Sacred Laws of Aryas

SR No.: 007687
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gorge Buhler
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1897
Total Pages: 1979
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 36 MB

Page 524

36
VENDÎDÂD.
fourth is the contract to the amount of an ox1; the fifth is the contract to the amount of a man 2; the sixth is the contract to the amount of a field 3, a field in good land, a fruitful one, in good bearing.'
3 (13). The word-contract is fulfilled by words of mouth.
It is cancelled by the hand-contract; he shall give as damages the amount of the hand-contract.
4 (16). The hand-contract is cancelled by the sheep-contract; he shall give as damages the amount of the sheep-contract.
The sheep-contract is cancelled by the ox-contract; he shall give as damages the amount of the
ox-contract.
The ox-contract is cancelled by the man-contract; he shall give as damages the amount of the man
contract.
The man-contract is cancelled by the field-contract; he shall give as damages the amount of the field-contract.
5 (24). O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If a man break the word-contract, how many are involved in his sin?
1 To the amount of 12 istirs (=48 dirhems),' (Comm.)
To the amount of 500 dirhems.' The exact translation would be rather, 'The contract to the amount of a human being' (promise of marriage).
"Upwards of 500 istîrs.'
A sort of gloss added to define more accurately the value of the object, and to indicate that it is greater than that of the preceding one.
Literally, how much is involved? The joint responsibility of the family was a principle in the Persian law: 'Leges apud eos impendio formidatae, et abominandae aliae, per quas ob noxam unius omnis propinquitas perit' (Am. Marcellinus XXIII, 6).
Digitized by
Google