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354
EPISTLES OF MÂNUSKÎHAR.
Chapter IX. 1. This, too, this aged one (a Qzvârdo) orders, that, as to the polluted of the countries of Irân, when they do not obtain another washer, their way is then through thoroughly washing themselves. 2. For you who are understanding the rite and capable of washing, and are the most forward and intelligent of the religious, so long as your previous washing is a way of no assistance, there is this tediously-worded epistle; moreover, all their sin you assign for your own affliction», whose after-course is thus for their Pankadasa ('fifteen fold') washing, at the time they shall abandon, as distasteful, that sin which is a new development by way of Upasnâteê (washing downwards')*; and the sinfulness is his who established that law for them.
3. And yours are truly creatures of a fetid pool (gand-âvo), who, as regards my motive, always speak about it just as they spoke thus to a priesto:
Why has the savoury meat-offering not become forgotten by thee, while the firewood and incense, because it is not possible to eat them up, are quite
1 From this it appears clearly that Mânûskîhar was an aged man when these epistles were written, though not too old to travel. The previous allusion to old age, however, in Chap. I, 9, may not have referred to himself.
* As provided in Vend. VIII, 299 (see App. V). IT omits alag, affliction;' and in K35 it is doubtful whether it be struck out, or not. • See Chap. III, 2 for both these terms.
Implying that the laity were inclined to attribute his own strict enforcement of ceremonies, requiring the employment of the priesthood, to interested motives.
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