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510
LAWS OF MANU.
XII, 110.
110. Whatever an assembly, consisting either of at least ten, or of at least three persons who follow their prescribed occupations, declares to be law, the legal (force of) that one must not dispute.
III. Three persons who each know one of the three principal Vedas, a logician, a Mîmâmsaka, one who knows the Nirukta, one who recites (the Institutes of) the sacred law, and three men belonging to the first three orders shall constitute a (legal) assembly, consisting of at least ten members.
112. One who knows the Rig-veda, one who knows the Yagur-veda, and one who knows the Sâma-veda, shall be known (to form) an assembly consisting of at least three members (and competent) to decide doubtful points of law.
113. Even that which one Brahmana versed in the Veda declares to be law, must be considered (to have) supreme legal (force, but) not that which is proclaimed by myriads of ignorant men.
114. Even if thousands of Brâhmanas, who have
Nand.), or 'the Angas, Mîmâmsâ, the law-books, the Purânas, and so forth' (Gov., Kull.).
110. Medh. and Gov. read vikârayet instead of vikâlayet (Kull., Nand.).
III. 'Three men belonging to the first three orders,' i e. 'a student, a householder, and a hermit' (Gov., Kull., Nand.). Medh. says that some think 'a student, a householder, and an ascetic' to be meant, because the hermit must not enter a village, and because Gautama, in the enumeration of the castes, places the ascetic before the hermit, while others refer the words to Manu's first three orders. The reading traividyo, which all the commentaries give, is probably incorrect. It ought to be traividyam, tisrinâm vidyânâm samâhârah; see Yâgn. I, 9, and compare kâturvidyam, kâturvaidyam, Baudh. I, I, 1, 8, and Vas. III, 20.
114. Avratânâm, who have not fulfilled their sacred duties,' i. e. 'who have not fulfilled the vows incumbent on a student' (Gov., Kull.).
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