Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c10.106

c10.106

The divine judgment (divya, daivikī kriyā, samaya-kriyā, daiva) is based on the belief in the direct intervention of the deity in order to expose the guilt or to vindicate the innocence and to expiate for the violation of law which has occurred. In simpler cases the oaths (śapatha) come to be first applied which signify variously formulated solemn spells, varying according to circumstances and the caste of the swearer, and the customs of the land etc., and they bring down misfortune and degradation on the man