The Minor Law-Books: Nârada and Brihaspati — SBE Vol. 33 (trans. Julius Jolly, 1889)

p. 269.

52. Minor Narada I, 7, 2 (p. 50). svakkhe gale susitale galaukahpankavargite | vipule natigadke 4a kury4d divyasya nirmayam WNp. 257 formed in transparent and very cool water, which does not contain aquatic animals or mud, and is abundant and not too shallow.

53. Let (a man) go near the bank of the water (in which the accused is to be immersed) and erect an arch as high as the ear (of the person) on the edge (of that water), on level and purified ground.

54. A strong bow should be known to have seven hundred ; one not particularly strong, six hundred ; a weak bow, five hundred. Thus has the rule regarding the bow been declared.

55. From a bow of a middling quality let a skilful (archer) discharge three arrows, after having made a target one hundred and fifty Hastas distant.

56. (The archer) is blameable if the arrows discharged by him fall short of or go beyond the target. (The person accused) obtains acquittal if his body continues immersed in water after the middling arrow has been (discharged and) brought back.

53. M. Macn. X, 4, 13. ;

54. Nepalese Narada. kriram dhanu/ saptasatam natikroram tu sha/satam | mandam pankasatam gneyam esha prokto dhanurvidhiz Nearly identical with Minor Nârada I, 7, 4 (p. 50); Narada I, 22, 307 (above, p. 112); Viram. p. 268, &c. The translation of this text is based on the interpretation given in Zod. ‘That bow which bends sufficiently to admit of discharging an arrow from it, when a weight of seven hundred Palas is fastened by the string, is said to have seven hundred. The terms “six hundred” and “ five hundred” have to be understood in the same way.’ See too, above, p. 112, 307 note.

55, 56a. M. Macn. X, 4,15. The rule regarding the distance of the target, which renders the arrows entirely superfluous, seems to belong to a more recent period than the other rules. See Prof. Stenzler’s Essay on Indian Ordeals.

56b. Zod. Anite madhyame vane magnangah sufitam iyAt

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57. Among fifty runners, those two who are the quickest runners should be appointed to fetch the arrow.

58. Let a strong man, who may be a Brahman,
Kshatriya or Vaisya, and must be free from affection
and hatred, be placed in water reaching his navel,
(standing erect) like a pillar.

59. (The accused), thoroughly controlled in mind, shall seize the thighs of that man under water, and stand in it composed all the time till the (runner) appointed to fetch (the arrow) has returned.

60. Then let men strictly devoted to veracity and virtue, acquainted with the application of legal rules, and free from affection and hatred, see that everything is fair.

61. An intelligent, pious-minded man_ should descend into the water and duly address (the deity of water) with the following auspicious texts.

61 b. The sacred prayer (runs as follows). ‘Om, adoration to Justice.

62. ‘ Thou, O lord of waters, who art so pleasantly

57. M. Macn. X, 4, 12. 58. Viram. p. 269.

61 b. The sacred prayer (runs as follows). ‘Om, adoration to Justice.

62. ‘ Thou, O lord of waters, who art so pleasantly

57. M. Macn. X, 4, 12. 58. Viram. p. 269.

59. Nepalese Narada. toyam adho manushyasya grzhitvori susamyataA | tavat tish/heta niyato yavat praptaA sam4paki u

60. Minor Narada I, 7, 8 (p. 51). dharmasthanam tatah kuryuh satyadharmaparayanaf | dharmasdstravidhanagia ragadveshavivargitah w

61. Nepalese Narada. avatirya gale vidvan snatak prayatam4nasa | stavayeta yathanyayam ebhir mantrapadaiz subhaiZ i The correctness of this reading seems doubtful. According to the other authorities, the prayer is to be recited by the judge or by the accused.

61b. Nepalese Narada. dharmamantra’ t om namo dharmiya\

62. Nepalese Narada. yonis tvam asi (yatas tvam asti MS.) bhaténam galesa sukhasftala | trdyasvainam naram pap4t pasyasi tvam subhasubham itp. 259 cool, art the source of (all) beings. Save this man from guilt, thou knowest both good and evil.

63. ‘Thou art the first of the gods and the great comforter of the world. Thou, O water, dwellest in the interior of all beings, like a witness. .

64. ‘Thou, O deity, alone knowest what mortals do not understand. This man, being arraigned in a cause, is going to dive in thee. Therefore deign to deliver him lawfully from this perplexity.’

65. Then (the accused) should submerge all his limbs in water so as to become invisible.

66. A prudent man should leave the water, after having seen the arrow brought back, and should approach the king and all the assessors of the court, after saluting them reverentially.

67. Though only his ear, eye, mouth or nose should become visible while he is in water, he cannot be acquitted. If he remains invisible, he obtains acquittal. °

63a occurs in the Minor Narada and Nepalese Narada (Minor Narada I, 7, 15 a). Adidevossi devinim (bhfiténam Nep. Nar.) lokasy4pydyanam mahatt After this, the Nepalese Narada has two texts, which are identical with Narada I, 22, 316, 317.

63b. Minor Nârada I, 7,16 a. tvam ambha/ sarvabhfiténdm antas Aarasi sikshivat 1 Identical with Vishzu XII, 7a.

64a, b. Minor Narada I, 7, 16b, 17a. tvam eva deva gAnishe na vidur yini manav4Aé 1 vyavah4rabhisastos yam ménushas tvayi maggati i! Nearly identical with Vishau XII, 7b, 8a.

64c. Minor Narada I, 7,17b. tad enam samsayâd asm4d dharmatas trftum arhasi! Identical with Vishnu XII, 8b.

65. Nepalese Narada. tato nimagget salile sarvany angAny adarsanat

66. Nepalese Narada. prAptam tu sAyakam dr/shW4 galad uttirya buddhiman | pranipatya nripam gakkhet sarvams kaiva sabhasadah it

67. Minor Narada I, 7, 12. karaikshimukhandsinam yasya toye vyavasthitam 1 drzsyate na visuddhahk syfd adrisyahk suddhim dpnuyat u

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68. Now then I will proclaim the excellent rule regarding the (ordeal by) poison, (stating) how the king should give poison, the best means of purification for a man,

VI, 68.

68. Now then I will proclaim the excellent rule regarding the (ordeal by) poison, (stating) how the king should give poison, the best means of purification for a man,

69. Let him give the poison in the presence of (images of) the deities and Brahmans, after having kept a fast and worshipped Mahesvara with incense, offerings, and sacred texts,

70. (The judge) should give the poison with fixed attention, facing the north or the east, in the presence of Brahmans, (while the accused) is facing the south.

71. Let seven Yavas be given, as a test of innocence, without doubt, of poison from the Syznga tree or Vatsandbha (poison) or Himaga poison,

72. In the morning and in a cool place let the poison be given to all persons, after it has been finely ground, and mixed with clarified butter thirty times the quantity.

73. He must not give poison to infants, disabled or superannuated persons, or to those who have committed a very light offence only, or to a madman, to one severely afflicted, to a cripple, or to ascetics,

74. Ifthe person (examined) undergoes no change

68, Minor Nârada I, 8, 1 (p. 52). atak param pravakshyâmi vishasya vidhim uttamam | yatha dadyad visham rfg& sodhanam paramam nrinfm \\

69. M. Macn. X, 5, 4. yo. M. Macn. X, 5, 6.

71. Tod.; Viram. p. 273 (‘Pitémaha’). Himaga poison is no doubt the poison elsewhere called Haimavata, ‘coming from the Himalayas,’

72. Viram. p. 275; M. Macn. X, 5, 13 (‘ Katyayana’),

73. Nepalese Narada. na bélaturavr¢ddheshu naiva svalpAparadhishu | nonmattarte tathd vyange na 4a dadyât tapasvishu u

74. M. Macn. X, 5, 16.

p. 261

of appearance during the time occupied by clapping the hands five hundred times, he is acquitted, and should be cured (by giving him antidotes of poison).

75. ‘On account of thy poisonous and dangerous nature thou aft hard on all persons. Thou art appointed to show the difference between good and evil like a witness.

76. ‘ Thou, O deity, knowest the sacred ordinances
and the conduct of men, both good and evil actions,
(in short) whatever men do not comprehend.

77. ‘This man being arraigned in a cause, wishes to obtain acquittal. Therefore deign to deliver him lawfully from this perplexity.’

78. This prayer should be pronounced according to rule, while the poison is being swallowed (by the person).

79. The king having known the man to be innocent should honourably dismiss him, and proclaim him (innocent) with a loud voice. Thus has the law been laid down.

80, (Let the ordeal by sacred libation be administered) to one who consents to it and puts faith (in

45. Minor Narada I, 8, 7. vishatvad vishamatvaé 4a kriram tvam sarvadehinim | subh4subhavivek4rtham niyukto hyasi s4kshivat 1 The first half is identical with Vishzu XITI, 6a.

46. Minor Narada I, 8, 8. dharm4ni daritam pums4m asubh4ni subhani 4a | tvam eva deva ganfshe na vidur yani manavas

76b is identical with Vishzu XIII, 6 b.

44. Identical with Vishau XIII, 7.