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360
EPISTLES OF MANÛSKIHAR,
of the sacred twigs. 2. Such-although they say that Zâd-sparam2, son of Yûdân-Yim, has ordered, and the high-priests have appointed, washing of this kind—has appeared to my well-reflecting (hu-min) opinion, apprehension, and appreciation very marvellous and grave, and merely a rumour. 3. And it is needful for me to keep those of the good religion in all quarters of the country of Irân informed concerning the placing reliance upon their washing with the Bareshnûm ceremony, and to make my own opinion clear also as regards the writings collected.
4
4. And, first of all, about the indispensability of the Bareshnûm ceremony I write several such copies of a well-matured writing of mine as may even be new light to the intelligent. 5. That my opinion of the information provided by revelation, the decisions of high-priests, and the teachings of those of the primitive faith is thus, that washing by the polluted with water is pollution for the life and spiritual life (ahvô); they render the material body clean thereby, but that which is known as the handiwork" of the immortals, and is also professionally called the Bareshnûm, when there is the protection of a ritual of various kinds, shall make the body clean from endless worldly attacks.
6. It is in the nine ablution seats (magako)' and the furrow, even with prayer, bull's urine, water,
1
1 Reading amat, instead of the very similar word hamât, 'ever.' See the headings to Eps. I, II. • See App. IV.
Meaning this epistle.
5 Because it pollutes pure water, which is considered a sin.
6
Reading yadman; but it may be gadman, 'glory,' which is written in precisely the same manner.
7 See Ep. I, ix, 7.
See Vend. IX, 21-28 (App. IV)
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