[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Administrative System of the Marathas](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923) › c19.s3.t6.6 # Administrative System of the Marathas c19.s3.t6.6 Administrative System of the Marathas c19.s3.t6.6 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s3.t6.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c19.s3.t6.6) Of the ordeals enumerated in the above document the first deserves our special notice, because it was to all intents a trial by the Pandhar or by the \*got\*. The parties and the Pandhars were sent to a sacred river like the Krishna, or better, to a \*sangam\* of special sanctity like the Krishna-Vena sangam. There, at an auspicious moment the Pandhars stood on the bank after their bath in the sacred stream. The defendant and the plaintiff still remained standing in the river. Either the Patil or some other trustworthy man there present was then ordered to draw the rightful party from the water and pass a conscientious verdict. An ordinary man would not deliberately give a wrong verdict at such a place, at such a moment and in the presence of all his co-villagers. He would not only ensure for his soul eternal perdition after death, but also public execration while alive. This ordeal was therefore not unreasonable, specially in those times of strong faith in religion and of stronger superstition. In a dispute regarding the Patilki watan of Fursangi, in Tarf Haveli, of Pargana Poona, between the Kamthes and the Gaikwad Harpales, such an ordeal was resorted to. While the assembled Pandhars stood on the sandy banks of the Krishna, Yeknak, a Mahar was ordered by the gots and the balutas to draw the rightful owner of the watan from the river bed and he loudly declared his verdict.¹ - [Previous: c19.s3.t6.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c19.s3.t6.5) - [Next: c19.s3.t6.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c19.s3.t6.7) - [Up: c19.s3.t6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c19.s3.t6) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c19.s3.t6.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sen-1923.c19.s3.t6.6) · Pramāṇa