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SAD DAR.
wards telling that falsehood again, and it vexes the heart of that person, they are bringing punishment ever anew on the soul of that former one. 6. The sin does not depart through the performance of duties and good works, so long as he does not make his antagonist satisfied.
7. This is a grave sin, and it is requisite to be careful that they do not commit it.
CHAPTER XLIII. 1. The forty-third subject is this, that it is necessary to make an endeavour to kill noxious creatures and reptiles (hasarât) of the earth; because, in revelation?, it is put forth as a great good work. • 2. Especially these five things :-One is the frog in the water, the second is the snake and scorpion, the third is the ant (markis) that flies, the fourth is the common ant (môrkah), and the fifth is the mousę. 3. Therefores, every time that they bring a frog up, out of the water, and make it dry, and, after (baʼhd) that, kill it, it is a good work of a thousand and two hundred dirhams in weight 4. 4. And every time that they kill a snake, and recite the Avesta that is appointed for that occasions, it is 1 See Vend. XIV, 9-17, XVIII, 144-146.
If markis were Pahlavi, it would mean 'the deadly thing.' Possibly the locust' (mala'h) is meant, but the description in § 6 is rather perplexing.
8 Lp omits therefore,' and B20 has and.'
• See Chap. XII, 9 n. The frog is considered noxious because it is supposed to injure the water, being generally found in stagnant pools which are unwholesome.
An Avesta passage of about thirty words, to be used on such occasions, is to be found in the Rivâyats, but is still unedited.
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