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CHAPTER LVII, 1-LVIII, 9.
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himself, and is keeping watch over it during the three days, and does not forsake it, so that no danger or harm happens to it. 5. And the fourth night he is a helper, with the angel Rashn?, at the Kinvad bridge, while they make up its account and reckoning, and it goes to its own place.
6. And this ceremony for the living soul is appointed for the reason that, just in the manner that, when an infant becomes separated from the mother, a midwife (qâbilat) is necessary for it, so that they may keep watch over it, and just in the manner that she takes up the infants from the ground-and, at the time when it is born, it is ever necessary that there be a woman present ('hâzirat), or they may perform work for the infant at a time fit for the demon in this same manner, when the soul is becoming separated from the body it is like an infant (tifl), and does not know any way to its place. 7. When they celebrate a ceremony for the living soul, and have propitiated. the righteous Srôsh, the righteous Srôsh becomes like the midwife, so that he receives that soul by himself, and keeps watch that it is out of the hands of Aharman and the demons. 8. When they do not celebrate a ceremony for the soul when living, but, after that“, the priests perform it before Srôsh, it is like that which occurs when a woman brings forth a child, and after that they set her before the midwife. 9. And it happens that while some one is coming in, who takes up that child and wraps it up, it has perished.
1 While it is supposed to stay near the body. 9 B29 adds and the angel Mihir. See Mkh. II, 118, 119. 8 Lp, B29 have merely and she takes it up.'
Lp adds it is necessary that.' Lp adds they make no enquiry (talab) about it before her.'
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