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

50 ÚKHA
*The mantra is ( Mahābhārata ² Ādiparva 74. 30 )
The sun ¹ the moon the wind fire heaven and earth waters the
heart Yama, day and night the two twilights and dharma know
( see or mark ) the doings of men.
Nārada says
The judge being a brāhmaṇa, who is versed in the Vedas and the
Vedāṅgas ( subsidiary lores such as grammar phonetics astronomy ritual,
metrics, etymology ) endowed with learning and character with an un-
ruffled heart free from malice whose word is true who is pure and
vigilant who is intent upon doing good to all creatures who has fasted
who wears wet garments, who has brushed his teeth and who has per-
formed the worship of all deities according to the prescribed rules ( should
administer ordeals )
Yājñavalkya ( II 97 ) says
(The judge) having summoned at sunrise ( the person who is to undergo
ordeal ) who has bathed and wears wet garments who has observed a fast
( the previous day ) should administer all ordeals in the presence of the
king and the brāhmaṇas.
Pitāmaha also says
Ordeals should always be administered to persons who have fasted either
one night or three nights who are purified and whose garments are wet
The same author (Pitāmaha) says
The king surrounded by good men should esteem this ( mode of ) puri-
fication and should please sacrificial priests family priests and preceptors
with gifts. The king who causes this to be done after enjoying sweet
pleasures, secures great fame and becomes fit for absorption into Brahma
Here ends the section on ordeals.
§ Now ( begin ) the rules for the balance ( ordeal )
Pitāmaha says
The king should cause to be constructed a balance-shed broad high
and white-washed, sitting wherein ( the person undergoing ordeal ) would
not be within reach of dogs candālas and crows, it should have doors and
contain grains ( rice &c ) should be guarded by servants should have
drinking water and the like and should not be untenanted
1 Compare Manu 8 101 for a similar verse.
2 P 53 (text) § P 56 (text).