Hindu Administrative Institutions c10.s3.84

c10.s3.84

Investigation of the case relates both to the verbal assertion and its merits. The former stands in relation to the plaintiff and respondent, while the merits of the investigation rest with the judges or the jury. Here ‘अथ’ is used for *karma* of Kauṭalya and अनुसार for अनुयोग. It requires no stretch of imagination to realize that these are synonymous terms. Thus from the third century B.C. to A.D. 300 tradition speaks of a uniform practice in continuance. The *Śukranītisara* also recommends trial for getting at the truth besides the use of mystical or occult practices. The sentence is to be delivered after weighing the evidence.²