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1. Now follows the (rule regarding the ordeal by) fire.
2. He must make seven circles, sixteen Angulas in breadth each, the intervals being of the same breadth.
3. Thereupon he must place seven leaves of the
[XI. 2-9. Y. II, 103, 105-107.--11. Y. II, 104.
2. 1 See X, 2, note.
3. Nand. takes the term tatah, 'thereupon,' to imply that he {footnote p. 58} must previously examine the hands of the person about to perform the ordeal and mark existing scars or eruptions of the skin, as prescribed in Sûtra 10.]
holy fig-tree into the hands of the person (about to perform the ordeal), who must turn his face towards the east and stretch out both arms.
4. Those (leaves) and his hands he must bind together with a thread.
5. Then he must place into his hands a ball made of iron, red-hot, fifty Palas in weight, and smooth.
6. Having received this, the person must proceed through the (seven) circles, without either walking at a very hurried pace, or lingering on his way.
7. Finally, after having passed the seventh circle, he must put down the ball upon the ground.
8. That man whose hands are burnt ever so little, shall be deemed guilty; but if he remains wholly unburnt, he is freed from the charge.
9. If he lets the ball drop from fear, or if there exists a doubt as to whether he is burnt or not, let him take the ball once more, because the proof has not been decided.
10. At the beginning (of the whole ceremony) the judge shall cause the person to rub some rice in his hands, and shall mark (with red sap, or the like, the already existing scars, eruptions of the skin, &c., which will thus have become visible). Then the judge, after having addressed the iron ball (with the following prayer), shall place it in his hands:
[4. The particle ka implies, according to Nand., that he must further place seven Samî leaves, unbroken grains, Dûrvâ leaves, and grain smeared with sour milk upon his hands, as ordained in a passage of Pitâmaha.]
'Thou, O fire, dwellest in the interior of all creatures, like a witness. O fire, thou knowest what mortals do not comprehend.
12. 'This man being arraigned in a cause, desires to be cleared from guilt. Therefore mayest thou deliver him lawfully from this perplexity.'