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CHAPTER XI, 6-XII, 3.
339 of the sacred cake the high-priests have specially taught, in the Hasparam Nask, that it is as much as that of a lesser form of worship.
2. The rule is this, that he who is himself more acquainted with religion is he who considers him who is more acquainted with religion than himself as high-priest, and considers him as high-priest so that he may not destroy the bridge of the soul; as it says in the Sakâdam Nask that no one of them, that is an inattentive (asrash dâr) man who has no high-priest, attains to the best existence', not though his recitations should be so many that they have made his duty and good works as much as the verdure (sapdak) of the plants when it shoots forth in spring, the verdure which Adharmazd has given abundantly.
3. The rule is this, that they keep a fire in the house, because, from not keeping the fire properly, there arise less pregnancy of women and a weeping (âv-didano) for the loss of strength (tana) of men?; and the chilled charcoal (angist) and the rest which are without advantage (bar) are to be
* See Chap. X, 21. The passage mentioned in the text was probably in the section called Nîrangistân.
K20 omits this repetition. . That is, may not render the passage of his soul to heaven, over the Kinvad bridge (see Bund. XII, 7), impossible, owing to the sin of arrogance in this world.
• See Chap. X, 25; the passage alluded to was probably at the beginning of the Nask, which treated of the reward of the precepts of religion, and the bridge of the destroyers of good preceptors, adapted to their destruction.'
6 See Chap. VI, 3. • K20 has that a fire is to be properly kept.' ? K20 has and a loss of the strength and wealth of men.'
Z 2
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