Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c10.120

c10.120

The choice among these various ordeals depends on the circumstances and also the nature of the suit and the personal character of the accused are to be particularly taken into consideration. Thus when the value of the disputed property ranges from under one Kṛṣṇala to five Kṛṣṇalas various oaths shall be taken; if the value is below 1/2 Suvarṇa, the ordeal of sacred libation is ordained; if the value is higher, ordeal by balance, fire, water or poison shall take place; yet however these value limits are in force only for Śūdras and they are higher in the case of the higher castes (Vi. 9, 4—17). According to another view the ordeals by fire, poison and balance shall not take place if the disputed property is not worth at least 1000 paṇas (Y. 2, 99). According to still another opinion the figures are 100 to 1000 in the case of ordeal by lot, sacred libation, rice-grains, coin, fire and poison and for members of higher castes they are proportionally higher (Bṛh. 10, 9-12).