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Pahlavi Texts, Part III (SBE24), E.W. West, tr. [1885], at sacred-texts.com
1. The eighty-seventh subject is this, that, when
any one departs from the world 1, it is necessary to make an effort, in those three days, so that they may continuously perform the ceremonial of Srôsh 2 and make the fire blaze, and may recite the Avesta; because the soul is three days in this world 3.
2. The fourth night it is requisite to consecrate three sacred cakes; one with a dedication to Rashn 4 and Âstâd 5, one with a dedication to the spirit Râm 6, and one with a dedication to the righteous guardian spirit; and one is to consecrate a dress and something as a righteous gift for that soul 7.
3. It is necessary that the dress be new and of uniform quality (gins), and such as turban, shirt, vest, girdle, trowsers, shoes (pasandil) 8, and mouth-veil. 4. Since they give those among the spirits a counterpart of those garments, therefore, whatever is more beautiful, and more surpassing in grandeur for the soul in that place, is necessary where that place is, because our fathers and mothers and the whole of our relations are in that place. 5. And since the souls recognise and ask after one another in that world, they are, therefore, more joyful on account of every one whose dress 9 and grandeur are more surpassing. 6. In a similar manner, when the dress is old and ragged, they are ashamed, and exhibit heaviness of heart.
7. They call that dress a righteous gift because they consecrate it; and it is necessary to give it to the priests and high-priests, as it is a righteous gift on account of their position. 8. And it is suitable for them to keep it for the reason that the souls are nearer to them; people should also make an effort that the dress may be stitched like the dress of a priest.
9. The sacred beings make up the account and reckoning for the soul when the priest recites frasasti ahurahê mazdau 1 and removes the Frasast 2 from this side to that side. 10. The soul passes over the Kinvad bridge when, on the fourth night, it arrives from the world at the Kinvad bridge. 11. First it goes to the abode of fire (âtas-gâh) 3; afterwards, one step reaches to the star station, the second step reaches to the moon station, the third step to the sun station, and with the fourth step it reaches the Kinvad bridge 4, and they convey it to its own place.
351:1 La omits 'from the world.'
351:2 See Mkh. II, 115 n, Sls. XVII, 3.
351:3 See Mkh. II, 114, 158.
351:4 See Mkh. II, 118, 119, Sls. XVII, 4.
351:5 Av. arstâd, 'uprightness;' the angel whose name is given to the twenty-sixth day of the Parsi month.
351:6 The angel of the upper air, often called Vâê the good.
351:7 B29 has 'on that cake.'
351:8 B29 has mûzah, 'boots,' and places them last.
351:9 B29 inserts 'is more beautiful.'
352:1 'Glory be to Ahura-mazda.' Lp adds 'ahunahê vairyêhê as far as ashaya nô paiti-gamyâd,' that is 'to the Ahuna-vairya formula,' &c. as far as 'may he come to us in righteousness' (Vas. VIII, 1-3).
352:2 A Frasast is a sacred cake marked on the upper side with nine superficial cuts (in three rows of three each) made with a fingernail while repeating the words humat hûkht huvarst, 'well-thought, well-spoken, well-done,' thrice, one word to each of the nine cuts. It is placed before the consecrating priest, but to his right, while the ordinary sacred cakes are to his left (see Haug's Essays, pp. 396, 407, 408).
352:3 That is, when it leaves the vicinity of the body, after hovering about it for three nights (see Sls. XII, 5).
352:4 In other accounts the soul has to pass over this bridge before it steps forwards to the stars and moon and sun (see Mkh. II., 123, 145, VII, 9-12, Dd. XXXIV, 3, AV. V, 2, VII-IX, 1).