Sutra 19
Devanagari script
स्वयं आदिष्टपुरुषैर्वा चोरैरर्थनिमित्तं सादृश्यादन्यवैरिभिर्वा हतस्य घातमासन्नेभ्यः परीक्षेत ॥ कZ_०४.७.१९ ॥
Transliteration
svayaṃ ādiṣṭapuruṣair vā corair arthanimittaṃ sādṛśyād anyavairibhir vā hatasya ghātam āsannebhyaḥ parīkṣeta
Translation
彼は、事案に近い者から、故人の殺害が (i) 本人の手によるものか、(ii) 指示された手先を通じてか、(iii) 利得目的の盗賊によるものか、あるいは (iv) 既往の怨恨や状況との類似／適合に基づく他の敵によるものかを確かめるべきである。
Word by Word
स्वयम्personally; by oneself
स्वयम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम्
Formअव्ययम्
आदिष्टपुरुषैःby ordered/appointed men (official agents)
आदिष्टपुरुषैः:
TypeNoun (agent-noun)
Rootआ-√दिश्
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; (आदिष्ट + पुरुष)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्
चोरैःby thieves
चोरैः:
TypeNoun
Rootचोर
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम्
अर्थनिमित्तम्for the sake of wealth; with pecuniary motive
अर्थनिमित्तम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; (अर्थ + निमित्त)
सादृश्यात्because of resemblance/similarity
सादृश्यात्:
TypeNoun
Rootसादृश्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (हेतौ/कारणे)
अन्यवैरिभिःby other enemies
अन्यवैरिभिः:
TypeNoun
Rootवैरिन्
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम्
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्
हतस्यof the slain (person)
हतस्य:
TypeParticiple used as Noun/Adjective
Root√हन् (हत)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (हत = slain)
घातम्the killing; the homicide
घातम्:
TypeNoun
Rootघात
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनम्
आसन्नेभ्यःfrom those who were near (at hand/close)
आसन्नेभ्यः:
TypeAdjective (used substantively)
Rootआसन्न
Formपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-बहुवचनम् (अपादान/स्रोतः: ‘from those near’)
परीक्षेतhe should investigate/examine
परीक्षेत:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-√ईक्ष्
Formलोट् (आज्ञार्थे/विधिलिङ्-समर्थः); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्
Entities Mentioned
O
ordered agents (ādiṣṭapuruṣa)T
thieves (cora)E
enemies (vairin)N
nearby associates/witnesses (āsanna)FAQs
Kauṭilya separates direct action, delegated violence, opportunistic economic crime, and political/feud-based violence—each requiring different investigative and preventive responses.