Appendix to Account of Hindu Courts of Justice. 191 



" Traditional law is the Veda.* 



" Let the king carefully check, to the utmost of his power, whatever is contrarj' to 

 justice; but if unable to do so, blame shall not be imputed to him : the wise restrict 

 imputation of iniquity to wi ful offences.f 



" Ere long his foes will suljdue the wicked king, who decides causes unjustly through 

 delusion of mind.J 



" When the king issues an unjust command in the affairs of litigant parties, the 

 judge should remonstrate with the king, and effectually restrain him. A just and 

 impartial opinion must indispensably be delivered by a member of a judicial assembly; 

 if the prince listen not to it, that judge is nevertheless exonerated. But, knowing the 

 prince's mind to be diverted from the path of justice, still he must not flatter him : a 

 judge who so did would be criminal. Let not the members of the judicial assembly 

 neglect to check the king when he acts unjustly ; they who neglect it, fall headlong 

 with him to a region of torture. Judges, who conform with him when he is disposed to 

 proceed iniquitouslv, share his guilt. Therefore should the king be slowly advised by 

 the members of the tribunal.^ 



" By saying slowly, || it is intimated that the judges should not, for fear of sin, abruptly 

 at the instant oppose the king with their advice, but at another opportunity dissuade 

 him.$ 



" A judge, who applauds an unjust sentence pronounced by the king, is criminal. 

 Blame is likewise imputable to one who neglects to check the king when he deviates 

 from the right path, and also to one who follows tlie king in his deviation from that 

 path.** 



" Perceiving the prince's mind to be diverted from the road of justice, still he must 

 not flatter him ; and thus only the judge will not be criminal. ff 



" He must not flatter him by delivering an opinion simply in conformity with the 

 king's inclination, but should opine strictly according to equity. Such being his con- 

 duct, the judge will not be criminal. :j:f 



" When law-suits are justly decided, the judges obtain their own absolution, since 

 their innocence depends on the justice of their decisions : therefore should equitable 

 judgments only be pronounced.^i^ 



" The reward, as of a solemn sacrifice, belongs to him who, l)anishing avarice, hatred, 

 and other passions, decides causes in the mode prescribed by law. The gods practise 



• Vich. mis'r. in Vyav. C/iint. f Ciili/ayana. t ^f^™"- 



5 Oityiymm, cited in Sm. Chand. Culj,. and Vyav. Cliint. Several of the verses are quoted as Niredu's in 

 Viramilr. and variations occur in the reading of the text. 



II The reading hereis slowly ' sanaih,' instead of sa laih,' by them, as in other compilations, Ca/p. 

 Chinl., &.C. 



T Sm. Ch. *• Vyav. Chint. 



W Catyayana, cited in Sm. Ch., but .\ared(i as quoted in Viramilr. 



If JHUr. mis'r. m Viramitr. ^^ Ndrcda,\. '2. 1\. 



