1866.] On Ordeals. 47 



he should write the Pratijnapatra, (a paper declaring the resolution 

 of the accused to perform the ordeal and the crime of which he is 

 accused.) Then the accused (saying,) " if If I am free from guilt, may 

 (the lot of Dharma) fall into may hand," should take one (of the heaps) 

 without hesitating. If he has taken "the lot of Dharma" he shall 

 be cleared, hut if he has taken the lot of Adharma, he loses his cause. 

 Thus has been declared in short the examination of by the two (lots 

 symbolising) innocence and guilt." 



Brihaspati (says) : 



" Figures of Dharma and Adharma must be drawn on two leaves 

 (in) white and black. Having addressed (Dharma and Adharma) with 

 the verses which convey life to them and others, and with the 

 Sama-melodies beginning with the Grayatri, he should worship them 

 with perfumes and white and black flowers. Having sprinkled them 

 with the five products of the cow and placed them into two heaps of 

 earth, and made (the heaps) equal in size without marks, he should 

 place them in a jar. Then (the accused) should take one heap out of 

 the jar without hesitation. If he has taken " the lot of Dharma" he 

 shall be considered free from guilt, and is to be honoured by the 

 persons conducting the ordeal. 



Now (follows) the manner of proceeding. 



Having drawn a white figure of Dharma and a black figure of 

 Adhamia on two leaves, and having given life to the image of Dharma 

 by this (mantra) : " Am, hrim, krora, ham, yam, ram, lam, vam, cam, 

 sham, sam, ham ; I (am) he (Brahma) ; may breath come here (to this 

 image) and remain long and happily, Svaha, ;" he (sings) the Samans 

 beginning with the G-ayatri-saman if he knows the Samans. 



(Then) he again pronounces this Mantra (Am, etc.) (and, substitut- 

 ing for the word Dharma's breath, etc.), " Dharma's soul is here." 

 (Afterwards) he pronounces the same once more, substituting for the 

 words " Dharma's breath," etc., " Come hither, Oh mind, Oh eyes, Oh 

 ear, Oh nose, breath, (come hither) all ye organs of Dharma, remain 

 here, Svaha !" Having thus given a soul to the image of Dharma, and 

 having uttered the Grayatri-saman, if he knows the Saman-melodies, 

 if not, the Gayatri-verse preceded by Vyahritis and the syllable Om, 

 he performs the ceremony of bringing near (the gods) and the rest. 

 Having honoured the (images of) Dharma and Adharma in their order 



