Chapter 37

The Procedure for the Ordeal of Poison

Dark like a goat's horn, swelling, originating from a horn, and when broken, resembling ginger—this is known as Śṛṅgin poison. // K_446 //

It makes blood black, and it is hard; this is its characteristic. By this procedure, a divine ordeal is to be known by experts in divine ordeals. // K_447 //

Resembling Vatsanābha, yellow—the determination is by the knowledge of its color. When broken, it has the form of a cowrie or conch shell; one should know it as Vatsanābhaka. // K_448 //

Mixed with honey and milk, it should be made clear at that moment. This external characteristic has been declared by the establishers of Dharma. // K_449 //

In the forenoon, in a cool place, one should give poison to living beings, mixed with ghee, ground smooth, with thirty parts (of ghee). // K_450 //

Of the sixth part of a pala of poison, let there be a twentieth part; that, diminished by one-eighth, should be given to the person to be cleared, drenched in ghee. // K_451 //