Arthashastra

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मुषित संनिधौ बाह्यानाम् अभ्यन्तराणां च साक्षिणाम् अभिशस्तस्य देश जाति गोत्र नाम कर्म सार सहाय निवासान् अनुयुञ्जीत ॥

WHETHER an accused is a stranger or a relative to a complainant, his defence witness shall, in the presence of the complainant, be asked as to the defendant's country, caste, family, name, occupation, property, friends, and residence.

english translation

muSita saMnidhau bAhyAnAm abhyantarANAM ca sAkSiNAm abhizastasya deza jAti gotra nAma karma sAra sahAya nivAsAn anuyuJjIta ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तांश् च अपदेशैः प्रतिसमानयेत् ॥

The answers obtained shall be compared with the defendant's own statements regarding the same.

english translation

tAMz ca apadezaiH pratisamAnayet ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

ततः पूर्वस्य अह्नः प्रचारं रात्रौ निवासं च चा ग्रहणाद् इत्य् अनुयुञ्जीत ॥

Then the defendant shall be asked as to not only the nature of the work he did during the day previous to the theft, but also the place where he spent the night till he was caught hold of.

english translation

tataH pUrvasya ahnaH pracAraM rAtrau nivAsaM ca cA grahaNAd ity anuyuJjIta ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तस्य अपसार प्रतिसंधाने शुद्धः स्यात्, अन्यथा कर्म प्राप्तः ॥

If his answers for these questions are attested to by reliable referees or witnesses, he shall be acquitted. Otherwise he shall be subjected torture (anyatha karmapráptah).

english translation

tasya apasAra pratisaMdhAne zuddhaH syAt, anyathA karma prAptaH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

त्रि रात्राद् ऊर्ध्वम् अग्राह्यः शङ्कितकः पृच्छा अभावाद् अन्यत्र उपकरण दर्शनात् ॥

Three days after the commission of a crime, no suspected person (sankitakah) shall be arrested inasmuch as there is no room for questions unless there is strong evidence to bring home the charge.

english translation

tri rAtrAd Urdhvam agrAhyaH zaGkitakaH pRcchA abhAvAd anyatra upakaraNa darzanAt ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript