Arthashastra 3.2.24: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 2, Sutra 24
Devanagari script
ज्ञातिहस्तादभिमृष्टाया ज्ञातयो यथागृहीतं दद्युः ॥
Transliteration
jñātihastād abhimṛṣṭāyā jñātayo yathāgṛhītaṃ dadyuḥ
Translation
अगर औरत की जायदाद उसके रिश्तेदारों के पास चली गई है, तो उनको वापस करना होगा, जैसे था वैसे ही।
Word by Word
ज्ञाति-हस्तात्from the hand/custody of a kinsman
ज्ञाति-हस्तात्:
TypeNoun
Rootहस्त
Formपुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; पञ्चमी (अपादान); समासः—ज्ञाति(षष्ठी) + हस्त
अभिमृष्टायाःof a woman who has been seized/handled (taken into another’s custody)
अभिमृष्टायाः:
TypeParticiple (Verbal adjective)
Rootमृश्
Formकृदन्त (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; षष्ठी/पञ्चमी/सप्तमी-एकवचन रूपसाम्य (प्रसङ्गतः षष्ठी—‘of one who has been touched/handled’) ; उपसर्गः अभि-
ज्ञातयःthe kinsmen/relatives
ज्ञातयः:
TypeNoun
Rootज्ञाति
Formपुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; प्रथमा
यथाas; according to
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
Formअव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारार्थे (‘as, according to’)
गृहीतम्what was taken/received
गृहीतम्:
TypePast passive participle
Rootग्रह्
Formकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म) — ‘that which was taken/received’
दद्युःshould give/should return
दद्युः:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन
Entities Mentioned
W
woman/ownerK
kinsmen (jñāti)C
custodied propertyFAQs
A strict ‘as received’ standard, limiting discretion and preventing dilution or substitution of the woman’s property.
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