The minor law books: The minor law books (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1889)

NARADA.

31. There a king who acts justly must neglect
error when it is brought forward, and seek truth
alone, because prosperity depends on (the practice
of) duty.
32. As seven flames rise from fire, even so will
seven good things become manifest in a self-re-
strained king who passes just sentences at trials.
33. Religious merit, gain, fame, esteem among
men, reverence on the part of his subjects, con-
quests, and an everlasting residence in paradise.
34. Therefore let a king, after having seated
himself on the judgment seat, be equitable towards
all beings, discarding selfish interests and acting the
part of (Yama) Vaivasvata, (the judge of the dead).
* 35. Attending to (the dictates of) the law-book
and adhering to the opinion of his chief judge, let
him try causes in due order, adhibiting great care.
36. The connection (agama) must be examined
31. ‘Brought forward,' i.e. stated by the plaintiff. The king
shall neglect it, i.e. not accept it as correct. A. Ya^vzavalkya II, 19.
32. The idea that fire is composed of seven rays or flames
is derived, no doubt, from the seven rays of the sun-god Surya,
who is represented down to the present day as riding in a chariot
drawn by seven horses.
34. ‘Discarding selfish motives,’ i.e. free from love or wrath
(sine ira et studio). ‘The part of Yama,’ the king of righteous-
ness, i.e. the distribution of the rewards and punishments due to
good and bad actions. A. Yagiravalkya II, 1; VishzzuIII, 92, &c.
35. While consulting the law-book, he should take heed at the
same time of whatever is brought forward by the assessors of the
court conjointly with the chief judge. He should abide by the
opinion delivered by the latter. He should try causes in due order,
i.e. so that the four feet of a judicial proceeding follow one another
in due succession. A. Manu VIII, 1,8,9; Yfljgnavalkya II, 1, &c.
36. Agama, ‘the connection,’ i.e. the relation of the case in hand
to the entire system of law; ‘ the title of law,’ its appertaining
to a subdivision of this or that title of law; its ‘cure,’ i.e. it must