Kantakashodhana Adhyaya 6 Sutra 9 - Arthashastra | Hindi | Vedapath

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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

यदि खोई हुई वस्तु का कोई दावेदार न हो, तो उसी को पुनः आवंटित किया जाए। जिसका कब्ज़ा-उपयोग पहले से और दीर्घकाल से हो, या जिसका अधिकार-क्षेत्र/कब्ज़ा ‘शुद्ध’ (निर्विवाद व प्रतिष्ठित) हो—उसी को उसका स्वामी माना जाए।

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.