India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s2.3

c12.s2.3

COURT—Matters concerning Civil Law were termed *Vyāvahārika* (V.4.34, *Vinayādi gaṇa*). *Dharma-pati*, master of law, also occurs in a *gaṇa* (IV.1.84). The arbitrator chosen by the parties to a dispute was called *stheya* (I.3.23, *vivādapadanirṇetā Kāśikā*). The plaintiff or complainant was known as *parivādī* (III.2.142) or *parivādaka* (III.2.146). A witness was *sākshī*, whom Pāṇini defines as one who is an ‘eye-witness’ (*Sākshād drashṭari samjñāyām*, V.2.91). Later on those who possessed hearsay evidence were also called *sākshī* (*Samaksha-darśanāt sākshī; śravaṇād-vā*, *Vishṇudharmottara*, VIII.13). According to the *sūtra Svāmīśvara*, etc. (II.3.39) a witness was named according to the transaction or object in connection with which he was an eye-witness, *e.g.* a witness in relation to cows was called *go-sākshī*, and his evidence would be of use only on that particular point in the complaint.