AESMA DAEVA. - Among the Persians he is the spirit of wrath and strife, and bears as his constant epithet “of the bloody club.” He is devoted to drunkenness, from which he derives part of his strength. Most of the evils that torment creatures are to be attributed to him, and the death and misfortunes of the mythical
Iranian kings are likewise due to his work (Bundahišn, 28, 17). Against his dreadful assaults men turn for help to Sraoša, who is his most formidable enemy and knows how to curb his fury (Yasna, 57, 25). His name already appears in the ancient hymns, the Gāthā: the devi (devils) call upon his aid to destroy the life of men (Yasna, 30, 6); and domestic animals too, especially the cow, have much to suffer from his activity (Yasna, 44, 20). At the end of the world he will be defeated and overthrown by the Saushyant (Bundahišn, 30, 28).