46 On Ordeals. [No. 1, 



the nails, then he should examine it on a wet leaf, whether it makes 

 loudly the sound Chnru, and then he should address it once with this 

 Mantra : 



" Thou, ghee, art the best means of holiness, and ambrosia at the 

 sacrifice ; purifier, burn thou the bad man, be cool like snow to the 

 innocent." 



Then he should make (the accused), who must come, after having 

 bathed, in wet clothes, without having eaten or drunk, take that coin 

 which lies in the ghee. The examiners (Brahmans appointed thereto 

 as in the ordeal by the scales) should examine his first finger. If there 

 are no blisters, he is innocent, otherwise guilty." 



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



Brihaspati (says) : 



" The ploughshare must be made of iron, twelve palas in weight. 

 Eight fingers be its length and four its breadth. A thief should once 

 lick strongly that with his tongue, when it is heated to the colour of 

 fire. If he is not burned, he shall be innocent, otherwise he is guilty." 



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



Pitamaha (says) : 



" Now I will declare the examination of murderers, persons who raise 

 (unjust) claims, and of persons who refuse to perform a penance for a 

 crime of which they are accused, by means of (lots bearing the 

 figures of) Dharma and Adharma. He should cause to be made (one 

 lot) of silver, bearing the figure of Dharma ; and one of lead, bearing 

 the figure of Adharma ; or he should draw on (two) pieces of the 

 inner bark of the birch-tree Dharma and Adharma in white and 

 black. Having sprinkled (the two lots) with the five products of the 

 cow, he should worship (them) by presenting sandal-ointment and 

 flower- wreaths. But to (Dharma) white-flowers (should be presented), 

 and black flowers to Adharma. Having performed this and smeared 

 (the images with cowdung), he should place the two (lots) in two 

 heaps (of cowdung). The two heaps must be made round, of cowdung 

 or (clean) earth, and must be placed in a new earthen jar, without 

 being marked. In a clean place, smeared (with cowdung) in the 

 presence of (the images of) the gods and of Brahmans, he should 

 then bring near the gods and the guardians of the points of the 

 horizon, as formerly (described). But before bringing Dharma near, 



