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

64 VYAVAHĀRAMAYŪKHA

the gods declare that that is not a (real) burn (i.e. not a blemish in
the man), he should be again made to undergo the ordeal.

• Yājñavalkya (II 107) says
  If the (redhot iron) falls earlier (i.e. before reaching the eighth
  circle) or when there is a doubt (whether his hands are injured or not)
  he should again carry the (redhot) ball.
  Now (begins) the procedure (in sequence of the ceremonial of the
  ordeal of fire). On the previous day the ground should be purified and the
  next day nine circles should be drawn. But of them the first should be of
  sixteen angulas (in diameter) and in front of it ground measuring thirty-
  two angulas should be divided into two parts in the second of which the
  second circle should be made of the same extent (diameter) as the foot of the
  person who is to walk (over the circles) the remaining will be the space
  (between the first circle and the second). Having in the same way made
  the circles from the third to the eighth together with the spaces intervening
  between them a space of sixteen angulas should be left in front (of the
  eighth circle) and the ninth circle should be made of any extent (diameter)
  whatever. In this way the eight circles together with the spaces (kept
  after each) will together come up to 256 angulas.
  Eight yavas (barley grains) placed together by their breadth or three
  grains of rice with ends against each other (i.e. placed lengthwise) are the
  measure of an angula; a vitasti is equal to twelve angulas, the cubit is
  equal to two vitastis (spans of the hand), a danda is equal to four cubits,
  while a krosa is equal to 2000 dandas and a yojana is four krosas.
  (The measures of length) vitasti and the rest will be of use later on.¹
  Then having worshipped in the nine circles beginning from the west the super-
  intending deities of each viz. Agni, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Yama, Indra, Kubera,
  Soma, Savitr and all the gods; and having kindled ordinary domestic fire to the
  south of the ground occupied by the circles, the judge should offer ghee by way
  of propitiary rite 108 times with the words svāhā to Agni the purifier.
  Then having cast into that fire a round iron ball without edges, that is
  smooth eight angulas in diameter, weighing fifty palas, and having performed
  the series of rites from the invocation of dharma to the offering of oblation
  into the fire as detailed above in the balance ordeal while the iron ball is being
  heated, the judge, when the ball has been heated the third time, should recite
  the following mantras by way of invocation before the fire in the (heated)
  iron-ball.
  'Thou, Oh Agni, are the four Vedas and to thee offerings are made in
  sacrifices, thou art the mouth of all the gods and of all brahmavādins,

1. i.e. in the section on water ordeal and on disputes between master and cowherd.
   P. 74 (text) 2 P. 75 (text)