History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.421

v4.c63.421

*Ordeal of dharma* (i. e. of the images or pictures of Dharma). Men guilty of causing bodily injuries or who have monetary disputes or who desire to undergo this ordeal as an expiation for sins should undergo this. A silver image of Dharma and a leaden or iron one of Adharma should be prepared or the judge should draw on a birch leaf or a piece of cloth figures or pictures of Dharma and Adharma respectively white and dark in colour. Having sprinkled *pañcagavya* over the two, he should worship them with white and dark flowers respectively. The images or figures should then be placed in two balls of clay or cowdung. The two balls should be then placed inside a new earthen vessel in a cowdunged spot in the presence of images of gods and in the presence of brāhmaṇas. Then the judge should perform all the rites from the invocation of Dharma to the placing of the writing on the head. The śodhya should repeat the words ‘if I am free from guilt may (the image or picture of) Dharma come to my hands’. Saying this he should take out one ball from the vessel. If he takes out Dharma he is innocent. This resembles the drawing of lots.