42 On Ordeals. [No. 1, 



and having tied the scroll with the accusation to the forehead of the 

 accused, the judge should address the water as follows : 



" water, thou art the breath of living creatures, thou wast first 

 produced at . the creation, and thou hast been declared to be a means 

 of purifying things and living beings, therefore show thy (power) in 

 discerning between guilt and innocence." 



The person who is to be cleared also should address (the water) : 



" Through truth protect rne, Varuna." Then the accused should 

 approach a very strong man, who supports himself by the pillar of 

 the law, who has his face turned to the east and stands in the water 

 up to his navel. Then a Kshatriya or a Brahmana, who follows his 

 (the Kshatriya's) occupation, should vigorously shoot the three arrows 

 without iron tops towards the target. 



Then, whilst one swift man has- taken up the middle arrow, and, 

 having left the place where it rolled to (on the earth), placed himself 

 on the spot where it fell, another swift (man) must stand at the foot 

 of the arch whence the arrow was discharged. 



And the swift (one) must be the swiftest amongst fifty runners. 



Then, when the judge, who stands at the foot of the arch, has 

 clapped his hands three times, the accused must submerge himself and 

 the swift man, who stands near the arch, must begin to run very 

 quickly. And the submersion has to take place by catching the 

 thighs of the (man) who supports himself on the pillar of the law. 

 Then when he (the first runner) has arrived at the place where the 

 middle arrow fell, the man who stands there and took up the arrow 

 runs very quickly towards the arch. If he finds the accused sub- 

 merged, then he is innocent. He is also innocent, if the top of the head 

 only is visible ; (but) not (innocent), if his ear or any other member 

 is visible, or he has moved from where he had dived to any other 

 place. 



Now follows the rule for (the ordeal by) poison. 



In (regard to) this, Narada (says) : 



" A Brahman (the judge) with collected mind, turning his face to- 

 wards the north or east, having fasted, should give the poison, before 

 gods and Brahmans, after having worshipped Mahecvara with incense, 

 food and Mantras, (to the accused) who stands before the Brahmans 

 facing the south." 



