Chapter 33

Rules for Ordeals based on Caste and Profession

To a Kshatriya, the ordeal of fire; to a Brahmin, the ordeal of the balance; to a Vaishya, one should apply the ordeal of water. Or, any ordeal may be applied to all, but avoiding poison for the best of the twice-born (Brahmin). // K_422 //

Cowherds, merchants, as well as artisans and actors, servants and moneylenders—even if they are twice-born, one should treat them like Shudras (in ordeals). // K_423 //

One should not apply the ordeal of fire to blacksmiths, nor the ordeal of water to those who live by water. And one should never give poison to those who know mantras and yoga. One should not employ the ordeal of rice grains for one observing a vow or one with a disease of the mouth. // K_424 //

One should avoid the ordeal of fire for lepers, and the ordeal of water for those with asthma or cough. One should always avoid the ordeal of poison for those with an excess of bile or phlegm. // K_425 //

The ordeal of consecrated water should not be administered by the wise to drunkards, those addicted to women, and gamblers, nor to those who live as atheists. // K_426 //

For those who have killed their mother, father, a Brahmin, a preceptor, a child, a woman, or a king; for those guilty of major sins, and especially for atheists... // K_427 //

...for heretics, rogues, those who know mantras, yoga, and rituals, those born of mixed castes, and those who habitually practice sin... // K_428 //

...in accusations against these very persons, and in reprehensible cases, a king devoted to Dharma should never employ a divine ordeal. // K_429 //

A divine ordeal is appropriate for good people accused by these very persons. Where good people do not wish for it, they should be cleared by their own people. // K_430 //

Especially for those guilty of major sins, for atheists, and for those who delight in the practice of sin, a divine ordeal should not be administered to them. // K_431 //

In these disputes, divine ordeals are carefully forbidden. One should have them performed by good men; Manu says one should not abandon an accused person. // K_432 //

For untouchables, the low-born, slaves, barbarians, evildoers, and those born of mixed unions against the natural order, the decision does not rest with the king. In case of doubt concerning them, one should prescribe the divine ordeals that are well-known among them. // K_433 //