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VIII, 112. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW; PROCEDURE. 273
sible for the whole debt and (pay) a tenth part of the whole (as a fine to the king).
108. The witness to whom, within seven days after he has given evidence, happens (a misfortune through) sickness, a fire, or the death of a relative, shall be made to pay the debt and a fine.
109. If two (parties) dispute about matters for which no witnesses are available, and the (judge) is unable to really ascertain the truth, he may cause it to be discovered even by an oath.
110. Both by the great sages and the gods oaths have been taken for the purpose of (deciding doubtful) matters; and Vasishtha even swore an oath before king (Sudás), the son of Pigavana.
III. Let no wise man swear an oath falsely, even in a trifling matter; for he who swears an oath falsely is lost in this (world) and after death.
112. No crime, causing loss of caste, is committed by swearing (falsely) to women, the objects of one's desire, at marriages, for the sake of fodder for a cow, or of fuel, and in (order to show) favour to a Brahmana.
108. Yâgñ. II, 113.
109. Gaut. XIII, 12-13; Vi. IX, 2-9. According to Medh. sapatha, oath,' is used for the whole daiva anumâna, divine proof,' and thus includes the ordeals.
110. Medh. and Gov. point out that the seven sages purified themselves by oaths when they mutually accused each other of a theft of lotus-fibres (Mah. XIII, 93,13 seqq.), and that Indra swore an oath when he was accused of an intrigue with Ahalya, the wife of Gautama. Vasishtha finally cleared himself of the accusation which Visvâmitra brought against him before king Sudás, that he was a Rakshasa and had devoured his hundred sons (Medh., Gov., Kull., Når., Râgh., Nand.). See Sâyana on Rig-veda VII, 104, and especially on verse 15, which is considered to contain the oath sworn. 112. Gaut. XXIII, 29; Vas. XVI, 35. 'Fuel,' i. e. for a burnt[25]
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