Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c13.33

c13.33

Witnesses had to take oaths to divulge the truth before Brâhmaṇs, vessels of water and fire. There were set formulas, varying according to the castes of the witnesses, by which they were urged to speak the truth. A Brâhmaṇ witness was simply told “Speak thou the truth.” The formula for a Kshatriya and a Vaiśya was: “Thou wilt not have fulfilment of thy ambition and wilt have to go a-begging to thy enemies with a skull in hand for a begging-bowl (if thou speak falsehood).” A Śūdra was exhorted thus: “All thy religious merit will go to thy king and all the sins of the king will come to thee (if thou utter a lie), and moreover, thou wilt be punished. Inquiry will be made as to what has been seen or heard.”¹