1866.] On Ordeals. 33 



knowest the good and evil deeds of all creatures. Thou alone knowest 

 everything which men know not. This accused wishes to be cleared, 

 therefore deign to save hirn, according to justice, from the suspicion 

 (cast upon him)." Then the accused addresses the scales in the follow- 

 ing manner) : 



" Thou, scale, art the abode of truth, having been made (so J 

 formerly by the gods. Therefore, good one, speak the truth and 

 free me from suspicion. If, mother, I am a sinner, then make me 

 descend ; if I am innocent, let me rise upwards. 



Then the Pradvivaka makes the accused, to whose forehead the 

 scroll has been tied, reascend the scales in (exactly the same) place, 

 and sitting (in the same manner) as (at the first weighing), and remain 

 there (on the scale) for the space of five Palas. In that time (the 

 accused's) innocence or guilt must be examined and announced by 

 holy Brahmins to the king and to the members of the court. Then 

 he descends and gladdens the Pradvivaka, the Brahmans and the priests 

 (who have officiated) by rewards. Then, having dismissed the gods 

 (with these verses) " Brahmanaspati arise" (Bigveda I- 40, 1) and "go 

 ye crowds of gods," etc., he gives everything (the presents offered to 

 the gods) to the judge. 



Now (follow) the rules for (the ordeal by) fire. 

 Pitamaha (says) : 



" I will declare the rules (for the ordeal) by fire, as they are ordained 

 by the institutes of law. Let him order to be drawn eight circles, and 

 also in the eastern (direction) a ninth. The first circle is declared to 

 be sacred to Agni, and the second to Varuna, the third to Vayu, the 

 fourth to Yama, but the fifth to Indra, the sixth to Kuvera, the seventh 

 to Soma, the eighth to Savitri, and the ninth to all the gods : thus 

 know those, who know the Vedas." 



But Madana has declared : " They know that the eighth is sacred 

 to all the gods, but that which is the ninth (drawn in the eastern 

 direction) (should be) great and sacred to the earth ; they should be 

 smeared with cow-dung and sprinkled with water." 

 The same declares the size of the circles. 



" (Measured by) thirty -two fingers should be the distance that sepa- 

 rates circle from circle. The space occupied by the eight circles should 

 be 256 fingers." 

 5 



