Vinaya Texts

SR No.: 007684
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids, Hermann Oldenberg
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2523
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 2167

266
LAWS OF MANU.
VIII, 67.
occupations, nor an aged (man), nor an infant, nor one (man alone), nor a man of the lowest castes, nor one deficient in organs of sense,
67. Nor one extremely grieved, nor one intoxicated, nor a madman, nor one tormented by hunger or thirst, nor one oppressed by fatigue, nor. one tormented by desire, nor a wrathful man, nor a thief.
68. Women should give evidence for women, and for twice-born men twice-born men (of the) same (kind), virtuous Sadras for Sadras, and men of the lowest castes for the lowest.
69. But any person whatsoever, who has personal knowledge (of an act committed) in the interior apartments (of a house), or in a forest, or of (a crime causing) loss of life, may give evidence between the parties.
70. On failure (of qualified witnesses, evidence)
Kull., Nár., Râgh.). Vaktavya, one of bad fame,' may according to Medh. also mean 'one afflicted with leprosy or some other bad disease.' Dasyu, i.e. a servant for wages' (Medh., Gov., Râgh.), or a hard-hearted man' (Medh.), or an angry man' (Kull.), or'a murderer' (Râgh.), or'a low-caste man'(Nand.). The term denotes, however, properly the aboriginal robber-tribes, and probably includes all those resembling them. One who follows forbidden occupations,' i.e.'a Brahmana who has become a warrior or a trader and the like' (Medh.), or a butcher and the like' (Nar.).
68. Vas. XVI, 30. Women should give evidence for women only in cases between women or in matters concerning the female sex, which they alone may be supposed to know' (Medh., Gov., Kull.).
Twice-born men of the same kind,' i. e..of the same caste' (Kull., Nár., Nand.), or of the same caste and equally virtuous' (Gov.), or of the same place,' or of the same caste, occupations, &c.'(Medh.).
69. 'Of (a crime causing) loss of life,' i.e.‘of robberies, murders, and the like' (Medh., Gov., Kull.).
70. The rule refers to the cases mentioned in verse 69 (Gov., Kull.), or to the last only (Nár.).
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