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VII, 22.
301
16. There should be nine, seven, five, four, or three witnesses; or two only, if they are learned Brahmans, are proper (to be examined); but let him never examine a single witness.
17. Of subscribing and secret witnesses, there should be two (of each sort); of spontaneous, reminded, family witnesses, and indirect witnesses, there should be three, four, or five (of each sort).
18. A single witness even may furnish valid proof, if he is a messenger, an accountant, one who has accidentally witnessed the transaction, or a king, or chief judge.
19. (A witness) should be exhorted by judges acquainted with law, by speeches extolling veracity and denouncing falsehood.
20. Whatever religious merit has been acquired by thee from the time of thy birth to the time of thy death, all that will be lost by thy telling a falsehood.
WITNESSES.
21. An iniquitous judge, a false witness, and the slayer of a Brahman are pronounced to be criminal in an equal degree; nor is a killer of an embryo or a destroyer of wealth considered as a greater sinner than they are.
22. Knowing this, a witness should give evidence according to truth.
16-18. May. p. 23. The 'accountant' is a species of 'messenger.' Vîramitrodaya. Regarding the 'witness who has accidentally witnessed the transaction,' see VII, 12.
19-22. Tod. satyaprasamsâvakanair anrıtasyâpavâdanaih | sabhyaih sa bodhanîyas tu dharmasâstrapravedibhih | â ganmatas kâ maranât sukritam yadupârgitam | tat sarvam nâsam âyâti anritasyâbhisamsanât kuasabhyah kû/asâkshî brahmahâ ka samâh smritâh | bhrûnahâ vittahâ kaishâm nâdhikah samudâhritah | evam viditvâ tat sâkshi yathâbhutam vadet tatah || IFRARY
REE
UNIVERSITY
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