Warshtmansr nask
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The Warshtmansr nask[1] or Varshtmansr nask[2] is the second nask (volume) of the Sasanian Avesta. Like most other nasks, it is no longer extant, but its content can be reconstructed from references in later Pahlavi writings and the parts still contained in the extant Avesta.[2]
Name
In the Persian Rivayats, the Warshtmansr nask is called Wahišta-mānsar, meaning the best manthra.[6] Modern scholarship agrees with the derivation of Middle Persian Mānsar from Avestan manthra, but regards the derivation of Warsht from vahištah (best) as erroneous. For instance, Edward William West translates it as "used as spells, or employed as liturgy".[7] On the other hand, Vevaina derives Warsht from varz- (working/composing), which would lead to a translation of "working a manthra".[1]
In the Sasanian Avesta
The Sasanian Avesta was organized into 21 nasks, i.e., volumes, with each nask being in turn divided into several chapters. These 21 nasks are grouped into 3 divisions; the Gāhānīg (Gathic nasks), Hada Mānsrīg (manthras connected with the ritual), and Dādīg (legal nasks).[8] Like the Sudgar and the Bag nask, the Warshtmansr nask was divided into 22 fragards (chapters), with all three providing commentary on the Staota Yenya, in particular the Gathas. Accordingly, it was placed into the first division of the nasks, i.e., the Gāhānīg group. Edward William West estimates, that the Warshtmansr nask consisted of ca. 8.300 words of Avestan text accompanied by ca. 18.500 words of commentary in Pahlavi.[7]