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

ORDEALS 85
Pitāmaha says •
Having first weighed the man ( to be tried by ordeal ) and having
made him get down from it, the balance being always adorned with
banners and pennons, ( the judge ) knowing the mantras should then
invoke the deities in the manner described ( above ) to the accompaniment
of the beating of musical instruments and drums and with sandalwood
paste, flowers and unguents
*Nārada ( p. 252 v 29 ) says •
He ( the judge ) should first worship the balance with red sandal-wood
paste, red flowers, with curds, cakes and husked grains of rice mixed with
red powder and then he should honour the respectable people (assembled
there )
Yājñavalkya ( 2 100-102 ) says :
When the person complained against sitting in ( one pan of the )
balance is equal ( in weight ) to the things ( clay &c ) against which he is
weighed, a line ( with chalk ) should be drawn ( on the arch showing the
position of the pans ) by those who are experts in handling the balance
and the person being made to get down from the pan should invoke the
balance in the following words ' Oh balance, you are the abode of truth,
you were formerly created by the gods ( for this purpose ), therefore,
beneficent one, declare the truth, and free me from this ( cloud of ) suspi-
cion Mother, if I am a sinner, then take me lower, if I am pure, carry
me upwards '
Nārada ( p 106 v 276 ) says
Having put him under ( spiritual ) restraint by exhortations ( about
the results of untruth ), the judge should again place him ( in the balance )
after putting upon his head a writing ( about the matter in dispute )
when the wind is not blowing and there is no rain
Samayaṁ parigṛhya mean ' having restrained with oaths. ' Viṣṇu ( Viṣṇu
Dh S 10 9 ) describes the oaths
Those (hellish) worlds which fall to the lot of those who kill brāhmaṇas
and of those who are false witnesses will be yours, if you hold the balance
falsely
Nārada ( p 107 vv 278-279 , Viṣṇu Dh S 10 10-11 ) mentions that at the
time of again sitting in the pan there is to be an invocation
‡ You know the evil and meritorious deeds of all beings You alone
know, oh god, what mortals do not know This man accused of a wrong
in this judicial proceeding is weighed in you Therefore you will be
*P. 59 ( text ), ‡P. 60 ( text ).