History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.305

v4.c63.305

⁵¹¹ The Mit. on Yāj. II. 73 explains Manu VIII. 113 as follows: a brāhmaṇa witness is to be sworn by being told that if he spoke untruth his truth will perish, a kṣatriya that his vehicle and arms will be fruitless, a vaiśya that his cattle, grain and gold will be lost and a śūdra that all sins will be his lot. Others explain differently. The Vyavahāratattva p. 215 says 'गोबीजकाञ्चनापद्वारे यत्पापं तत्तवानृताभिधाने स्यादिति वैश्यम्'. The दीपकलिका on या. II. 74 says the same. Medhātithi on Manu VIII. 113 appears to hold that the exhortatory part is repeated by the witness. यद्यहमेवं कुर्यां तदिदमनिष्टमाप्नुयामिति संकीर्तनक्रिया शपथः । तत्र यः शाप्यते स एवं वाच्यते सत्येन शपे सत्याद्विनिबन्धनाद्यं धर्मो वा मे निष्फलः स्यादिति । ... गोबीजकाञ्चनानि वैश्यों हस्तेन स्पृर्शायित्वाभिशापयेत्तानि वा मे निष्फलानीति पूर्ववत् ।'. The Madanaratna says that brāhmaṇas following such avocations as rearing cattle should be made to take an oath like śūdras, गोरक्षणादिभिरपकृष्टा ब्राह्मणारस्तु शूद्रवच्छपथं कार्येन्न ये व्यपेताः स्वकर्मभ्यः परपिण्डोपजीविनः । द्विजत्वमभिकाङ्क्षन्ति तांश्च शूद्रवदाचरेत् ॥. Vas. III. 1 and Manu II. 168 provide that brāhmaṇas who have not studied the Veda, who do not expound it or do not keep the sacred fires become equal to śūdras. The Indian Oaths Act (X of 1873) sec. 6 allows a witness who has an objection to taking an oath to make an affirmation.