38 On Ordeals. [No. 1, 



Agui, Varuna, Vayu, Yama, Indra, Kuvera, Soma, Savitri, and all the 

 gods, (and) having kindled a common fire in a place that lies to the south 

 of the space occupied hy the circles, offers one hundred and eight 

 oblations of butter, (saying) : "To Agni the purifier, svaha !" (This 

 is done) in order to propitiate (Agni). 



Then having placed into that fire a round, smooth, iron hall, with- 

 out corners, eight fingers in circumference and weighing fifty palas, 

 he performs, whilst it is being heated, the ceremonies described in 

 the rules for the ordeal by the scales, beginning with the bringing near 

 of Dharma and ending with the burnt-offering ; (and) when it is being 

 heated for the third time, the Pradvivaka should address Agni, who 

 dwells in the iron ball, with the following verse : 



" Thou, O Agni, art the four Vedas, thou art called at the sacrifices, 

 thou art the mouth of all gods, thou art the mouth of all speakers of 

 divine knowledge, thou livestin the bellies of the creatures, therefore thou 

 knowest (their) guilt and innocence. Because thou purifiest from sin, 

 therefore thou art called the purifier. To the guilty show (thy power), 

 purifier, shine with brilliancy. 



" But be propitious to those who are of innocent mind, thou who 

 eatest the oblations. 



" Thou, Agni, walkest in the interior of all creatures as a witness. 

 Thou, god, knowest what men do not know. This man, who is 

 accused, wishes to be cleared, therefore deign to save him from 

 suspicion, according to truth." 



In order to clean the iron, having thrown the heated iron-ball into 

 water, it should be again heated and again thrown into the water, 

 and then again heated, — it is the third heating. 



The judge, after having taken up the well-heated, fire-coloured 

 iron-ball, which has been thus addressed, with a pair of pincers, 

 and holding it before the person, who undergoes the ordeal, who 

 has fasted, bathed, is in his wet garment, wears the scroll on his 

 forehead, and stands in the western circle, he places it into his 

 hands. 



The latter (before taking it) addresses it with the following (verse) : 



" Thou, fire, dwellest in all creatures, purifier, speak thou the 

 truth in regard to my guilt or innocence, sage !" 



The " preparation of the hands" consists, in crushing rice in them 



