Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.15994

c10.15994

Zendavesta is the name which has been by Europeans popularly applied to the books just spoken of as the Avesta. The term is undoubtedly an inversion, as, according to Haug, “the Pahlavi books always style them Avistāk va Zand (Avesta and Zend)” i.e. the Law with its traditional and authoritative explanation. Abastā, in the sense of law, occurs in the funeral inscription of Darius at Behistūn; and this seems now the most generally accepted origin of the term in its application to the Parsi sacred books. (This is not, however, the explanation given by Haug.) Thus, ‘Avesta and Zend’ signify together ‘The Law and the Commentary.’