“Kurds turn to...”

With reference to "Kurds turn to Zoroastrianism” (Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, June 21, 2015), there is a well known statement attributed to Zarathushtra by the Iranians and Kurds: "To fight the darkness of ignorance I do not use the sword, I kindle the light.” Although this is not directly from Zarathushtra, it has been inspired by Yasna 29 where the soul of the living world laments: "How can I accept a feeble man like Zarathushtra as my leader? I expected a leader who is physically strong” to which Ahura Mazda responds: "The leader should be wise and enjoy eloquence of speech.”
In fact, in two verses of the Gathas, Zarathushtra avoids mentioning violence and bloodshed. Yasna 32-15: "Finally the powerful rulers (Kavis) and priests (Karapans) will be defeated by the very people who have been deprived of freedom, and the liberated people by two gifts of wholeness and immortality shall enjoy the abode of good mind (paradise).” This is a message of hope about rebellion for gaining freedom where there is no mention of violence or bloodshed.
In Yasna 31-18 resistance against violent people has been encouraged and the word (dot) for weapon has been used, but killing and murdering (merezdum) are not mentioned. The word used is sazdum which means to correct, teach, make, shape, build. That is why every author has translated the verse differently: "Therefore let no one listen to the message of wrongful, because they bring destruction to the house, village, town and the country. Thus, resist them by weapons.” (31-18). Most authors interpret this as active resistance against those who are destroying houses and the country.
In another version it is a deterrent, through demonstration of strength, to teach people that there will be resistance. The word sazdum here means teach or guide. In contemporary Persian sakhtan means to build, make, shape or to correct and besaz is the verb. Thus, Ali Jafarey has rendered "correct them with weapons” and John Humbach has translated "teach them by weapons.” Dastur Framroze Bode, Iraj Taraporewala and Mobed Firouz Azargoshasb translate it as to "resist” but interpret it in spiritual terms: to confront the evil thinkers with the weapon of good thinking and pure mind. Others have translated it as "repel,” "uproot,” "hew,” "cut them down” and "fight back.” However, if killing or injuring had been intended, merezdum and not sazdum would have been used, notes Jafarey. Dr DARYOUSH JAHANIAN
Kansas City, USA
djahanian@mail.com