NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit Shemushi: Chapter 7 — शेमुषी- द्वितीयो भाग:
This chapter, 'Vichitra Sakshi' (Strange Witness), is an excerpt from a story by Omprakash Thannaddh. It is based on a case handled by the Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as a judge. The story highlights how judges sometimes use unique reasoning to deliver justice, even without concrete proof. A hardworking man saved money to admit his son to college. His son stayed in a hostel. One day, the father, worried about his son's illness, decided to visit him. He walked part of the way and, as night fell in a lonely area, sought shelter in a village. That night, a thief entered the house and stole a box. The guest woke up and chased the thief, but the thief shouted, 'Thief! Thief!' The villagers, awakened by the noise, came out and mistakenly identified the guest as the thief, even though the village guard was the actual thief. The guard then imprisoned the guest. The next day, the guard took the guest to court. The judge, Bankim Chandra, heard both sides and suspected the guard's guilt but lacked proof. He ordered them to bring a dead body found nearby. While carrying the body, the guard taunted the guest, revealing his guilt. The judge used this unusual situation to deliver justice.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 10 |
| Subject | Sanskrit |
| Book | Shemushi |
| Chapter | Chapter 7 — शेमुषी- द्वितीयो भाग: |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 319 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the concept of justice and evidence.
- Analyze the role of a judge in delivering fair judgments.
- Learn about unique reasoning in legal cases.
- Improve Sanskrit reading and comprehension skills.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| विचित्रा | strange, wonderful |
| साक्षी | witness |
| सम्पादित: | edited |
| न्यायाधीशरूपेण | as a judge |
| सत्यासत्ययोर्निर्णयम् | decision of truth and falsehood |
| प्रमाणं विनापि | even without proof |
| वित्तमुपार्जितवान् | earned money |
| छात्रावासे | in the hostel |
| पदातिरेव | on foot only |
| निशान्धाकारे | in the darkness of night |
| चौर: | thief |
| मञ्जूषाम् | box |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- पाठस्य शीर्षकं किम् अस्ति? Answer: पाठस्य शीर्षकं 'विचित्रा: साक्षी' अस्ति।
- कस्य कथाया: सम्पादित: अंश: अयं पाठ: अस्ति? Answer: अयं पाठ: ओम्प्रकाशठन्नड्ढ°रविरचिताया: कथाया: सम्पादित: अंश: अस्ति।
- न्यायाधीशेन कस्य युक्तीनां प्रयोगं र्वुन्ति? Answer: न्यायाधीशेन सत्यासत्ययोर्निर्णयाय तादृशीनां युक्तीनां प्रयोगं र्वुन्ति याभि: प्रमाणं विनापि न्याय: स्यात्।
- पुत्रं द्रष्टुं पिता किम् कृत्वा प्राचलत्? Answer: पुत्रं द्रष्टुं पिता बसयानं विहाय पदातिरेव प्राचलत्।
- चौरस्य पादधवनिना क: प्रबु(ो अभवत्? Answer: चौरस्य पादधवनिना अतिथि: प्रबु(ो अभवत्।
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of 'Vichitra Sakshi'?
'Vichitra Sakshi' means 'Strange Witness' or 'Unusual Witness'.
Who is the author of the original story from which this chapter is adapted?
The chapter is an adapted excerpt from a story by Omprakash Thannaddh.
Which famous writer served as a judge in this story?
The famous writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee served as the judge.
What unusual situation did the judge use to uncover the truth?
The judge used the situation where the accused and the guard had to carry a dead body to reveal the guard's guilt.
What was the initial mistake made by the villagers?
The villagers mistakenly identified the guest as the thief because the actual thief shouted 'Thief! Thief!' and the guest was awake.
What does this chapter teach about justice?
This chapter teaches that justice sometimes requires unique methods and reasoning, and truth can be revealed in unexpected ways.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit — Shemushi — Chapter 7 — शेमुषी- द्वितीयो भाग:. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.