Arthashastra

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स चेद् ब्रूयात् "याचितकम् अवक्रीतकम् आहितकं निक्षेपम् उपनिधिं वैयावृत्य कर्म वा अमुष्य" इति, तस्य अपसार प्रतिसंधानेन मुच्येत ॥

The possessor of an article in question may plead that the article is either borrowed or hired, a pledge or a sealed deposit, or one obtained from a particular person for retail sale.

english translation

sa ced brUyAt "yAcitakam avakrItakam AhitakaM nikSepam upanidhiM vaiyAvRtya karma vA amuSya" iti, tasya apasAra pratisaMdhAnena mucyeta ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

"न एवम्" इत्य् अपसारो वा ब्रूयात्, रूप अभिगृहीतः परस्य दान कारणम् आत्मनः प्रतिग्रह कारणम् उपलिङ्गनं वा दायक दापक निबन्धक प्रतिग्राहक उपद्रष्टृभिर् उपश्रोतृभिर् वा प्रतिसमानयेत् ॥

With regard to the reasons which a person, seized with an article lost by another, assigns as to his having taken the article as a gift from a third person, he shall corroborate them by producing as witnesses not only those who gave and caused to give the article to him, but also those who, being mediators, custodians, bearers, or witnesses, arranged for the transfer of the article.

english translation

"na evam" ity apasAro vA brUyAt, rUpa abhigRhItaH parasya dAna kAraNam AtmanaH pratigraha kAraNam upaliGganaM vA dAyaka dApaka nibandhaka pratigrAhaka upadraSTRbhir upazrotRbhir vA pratisamAnayet ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

उज्झित प्रनष्ट निष्पतित उपलब्धस्य देश काल लाभ उपलिङ्गनेन शुद्धिः ॥

When a person is found possessed of an article which he alleges to have been thrown out, lost, or forgotten by a third person, he shall prove his innocence by adducing evidence as to the time, place, and circumstances of finding the article.

english translation

ujjhita pranaSTa niSpatita upalabdhasya deza kAla lAbha upaliGganena zuddhiH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

अशुद्धस् तच् च तावच् च दण्डं दद्यात् ॥

Otherwise he shall restore the article, besides paying a fine equal to its value.

english translation

azuddhas tac ca tAvac ca daNDaM dadyAt ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

अन्यथा स्तेय दण्डं भजेत ॥ इति रूप अभिग्रहः ।

or he may be punished as a thief. Thus the seizure of criminals in the very act is dealt with.

english translation

anyathA steya daNDaM bhajeta ॥ iti rUpa abhigrahaH ।

hk transliteration by Sanscript