Arthashastra

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एतेषां कारणानाम् अनभिसंधाने विप्रलपन्तम् अचोरं विद्यात् ॥

When there are no such evidences and when the accused is wailing much, he shall be regarded as innocent.

english translation

eteSAM kAraNAnAm anabhisaMdhAne vipralapantam acoraM vidyAt ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

दृश्यते ह्य् अचोरो अपि चोर मार्गे यदृच्छया संनिपाते चोर वेष शस्त्र भाण्ड सामान्येन गृह्यमाणश् चोर भाण्डस्य उपवासेन वा, यथा अणि माण्डव्यः कर्म क्लेश भयाद् अचोरः "चोरो अस्मि" इति ब्रुवाणः ॥

For owing to one's accidental presence on the scene of theft, or to one's accidental resemblance to the real thief in respect to his appearance, his dress, his weapons, or possession of articles similar to those stolen, or owing to one's presence near the stolen articles as in the case of Mándavya who under the fear of torture admitted himself to be the thief, one, though innocent, is often seized as a thief.

english translation

dRzyate hy acoro api cora mArge yadRcchayA saMnipAte cora veSa zastra bhANDa sAmAnyena gRhyamANaz cora bhANDasya upavAsena vA, yathA aNi mANDavyaH karma kleza bhayAd acoraH "coro asmi" iti bruvANaH ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तस्मात् समाप्त करणं नियमयेत् ॥

Hence the production of conclusive evidences shall be insisted upon. (tasmátsamáptakaranam niyamayet = hence punishment shall be meted out only when the charge is quite established against the accused?)

english translation

tasmAt samApta karaNaM niyamayet ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

मन्द अपराधं बालं वृद्धं व्याधितं मत्तम् उन्मत्तं क्षुत् पिपासा अध्व क्लान्तम् अत्याशितम् आमक अशितं दुर्बलं वा न कर्म कारयेत् ॥

Ignoramuses, youngsters, the aged, the afflicted, persons under intoxication, lunatics, persons suffering from hunger, thirst, or fatigue from journey, persons who have just taken more than enough of meal, persons who have confessed of their own accord (átmakásitam), and persons who are very weak,--none of these shall be subjected to torture.

english translation

manda aparAdhaM bAlaM vRddhaM vyAdhitaM mattam unmattaM kSut pipAsA adhva klAntam atyAzitam Amaka azitaM durbalaM vA na karma kArayet ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript

तुल्य शील पुंश्चली प्रापाविक कथा अवकाश भोजन दातृभिर् अपसर्पयेत् ॥

Among the spies such as harlots, suppliers of water and other drinks to travellers, story-tellers, hotel-keepers providing travellers with boarding and lodging, any one who happens to be acquainted with the work similar to that of the suspected may be let off to.

english translation

tulya zIla puMzcalI prApAvika kathA avakAza bhojana dAtRbhir apasarpayet ॥

hk transliteration by Sanscript