Arthashastra 3.13.32: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 32

Devanagari script

निष्पतितप्रेतव्यसनिनामाधाता मूल्यं भजेत ॥

Transliteration

niṣpatita-pretavyasaninām ādhātā mūlyaṃ bhajeta

Translation

En l’absence de témoins, l’enquête sera menée à partir du lieu où le travail a été effectué (en examinant le site/le contexte et les personnes concernées).

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Word by Word

• निष्पतित: having run away; having absconded
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: निष्+पत्
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (विशेषणरूपेण)

• प्रेत: departed; gone away (i.e., absconded)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: प्रि/प्रे (प्रि-गतौ) → प्रेत (क्त)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (समासाङ्गत्वेन)

• व्यसनिनाम्: of the addicted/vicious persons
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसनिन् (व्यसन + इन्)
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचनम् पुंलिङ्गम् (व्यसनिन्-शब्दः)

• आधाता: the depositor; the one who placed (it) in deposit
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: आ+धा
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक; प्रथमा एकवचनम् पुंलिङ्गम्

• मूल्यम्: the value; the price
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम्

• भजेत: should allot; should award/distribute
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज्
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्

Entities Mentioned

• ādhātā (pledge-holder)
• vyasanin (addicted person)

More Details

FAQs

What policy logic is reflected in awarding value to the pledge-holder in these cases?

It allocates loss from non-performance (flight, death, incapacity due to vice) by compensating the creditor/pledge-holder, stabilizing credit markets and discouraging strategic default.