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CHAPTER XIV, 2-6.
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dedication formula (shnûmano)1 too soon or too late; or does not utter the Avesta for the fire when he sees the fire.
4. This is how it is when the period of the day (gâs) is retained, and how it should be when one may relinquish it; that is, when even one of the stars created by Aûharmazd is apparent, it is retained, and when not it is relinquished. 5. It is Vand-Aûharmazd3 who said that when, besides Tistar, Vanand, or Satavês, one of the zodiacal stars (akhtarik) is apparent, it is retained, and when not it is relinquished. 6. There have been some who said that when, besides one of those three, three zodiacal stars are apparent, it is retained, and when not it is relinquished".
1 See Chaps. III, 35, VII, 8.
* See Bund. XXV, 9. The text appears to refer to the transition from the Ushahina to the Hâvani Gâh at daybreak; and as certain portions of the prayers are varied according to the period of the day, it is very necessary to know precisely when each period commences, so as to avoid vitiating the whole ceremonial by the use of a wrong prayer.
See Chap. I, 4, note.
• Three of the leading stars, probably Sirius, Fomalhaut, and Antares (see Bund. II, 7).
This chapter is followed (in both the old MSS. M6 and K20) by the Pahlavi text of the Patît-i Khûd, or renunciation of one's own sin, a translation of which will be found in Bleeck's English version of the Avesta, London, 1864, III, pp. 159-162, derived from Spiegel's German translation of the Pâzand text. This translation is fairly correct on the whole, although some passages might be improved, thus (p. 162), instead of all sins which may attack the character of man [or] have attacked my character, if I, on account of much death, have not recognised the death,' &c., we should read of all sins which may become the lot of men, and have become my lot, on account of whose excessive number I do not know the number,' &c.
B b 2
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