Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c10.138

c10.138

The "usual" method of realising debt. Quite peculiar is the realisation of a debt by the "usual way" (*ācarita*), which is explained by "fasts" (*abhojana*) or "waiting for the death by refusing food" (*prāya*, *prāyopaveśana*), also often mentioned in the Rājatar. and also by killing, taking away and confining (*hatvā*, other readings *hṛtvā*, *ruddhvā*, *baddhvā* Bṛh. 11, 58) the sons, wife and the cattle (of the creditor himself or of the debtor) and by investing the door of the debtor. Probably all these different modes of action were actually in vogue. According to Asahāya on Nār. l. c., instead of the creditor also his son or servant may fast, or the creditor may confine his own son and threaten to kill him, etc.