Sutra 25

Devanagari script

केशाकेशिकं संग्रहणमुपलिङ्गनाद्वा शरीरोपभोगानाम् तज्जातेभ्यः (तज्ज्ञातेभ्यः) स्त्रीवचनाद्वा ॥ कZ_०४.१२.३५ ॥

Transliteration

keśākeśikaṃ saṃgrahaṇam upaliṅganād vā śarīropabhogānām tajjātebhyaḥ (tajjñātebhyaḥ) strīvacanād vā

Translation

Proof (for establishing) sexual enjoyment of the body may be derived from: hair-pulling (marks of struggle), forcible holding, embracing, or similar acts; and also from persons of that kind (or from those who know the facts), or from the woman’s own statement.

Word by Word

केशाकेशिकम्hair-pulling (mutual seizing of hair)

संग्रहणम्seizing; holding; restraining

उपलिङ्गनात्from embracing; by hugging

वाor

शरीरbody

उपभोगानाम्of bodily enjoyments/sexual acts (with the body)

तत्that; such (act)

जातेभ्यःfrom those of the same kind; from similar (acts)

तत्that; such

ज्ञातेभ्यःfrom known (instances)

स्त्रीwoman

वचनात्from the woman’s statement/testimony

वाor

Entities Mentioned

woman (strī)

witnesses/knowers (tajjñātebhyaḥ)

FAQs

What kinds of evidence does Kautilya accept to establish sexual contact in court?

Physical struggle indicators (e.g., hair-pulling), restraint/seizure, embracing and related acts, plus testimony from relevant/knowing persons and the woman’s own statement.

What is the administrative intent of this sutra?

To operationalize adjudication by listing observable indicators and admissible testimony, reducing discretion and making enforcement more uniform.