Kantakashodhana Adhyaya 6 Sutra 9 - Arthashastra | Chinese | Vedapath

Sutra 9

Devanagari script

नाष्टिकश्चेत्तदेव प्रतिसंदध्यात् यस्या पूर्वो दीर्घश्च परिभोगः शुचिर्वा देशस्तस्य द्रव्यमिति विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०४.६.०९ ॥

Transliteration

nāṣṭikaś cet tad eva pratisaṃdadhyāt yasyā pūrvo dīrghaś ca paribhogaḥ śucir vā deśas tasya dravyam iti vidyāt

Translation

若无人就该失物提出主张，则应将该财物重新归属。应认定为所有者者：其占有与使用在先且历时久长者，或其所在地/占有“清白”（无争议且名声良好）者。

Word by Word

नnot

आष्टिकःa claimant/asserter of title (one who claims ownership)

चेत्if

तत्that (thing/property)

एवindeed/only

प्रतिसंदध्यात्should restore/return (it)

यस्याःof which/whose

पूर्वःformer/previous

दीर्घःlong (in duration)

चand

परिभोगःenjoyment/possession (use and occupation)

शुचिःclean/pure (unimpeached)

वाor

देशःland/region/plot

तस्यof him/of that (person)

द्रव्यम्property/asset

इतिthus

विद्यात्should know/should determine

Entities Mentioned

claimant (absent)

possessor with long use

What is the governing presumption when no claimant appears?

Administrative settlement favors stable, prior, long possession (and uncontested/reputable holding) to minimize uncertainty and recurring disputes.