________________
CHAPTER III, 7-14.
279
stand right below, if even fully fifteen steps below, even then the sacred twigs are unclean (a pâdiyâv)"; but when not right below fifteen steps are plenty.
12. Prepared food which is within three steps of a menstruous woman is polluted by her, and food which she delivers up (barà pardazêd) from her morning meal (kâsht) is not fit for the evening meal (sâm), nor that which she delivers up from her evening meal for the morning meal; it is not fit even for the same woman ; and water which is within three steps of her, when they shall put it into a pail (d û bal) or ablution-vessel (pâdiyâvdân), and shall do it without handling (ayadman), is fit for the hands in ceremonial ablution. 13. When she touches the bedding and garments of any one, Sôshyans * said that so much space is to be washed with bull's urine (gômêz) and water; her bedding which touches the bedding of any one does not make it polluted.
14. A menstruous woman who becomes clean in three nights is not to be washed till the fifth day; from the fifth day onwards to the ninth day, when
Pahl. Vend. XVI, 10 says, 'everything, when at the right distance, is proper, except only that one case, when uncleanness is above and cleanness also right below; although it be even much below, yet it is not proper.' In such a case the prescribed distance of fifteen steps is not sufficient; therefore, the dashtânistân should be on the ground floor, not over an underground watertank, nor within fifteen steps of the water in such a tank.
? Or, possibly, ham nêsman may mean'a companion woman,' when two or more are secluded at the same time. Pahl. Vend. XVI, 17 says, 'food delivered up by a menstruous woman is of no use whatever, it is not proper; in parts free from pollution (gavid. vasno), in those likewise it is not proper ;' the reading gavid. vasně (proposed by Dastûr Hoshangji) is, however, doubtful.
Or clothing,' vistarg. • See Chap. I, 3.
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
