Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c13.s1.21

v1.c13.s1.21

This served as the basis of the composition of law-courts of the later theorists, some of whom, as for example Gautama, have considerably increased the number of persons who were to constitute a court of justice. According to Gautama: "They declare, that an assembly (parisad shall consist) at least (of) the ten following (members, viz.) four men who have completely studied the four Vedas, three men belonging to the (three) orders enumerated first, (and) three men who know (three) different institutes of law. But on failure of them decision of one Śrotriya who knows the Veda and is properly instructed (in the duties, shall be followed) in doubtful cases".³ Baudhāyana explains the concluding idea of Gautama, thus: "There may be five or there may be three, or there may be one blameless man, who decides (questions regarding) the sacred law. But a thousand fools (can) not (do it)".⁴ Śukra enlarged the scope of a court in these words: "A court of justice is that place where the study of the social, economic, and political interests of man takes place according to the dictates of Dharma Śāstras".⁵