DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52452#0064
NARADA.
III. Courts of Justice.
* i. One who has not been authorized must not
speak on any account at the trial. But authorized
persons must deliver their opinion in an unbiassed
spirit.
* 2. Whether unauthorized or authorized, one
acquainted with the law shall give his opinion. He
passes a divine sentence who acts up to the dictates
of law.
3. If he delivers a fair opinion, a member of the
court will incur neither hatred nor sin. But if he
speaks otherwise he at once incurs both.
* 4. Let the king appoint, as members of a court
III, 1. Courts of justice are generally thronged by a large atten-
dance. Some of the persons present are intelligent, others are not,
and others are wise in their own estimation only. Such persons, if
unrestrained, would disturb the judges by interpreting idle speeches
between the legal proceedings, and by quarrelling amongst them-
selves. Therefore, the first half of this paragraph relates to the
punishment ordained for those who speak without authorization.
Authorized persons, i.e. the judges who sit on the seat of judgment,
shall strive to be just, i.e. they shall deliver a judgment in accord-
ance with justice, and shall not show partiality for either of the
parties. A.
2. Where all the assessors of the court pass an unjust sentence,
from ignorance of the law, or from interested motives, there a
Brahman versed in the sacred law and acquainted with legal pro-
ceedings, who happens to be present, shall point out the law to
them, and restrain the judges from their sinful course. He shall
speak, though he has not been appointed to deliver judgment.
Law is called the voice of the deity. A.
3. That is called 1 2 3 4 a fair opinion’ which is not contrary to written
law and to custom. A judge who delivers a sentence of this kind
incurs neither' enmity nor sin, i.e. he does not become unhappy
either in this world or in the next. A.
4. As young bulls are able to carry a heavy burden, even so
III. Courts of Justice.
* i. One who has not been authorized must not
speak on any account at the trial. But authorized
persons must deliver their opinion in an unbiassed
spirit.
* 2. Whether unauthorized or authorized, one
acquainted with the law shall give his opinion. He
passes a divine sentence who acts up to the dictates
of law.
3. If he delivers a fair opinion, a member of the
court will incur neither hatred nor sin. But if he
speaks otherwise he at once incurs both.
* 4. Let the king appoint, as members of a court
III, 1. Courts of justice are generally thronged by a large atten-
dance. Some of the persons present are intelligent, others are not,
and others are wise in their own estimation only. Such persons, if
unrestrained, would disturb the judges by interpreting idle speeches
between the legal proceedings, and by quarrelling amongst them-
selves. Therefore, the first half of this paragraph relates to the
punishment ordained for those who speak without authorization.
Authorized persons, i.e. the judges who sit on the seat of judgment,
shall strive to be just, i.e. they shall deliver a judgment in accord-
ance with justice, and shall not show partiality for either of the
parties. A.
2. Where all the assessors of the court pass an unjust sentence,
from ignorance of the law, or from interested motives, there a
Brahman versed in the sacred law and acquainted with legal pro-
ceedings, who happens to be present, shall point out the law to
them, and restrain the judges from their sinful course. He shall
speak, though he has not been appointed to deliver judgment.
Law is called the voice of the deity. A.
3. That is called 1 2 3 4 a fair opinion’ which is not contrary to written
law and to custom. A judge who delivers a sentence of this kind
incurs neither' enmity nor sin, i.e. he does not become unhappy
either in this world or in the next. A.
4. As young bulls are able to carry a heavy burden, even so