Kantakashodhana Adhyaya 8 Sutra 5 - Arthashastra | Hindi | Vedapath

Sutra 5

Devanagari script

त्रिरात्रादूर्ध्वमग्राह्यः शङ्कितकः पृच्छाभावादन्यत्रोपकरणदर्शनात् ॥ कZ_०४.८.०५ ॥

Transliteration

trirātrād ūrdhvam agrāhyaḥ śaṅkitakaḥ pṛcchābhāvād anyatra-upakaraṇa-darśanāt

Translation

केवल संदेहास्पद व्यक्ति को तीन रातों से अधिक न रोका जाए—जब आगे पूछताछ का आधार न रहे और उपकरण/साक्ष्य कहीं और दिखाई दें (अर्थात् उससे असंबद्ध हों)।

Word by Word

त्रिरात्रात्from (the end of) three nights; after three nights

ऊर्ध्वम्afterwards; beyond; thereafter

अग्राह्यःis not acceptable / not to be taken (as valid)

शङ्कितकःthe suspect / suspected person

पृच्छाquestioning; interrogation

अभावात्because of the absence (of)

अन्यत्रelsewhere; except (i.e., otherwise)

उपकरणinstrument(s); implement(s)

दर्शनात्because of seeing / from the sight (of)

Entities Mentioned

suspect

investigators

evidentiary items/implements

What administrative principle is expressed by the 'three nights' rule?

Time-bounded custody: suspicion must quickly mature into evidence-based inquiry, otherwise the state must release the person to prevent abuse.