Arthashastra 3.12.49: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 12, Sutra 49

Devanagari script

अभिज्ञानेन चास्य गृहे जनमुभयं याचेत ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.12.49

Transliteration

abhijñānena cāsya gṛhe janam ubhayaṃ yāceta

Translation

जब कोई केस आता है, पहले लोगों को पहचानना चाहिए। फिर दोनों तरफ के लोगों को बुलाया जाता है। जज उन सब को घर भी बुला सकता है। दोनों तरफ के लोगों को सामने लाना पड़ेगा।

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Word by Word

• अभिज्ञानेन: by means of identification / with a mark of recognition
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-√ज्ञा
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; करण-कारक; भाववाचक-नाम (अभिज्ञान)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अस्य: of him / his
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोग; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• गृहे: in (his) house
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन; अधिकरण-कारक (locative)

• जनम्: the people (of the household)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्म-कारक

• उभयम्: both (of the two)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: उभय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; विशेषण/सर्वनाम; कर्म-कारक (object)

• याचेत: should ask/demand
• Type: Verb
• Root: √याच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; सकर्मक

Entities Mentioned

• judge/royal officer
• two parties
• household/associates

More Details

FAQs

What procedural step is prescribed here before deciding a dispute?

The official should use identification and summon relevant persons from both sides, including those connected to the household, to establish facts through examination.

What is the administrative intent behind summoning ‘both’ (ubhayaṃ) persons?

To prevent one-sided narratives and to secure balanced testimony and corroboration from each side’s circle.