[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v2.c4.s5.217 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s5.217 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s5.217 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c4.s5.217](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.217) In return the king performed the duties of judge. Himself immune from punishment (\*a-daṇḍya\*), he wields the rod of punishment (\*Daṇḍa\*).²¹ It is probable that criminal justice remained largely in his actual administration, for the Sūtras²² preserve clear traces of the personal exercise of royal criminal jurisdiction. Possibly the jurisdiction could be exercised by a royal officer, or even by a delegate, for a Rājanya is mentioned as an overseer (\*adhyakṣa\*) of the punishment of a Śūdra in the Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā.²³ In civil justice it may be that the king played a much less prominent part, save as a court of final appeal, but evidence is lacking on this head. The \*Madhyamasi\* of the Rigveda was probably not a royal, but a private judge or arbitrator. A wide criminal jurisdiction is, however, to some extent supported²⁴ by the frequent mention of Varuṇa’s spies, for Varuṇa is the divine counterpart of the human king.²⁵ Possibly such spies could be used in war also.²⁶ - [Previous: v2.c4.s5.216](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.216) - [Next: v2.c4.s5.218](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.218) - [Up: v2.c4.s5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.217](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s5.217) · Pramāṇa