Atropates, the chief Magus of Media and leader of the influential Magian tribe, in the solitude of the magnificent fire temple of Ecbatana, amidst the dancing flames of the sacred fire that symbolized Ahura Mazda, was caught in a fierce storm of thoughts. He had thought that with the "death" of that Persian child, Kourosh, the shadow of the threat had been lifted, and the ancient authority of the Zoroastrian priests, which had shone at the pinnacle of Median society for centuries, would remain steadfast. But the publication of Mandane's open letter, which had struck Astyages's heart like a hammer, and the unprecedented influence of Kourosh's printed books, which had taken root like a silent earthquake among the people of Media and Persia, had shattered the foundations of this illusion. Atropates clearly saw that even after Kourosh's physical absence, his wisdom and revolutionary ideas, like an invisible spirit, had permeated the body of society and were severely threatening the roots of the ancient authority of the Magi.
Among the Magian tribe itself, which formed the religious backbone of Media and were the guardians of religious traditions, a deep division had formed; a division that greatly worried Atropates. On one hand, the traditionalist and conservative elders, who had maintained their power and influence for years through the oral and exclusive transmission of religious texts, were in agreement with Atropates. They considered any innovation in the realm of religion and knowledge a dangerous heresy that could lead to intellectual chaos, the weakening of the Magi's position, and a deviation from the path of Ahura Mazda. They had come to believe that knowledge should be the monopoly of a select few, not accessible to all.
On the other hand, a larger portion of the younger Magi and even some of the middle-aged ones were deeply impressed by the simplicity, clarity, and accessibility of Kourosh's "Achaemenid Avesta." This book not only presented sacred stories and hymns in a simple and understandable script but also made religious knowledge accessible to the common people, which for many of them, was a dream come true. They clearly saw the potential of this innovation for spreading the religion and bringing people closer to Ahura Mazda, and they held the belief that perhaps this was the very Divine Glory that Ahura Mazda had bestowed upon Kourosh; a light that had come to dispel ignorance and darkness.
Atropates, who was deeply concerned about this internal division and the shaking of his authority, decided to gather the Median tribal leaders. In a smaller hall, away from public view, he, with a face flushed with anger and anxiety, explained the situation to them. His voice was a mixture of warning and reproach, as if telling them how they had allowed such a danger to advance so far: "Elders of Media, we are facing a danger greater than any enemy army. An invisible danger that, from within, is gnawing at the roots of our authority. This Persian child, with his magical books and strange language, has stolen the hearts of our people! They now think that the wisdom of Ahura Mazda should be in every home, not just in our fire temples."
Quotes from the elders' speeches, each indicating their concerns, were heard. Ormozd of the Busae said with hesitation and helplessness, "But Chief Magus, the people have turned to these books. They speak of this new language with enthusiasm and see it as a path to awareness." Ariobarzanes of the Paraetaceni, who was more practical, added, "If we cannot provide an answer to this new wave of knowledge, the people will turn their backs on us, and our influence among them will be lost." A young Magus from the Magian tribe who was a supporter of Kourosh said bravely, "Perhaps it is the will of Ahura Mazda that his knowledge be accessible to all. How can we stand against this wave?" His words, though bold, were a reflection of a bitter reality that Atropates could not deny.
Hearing these words, Atropates reached the peak of despair. He saw that even among the Median nobles themselves, divisions had appeared, and their unity was collapsing. A heavy silence filled the hall, only the sound of Atropates's heavy breathing could be heard. He closed his eyes and, in that moment, thought about the deep history of Media and the high status of the Magi within it; a status that was now under serious threat due to the presence of a Persian child and his "modern" ideas. He remembered how the Magi, for many long years, had been the intermediaries between the people and the gods, and now this role was in danger of disappearing, and for him, this meant the end of an era.
After a moment of silence, broken only by his heavy breaths, he said in a calmer but firm voice, "If they have come to war with us with their books, we too will answer them with a book!" His eyes burned with a spark of determination. With consultation and insistence, he brought the elders to the conclusion that the only way to counter the growing influence of Kourosh and his books was to compile a new and comprehensive holy book; a book that could revive the authority of the Magi, stabilize the traditional position of religion, and establish strict laws to maintain religious and social order. Thus, the seed for the writing of the book "Vendidad," earlier than its historical time, was planted in the heart of Ecbatana, amidst the fear and anxiety of the Median priests.
They intended with this book not only to control knowledge and bring it back under their monopoly but also to change the course of history in their favor and, with strict laws, to suppress any innovation and freedom of thought. This was a battle over wisdom and power; a battle between tradition and innovation, between the old and the new, that was beginning in the heart of Media and would determine the future fate of the Iranian plateau. Atropates, with this decision, was preparing himself to confront the shadow of Kourosh's wisdom, unaware that this action itself would be to the benefit of Kourosh's grand plan.