Arthashastra

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अस्मप्रतिपत्तौ तु साक्षिणः प्रमाणं प्रात्ययिकाः शुचयो अनुमता वा त्रयो अवर अर्ध्याः ॥

(Witnesses.) It is obligatory to produce three witnesses who are reliable, honest and respected.

english translation

asmapratipattau tu sAkSiNaH pramANaM prAtyayikAH zucayo anumatA vA trayo avara ardhyAH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

पक्ष अनुमतौ वा द्वौ, ऋणं प्रति न त्व् एव एकः ॥

At least two witnesses acceptable to the parties are necessary; never one witness in the case of debts.

english translation

pakSa anumatau vA dvau, RNaM prati na tv eva ekaH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

प्रतिषिद्धाः स्याल सहाय अन्वर्थि धनिक धारणिक वैरि न्यङ्ग धृत दण्डाः, पूर्वे च अव्यवहार्याः ॥

Wife's brothers, copartners, prisoners (ábaddha), creditors, debtors, enemies, maintained persons, or persons once punished by the Government shall not be taken as witnesses.

english translation

pratiSiddhAH syAla sahAya anvarthi dhanika dhAraNika vairi nyaGga dhRta daNDAH, pUrve ca avyavahAryAH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

राज श्रोत्रिय ग्राम भृतक कुष्ठि व्रणिनः पतित चण्डाल कुत्सित कर्माणो अन्ध बधिर मूक अहं वादिनः स्त्री राज पुरुषाश् च, अन्यत्र स्व वर्गेभ्यः ॥

Likewise persons legally unfit to carry on transactions, the king, persons learned in the Vedas, persons depending for their maintenance on villages (grámabhritaka), lepers, persons suffering from bodily erruptions, outcast persons, persons of mean avocation, the blind, the deaf, the dumb, egotistic persons, females, or government servants shall not be taken as witnesses excepting in the case of transactions in one's own community.

english translation

rAja zrotriya grAma bhRtaka kuSThi vraNinaH patita caNDAla kutsita karmANo andha badhira mUka ahaM vAdinaH strI rAja puruSAz ca, anyatra sva vargebhyaH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

पारुष्य स्तेय संग्रहणेषु तु वैरि स्याल सहाय वर्जाः ॥

. In dispute concerning assault, theft, or abduction, persons other than wife's brothers, enemies, and co-partners, can be witnesses.

english translation

pAruSya steya saMgrahaNeSu tu vairi syAla sahAya varjAH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript