Ahilyabai Holkar · Sanskrit Story
Justice Under the Banyan Tree
वटवृक्षस्य अधः न्यायः
Laxman Shastri Joshi — Marathi chronicles; S.N. Sen — Marathas; contemporary administrative accounts · Beginner Sanskrit
Moral · नीतिः
न्यायः समः, धर्मः अभेदः।
Nyāyaḥ samaḥ, dharmaḥ abhedaḥ.
“Justice is equal; dharma makes no distinction.”
The Court Beneath the Sky
माहेश्वरे राजप्रासादे एकः महान् वटवृक्षः। तस्य छायायाम् अहिल्या न्यायसभां करोति स्म। न बन्धकक्षे, न परदायाः पश्चात् — खुले आकाशस्य अधः। जनाः दृष्ट्वा वदन्ति स्म — "न्यायः प्रकाशे भवति, अन्धकारे नास्ति।" अहिल्यायाः न्यायालयः — देशस्य अन्यैः भिन्नः।
In the palace courtyard at Maheshwar, a great banyan tree stood. In its shade, Ahilya held her court of justice. Not in a closed hall, not behind curtains — under the open sky. Watching, people said — "Justice happens in light, not in darkness." Ahilya's court was different from all others in the land.
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