Ohrmazd's better judgement (meh-da¯desta¯ni¯h): A middle Persian legal and theological discourse

This article presents a transcription, translation, commentary, and discussion of a ritual and theological passage taken from the long-neglected Middle Persian work, the Zand i¯ fragard i¯ Jud-de¯w-da¯d. The selection is notable for the way it mixes theological and ritual forms of discourse while considering situations in which impure or Evil things, like corpses, wolves, and sins, naturally come into contact with pure and Good elements, like water, fire, and good deeds. Along with explaining this rich text and its various textual parallels, the article considers the potential research value of the Zand i¯ fragard i¯ Jud-de¯w-da¯d for Iranists and scholars of late antique religious literature.