Arthashastra 3.16.11: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 16, Sutra 11

Devanagari script

देशकालातिपत्तौ वा स्वयं गृहीत्वोपहरेत् ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.16.11

Transliteration

deśakālātipattau vā svayaṃ gṛhītvopaharet

Translation

अगर टाइम और जगह की वजह से जज काम नहीं कर पा रहा, तो मालिक खुद उस चीज़ को पकड़ के ले सकता है। वेट करना पड़ेगा, लेकिन हक़ वापस लेने का भी तरीका है।

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Word by Word

• देश: place, locality
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• काल: time, occasion
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अतिपत्तौ: in the event of transgression/exception regarding place and time
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति-√पत्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; 'अतिपत्ति' (f.) = उल्लङ्घन/व्यतिक्रम; समस्तपद: देशकालातिपत्ति

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• स्वयम्: personally, oneself
• Type: Adverb
• Root: स्वयम्
• Form: अव्यय; कर्तृवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण

• गृहीत्वा: having seized/taken (into custody/possession)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘ग्रहणं कृत्वा’

• उपहरेत्: should bring and deliver/hand over
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√हृ
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; लोट्/विध्यर्थ—‘उपहरति’ = आनीय दद्यात्/समर्पयेत्

Entities Mentioned

• svāmī (owner) (implied)

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FAQs

Does this verse authorize unlimited private force?

No. It allows limited self-help only under exigency where delay would defeat recovery; it remains subject to subsequent judicial scrutiny.

What administrative risk does this exception address?

Flight of goods across jurisdictions/markets, making later enforcement costly or impossible.