“Give me some account of Zardusht’s star and its rise; tell me also why he laughed at the time of his birth”. _Partarúsh_ replied: “Thy son Zardusht is to be a chief, as all the happy spheres afford him aid; this offspring of auspicious career will conduct the creatures of God in the true way; promulgate the _Zandavasta_;[391] destroy the demon and enchanters, and finally king Gushtasp shall embrace his faith.” This announcement gave great delight to Purshasp. At this time there lived an aged saint named _Barzinkaroos_, of profound experience and clear discernment; this sage having come to the house of Purshasp, entreated that he might be allowed to bring up Zardusht, and acquire glory by his education. Purshasp consented to this proposal, and entrusted the infant to the holy sage. When Zardusht had attained his seventh year, Purtarush, the chief of the magicians, came along with Duransanun to the child’s abode; and made so great a display of enchantments, terrific, and fearful sights, that all the people fled out of the house; but Zardusht, through the aid of God, felt no alarm and moved not, so that the magicians went away filled with affright and disappointment. After some time Zardusht became ill, at which news all the magicians were greatly delighted; their chief Partarósh came, with enchantments and medicine mixed up with _mina_,[392] to Zardusht’s pillow and said: “The swallowing of this medicine will render thy body tranquil and deliver thee from pain.” The illuminated mind of Zardusht saw through the machination, and taking the medicine from him, poured it on the ground, and at the same time telling him about the _mina_ mixed up with the portion, said: “Shouldst thou in a different guise conceal thy violence, I can again recognise thee, O thou full of deceit! Thy description is furnished to me by that God Through whose command the world is preserved.” The magicians consequently again returned back mortified at the results of their wicked plot. They say that in those times they accounted no system superior to that of magic, and that the demon held public intercourse with persons of that class so that they obtained it from Iblis without the intervention of enchantment. “Mankind then praised the foul demon, As they now do the God of purity.”