ITS ORIGIN, ITS STRENGTH, AND ITS WEAKNESS. 161 
selves to the stars and to light.” The Arabic name for these 
beautiful damsels* too, is of Persian origin, being derived from 
the Pahlavi hiir,f Avestic hvare (<Jamw) “brilliant,” “the sun.” 
Though the Qur’anic Paradise ay derives its name from 
the Hebrew Garden of Eden ({J¥"]3), yet it is not unlike 
the Persian conception of (ses drousyerasl) £ Vahistd Ahnu, 
“the perfect world.”§ The Muhammadan Angel of Death 
(oer) bd rg oro 
(ys) GEL, also called Jy s2), though known to them 
* The idea of the existence of these celestial damsels is a very ancient 
one among the Aryans. The Hindfs of ancient times called them 
Apsarasas, and believed that they inhabited Swarga (Indra’s heaven— 
the sky), and that they used to transport thither the Kshatriyas or warriors 
who died in battle (vide Sir M. Monier- Williams’ edition of the “ Nalopakh- 
yanam,” s.v. afaa4r:). Manu says (“ Dharmasastra,” Bk. VIT,sl. 89):— 
area yfaar sat saifsdreattadifaa: | 
GaATA: WURTANATAIT AAT: Il 
that warriors who die bravely in battle inherit Swarga immediately after 
death. So also in Nalop. I, 17, 18, Indra says to Nala :— 
wan: ufatiarata, qasitfacatfaa: 
Wau fayd are SF TRWITYET: | 
ae wiat saga avi aya aA ATAU I 
Compare this with the Muhammadan idea of the reward of those who 
die in battle fighting for their faith. 
nS) a On #7 I-CE 
+ Penrice derives Son pl. from a singular zit | 9 E08; >| » “black- 
eyed,” from vy \g>, 2 form of le - (“ Dict. of the Koran,” sv.) I prefer 
the derivation in the text. 
t Fargand II, 35, 36, ete. 
we Ce * 
, 
§ Are not the beautiful youths of Paradise (the Ghilmén be)), 
wko wait upon the blessed there (Sirah LVI, 13), identical with the 
Gandharvas or celestial musicians of Indra’s heaven ? 
