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

ORDEALS 59
and the rest as before (i. e. according to appropriateness). The sandalwood
paste and the flowers to be employed in the balance ordeal and in the wor-
ship of dharma should be red, but those for the worship of Indra and the
rest may be (red) if available (or of any other colour). The judge is
to perform the whole procedure of the ceremonial up to this stage. Then,
after kindling domestic fire in the four directions by means of four sacri-
ficial priests homa (burnt offering) should be performed. *In doing that,
having first uttered the sacred Gāyatrī together with 'om' and having
uttered the syllable 'om' with 'svāhā' at the end, the priests should
throw into the fire for savitṛ (the Sun) 108 times each offerings of clari-
fied butter, boiled rice and fuel sticks. Then the person complained against
should write on a leaf (or paper) the matter charged against him and also the
following mantra. The sun, the moon (this occurs above p. 50). Then the leaf
(or paper) should be placed on the head of the person complained against who
is to be cleared (of guilt). All these details beginning with the invocation of
dharma and ending with the placing of the writing on the head are
common (the same) for all ordeals. Then the judge should recite (the
following) mantra before the balance by way of exhortation.
Oh balance (dhaṭa), thou wert created by Brahmā for the purpose
of testing those who are wicked. Thou art named dhaṭa, thou, being
dharma as the letter "dha" shows, detectest, when held (as a
balance), the crooked man, as the letter ṭa (contained in the word
dhaṭa) indicates.$^1$ Thou knowest the evil and meritorious deeds of
all beings which mortals do not know, thou alone knowest every
thing. This man charged (of a wrong) in this judicial proceeding
desires to be cleared of it, therefore thou wilt please save him from
the suspicion according to (the dictates of) righteousness.
Then the person charged should recite the following mantra before
the balance (Yāj. II. 101-2):
Oh balance, thou art the abode of truth; thou wert created by the
gods in times of yore. Therefore speak out, auspicious one, the truth
and free me from suspicion. ¶If, mother, I be a sinner, then carry
me downwards, if I be innocent, raise me high up.
Then the judge should have the accused person, who has the writing
on his head, placed in the balance occupying the same place (i. e. pan)
and the same position (relatively to the torana), and should keep him
there in the same condition for five palas (i. e. two minutes). At the

1. This gives a fanciful etymology of the word dhaṭa,
   P. 67 (text). ¶ P. 68 (text).