50

VISH2VU.

VIII, 12.

having been repaid by the debtor), there the wit-
nesses of the defendant have to be examined as
well.
12. An appointed witness having died or gone
abroad, those who have heard his deposition may
give evidence.
13. (The evidence of) witnesses is (of two kinds):
either of what was seen, or of what was heard.
14. Witnesses are free from blame if they give
true evidence.
15. Whenever the death of a member of any of
the four castes (would be occasioned by true evi-
dence, they are free from blame) if they give false
evidence.
16. In order to expiate the sin thus committed,
(such a witness), if he belongs to a twice-born caste,
must pour an oblation in the fire, consecrating it
with the texts called KushmTWi.
17. If he is a 3udra, he must feed ten cows for
one day.
18. A false witness may be known by his altered
looks, by his countenance changing colour, and by
his talk wandering from the subject.
19. Let the judge summon the witnesses, at the
time of sunrise, and examine them after having
bound them by an oath.
20. A Brahmazza he must address thus, ‘Declare.’
21. A Kshatriya he must address thus, ‘ Declare
the truth.’

16. Vag'asan. Sarah. XX, 14-16, or Taitt. Arazzy. X, 3-5. Nand.
considers the term KushmaWi to be used in a general sense here,
so as to include all the other texts mentioned in an analogous
passage of Manu (VIII, 106).