________________
268
LAWS OF MANU.
VIII, 76.
76. When a man (originally) not appointed to be a witness sees or hears anything and is (afterwards) examined regarding it, he must declare it (exactly) as he saw or heard it.
77. One man who is free from covetousness may be (accepted as) witness; but not even many pure women, because the understanding of females is apt to waver, nor even many other men, who are tainted with sin.
78. What witnesses declare quite naturally, that must be received on trials; (depositions) differing from that, which they make improperly, are worthless for (the purposes of) justice.
79. The witnesses being assembled in the court in the presence of the plaintiff and of the defendant, let the judge examine them, kindly exhorting them in the following manner:
80. What ye know to have been mutually transacted in this matter between the two men before us, declare all that in accordance with the truth; for ye are witnesses in this (cause).
81. ‘A witness who speaks the truth in his evidence, gains (after death) the most excellent regions (of bliss) and here (below) unsurpassable fame; such testimony is revered by Brahman (himself).
76. '(Originally) not appointed to be a witness),' i.e. 'not entered as a witness in the document' (Medh.), but accidentally present at the transaction' (Kull., Nár., Nand.).
78. 'Quite naturally,' i.e. 'not out of compassion, in the belief of gaining merit, or depending on women' (Medh.), or not out of fear and the like' (Kull.), or without hesitation, quickly' (Nâr.). Gov. and Nand. explain it in accordance with the truth.'
79. Gaut. XIII, 5.
80-101. Ap. II, 29, 9-10; Gaut. XIII, 14-22; Vas. XVI, 32–34; Baudh. I, 19, 9-12; VI. VIII, 19-37; Yâgii. II, 73-75.
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
