Sutra 19
Devanagari script
स्वयं आदिष्टपुरुषैर्वा चोरैरर्थनिमित्तं सादृश्यादन्यवैरिभिर्वा हतस्य घातमासन्नेभ्यः परीक्षेत ॥ कZ_०४.७.१९ ॥
Transliteration
svayaṃ ādiṣṭapuruṣair vā corair arthanimittaṃ sādṛśyād anyavairibhir vā hatasya ghātam āsannebhyaḥ parīkṣeta
Translation
He should ascertain from those close to the matter whether the killing of the deceased was done (i) personally, (ii) through instructed agents, (iii) by thieves for gain, or (iv) by other enemies, based on similarity/fit with prior enmities and circumstances.
Word by Word
स्वयम्personally; by oneself
स्वयम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम्
Formअव्ययम्
आदिष्टपुरुषैःby ordered/appointed men (official agents)
आदिष्टपुरुषैः:
TypeNoun (agent-noun)
Rootआ-√दिश्
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; (आदिष्ट + पुरुष)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्
चोरैःby thieves
चोरैः:
TypeNoun
Rootचोर
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम्
अर्थनिमित्तम्for the sake of wealth; with pecuniary motive
अर्थनिमित्तम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; (अर्थ + निमित्त)
सादृश्यात्because of resemblance/similarity
सादृश्यात्:
TypeNoun
Rootसादृश्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (हेतौ/कारणे)
अन्यवैरिभिःby other enemies
अन्यवैरिभिः:
TypeNoun
Rootवैरिन्
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम्
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्
हतस्यof the slain (person)
हतस्य:
TypeParticiple used as Noun/Adjective
Root√हन् (हत)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (हत = slain)
घातम्the killing; the homicide
घातम्:
TypeNoun
Rootघात
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनम्
आसन्नेभ्यःfrom those who were near (at hand/close)
आसन्नेभ्यः:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootआसन्न
Formपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-बहुवचनम् (अपादान/स्रोतः: ‘from those near’)
परीक्षेतhe should investigate/examine
परीक्षेत:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-√ईक्ष्
Formलोट् (आज्ञार्थे/विधिलिङ्-समर्थः); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्
Entities Mentioned
O
ordered agents (ādiṣṭapuruṣa)T
thieves (cora)E
enemies (vairin)N
nearby associates/witnesses (āsanna)FAQs
Kauṭilya separates direct action, delegated violence, opportunistic economic crime, and political/feud-based violence—each requiring different investigative and preventive responses.