Chapter 32

Divine Ordeals and their Application in Legal Disputes

One should never subject the plaintiff to divine ordeals. A divine ordeal should be administered to the accused by those skilled in ordeals. // K_411 //

For those suspected by kings, one should employ the ordeal of the balance and others. And in a procedure for self-purification, one should not make it a capital case there. // K_412 //

For those tainted by public slander and those suspected of being robbers, the ordeal of the balance and others are to be employed; Bhṛgu says it is not a capital case there. // K_413 //

In cases of suspicion, one should never make the ordeal of consecrated water a capital case. And one should administer non-capital divine ordeals to royal servants. // K_414 //

In cases of suspicion, breach of trust, and in the partition among heirs, and in authorship of a collective act, one should administer only the ordeal of consecrated water. // K_415 //

Where there is denial of something given, one should employ proof there. In cases of theft and violence, one should administer a divine ordeal even for a small amount. // K_416 //

Having ascertained the value of all property, one should calculate it in gold. Then one should employ a divine ordeal corresponding to the value in gold. // K_417 //

Having known the number of gold pieces, for a loss of one hundred, the ordeal of poison is prescribed. For a loss of eighty, one should indeed administer the ordeal of fire. // K_418 //

For a loss of sixty, the ordeal of water should be given; for forty, indeed the ordeal of the balance. // K_419 //

For a loss of twenty or ten, the drinking of consecrated water is prescribed. // K_420 //

For a loss of more than five, or half of that, the ordeal of rice grains. For a loss of half of that again, one should touch the head of one's son and others (oath). For a loss of half of that again, worldly procedures are prescribed. A king, judging thus, is not deprived of righteousness and wealth. // K_421 //