In the midst of battle, careful arrangements are prescribed for the protection of warriors and their steeds. Upon a chariot, in the thick of combat, and even when mounted on an elephant, three horsemen are to be stationed, ensuring the defense of the warrior. Likewise, three archers are appointed to safeguard the horse itself. To shield the archer, a protector bearing a shield is designated; before entering the fray, he must worship his weapon with appropriate mantras and employ the knowledge from the treatise said to bewilder the three worlds. Turning from the field of battle to the realm of law, Agni, the divine sage, declares: “I shall now explain the procedure of justice, which discerns right from wrong.” This legal process, he says, stands upon four pillars, has four foundations, and employs four means. Its benefits, scope, and actions are each fourfold; it is described as having eight limbs, eighteen sections, and a hundred branches. The origins of disputes are threefold, and litigation itself is of two types, each with two gates and two courses. The foundations of justice are dharma, legal procedure, custom, and royal command. Of its four supports, the last affirms the first: dharma is rooted in truth, and the process of law rests firmly upon the testimony of witnesses. Custom is the collective conduct of the people, while royal command is the word of the king; the process is called fourfold because it is accomplished by four means. This process protects the four orders of society, thus offering fourfold benefit: the agent, the witnesses, the truthful, and the king himself. The scope of legal action extends to four domains—dharma, wealth, fame, and the welfare of the world. Four agents are involved in every action: the king, the person concerned, the judges, and the scripture, assisted by the accountant and the scribe. The eight limbs of justice include gold, fire, and water, among others. Disputes arise from three sources: desire, anger, and greed. These three causes are the roots of conflict. Litigation, then, is of two kinds: that which arises from suspicion, and that which is based on direct assertion. Suspicion is born from six types of contact, while factual assertion comes from recognizing what is due. Because two kinds of knowledge are involved, there are two gates to the process. In proceedings, the initial statement is the claim, and the response is the counterclaim. Depending on whether the arguments are based on truth or deception, two courses are recognized. The law recognizes various causes for dispute. Debt arises when there is a question of what is to be given or not given, by whom, where, how, and what; the acts of giving, receiving, and obligation constitute the matter of debts. When one entrusts his property to another without suspicion, it is called a deposit. When merchants and others collaborate for a common task, the results of their joint action may become a legal issue. If someone gives property properly but later seeks to reclaim it, this is a dispute of “given but not returned.” When a person agrees to serve but fails to fulfill his service, it is a dispute of “failure to serve after agreement.” The law also prescribes procedures for paying and receiving wages, and failure to pay wages is a recognized cause for dispute. If a person finds lost or deposited property belonging to another, or seizes it by force and sells it secretly, this is the unauthorized sale of another’s goods. When an item is sold but the seller does not receive payment, it is a dispute of non-delivery after sale. If the buyer, after purchase, is dissatisfied or finds the item defective, this is a dispute concerning wrongful sale. Agreements among heretics, merchants, and others are binding; violation of such agreements gives rise to disputes. Disagreements over boundaries, embankments, field limits, or distinctions between cultivated and uncultivated land are disputes concerning land. Matters relating to marriage rules for men and women are disputes regarding union. When sons divide ancestral property, it is a dispute over inheritance. Sudden acts born of force or arrogance are called violent acts and are grounds for dispute. Hostile speech, especially that which insults a person’s country, caste, or family, is recognized as verbal abuse. Physical assault—whether by hand, foot, weapon, or fire—is known as physical abuse. Gambling with dice, sticks, and similar games is called gambling, while contests involving animals are known as animal gambling. Cases that do not fit into these categories are called miscellaneous; the spectrum of human actions is said to branch into a hundred types. Eighteen kinds of legal disputes are recognized, each with a hundred subdivisions, reflecting the diversity of human affairs. The king must examine these disputes with the help of wise and serene Brahmins, and with judges who are impartial, free from greed, and learned in the Vedas. If the judges cannot discern the matter due to circumstances, they must appoint a Brahmin to decide; those motivated by passion, greed, or fear, or those who stray from the law, should not be appointed. If judges, alone or together, are found guilty in a dispute, their penalty is double, especially if they act contrary to law and custom, corrupted by others. Any matter brought before the king is termed a legal case; the defendant’s statement should be recorded as understood by the plaintiff. The reply must be written clearly, noting the date, names, caste, and other distinguishing marks, in the presence of the claimant and after hearing the matter. The claimant should then immediately record the means by which he will fulfill the pledged matter; if accomplished, he attains success, otherwise, the result is the opposite. This fourfold procedure is prescribed for all disputes: once the plaint is completed, the response must follow accordingly. Thus, the tradition of justice is established and maintained.