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286
SHAYAST LÂ-SHAYAST.
proper, and from other hairy creatures (mùyino) it is proper among the lowly (nakhêzik). 2. The least fulness i necessary for it is exactly three finger-breadths; when it is exactly three fingerbreadths altogether ? from one side, and when the rest is cut off, it is proper. 3. When one retains the prayer inwardly 3 and has tied his girdle, and ties it anew once again, he will untie that which he has tied, and it is not proper 4.
4. Cloth of thick silk brocade (dipak) and figured silk (parnikano) is not good for girdling 6; and cloth of hide when the hair is stripped from it, of wool, of hair, of cotton, of dyed silk, and of wood is proper for shirting (sa pikih). 5. Four fingerbreadths of shirt? is the measure of its width away
Literally, 'width ;' that is, extra width, or slackness round the waist, as the girdle sits very loosely over a loose shirt; or, as the text implies, the slackness ought to admit three fingers together, projecting edgeways from the waist. After tying it so loosely, any unnecessary length of string may be cut off, when the girdle is put on for the first time. The necessary looseness is again mentioned in Chap. X, 1.
· Literally, 'extreme to extreme;' rôêsman-a-rôêsman being Huzvâris for sarâsar.
s That is, has begun the prayer formula (requisite while tying on the girdle) with a bâs or muttered prayer (see Chap. III, 6, note).
• The meaning appears to be that he must not tie the girdle a second time without recommencing the prayer formula.
• This word, ayîbya@g,hânih, is chiefly a transcript from the Avesta name of the kůstîk or girdle, aiwyaunghana. Probably garments in general are meant.
. Perhaps dârîn may mean cloth of bark, hemp, or flax here.
* The sacred shirt, worn by Parsis of both sexes (young children excepted) in India, is a very loose tunic of white muslin, with very short loose sleeves covering part of the upper arm. It is called sadaro (Pers. sudarah) in Gugaráti, and shapîk (Pers. shabf) in Pahlavi.
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