Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c13.s1.19

v1.c13.s1.19

according to principles drawn from local usages and from the institutes of the sacred law".¹ When the king is unable to investigate personally law-suits, Manu ordains the appointment of a law-court. "But if the king does not personally investigate the suits, then let him appoint a learned Brāhmaṇa to try them. That (man) shall enter that most excellent court, accompanied by three assessors, and fully consider (all) causes (brought) before the (king), either sitting down or standing. Where three Brāhmaṇas versed in the Vedas and the learned (judge) appointed by the king sit down, they call that the court of (four-faced) Brahma".²