Book of Arda Viraf, Part II, Chapter 3 - Anonymous

And the soul of Viraf went, from the body, to the Chinwad bridge of Chakat-i-Daitik, 

and came back the seventh day, and went into the body. 

Viraf rose up, as if he arose from a pleasant sleep, thinking of Vohuman and joyful.

And those sisters, with the Desturs of the religion and the Mazdayasnians, 

when they saw Viraf, became pleased and joyful; 

and they said thus: 'Be thou welcome, Viraf, the messenger of us Mazdayasnians, 

who art come from the realm of the dead to this realm of the living.' 

Those Herbads and Desturs of the religion bowed before Viraf. 

And then Viraf, as he saw them, came forward and bowed, and said thus: 

'For you is a blessing from Ohrmazd, the lord, and the archangels (Amahraspandan); 

and a blessing from the pious Zartosht, the descendant of Spitama; 

and a blessing from Srosh the pious, and Adar the angel (Yazad), 

and the glorious religion of the Mazdayasnians; 

and a blessing from the remaining pious; 

and a blessing from the remaining spirits of paradise who are in happiness and repose.'

And afterward, the Desturs of the religion said thus: 

'A faithful minister art thou, Viraf, who art the messenger of us Mazdayasnians; 

and may thy blessing be for thee also. 

Whatever thou sawest, relate to us truly.'

Then Viraf spoke thus: 'First this is to be said, 

that to give the hungry and thirsty food is the first thing, 

and afterward to make inquiry of him, and appoint his task.'

Then the Desturs of the religion assented thus: 'Well and good.' 

And well-cooked and savory food and broth, and cold water and wine were brought. 

They also consecrated the ceremonial cake (dron); 

and Viraf muttered grace, and ate the food, 

and having finished the sacred repast (myazd), he said grace. 

And he recounted the praises of Ohrmazd and the archangels; 

and thanks to Hordad and Amurdad, the archangels; 

and he muttered the benedictions (afrinagan).

He also directed thus: 'Bring a writer who is wise and learned.' 

And an accomplished writer, who was learned, was brought by him, and sat before him; 

and whatsoever Viraf said, he wrote correctly, clearly, and explicitly.

---

Anonymous (10th century) Iran

Translated by Fereydun Vahman

Source: The Sacred Books And Early Literature Of The East Vol 7 Ancient Persia, Charles F. Horne, Parke, Austin, and Lipscomb, Inc., 1917

Note: The Book of Arda Viraf can also be written The Book of Ardā Wīrāz (or in full Ardā Wīrāz nāmag) sometimes also The Book of Arda Wiraf.  It describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian (the Wīrāz of the story) through the next world, and predates Dante's trilogy on the same subject.