Sutra 9

Devanagari script

नाष्टिकश्चेत्तदेव प्रतिसंदध्यात् यस्या पूर्वो दीर्घश्च परिभोगः शुचिर्वा देशस्तस्य द्रव्यमिति विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०४.६.०९ ॥

Transliteration

nāṣṭikaś cet tad eva pratisaṃdadhyāt yasyā pūrvo dīrghaś ca paribhogaḥ śucir vā deśas tasya dravyam iti vidyāt

Translation

If there is no claimant for the loss, one shall reassign the same (property). One should recognize as owner the person whose possession and use are prior and long-standing, or whose locality/possession is ‘clean’ (uncontested and reputable).

Word by Word

नnot

आष्टिकःa claimant/asserter of title (one who claims ownership)

चेत्if

तत्that (thing/property)

एवindeed/only

प्रतिसंदध्यात्should restore/return (it)

यस्याःof which/whose

पूर्वःformer/previous

दीर्घःlong (in duration)

चand

परिभोगःenjoyment/possession (use and occupation)

शुचिःclean/pure (unimpeached)

वाor

देशःland/region/plot

तस्यof him/of that (person)

द्रव्यम्property/asset

इतिthus

विद्यात्should know/should determine

Entities Mentioned

claimant (absent)

possessor with long use

FAQs

What is the governing presumption when no claimant appears?

Administrative settlement favors stable, prior, long possession (and uncontested/reputable holding) to minimize uncertainty and recurring disputes.