Sutra 5
Devanagari script
निस्तब्धगुदाक्षं संदष्टजिह्वमाध्मातोदरमुदकहतं विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०४.७.०५ ॥
Transliteration
nistabdhagudākṣaṃ saṃdaṣṭajihvam ādhmātodaram udakahataṃ vidyāt
Translation
One should identify death by water (drowning) when the anus and eyes are rigid, the tongue is clenched/bitten, and the abdomen is distended.
Word by Word
निस्तब्ध-गुद-अक्षम्having anus and eyes rigid/immobile (stiffened)
निस्तब्ध-गुद-अक्षम्:
TypeAdjective (compound)
Rootस्तभ् (स्तम्भे)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘अक्ष’ (इन्द्रिय/नेत्र) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासे ‘निस्तब्ध’ (नि+स्तब्ध, PPP) + ‘गुद’ (पुं) + ‘अक्ष’ (नपुं)
संदष्ट-जिह्वम्with the tongue bitten/pressed between the teeth
संदष्ट-जिह्वम्:
TypeAdjective (compound)
Rootदंश्/दश् (दंशने)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘जिह्वा’ (स्त्री) + ‘संदष्ट’ (सम्+दष्ट, PPP)
आध्मात-उदरम्with a swollen/distended belly
आध्मात-उदरम्:
TypeAdjective (compound)
Rootध्मा (ध्माने)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘उदर’ (नपुं) + ‘आध्मात’ (आ+ध्मात, PPP)
उदक-हतम्killed by water; drowned
उदक-हतम्:
TypeAdjective (compound)
Rootहन् (हिंसागत्योः)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘उदक’ (नपुं) + ‘हत’ (PPP)
विद्यात्should know/should ascertain
विद्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootविद् (ज्ञाने)
Formपरस्मैपद, विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘one should know/ascertain’
Entities Mentioned
I
investigator (implicit)D
deceased body (implicit)FAQs
It gives field-diagnostics for officials to classify cause of death, supporting accurate inquests and preventing false claims in criminal cases.
Observable bodily markers are treated as standardized indicators to reduce discretion and error in state investigations.