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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated June 15, 2001 relating to the
financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appears in Verity,
Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2001.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California
August 27, 2001