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IX, 290.
DUTIES OF A KING.
393
first (or lowest); in the case of human beings, the middlemost (amercement).
285. He who destroys a bridge, the flag (of a temple or royal palace), a pole, or images, shall repair the whole (damage) and pay five hundred (panas).
286. For adulterating unadulterated commodities, and for breaking gems or for improperly boring (them), the fine is the first (or lowest) amercement.
287. But that man who behaves dishonestly to honest (customers) or cheats in his prices, shall be fined in the first or in the middlemost amercement.
288. Let him place all prisons near a high-road, where the suffering and disfigured offenders can be seen.
289. Him who destroys the wall (of a town), or fills up the ditch (round a town), or breaks a (town)gate, he shall instantly banish.
290. For all incantations intended to destroy life,
refers to cases when death is not (the result of the wrong treatment); for if that is the case the punishment is greater.'
285. Vi. V, 174; Yâgñ. II, 297. 'A pole,' i. e. the flagstaff of a village (Nâr.), or 'such as stand in tanks and the like' (Kull.).
Images,' i.e. 'statues of men ; but death as the punishment for destroying images of the gods, because (above, verse 280) capital punishment has been prescribed for breaking into temples' (Nar.). Kull. and Râgh. say 'common images, made of clay and so forth.'
286. Vi. V, 124; Yâgñ. II, 245-246. Medh. thinks that the fine must be proportionate to the value of the spoiled gem, and Kull. adds that in every case the owner of the spoilt article shall receive compensation.
287. Thus Kull. and Nâr. But Medh. takes the first clause differently : “That man who gives unequal (quantities) for (such goods as ought to be bartered for) equal (quantities).'
288. Nand. reads kashłâni, 'where the treatment is severe,' instead of sarvâni, all.'
290. According to the commentators the abhikârâh comprise
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