Chapter 7

Vishnu Smriti 7

Now, a document (lekhya) is of three kinds. // Vi_7.1 //

One witnessed by the king, one witnessed by others, and one unwitnessed. // Vi_7.2 //

That which is made in the king's court by a scribe appointed by him, and marked with the seal of the superintendent of that court, is one witnessed by the king. // Vi_7.3 //

That which is written anywhere by anyone, and marked with the sign of their own hand by the witnesses, is one witnessed by others. // Vi_7.4 //

That which is written in one's own hand is unwitnessed. // Vi_7.5 //

That which is made by force is invalid. // Vi_7.6 //

And all those made by fraudulent means. // Vi_7.7 //

And a witnessed document marked by witnesses of corrupt deeds or character. // Vi_7.8 //

And one written by such a scribe. // Vi_7.9 //

And one made by a woman, a child, a dependent person, a madman, an intoxicated person, a person in fear, or one who has been beaten. // Vi_7.10 //

A document which is not contrary to the custom of the country, which has clear stipulations and marks, and whose sequence of letters is not broken, is valid. // Vi_7.11 //

By the letters and marks made by that person, and by the documents themselves and by reasoning, One should establish a doubtful document, using those that are similar in style and reasoning. || Vi_7.12 ||

Where the debtor, or the creditor, or a witness, or the scribe dies, There one should prove that document by means of their own handwriting. || Vi_7.13 ||