Chapter VI
CHAPTER VI.
1. The sixth subject is this, that of the many good works there are those which, when they accomplish them, obtain great (’hathîm) rewards; and if one does not perform them severe punishment seizes upon one at the head of the Kinvad bridge 1. 2. One is the celebration of the season festivals 2; the second is keeping the days of the guardian spirits 3; the third is attending to the souls of fathers, mothers, and other relations 4; the fourth is reciting the Khûrshêd Nyâyis 5 three times every day; the fifth is reciting the Mâh Nyâyis 6 three times every month, once when it becomes new, once when it becomes full, and once when it becomes slender 7; and the sixth is celebrating the Rapithwin 8 ceremony once every year. 3. If not able to celebrate them oneself, it is requisite to order them, so that they may celebrate them every single time 9.
4. These six good works are things indispensable unto every one. 5. When any one of them is not performed—be it that which, if omitted at its own time 10, it is not possible to accomplish, or if it be that one time one omits an occasion, and another time 11 they accomplish twice as much—one should consider 12 that as an advantage, which occurs in retribution
for it, or as atonement for the transgression. 6. Because they call the transgression of each of these six a bridge-sin; that is, every one through whom a transgression of these may have arisen they keep back, at the head of the Kinvad bridge, till punishment for it happens to him, and no good work is possible 1 in this place, which is torment and punishment for him 2.
7. Therefore it is necessary to make an effort, that they may be performed each one at its own time, so that they may obtain a recompense, and not a severe punishment.