TheHadoxt nask is the sixthnask (volume) of theSasanian Avesta.[1] The work isno longer extant, but the Hadoxt nask 1 and 2 fragments as well as possibly other parts of the extantAvesta are considered to have been part of this nask.[2]
The nask itself is no longer extant. Some information on its content are given in Book 8 of theDenkard, a 9th-10th century compendium of Zoroastrianism.[3] In addition, theRivayats, a series of epistles from the 15th - 17th century, give a short overview on the content of the Hadoxt nask.[4]
The name of the Hadoxt nask is derived from anAvestan adjectivehaδaoxta, with the meaning ofrecited with[1] ortogether with that which is spoken.[2]Jean Kellens has for instance opined that this nask originally contained texts which complemented other texts, in particular, the texts of theStot yasht.[1]
TheSasanian Avesta was organized into 21nasks, i.e., volumes, which were grouped into 3 divisions; the Gāhānīg (Gathic nasks), Hada Mānsrīg (manthras connected with the ritual), and Dādīg (legal nasks).[5] Within this scheme, the Hadoxt nask was considered to be part of the Gāhānīg nasks, dealing with the contents of theGathas. It consisted of either 133 or 134 chapters.[6]Edward William West estimates, that the Hadoxt nask consisted of ca. 8.400 words ofAvestan text accompanied by ca. 17.400 words ofcommentary inPahlavi.[7]
Although not being related to the content described in the Denkard, the Hadoxt nask 1 and Hadoxt nask 2 fragments are considered to have formed the first three fragards of the Hadoxt nask.[8][9] Hadoxt 1 is a commentary on theAshem Vohumanthra and may have originally been the first chapter. Hadoxt 2 provides a discussion of the fate of the soul after death.[10] The Hadoxt fragments have been edited byWest andHaug in 1872 as an appendix to theBook of Arda Viraf.[11] A more recent edition was provided by Piras with a translation intoItalian.[12]
Based on the description given in the Denkard and the Rivayats, different authors have tried to identify other surviving Avestan texts which may been belongend to the Hadoxt nask. The so called Fshushomanthra (Y. 58) was considered, e.g., byJames Darmesteter to be a part of the nask.[13]Karl Friedrich Geldner, however, exlcuded it but considered the Srosh Yasht (Yt. 11) and theAfrinagan i Gasanoar (A. 3) to be part of the nask.[14]
^Kellens 1987, "The Sasanian collection of the Avesta and its commentary (zand) is described in chap. 8 of the Dēnkard; it was probably composed of three books of seven chapters [...]".
^Kellens 2002, "It is said to have consisted of 3 divisions containing 133 sections, the first one containing 13 sections, the second 102, the third 19 (which actually makes 134 sections)".
^Shapira 1998, p. 37: "[T]he contents of the Hadoxt Nask as summarized in the Denkard reveal no closeness to the Hadoxt Nask known to us from the three extant fragards [...]".
^Reichelt 1911, p. 178: "The Hadoxt Nask is a mere fragment, consisting of three not consecutive sections, which were probably in the original Nask, described in Denkart VIII, XLV. i.".
^Reichelt 1911, p. 178: "The first section on the value of reciting the Ashem Vohu-formula may possibly be the first section of the Nask. But the contents of the second and third section on the fate of the soul after death do not agree with the description of the Nask.".
Dhabhar, Bamanji Nasarvanji (1932).The Persian Rivayats of Hormazyar Framarz and Others. Their Version with Introduction and Notes. Bombay.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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