36 On Ordeals. [No. 1, 



the hands variegated by dots (with a coloured substance)." 



Yajnavalkya (says) : 



" Having marked his hands, by crashing (in them) some rice, he 

 should place (in them) seven Acvattha-leaves and tie them as often 

 with a string." 



(The word) tavat, " often," qualifies the action. 



Vijnanecvara means to say therefore " he should tie it seven times." 



Maclana (on the other side) says : 



" Tavatsutram, ' so much string' means a collection of strings by so 

 much, therefore he should tie (the leaves) once with seven strings 

 taken together." 



Pitamaha (says) : 



" Let him place in his hands seven Pippala-leaves, unground rice, 

 flowers, curds, and tie them there with a string." 



The verses with which the Pradvivaka addresses, on this occasion, 

 the fire contained in the ball, will be declared in the Prayoga. 



Yajnavalkya (says) : 



" ' Thou, Agni, goest into the interior of every creature, purifier, 

 sage, speak the truth in regard to my good and bad deeds, like a 

 witness.' He shall place into both the hands of the accused, who has 

 thus spoken, a fire-coloured, smooth iron ball, fifty palas in weight." 



Pitamaha (says) : 



'' Then the king, Avho is intent upon exercising justice, or a (man) 

 ordered (to do so), shall place it (the ball) with pincers in his hands." 



Narada (says) : 



" Having taken it (the ball) into his hands, being ordered (to do so) 

 by the Pradvivaka, (and) standing in one (of the circles) he shall 

 walk over seven others, walking straightforward." 



Pitamaha (says) : 



" He (the accused) should not walk quickly but steadily and slowly, 

 he should not overstep (any) circle, nor should he place his foot into 

 the intervals, and having reached the eighth circle, he shall throw it 

 (the ball) down into the ninth, (if he is) a wise man." 



But the ball must be thrown down into the ninth circle, which is 

 covered by Kuca-grass. 



For thus the Kalika Purana (says) : 



" And he should walk (through) seven circles, each sixteen fingers 



