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BUDDHIST INDIA
A late tradition tells us how the criminal law was administered in the adjoining powerful confederate clan of the Vajjians, by a succession of regularly appointed officers, —" Justices, lawyers, rehearsers of the law-maxims, the council of representatives of the eight clans, the general, the vice-consul, and the consul himself." Each of these could acquit the accused. But if they considered him guilty, each had to refer the case to the next in order above them, the consul finally awarding the penalty according to the Book of Precedents. We hear of no such interinediate officials in the smaller clans; and even among the Vajjians (who, by the by, are all called “ rājas " in this passage), it is not likely that so complicated a procedure was actually followed.' But a book of legal precedents is referred to elsewhere,' and tables of the law also.' It is therefore not improbable that written notes on the subject were actually in use.
The names of other clans, besides the Sākiyas, are: 2. The Bhaggas of Sumsuināra Hill. 3. The Bulis of Allakappa. 4. Kālāınas of Kesaputta. 5. The Koliyas of Rāma-gāma. 6. The Mallas of Kusinārā. 7. The Mallas of Pāvā. 8. The Moriyas of Pipphalivana. 9. The Videhas of Mithilā. ,
= The Vajjians. 10. The Licchavis of Vesāli. 1 James Alwis, Introduction to Pāli Grammar, p. 99; and Geo. Turnour, 7.B.A.S. vii. 991. ? Ját. 3. 292.
* Jāt. 5. 125.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
