manusmriti

LAWS OF MANU
CHAPTER VIII
JUSTICE AND JURISPRUDENCE
1. A king, desirous of investigating law cases, must enter his court of justice,
preserving a dignified demeanour, together with Brahmanas and with experienced
councillors.
2. There, either seated or standing, raising his right arm, without ostentation in
his dress and ornaments, let him examine the business of suitors,
Eighteen Titles of the Law
3. Daily (deciding) one after another (all cases) which fall under the eighteen
titles (of the law) according to principles drawn from local usages. and from the
Institutes of the sacred law.
4. Of those (titles) the
(1) first is the non-payment of debts, (then follow),
(2) deposit and pledge,
(3) sale without ownership,
(4) concerns among partners, and
(5) resumption of gifts,
5.
(6) Non-payment of wages,
(7) non-performance of agreements,
(8) rescission of sale and purchase,
(9) disputes between the owner (of cattle) and his servants,
6.
(10) Disputes regarding boundaries,
(11) assault and
(12) defamation,
(13) theft,
(14) robbery and violence,
(15) adultery,
7.
(16) Duties of man and wife,
(17) partition (of inheritance),
(18) gambling and betting;
these are in this world the eighteen topics which give rise to lawsuits.
8. Depending on the eternal law, let him decide the suits of men who mostly
contend on the titles just mentioned.
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