समामासतदर्द्धाहर्न्नामजातिस्वगोत्रजैः । सब्रह्मचारिकात्मीयपितृनामादिचिह्नितम् ।। २५५.
It should be written in full, with the name, caste, lineage, and family of the debtor, as well as the names of his fellow students and relatives, and the marks of his ancestors at the beginning.
समाप्तेऽर्थे ऋणी नाम स्वहस्तेन निवेशयेत् । मतं मेऽमुकपुत्रस्य यदत्रोपरिलेखितं ।। २५५.
When the matter is concluded, the debtor should write his name in his own hand; and whatever is written here is considered the opinion of my son so-and-so.
साक्षइणश्च स्वहस्तेन पितृनामकर्पूर्वकम् । अत्राहममुकः साक्षी लिखेयुरिति र्ते समाः ।। २५५.
The witness should also write, in his own hand, his father's name and family; and here I, so-and-so, am a witness—this should be written, unless there is a valid reason not to.
अलिपिज्ञ ऋणी यः स्याल्लेखयेत् स्वमतन्तु सः । साक्षी वा साक्षइणान्येन सर्वसाक्षिसमीपतः ।। २५५.
If the debtor is illiterate, he should state his intention, and a witness or another person in the presence of all witnesses should write it.
उभयाभ्यर्थिनैतन्मया ह्यमुकसूनुना । लिखितं ह्यमुकेनेति लेखकोऽथान्ततो लिखेत ।। २५५.
This document has been written at the request of both parties, by me, the son of so-and-so; thus, at the end, the scribe should write: 'Written by so-and-so.'
विनापि साक्षिभिर्ल्लेख्यं स्वहस्तलिखितञ्च यत् । तत् प्रमाणं स्मृतं सर्वं बलोपधिकृतादृते ।। २५५.
Even without witnesses, a document written in one's own hand is considered valid evidence in all cases, except when obtained by force or fraud.
ऋणं लेख्यकृतं देयं पुरुषैस्त्रिभिरेव तु । आधिस्तु भुज्यते तावद्यावत्तन्न प्रदीयते ।। २५५.
A debt established by a written document should be paid by three persons; a pledge is to be enjoyed until it is returned.
देशान्तरस्थे दुर्ल्लेख्ये नष्टोन्मृष्टे हृते तथा । भिन्ने च्छिन्ने तथा दग्धे लेख्यमन्यत्तु कारयेत् ।। २५५.
If the document is in another country, difficult to read, lost, erased, stolen, broken, torn, or burned, another document should be prepared.
सन्दिग्धार्थविशुद्ध्यर्थं स्वहस्तलिखितं तु यत् । युक्तिप्राप्तिक्रियाचिह्नसम्बन्धागमहेतुभिः ।। २५५.
To clarify a doubtful matter, a document written in one's own hand should be supported by logical reasoning, proper procedure, marks of action, connection, and cause.
लेख्येस्य पृष्ठेऽभिलिखेत् प्रविष्टमघमर्णिनः । धनी चोपगतं दद्यात् स्वहस्तपरिचिह्नितम् ।। २५५.
On the back of the document, it should be written that the debtor has entered the debt; and the creditor, upon receiving payment, should give a receipt marked with his own hand.
दत्वर्णं पाटयेल्लेख्यं शुद्ध्यै चान्यत्तु कारयेत् । साक्षिमच्च भवेद्यत्तु दद्दातव्यं समाक्षिकं ।। २५५.
After payment, the document should be torn; for further clarification, another should be made. If there are witnesses, what is to be given should be given in their presence.
तुलाग्न्यापो विषं कोषो दिव्यानीह विशुद्धये । महाभियोगेष्वेतानि शीर्षकस्थेऽभियोक्तरि ।। २५५.
The balance, fire, water, poison, and the chest are ordeals here for purification, in cases of major accusations, when the accuser is at the head.
रुच्या वान्यतरः कुर्य्यादितरो वर्त्तयेच्छिरः । विनापि शीर्षकात् कुर्य्यान्नृपद्रोहेऽथ पातके ।। २५५.
By choice, either party may undergo the ordeal, and the other will place his head (as a pledge); even without the ordeal, it may be done in cases of treason or grave crime.
नासहस्राद्धरेत् फालं न तुलान्न विषन्तथा । नृपार्थेष्वभियोगेषु वहेयुः शुचयः सदा ।। २५५.
One should not bear the plough from a thousand, nor the balance, nor poison; in royal cases, only the pure should always undergo the ordeal.
सहस्रार्थे लुलादीनि कोषमल्पेऽपि दापयेत् । शतार्द्धं दापयेच्छुद्धमशुद्धो दण्डभाग भवेत् ।। २५५.
For a thousand, the balance and others, and the chest even for a small amount, should be administered; for half a hundred, the pure should be made to undergo it, but the impure should receive a penalty.
सचेलस्नातमाहूय सूर्य्योदय उपोषितम् । कारयेत्सर्वदिव्यानि नृपब्राह्मणसन्निधौ ।। २५५.
Having summoned the person, bathed and clothed, fasting at sunrise, all ordeals should be conducted in the presence of the king and a Brahmin.
तुला स्त्रीबालवृद्धान्धपङ्गुब्राह्मणरोगिणां । अग्निर्ज्जलं वा शूद्रस्य यवाः सप्त विषस्य वा ।। २५५.
The balance is for women, children, the aged, the blind, the lame, Brahmins, and the sick; fire or water for a Shudra; seven grains of barley or poison as well.
तुलाधारणविद्वद्भिरभियुक्तस्तुलाश्रितः । प्रतिमानसमीभूतो रेखां कृत्वावतारितः ।। २५५.
The accused, skilled in bearing the balance, should be placed on the balance, made equal to the counterweight, and after marking the line, should be lowered.
आदित्यचन्द्रावनिलोऽनलश्च द्यौर्भूमिरापो हृदयं यमश्च । अहश्च रात्रिस्च उभे च सन्ध्ये धर्म्मश्च जानाति नरस्य वृत्तम् ।। २५५.
The sun, the moon, the wind, and fire; the sky, the earth, the waters, the heart, and Yama; day and night, both twilights, and Dharma—all these know the conduct of a person.
त्वं तुले सत्यधामासि पुरा देवैविनिर्मिता । सत्यं वदस्व कल्याणि संशयान्मां विमोचय ।। २५५.
You are the abode of truth, O scale, created by the gods in ancient times; speak the truth, O auspicious one, and free me from doubt.
यद्यस्मि पापकृन्मातस्ततो मां त्वमधो नय । शुद्धश्चेद्गमयोद्र्ध्वम्मां तुलामित्यभिमन्त्रयेत् ।। २५५.
If I am a sinner, O mother, then lead me downward; but if I am pure, carry me upward—thus one should address the scale.
करौ विमृदितव्रीहेर्लक्षयित्वा ततो न्यसेत् । सप्ताश्वत्थस्य पत्राणि तावत् सूत्रेण वेष्टयेत् ।। २५५.
After marking the hands with pressed rice, one should then place upon them seven leaves of the aśvattha tree, binding them with a thread.
त्वमेव सर्वभूतानामन्तश्चरसि पावक । साक्षिवत् पुण्यपापेभ्यो ब्रूहि सत्यङ्करे मम ।। २५५.
You alone, O Fire, move within all beings; as a witness to virtue and sin, declare the truth for me.
तस्येत्युक्तवतो लौहं पश्चाशत्पलिकं समम् । अग्निवर्णं न्यसेत् पिण्डं हस्तयोरुभयोरपि ।। २५५.
After saying this, place an iron lump weighing fifty palas, glowing like fire, equally in both hands.
स तमादाय सप्तैव मण्डलानि शनैर्व्रजेत् । षोड़शङ्गुलकं ज्ञेयं मण्डलं तावदन्तरम् ।। २५५.
Taking that, let him slowly walk through seven circles; each circle should be measured as sixteen finger-breadths apart.
मुक्त्वाग्निं मृदितव्रीहिरदग्धः शुद्धिमाप्नुयात् । अन्तरा पतिते पिण्डे सन्देहे वा पुनर्हरेत् ।। २५५.
If, after passing through the fire, the pressed rice remains unburnt, he attains purity; but if the lump falls or there is doubt, the trial should be repeated.
पवित्राणां पवित्र त्वं शोध्यं शोधय पावक। सत्येन माभिरक्षस्व वरुणेत्यभिशस्तकम् ।। २५५.
O purifier of purifiers, cleanse what is to be cleansed, O Fire; protect me with truth, O Varuṇa—thus is the oath recited.
नाभिदघ्नोदकस्थस्य गृहीत्वोरू जलं विशेत् । समकालमिषुं मुक्तमानीयाद्यो जवी नरः ।। २५५.
Standing in water up to the navel, having grasped his thighs, he should enter the water; at the same time, an arrow is released, and the man who is swift should fetch it.
यदि तस्मिन्निमग्नाङ्गं पश्येच्चेच्छुद्धिमाप्नुयात् । त्वं विष ब्रह्मणः पुत्र सत्यधर्मे व्यवस्थितः ।। २५५.
If, while submerged, his body is seen, he attains purity; you are poison, O son of Brahmā, established in the law of truth.
त्रायस्वास्मादभीशापात् सत्येन भव मेऽमृतम् । एवमुक्त्वा विषं शार्ङ्ग भक्षयेद्धिमशैलजं ।। २५५.
Protect me from the blow of this curse; by truth, let me be immortal; having said this, O Śārṅga, let him eat the sacred poison from the Himālaya.