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50
VISHNU.
VIII, 12.
having been repaid by the debtor), there the witnesses of the defendant have to be examined as well.
12. An appointed witness having died or gone abroad, those who have heard his deposition may give evidence.
13. (The evidence of) witnesses is (of two kinds): either of what was seen, or of what was heard.
14. Witnesses are free from blame if they give true evidence.
15. Whenever the death of a member of any of the four castes (would be occasioned by true evidence, they are free from blame) if they give false evidence.
16. In order to expiate the sin thus committed, (such a witness), if he belongs to a twice-born caste, must pour an oblation in the fire, consecrating it with the texts called Kushmandi.
17. If he is a Sûdra, he must feed ten cows for one day.
18. A false witness may be known by his altered looks, by his countenance changing colour, and by his talk wandering from the subject.
19. Let the judge summon the witnesses, at the time of sunrise, and examine them after having bound them by an oath.
20. A Brahmana he must address thus, 'Declare.' 21. A Kshatriya he must address thus, 'Declare the truth.'
16. Vâgasan. Samh. XX, 14-16, or Taitt. Arany. X, 3-5. Nand. considers the term Kushmândî to be used in a general sense here, so as to include all the other texts mentioned in an analogous passage of Manu (VIII, 106).
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