Sutra 12

Devanagari script

विषहतस्य भोजनशेषं वयोभिः परीक्षेत ॥ कZ_०४.७.१२ ॥

Transliteration

viṣahatasya bhojanaśeṣaṃ vayobhiḥ parīkṣeta

Translation

In a case of death by poison, the remaining food should be examined by birds (as test-feeders).

Word by Word

• विषहतस्य: of the one affected by poison / of the poisoned person
• Type: Noun/Participle (verbal adjective)
• Root: विषह (√सह उपसर्ग वि- सहित)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार); भूतकृदन्त-रूप (कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त/क्तवत्-आधारित ‘-त’), ‘विषं सहते/विषं हतवान्’ इत्यर्थे; ‘विषहत’ = विष-प्रभावं सहमान/विष-प्रभावेन बाधित इति

• भोजनशेषम्: the remainder/leftover of the food
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (√भुज्) + शिष् (√शिष्/शेष)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कर्मपदम्

• वयोभिः: by means of birds
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्
• Form: तृतीया-बहुवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; करणपदम्

• परीक्षेत: should examine/test
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईक्ष् (ईक्ष्) उपसर्ग परि-
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (विधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्; विधिः—‘परीक्षां कुर्यात्’

Entities Mentioned

• birds (test animals)
• leftover food

More Details

FAQs

What does using birds indicate about Arthashastra’s investigative method?

It institutionalizes practical, repeatable tests using available means—an early form of standardized forensic procedure.