The History of Antiquity, Vol. 4 (of 6)Duncker, Max
History
The History of Antiquity, Vol. 4 (of 6)
Duncker, Max
History, Ancient
[245] In Yajnavalka, 2, 95, we find: "The balance, fire, water, poison,
and lustral water are the judgment of the gods for purification; these
are applied in great charges, if the accuser is prepared for a fine."
The later law knows nine divine judgments; it adds the corns of rice,
the hot piece of gold, the ploughshare, and the lot. Brahmans, women,
children, old men, sick persons, and the weak are to be tested by the
balance; the Kshatriya by the fire, the Vaiçya by water, the Çudra by
poison. In the test of the balance (Yama weighed the souls on scales,
_supr._ p. 137), the point was that the person to be tested should be
found lighter on the second weighing than on the first; in the test of
fire, a piece of red-hot iron, covered with leaves, must be carried
seven paces forward; each burn was a mark of guilt. The red-hot
ploughshare must be licked by the accused person; if his tongue was not
burnt he was acquitted; a piece of gold must be picked out of boiling
oil and the hand must show no marks. The taking of a particular poison
which ought to have no evil effects on the accused, and the drinking of
lustral water poured over the images of the gods, which was not to be
followed by any evil effects, and the piece of gold in the boiling oil
are later additions. According to an Upanishad to the Samaveda, guilt or
innocence is proved by the grasping a red-hot axe; a burn is a proof of
guilt. Stenzler, in "Z. D. M. G." 9, 662 ff. A. Weber, "Vorles." s.
79^2.
[246] Manu, 8, 11, 21.
[247] Manu, 9, 276. Burnouf, "Introduction," p. 413.
[248] Burnouf, _loc. cit._ p. 408. Yet Aryas are found also, Burnouf,
_loc. cit._ p. 365.
[249] Manu, 9, 237, 239-242.
[250] Manu, 9, 275.
[251] Manu, 9, 232.
[252] Manu, 9, 279.
[253] Manu, 8, 344-347.
[254] Manu, 9, 261-268, 278.
[255] Manu, 9, 276.
[256] Manu, 9, 277.
[257] Manu, 8, 341, 342.
[258] Manu, 7, 130.
[259] Manu, 8, 398; 7, 131.
[260] Manu, 7, 118, 138.
[261] Manu, 7, 62.
[262] Manu, 7, 129.
[263] Manu, 7, 133.
[264] Bohlen, "Indien," 2, 46.
[265] Megasthenes, in Strabo, p. 708 and below.
[266] Manu, 7, 54.
[267] Manu, 7, 58, 59.
[268] Ramayana, ed. Schlegel, 1, 7.
[269] Manu, 7, 114.
[270] Manu, 7, 116-118.
[271] Manu, 7, 123.
[272] Manu, 7, 118-120.
[273] Manu, 7, 124.
[274] Manu, 6, 69-75.
[275] Manu, 7, 126. The Indians learned to coin money from the Greeks
after the year 300 B.C.; till that time their coinage consisted of
weighed pieces of copper, silver, and gold, with the mark of the weight
as a stamp. The _pana_ is a copper weight of this kind; to this day the
name denotes copper money in India. The _drona_ is a weight of about 30
pounds. Cf. Lassen, 2, 574.
[276] Manu, 7, 37.
[277] Manu, 7, 218.
[278] Manu, 7, 222.
[279] Manu, 7, 224-226.
[280] Manu, 7, 101-103.
[281] Manu, 7, 154-158.
[282] Manu, 7, 63-68.
[283] Manu, 7, 107, 158-163, 198.
[284] Manu, 7, 205, 210.
[285] Manu, 7, 90-93.
[286] Ramayana, 2, 52.
[287] Ramayana, 2, 1-17.
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