Chapter 9

The Hierarchy of Adjudicators

Families, guilds, assemblies, an appointed official, and the king—these are the foundations of legal proceedings, each succeeding one being superior to the one before. // K_082 //

The king should have the cases of ascetics and those who know the arts of illusion decided by those learned in the three Vedas, and not by himself, as it could be a cause of anger. // K_083 //

One who is fully endowed with knowledge should not give advice to those of superior caste and character, nor to preceptors, teachers, and ascetics. // K_084 //

The established custom of their lineage, which comes down sequentially according to sacred law, is called their family law (kuladharma); one should uphold it accordingly. // K_085 //