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CHAPTER XIII, 4-XIV, 5.
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9. Thus much they say, and turn away in anger, and go away from that place.
CHAPTER XIV. 1. The fourteenth subject is this, that, when the nails are pared according to custom (ba-'hilâl)?, it is necessary that they put the parings into a paper. 2. And it is further necessary to take the Srôsh-bâz2 inwardly, and to utter three Yathâ-ahû-vairyôs 8, 3. And for the speaking of this to say with each Yathâ-ahd-vairyô %the Avesta is this:- Paiti tê, meregha Ashô-zusta! imau srvau vaêdhayêmi, imau srvau âwaêdhayêmi; imause tê srvau, meregha Ashôzusta! hyâre arstayaska, karetayaska, thanvareka, ishavaska erezifyô-parena, asnaka fradakhshanya paiti daêvô-Mâzainyāno; ashà vohd mananghâ yâ sruyê pare magaonô6. 4. Afterwards, one completes the Bâz in the manner that it was taken inwardly.
5. At those two Yathâ-ahû-vairyôs, with which one completes the Bâz, at each one, he makes lines (hatthâ) in a little dust in the midst of the nail
1 B29 has 'when the nails and a toothpick (hilâl) are pared;' and the Gugarati translator takes 'hilal in the same sense. * A particular form of prayer.
See Mkh. XXVII, 70 n. * B29 omits these eleven words.
o Vend. XVII, 26-28:-Unto thee, O bird Ashô-zusta ! do I announce these nails, do I introduce these nails' (or, according to the Pahlavi, 'do I make known these nails, these nails do I make thee known to '); 'may these nails be such for thee, O bird Ashôzustal as spears and knives, bows, falcon-feathered arrows, and sling-stones against the demon Mâzainyas.'
6 Yas. XXXIII, 7b:- Through the righteous good thought, by which I am heard before the mighty one.'
T2
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