Sutra 20

Devanagari script

अप्राप्तव्यवहाराणां देयविशुद्धं मातृबन्धुषु ग्रामवृद्धेषु वा स्थापयेयुः आव्यवहारप्रापणात्प्रोषितस्य वा ॥ कZ_०३.५.२० ॥

Transliteration

aprāptavyavahārāṇāṃ deyaviśuddhaṃ mātṛbandhuṣu grāmavṛddheṣu vā sthāpayeyuḥ āvyavahāraprāpaṇāt proṣitasya vā

Translation

For those not yet capable of conducting transactions (or whose dealings have not commenced), the net amount due (after clearing liabilities) should be deposited with maternal relatives or village elders—also in cases where one is absent due to not having entered into dealings (or being away).

Word by Word

• अप्राप्तव्यवहाराणाम्: of those who have not attained legal capacity for transactions/litigation
• Type: Noun (adjectival compound used substantively)
• Root: प्राप् (प्र + आप्)
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचन; पुं/नपुं (सामान्य-विशेषणरूपेण), ‘व्यवहार’ = न्याय/विवाद-व्यवहार; अप्राप्त = न प्राप्त

• देयविशुद्धम्: the verified/clear amount payable (or property free from claims)
• Type: Noun/Adjective (compound; object)
• Root: शुध् (वि + शुध्) / शुद्ध (कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; देय = देयम् (what is to be paid/owed), विशुद्ध = purified/clear (free from claims)

• मातृबन्धुषु: among the maternal relatives
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु
• Form: सप्तमी-बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; मातृ- (mother’s) + बन्धु (kinsmen)

• ग्रामवृद्धेषु: among the village elders
• Type: Noun (adjectival noun)
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: सप्तमी-बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; ग्राम- (of the village) + वृद्ध (elders)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• स्थापयेयुः: they should deposit/entrust (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (causative: स्थापय-)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; causative ‘they should cause to be placed/deposited’

• आव्यवहारप्रापणात्: until the attainment of legal competence (for transactions/litigation)
• Type: Noun (action noun; ablative)
• Root: प्राप् (प्र + आप्)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; आ-व्यवहार = ‘not fit for legal transaction/litigation’ (न्यायव्यवहार-अयोग्य), प्रापण = attainment/coming of (legal capacity)

• प्रोषितस्य: of an absentee (one who is away)
• Type: Noun/Adjective (past participle used substantively)
• Root: वस् (प्र + उष्/वस्; प्रोषित = gone abroad/absent)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन; पुं/नपुं; ‘of one who is away/absent (from home)’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Entities Mentioned

• minors/incapable parties
• maternal relatives
• village elders
• absent heir

More Details

FAQs

How should property be handled for heirs who cannot yet manage transactions (e.g., minors)?

Their net due share should be placed in trusted custody—maternal kin or village elders—until they can manage it.

What is the administrative logic of using village elders?

They serve as locally accountable fiduciaries, reducing embezzlement risk and easing verification within the community.