Administrative System of the Marathas c28.6

c28.6

Dharṇā—"The person who adopts this expedient for the purpose mentioned, proceeds to the door or house of the person against whom it is directed, or wherever he may most conveniently intercept him; he there sits down in *dherna*, with poison, or a poignard, or some other instrument of suicide, in his hand; and threatening to use it if his adversary should attempt to molest or pass him, he thus completely arrests him. In this situation the brahmin fasts; and by the rigour of the etiquette, which is rarely infringed, the unfortunate object of his arrest ought also to fast; and thus they both remain until the institutor of the *dherna* obtains satisfaction." Lord Teignmouth, quoted by Forbes, Oriental Memoirs, Vol. II, p. 391. Lord Teignmouth laboured under the idea that only Brahmans could institute a dharṇā. This is a mistake, even a Muhammadan creditor could sit in dharṇā at the gate of his Brahman debtor.