean carpet of the couch, (28) and consecrated the Dron, and remembered the departed souls, and ate food. (29) And then those Dasturs of the religion filled three golden cups with wine and narcotic of Vishtasp; (30) and they gave one cup over to Viraf with the word 'well-thought,' and the second cup with the word 'well-said,' and the third cup with the word 'well-done'; (31) and he swallowed the wine and narcotic, and said grace whilst conscious, and slept upon the carpet.

32. Those Dasturs of the religion and the seven sisters were occupied, seven days and nights, with the ever-burning fire and fumigations; and they recited the Avesta and Zand of the religious ritual, (33) and recapitulated the Nasks, and chanted the Gathas, and kept watch in the dark. (34) And those seven sisters sat around the carpet of Viraf, (35) and seven days and nights the Avesta was repeated. (36) Those seven sisters with all the Dasturs and Herbads and Mobads of the religion of the Mazdayasnians, discontinued not their protection in any manner.