व्यवहारमयूख (नीलकण्ठ भट्ट - पश्चिमी भारत की हिन्दू न्याय-संहिता एवं व्यवहार कोष)

ORDEAL OF WATER 67
writing on the head (of the person performing ordeal) The mantras to
be recited by way of invocation will be found in the prayoga (the de-
tailed description of the sequence of the rites given below).
Vyāsa says :¹
Having invoked water with the word 'Oh Varuṇa, save me with truth',
he (person performing ordeal) should dive into the water, holding the
thighs of the person who stands in naval-deep water.
Kam means 'water' and abhis'āpya means 'having recited mantras before
it'. Bṛhaspati (p 318 v. 21) says:
After making the (strong) man enter the water, three arrows should
be discharged:
*Pitāmaha says:
The discharger (of the arrows) should be a kṣhatriya or even a
brāhmaṇa subsisting by the same calling (viz that of a kṣatriya); he
should not be cruel of heart, should be peaceful, pure and should have
observed a fast
Kātyāyana says:
When (the arrows) have been discharged, (the person undergoing
ordeal) should dive into the water and at the same time (another per-
son) should run (to the place where the second arrow is lying)
The meaning is 'simultaneously with the diving' (running should be done).
Nārada (p 113 vv 309--312) and Pitāmaha say:
A young man possessed of speed should run with his utmost strength
from the place whence the arrows were shot (i e from the torana) to
the place where the second arrow fell. Another man of the same sort
(i e young and swift) taking the second arrow then returns with
speed to the place whence the other (young) man started (i. e to the
torana). If the (young) man who carries the arrow does not see when
he comes (to the torana) the person (the s'odhya) who had dived into
the water, then (the judge) should declare (the s'odhya) to be pure
(innocent); otherwise he would not be purified, even though only a single
limb (such as the ear) were seen or even if he were to float to a place other
than where he was first made to enter (i e. where he dived)
The word ekāngasya should be construed as referring to the ear And so
Kātyāyana says:
(the king) should declare him also to be purified whose head alone
is seen after he plunges into water, but neither the ears nor the nose.

1. This is also Yāj 2. 108.

• P. 78 (text),