Sutra 1

Devanagari script

मुषितसंनिधौ बाह्यानामभ्यन्तराणां च साक्षिणामभिशस्तस्य देशजातिगोत्रनामकर्मसारसहायनिवासाननुयुञ्जीत ॥ कZ_०४.८.०१ ॥

Transliteration

muṣitasaṃnidhau bāhyānām abhyantarāṇāṃ ca sākṣiṇām abhiśastasya deśa-jāti-gotra-nāma-karma-sāra-sahāya-nivāsān anuyuñjīta

Translation

In der Nähe des Diebstahls soll der Beschuldigte verhört werden, indem sowohl externe als auch interne Zeugen herbeigerufen werden; dabei ist er nach Herkunftsort, Gemeinschaft/Stamm, Abstammung, Name, Beruf, Mitteln/Ressourcen, Helfern/Komplizen und Wohnsitz zu befragen.

Word by Word

• मुषित-संनिधौ: at/near the place of theft (robbery scene)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष् (चौर्ये) / संनिधि
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचन; 'मुषितस्य संनिधौ' = where the theft/robbery has occurred (at/near the robbed place)

• बाह्यानाम्: of external (outside) [witnesses]
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: बाह्य
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचन; qualifying 'साक्षिणाम्'

• अभ्यन्तराणाम्: of internal (inside) [witnesses]
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: अभ्यन्तर
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचन; qualifying 'साक्षिणाम्'

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• साक्षिणाम्: of witnesses
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन्
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचन; dependent on 'अनुयुञ्जीत' (to examine/question witnesses)

• अभिशस्तस्य: of the accused
• Type: Noun/Participle (used as noun)
• Root: अभिशस्त
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन; 'of the accused/denounced person'

• देश-जाति-गोत्र-नाम-कर्म-सार-सहाय-निवासान्: (his) locality, community/caste, lineage, name, occupation/deeds, substance/means, associates/helpers, and residence
• Type: Noun (compound list)
• Root: देश/जाति/गोत्र/नामन्/कर्मन्/सार/सहाय/निवास
• Form: द्वितीया बहुवचन; objects of 'अनुयुञ्जीत' (things to be asked/inquired into)

• अनुयुञ्जीत: should question / should interrogate
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-युज् (प्रश्ने/नियोगे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; 'he should question/examine' (the officer/judge implied)

Entities Mentioned

• accused
• witnesses (internal and external)
• local community/lineage networks

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya require both internal and external witnesses near the scene of theft?

To cross-check narratives across insiders (who know local routines) and outsiders (less embedded in local collusion), improving reliability and reducing manipulation.

What is the administrative purpose of asking about deśa-jāti-gotra-nāma-karma-sahāya-nivāsa?

It creates a verifiable identity-and-network profile to trace movements, detect false identities, and map potential accomplices or shelters.